Mr Dalgleish on Birds and Egr/s from Paraguay. 81 



{Carpintero campestre. Azara). — This species, which inhabits 

 Brazil, Bolivia, Northern Argentina, and Paraguay, is, although 

 a woodpecker in form, seldom or ever found in woods, but 

 generally in the open camps or plain, in the vicinity of ant- 

 hills into which it digs with its powerful bill, thereafter 

 devouring the inmates. Very frequently several pairs are 

 found in the same vicinity, and a favourite perch is the 

 summit of an ant-hill, off which they fly with a cry of 

 alarm. 



Clutch of three eggs taken 27th November 18«SG from a 

 hole in a palm tree, which contained no lining whatever. 

 These average in size \\% by -f-g- inch, are of an elongated 

 oval form, and white in colour with a high polish similar to 

 the usual woodpecker type. 



11. Crotophaga ani (Linn.j. Black Ani. Local name Ano. 

 (Anno. Azara). — This bird, one of the cuckoo family, is found 

 throughout South America east of the Andes, and down as 

 far as the southern provinces of Brazil. It is also a native 

 of some of the West India islands, as St Vincent, Grenada, 

 and St Croix. It is plentiful on the Amazon, where Layard 

 found it at Para, about the edge of the forest and in deserted 

 gardens. It is usually found on open pasture ground, where 

 they feed on the insects disturbed by the movements of the 

 cattle. They also feed on fruit. They are very social birds, 

 going in flocks of about twenty and sometimes in company 

 with the next species. Their song or whistle is not un- 

 musical. It is known by English residents in Brazil as the 

 Black Parrot from a fancied resemblance in the bill to that 

 of a parrot. Its call resembles that of the curlew. 



Clutch of three eggs taken from a nest in a palm tree on 

 15th November 1886. These average l^g- by -fl- inch, and 

 are of a blue colour like the egg of the heron, but are coated 

 over with a dull white calcareous covering similar to that on 

 a cormorant's egg, but of a greatly finer texture, which is 

 easily rubbed off. " 



The nest is a flat platform like that of a pigeon, with 

 a slight cavity, and is formed of twigs and dried leaves. 

 It measures 6 inches across, and is about 2 inches in 

 thickness. 



VOL. X. F 



