in North-eastern Brazil. 341 



part in the construction of the nest, and made a great busi- 

 ness of it, though it was apparently done in a desultory sort 

 of way, and as much for pleasure as business. At least two 

 nests I observed closely were never finished, and apparently 

 ultimately abandoned. 



46. Arundinicola leucocephala. 



This bird I only observed near the sea-coast round Recife, 

 at Caxanga, and near Parahyba. It frequents the margins 

 of ponds or rivers, as its name well indicates, and is usually 

 seen solitarily, though near Caxanga I came across three or 

 four together on the edge of the same pool, a family party 

 of parents and young birds, the latter being distinguishable 

 by their less-defined colouring. 



Eyes brown ; beak blackish horny, the lower mandible at 

 base (normally) yellowish ; legs and claws black, the soles 

 paler. 



47. Machetornis rixosa. 



I obtained this bird at Recife, and subsequently saw it at 

 Cabo. Its habits resemble those of Myiozetetes, from which, 

 indeed, I did not, at the time of getting my specimen, dis- 

 tinguish it. 



1-48. TODIROSTRUM CINEREUM. 



This little Tody-like Tyrant I found rather common from 

 Recife and Parahyba to Garanhuns. It is usually seen singly, 

 but I have sometimes seen two or three together, chasing 

 each other and fighting furiously, like Humming-birds. It 

 hops about nimbly from twig to twig of the particular bush 

 or shrub it is in, in search of insects, and does not, as far as I 

 saw, select a particular perch from which to dart off at any 

 passing insect, like so many of its congeners. 



49. Euscarthmus gularis. 



1 only met with this bird once or twice round Garanhuns, 

 where it occurred usually singly, actively hopping and creep- 

 ing about the thick scrub which is so prevalent there, very 

 much in the same way as the last species. 



Irides brown. 



SFR. IV. VOL. V. 'vB 



