376 Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 



The forest came down to the tidal range ; not a Kingfisher or 

 Jacamar flashed in the sunlight from spray or tree-top ! How 

 different from the animation of sneh a spot in Ceylon, the cast 

 coast of Africa, or even the Cape of Good Hope ! 



Another thing strikes me as singular ; the Gulls and Terns 

 are conspicuous by their absence ! Here is a splendid reach 

 of water several miles wide, extending right down to the sea, 

 about ninety miles ; and yet not a Gull or a Tern has been 

 visible on it, to my knowledge, the whole time I have been 

 here ! I always look out anxiously for a sight of their lovely 

 soft grey colours, but in vain ! 



(June 20, 1873) I had written thus far and packed my spe- 

 cimens and notes for transmission to England, when I received 

 instructions to return home immediately, in order to proceed 

 to take charge of the British Consulate in the Fiji islands, 

 where I shall probably be before this article reaches my 

 brethren of the B. O. U. Of course I brought home my own 

 collection, and now have to thank Mr. Sclatcr for his kind- 

 n . in identifying my specimens*. 



It is singular that at the moment of embarkation I should 

 have seen two new birds to add to my list, namely a Swallow 

 (Hirundo albiventris) and a Tern (Phaethusa magnirostris ?) . 



1. Tukdus phjEopygus, Cab. 



Shot from a small flock of perhaps half a dozen individuals 

 that (lew across an open road in the forest, the Strada Bra- 

 ganza. Stomach contained seeds. I could not make out the 

 sex, but fancied it a 6 . 



2. Turdus fumigatus, Licht. 



Kept as singing birds in cages, called "Sabia^by the people. 

 Found in the neighbourhood of Para. Feeds on berries. Shot 

 one 1st October, 1872. 



26th January, 1873. I daily hear a bird singing in the early 

 morning, with a note just like the European Thrush. 1 am 

 told this is the " Sabia;" and though 1 have not myself seen 

 it singing, I have no doubt that this is really the songster 

 that produces the only music I have heard in the forest. 



* The names and anraagemenl used are those of the new Nbmenclator 

 Avium Neotropicalium. — P. L. 8. 



