Phibalura flavirostris and Lochmias iicmatura. 4-91 



bird by tlie very uncomplimentary nickname " Presideute 

 da porcaria/' in consequence of its pronounced predilection 

 for dirty places and similar localities, where worms and 

 dipterous larvae generally abound. 



Mr. Sclater * places Lochmias in the family Dendro- 

 colaptidae, a group which belongs, according to the views of 

 Mr. A. R. Wallace, to the section of Formicariine Passeres. 

 He writes concerning the bird : — "Lochmias seems to be some- 

 what related to Furnarius, like which it has the tarsal scutes 

 almost obsolete. It has also some resemblance to Sclerurus, 

 having a slightly stiffened tail. The wings are short and 

 rounded. The two representative species are found over 

 South Amei'ica, from Venezuela to Paraguay and Bolivia." 

 A similar position near Furnarius is given to the bird by Bur- 

 meisterf- Pelzeln;}: ranges Lochmias in the family Certhiidse, 

 subfamily Furnariinfe. Excepting in the case of the Oven- 

 birds {Furnarii) and the Spine-tails {Synallaxince), very little 

 is known, it seems, of the nesting-habits of the Formicariidse. 



As to the habits of Lochmias nematura 1 know only one 

 authority, my countryman and friend, Mr. Carl Euler, still 

 living in Rio de Janeiro, but unfortunately no longer working 

 in ornithology. In his memorable notes § upon the life- 

 history of Brazilian birds, everywhere cited, which contain 

 some correct and incorrect observations, both of which are 

 accepted in every modern book, he writes : — " Wie den 

 Vogel selbst, findet man audi sein Nest bios an den Ufern 

 der Bache und kleineren Fliisse. Ich traf es Anfangs October 

 in einem Loche an einer steilen Uferwand, ca. 12' iiber dem 

 Wasser. Die Hohle riihrte von einer verfaulten Baumwurzel 

 her und hatte 2' wagercchte Tiefe. Auf ihrem Grunde hatte 

 der Vogel eine lose und unbedentende Unterlage von Moos und 

 Federn angelegt und briitete 2 rein weisse Eier.^' 



I cannot agree with the statement in italics, which gives a 



* 'Catalogue of Birds," vol. xv. p. 28. (London, 1890.) 

 t ' Syst. Uebersiclit,' vol. iii. p. 6. 

 X ' Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens,' p. 35. 



§ " Beitriige zur Naturgeschichte der Vtigel Brasiliens," J. f. O. 1867, 

 V. 309. 



