1883.] MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM YUCATAN. 449 



which the species disappeared. A very active and uoisy bird, ever 

 on the alert for a passing insect, upon seeing which the bird darts 

 into the air with a scream, and rejoices greatly when successful in 

 the capture. 



88. TiTYRA FRASERI, Kaup. 



This bird has similar habits to those of the former species, but is 

 not so common. 



89. Hadrostomus aglai^ (Lafr.); Lawr. I. c. p. 204. 



Very rare ; only five specimens (males) were seen during the year. 

 This bird lives in the darkest forests, and utters no cry of any kind. 

 It is solitary in its habits, and neither ascends to the topsof the trees 

 nor descends to the ground. It lives upon insects, which it captures 

 upon the wing. My first specimen was found in Merida in a thicket ; 

 but it was afterwards taken in Izamal and again at Tizimiu. 



[Also in Dr. Cabot's collection. — O. >S'.] 



90. Pachyrhamphus major (Cab.). 



This bird is very rare. Only one was seen in Izalam in February ; 

 four more were seen in Tizimin in May, and on the road to Rio 

 Lagartos in June. It is not shy ; lives only in large forests and very 

 high in the trees. It utters a kind of prolonged mournful twit, by 

 which its whereabouts may be determined. 



91. Attila citreopygius, Sclat. 



April 1879. Iris red. 



Tliis bird is rather rare. It was first seen in Izalam in February, 

 and again in Tizimin in April. It is quite tame, and is found only 

 in the largest forests. It is a very quiet bird, and moves but little 

 and very slowly. It is generally seen upon a dead limb near the 

 ground. 



92. Synallaxls erythrothorax, Sclater. 



The Maya name of this bird is "Tzapatan." It is common in 

 Eastern Yucatan from May to October, and is very tame and 

 active. It lays its eggs in a monstrous nest of large sticks, well 

 laid, with the entrance below and about 18 inches from the eggs. 

 I am of opinion that this bird does not build its own nest, but 

 occupies the deserted nest of some other bird or animal. The natives 

 have a curious belief with regard to the formation of the nest of this 

 bird, which is worth relating. When the " Tzapatan " begins to 

 sing, all the birds of the forest bring a stick to form the nest. 

 The Chom {Cathartes) being too large to enter the nest, the Stachi 

 {Tyrunnus) brings two sticks instead of one. In this way the nest 

 is constructed by all the birds of the forest. But this sounds much 

 like many other ingenious inventions of the Spanish conquerors, and 

 is probably a tale invented for the natives to follow in the con- 

 struction of their houses. 



