ELEVEN WEEKS IN NORTH-EASTERN BRAZIL. 263 



the forest has been cleared and subsequently inclosed for the use of 

 cattle and horses. I only once or twice saw the f ull-plumaged birds ; 

 all the others were immature, and these kept in large flocks like Starlings, 

 feeding, like them, largely on the ground on the insects and other crea- 

 tures always present where cattle are feeding. 



This is, I believe, the most northern locality from which the species 

 has yet been recorded. It is replaced further north by a representative 

 (L. guianensis} which has no white supercilia. 



44. APHOBUS CHOPI. 



A single female skin that I brought home is apparently referable to a 

 small form of this species, which I found rather abundant at one or two 

 localities, Vista Alegre and Macuca, in the interior of Pernambuco. ibis, 1881, 

 Though local, the bird was common where it occurred, flying about in P- 34 - 

 large flocks, like Starlings, in the neighbourhood of sugar-plantations. 

 They were rather wary and not easily approached. The Brazilians 

 called it " Arumara." 



Eyes brown. 



45. FLUVICOLA CLIMACURA. 



This bird is, I consider, the most characteristic of the country of all 

 the species met with during my trip. Save in the thick forest, it may be 

 seen nearly everywhere, even in the busiest parts of the town of E/ecife, 

 close to the sea, and everywhere it is conspicuous alike by its tameness 

 and its sharply contrasted colours. To the structure of a Tyrant-bird it 

 unites the habits of a Wagtail and a good deal of the appearance of a 

 Saxicola. It spends a great part of its time on the ground, running 

 swiftly, like a Wagtail, after the insects which it puts up, and seizing 

 them as they rise from the ground. It is by no means afraid of man, 

 coming up to within a few yards of the houses, and mixing freely with 

 the poultry and dogs of the establishment. Usually it is seen in twos or 

 threes, but never, so far as my experience goes, in flocks or larger parties. 

 Frequently two may be seen perched on the top of a wall or house, 

 " standing up " to each other, with fluttering wings, spreading tails, and 

 outstretched necks, chattering away vigorously at each other the whole 

 time. It is nearly the only bird that is not shot or eaten by the Brazilians. 

 They call it the " Lavendera," or Washerwoman, from a legend of its 

 having formerly performed those functions to the Virgin Mary. Hence 

 they hold it almost an act of sacrilege to kill one, and think very much 

 the same of a man who shoots a " Lavendera " as we do in England of 

 one who kills a Robin. In consequence of this immunity from destruc- 

 tion, the Lavendera is, as I have already said, exceediugly tame and familiar 

 everywhere, and even nests close to the houses. One or two nests that 

 I observed were built in low bushes, and composed of a loose fabric of 



