454 MR. A. BOTJCARD ON BIRDS FROM YUCATAN. [Juue 19, 



123. Trogon puella, Gould. 



Tiziniin, May 1879. 



Very rare ; only three specimens were seen, and the bird is 

 unknovin to the natives. The first time I saw this bird there were 

 two, which I beKeved to be a pair, though they differed a great deal. 

 This was on May 31st, and on June 2nd I saw anotlier. They 

 were in the forest, and were very tame. They uttered no sound of 

 any kind. 



124. Trogon caligatus, Gould. 



Very common from May to September ; lives only in the forest, is 

 very tame, and spends much of its time singing ; is rarely seen very 

 high in the tree, nor does it descend to the ground. Like all the 

 Trogons, it does not change its position upon the limb of a tree when 

 once it alights ; and when it flies from a branch it always keeps its 

 back towards the hunter. 



[Not submitted to me. — O, S.'] 



125. Trogon melanocephalus, Gould. 



Not common. I have never seen this bird in more than two 

 localities — first in Yak-Jonat ^ in April, and again in Chemzouot in 

 August. Those of April were only six in number, and those of August 

 20 or more. Several specimens, male and female, were obtained. 



126. Crotophaga sulcirostris (Sw.) ; Lawr. /. c. p. 205. 



Abundant in all parts of the State. Lives in flocks, and flies 

 verj'^ clumsily. In cool damp mornings these birds may be killed by 

 dozens, with clubs, and are often captured alive by the hand. There 

 are several species of ants which are accustomed to set out on 

 migratory or foraging expeditions in immense flocks or swarms ; 

 these ants are as manna to the " Crotophaga," I have seen as 

 many as two hundred birds at a time devouring these insects. 



127. Geococcyx affinis, Hartlaub. 

 Geococcyx mexicanus, Lawr. I. c. p. 205. 



Rather rare in all parts, except at Rio Lagartos. May generally 

 be seen perched upon the stone fences in the morning, or upon some 

 elevated object ; rarely in the trees. When startled it jumps 

 quickly to the ground, and runs away, hiding itself in the thick 

 undergrowth. "Xcum-kumil" is its name in Western Yucatan ; in 

 the east the Indians call it " Bachen-choo-lool." 



[In Dr. Cabot's collection. — 0. S.'] 



128. PiAYA cayana (Linn.). 



Piaya mehleri, Lawr. I. c. p. 205. 



" Kip choh." 



This bird, which is common in all parts, is a great enemy of the 



^ Yak-Jonat is a great forest six leagues uortli-east of Tizimin, where mauy 

 birds were obtained. But one rancho exists in a region extending over many 

 leagues. 



