Mr. E. L. Layard on Birds observed at Para. 395 



-f 108. Urubitinga schistacea. 



This fine Hawk was also killed near the gas-works at Para, 

 on the 11th of August, by Mr. Wilson, the superintendent. 

 I know nothing of its habits} and its stomach was empty. 



-f- 109. Cathartes atratus. 



This hideous but useful bird was the first that greeted my 

 sight when I landed at Para. Before daylight, as is my wont 

 in tropical climates, I was up and out of doors. We had 

 landed at 10 o'clock the previous night. I saw a strange- 

 looking object, resembling a bird with outstretched wings, 

 on the end of a neighbouring house. It was still too dark to 

 distinguish objects ; but I went into the house and got my 

 faithful companions, my binocular glasses. On my return 

 there were two ; and while I tried to make out what they 

 could be, up came a third, and a fourth, and a fifth, till a whole 

 row sat on the ridge awaiting the daylight and the sun's rays 

 to dry their wings. This is the way they sit on trees ; and 

 more ungainly brutes cannot be imagined. They are the great 

 scavengers of the place, and most useful in that respect. 



They roost in company, and begin their disgusting duties 

 as soon as the sun is up. About 9 or 9.30 they sail away 

 into the upper regions of the air, where they remain till 3 or 

 4 o'clock, when they again descend to earth. They retire to 

 rest long after sundown, at the end of the brief twilight. 



About ten miles from Para, on a sugar-estate up the river, 

 I saw a species with yellow about the head ; but speeding along 

 in a steamboat I could not stay to shoot one. 



110. Zenaida maculata. 



I have seen but few specimens of this Dove ; the first I found 

 one morning just after daylight, on a tree by the roadside near 

 my house in San Juao. Its stomach contained berries. They 

 feed much on the ground, and run with great swiftness, as do 

 the little Chamapelia. 



-/-111. ChAMjEPELIA PASSERINA. 



This pretty little ground-Dove is not uncommon in open 

 places along roads, gardens, &c. It is generally found in 

 pairs, male and female ; and from the appearance of the organs 

 of the male, and also from finding young birds not fully fledged, 



