[834.] THE TAPACOLO. 271 



leneath the ground. I dissected several specimens ; a 

 gizzard, which was very muscular, contained beetles, 

 vegetable fibres, and pebbles. From this character, iVom 

 the length of its legs, scratching feet, membranous covering 

 to the nostrils, short and arched wings, this bird seems 

 in a certain degree to connect the thrushes with the 

 gallinaceous order. 



The second species (or P. albicollis) is allied to the first 

 in its general form. It is called Tapacolo, or '* cover your 

 posterior " ; and well does the shameless little bird deserve 

 its name ; for it carries its tail more than erect, that is, 

 inclined backwards towards its head. " It is very common, 

 and frequents the bottoms of hedge-rows, and the bushes 

 scattered over the barren hills, where scarcely another bird 

 can exist. In its general manner of feeding, of quickly 

 hopping out of the thickets and back again, in its desire 

 of concealment, unwillingness to take flight, and nidifica- 

 tion, it bears a close resemblance to the Turco ; but its 

 appearance is not quite so ridiculous. The Tapacolo is 

 very crafty : when frightened by any person, it will remain 

 motionless at the bottom of a bush, and will then, after 

 a little while, try with much address to crawl away on 

 the opposite side. It is also an active bird, and continually 

 making a noise ; these noises are various and strangely 

 odd ; some are like the cooing of doves, others like the 

 bubbling of water, and many defy all similes. The 

 country people say it changes its cry five times in the 

 year — according to some change of season, I suppose.* 



Two species of humming-birds are common ; Trochilus 

 forficatus is found over a space of 2500 miles on the west 

 coast, from the hot dry country of Lima, to the forests 

 of Tierra del Fuego — where it may be seen flitting about 

 in snow-storms. In the wooded island of Chiloe, which 

 has an extremefy humid climate, this little bird, skipping 

 from side to side amidst the dripping foliage, is perhaps 

 more abundant than almost any otlier kind. I opened 

 the stomachs of several specimens, shot in difTerent parts 

 of the continent, and in all remains of insects were as 

 numerous as in the stomach of a creeper. When this 



• It is a remarkable fact, that Molina^ though dencribing: in detail all the bird* 

 and animala of Chile, never once mention* Ihia genuii. the aperies of which arc 

 ■o common, and ro remarkable in their habits. Was he at a losa how to 

 classify them, and did be consefiiicntly think that silence was the more prudent 

 course ? It is one more instance of the frequency of omissions by authors, on 

 those very subjects where it might have been least expected. 



