Nyctibius jamaiceusis and Sclerurus unibrctta. 305 



on the ground. Thougli I am personally acquainted only 

 with the breeding-habits o^ Nyctidromus albicollis (nests with 

 eggs of wiiich are of common occurrence in rough grassy 

 meadows in the southern States of Brazil), the recent dis- 

 covery of the nesting of Hydropsalis, made by A pi in iu 

 Uruguay, confirms this opinion. 



2. SCLERURUS UMBRETTA. 



In the solitary forests of the province of Rio de Janeiro, 

 in the hot lowland as well as in the mountains of the Serra 

 dos Orgaos, is sometimes observed a dark brown bird, which 

 attracts our attention by its peculiar habits. It is fond of quiet, 

 shady places. Exceedingly busy, it capers about quickly near 

 and on the ground, creeps between the dry branches very like 

 a Spine-tail [Synallaxis) , and enters the holes and cavities 

 formed near the roots of the larger forest-trees. Its dark 

 colour, together with its active and lively movements, will 

 generally at the first impression lead us to believe that we 

 have to do with some small mammal, such as a mouse. 

 AVith some attention, and when our eyes get accustomed to 

 distinguish details in the shade of the dark and dense forest, 

 its bird-nature will be recognized. The bird is tolerably 

 confiding, and will allow you to approach within a distance 

 of eight or ten steps. From time to time you will perceive 

 a very sensible noise, produced by the bird. It has found 

 a heap of dried leaves, and is now occupied with a careful 

 examination of the vegetable detritus and mud often accumu- 

 lated in such localities. Seizing with the bill the leaves, one 

 by one, it throws them away vigorously. Evidently it hunts 

 up larvcC and small insects, after the fashion of a scraping 

 hen. 



A similar impetuosity and noisy demeanour among the 

 dry leaves of the bamboo-forest are displayed by an allied 

 bird of the family Dendrocolaptidse, Anabazenops rufosuper- 

 ciliatus. 



Long ago Prince Max. zu Wied had observed Scltrurus 

 umbretta engaged as described above. Its noisy way of 

 throwing leaves about we often witnessed in the extensive 



