Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 377 



3. Donacohius atricapillus (L.). 



A pair of these curious birds were shot by me on the 21st 

 of January, 1873, at a farm some ten miles from Para, up the 

 river Acarii. They had a clear loud piping whistle, and fre- 

 quented dense bushy swamps, where 1 saw several more. 

 Stomachs contained insects. 



4. Troglodytes purvus (Gm.). 



Generally seen in pairs, creeping along fences and chasing 

 each other through the orangc-trccs in my garden. It is 

 a noisy, restless bird; and its song and actions at once re- 

 minded me of the European Wren. 1 once killed this species 

 from the summit of a high tree at the side of a forest-road ; but 

 this was the only instance where I saw it ascend to any height. 



f 5. VlREOSYLVIA OLIVACEA (L.). 



This solitary specimen was shot from a tree in flower j and 

 the stomach was full of the comminuted petals and other por- 

 tions of the flowers. 



C. IIylophilus semicinereus, Scl. & Salv*. 



Shot in the forest. Stomach contained insects and bern . 



7. Progne chalybea (Gm.). 



I first saw this large Swallow on Christmas-day. A little 

 flock of them were flying to and out of a hole in a hollow tree 

 in the square near my house ; some of them carried dry grass 

 bents, apparently, and portions of soft lichens gathered from 

 trees. On the 28th I shot one, a $ , with the ovaries much dis- 

 tended. No others were about that day; but I subsequently 

 procured them in the same locality, and at a farm-house near 

 Para. They perch readily and habitually on trees. 

 -/- 8. Stelgidopteryx ruficollis (Vicill.). 



This Swallow is not uncommon; but, except in a few favoured 

 localities in the town, I neversawitin any numbers together. 

 It feeds on minute flics, and perches readily on trees, ft is 

 certainly resident in Pari all the year round, though it is 

 very scarce from September to December, on the 27th of 

 which month I procured a pair, 6 and $, after noting their 

 absence since September. 



•* This rare species was originally dei cribed from pecimens obtained l>\ 

 Mr. Wallace in the same district, see P.Z.S. 1867, p. 570.— P b S. 



