Nyctibius jamaicensis and Sclerurus umbretta. 30^ 



and woodcutters. On the ri<;lit slope there exists a suuken 

 path for the woodcutters, at a distance of about 900 m. 

 from the brook and an altitude of about 80 m. above the 

 level of the Rio Alpina. In this steep bank, on the side 

 of the path, in the dark and dense forest, far from any- 

 human habitation, Andreas Goeldi observed a bird creeping 

 out of a hole. Keeping himself quiet, he soon recognized a 

 " vira-folha,^' the nest of which he knew to be one of my 

 particular desiderata. He commenced to explore the hole, 

 which led to a covered gallery. After having examined the 

 direction and dimensions of the gallery, he dug in con- 

 tinuously and discovered the nest with two fresh eggs. The 

 hole and gallery measured 5 cm. in diameter, the shape 

 being circular. Both Mere horizontal, smooth, and re- 

 markably clean. The gallery, instead of running in a 

 straight line, made a deviation to the right. It finished 

 with a terminal cavity containing the bird s nest. The 

 arrangement is shown in the following sketch. 



Transverse section of ne3tin";-hole of Sckrurus umbretta. 



The nest itself measures 21 cm. in diameter; it is not 

 vaulted, but flat and open. The material is somewhat 

 intricately woven, and the nest cannot be called a master- 



