1883.] MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM YUCATAN. 453 



whicb consists exclusively of a small Hymenopterous insect called 

 the Uss. It is solitary, and lives in the deepest part of the forest. 

 The specimens obtained were very tame and were watched for som.e 

 hours before being shot ; they jump nimbly about the trees, and are 

 constantly catching the small insects which seem to be attracted to 

 them by their odour. 



118. MoMOTUS LESsoNi, Lcssou ; Lawr. I. c. p. 204. 



This bird is found in all parts of Yucatan, though it is not abun- 

 dant anywhere. It lives in the forests, and is seldom seen in the 

 towns or ranchos. It never enters wells nor caves, but breeds iu 

 the deserted dens of the Arniadilloes and other burrowing animals. 

 These subterranean burrows it cleans out with its own claws and 

 bill, and constructs its nest at the bottom. The trimming of the 

 two middle feathers of the tail is a work performed by the bird, and 

 is not natural. Its song is " moot-moot," uttered twice in rapid 

 succession, and repeated at intervals of one minute. 



119. EuMOMOTA suPERCiLiARis (Sw.) ; Lawr. /. c. p. 204. 



Momotus yucatanensis, Cabot, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 15G ; 

 Best. Journ. N. H. iv. p. 466. 



This bird is abundant in every part of the State. It lives in wells 

 and in the peculiar caves called "senates." I have seen as many as 

 100 of these birds issue from a single senote, but more frequently 

 one or two dozen is the limit. This bird abounds in the towns, and 

 all places where there are wells or caves ; and although a well is used 

 every day it never deserts its home. Its cry is " Toh," uttered with a 

 broad emphasis as " Tdk;" hence its name in Maya. This word as 

 uttered by the bird means in Maya " straight," and by the ancient 

 Indians refers to the two long straight feathers of the tail. Its 

 food is frogs and other small animals and insects, which it finds 

 in its subterranean home. 



120. Ceryi^e amazona (Lath.). 

 [Not sent to me. — O. S.'] 



121. Ceryle cabanisi (Tsch.). 



122. Ceryle superciliosa (Linn.) ; Lawr. I. c. p. 204. 



Eio Lagartos, June 1879. 



This little Kingfisher was taken at the sulphur-springs of Rio 

 Lagartos, the only place where it is known to live in Yucatan. As 

 this is a favourite bathing-place for the people of all the interior 

 towns, this little bird has a great celebrity throughout the State. 

 It is very tame, so much so that I have seen it plunge into the water 

 after a fish only a few yards from me while I was bathing. The 

 owner of the springs does not allow these birds to be killed, and it 

 was with difficult3' that I obtained permission to shoot one or two. 



