Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 391 



91. Melanerpes rubrifrons (Spix). 



I found several of these Woodpeckers frequenting a lot of 

 dead trees in the square not far from my house, and succeeded 

 in obtaining a pair. I was surprised to find that they went 

 inside the tree-trunks and hammered away. This accounts 

 for my having frequently traced the hammering of Wood- 

 peckers to what I felt sure must be the tree where the work- 

 man was engaged, and yet not being able to find him. 



The stomachs of those I shot were full of grubs, insects, 

 ants, and yellow hard seeds. I frequently saw them fly off 

 into the air and catch insects, returning again to the dead 

 limb from which they started. In their flight at these times 

 they were very Swallow-like, so much so that I often mis- 

 took them for the large Swallow, Progne chalybea, which was 

 flying about at the same time. 



92. BUCCO HYPERRHYNCHUS, Bp. 



I watched this powerful bird for some time before I shot 

 it, on 4th January, 1873. It was hopping about the thick 

 branches of a large tree, and in all its actions reminded me 

 of a " Kinghunter " [Halcyon). In its stomach I found a 

 large green Cetonia, just crushed and swallowed whole. I 

 subsequently obtained two more, and was struck with their 

 extreme stupidity. 



Three birds were in company on a very high tree. I had 

 only my little collecting-gun, with a quarter of a dram of 

 powder and dust-shot, but, selecting the lowest, fired at him. 

 He swung round on his twig and hung suspended. I loaded 

 quickly and aimed at the next, who never moved ; at the first 

 report he fell dead, and the third remained. I fired again, 

 without effect ; but the next shot brought it down. On firing 

 again at the clinging bird it dropt into a lower tree, and lodged 

 where I could not get it. 



93. Bucco tectus, Bodcl. 



I found three of these birds on some low trees in an aban- 

 doned clearing covered with second growth. Though I shot 

 one, the other two remained quietly on the tree and allowed 

 mc to load again and fire. Even when wounded, the last one 



