460 MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM YUCATAN. [JunC 19, 



fruit and flowers, as also, in times of scarcitj-, of fruit upon leaves and 

 buds. On discovering a tree laden with its favourite fruit, it utters 

 a loud yell, which is a signal for all the 'cojolitos' in the forest. In 

 a moment, from every part of the forest come the yells of dozens 

 of other individuals ; and soon the tree is covered with these 

 birds, and in a few minutes it is stripped of its fruit, and the cojolitos 

 fly away to return no more. Tt has been my fortune twice to be 

 beneath the tree when these birds were feeding. The first time I 

 counted 84 birds in one hour and a quarter. The second time 51 

 birds were in the tree, when I shot and brought down eight. The flesh 

 is eaten, though it is much darker and more solid than that of the 

 Kambool. 



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



169. Ortalis vetula, Wagl, 



Ortalida maccalli, Lawr. /. c. p. 209. 



" Cha-cha-la-ca." 



This bird spends most of its time in the trees, where it lives upon 

 the fruit, flowers, and tender leaves. Its neutral green plumage ren- 

 ders it very difficult to spy out the bird. When disturbed it jumps 

 to the ground to ascertain the nature of its danger, gives one or two 

 long leaps, and again mounts upon a limb, from which it quickly flies 

 from one branch to another until it escapes in the distance. In the 

 male the trachea is wonderfully prolonged beneath the skin of the 

 breast and abdomen almost to the anus, whence it returns and enters 

 the chest at the proper place. With this great trumpet-like instru- 

 ment the bird makes a peculiar noise, which may be heard at a 

 league's distance. The song is harsh and sonorous, and never pro- 

 duced alone ; but after each part the female, with a finer shriller • 

 voice, repeats it in such rapid succession, that it seems like one 

 bird doing the whole. The usual time of singing is in the morning 

 and evening, but it frequently sings at other hours. 



[In Dr. Cabot's collection. — O. SJ] 



170. Odontophorus lineolatus, Licht. 



This bird is common in all the eastern forests, where it is much 

 esteemed for its fine flesh and as a household pet. As a pet it is 

 not a success, living but a few months in confinement. Like the 

 Quails, this bird lives upon the ground, where it is always seen in 

 pairs. At nightfall it sings a very pretty song, beginning with a 

 low whistle, which is three times repeated, each time with greater 

 force ; then follow the syllables che-va-Ueu-a repeated from three 

 to six times in rapid succession. The tone is musical, half sad, half 

 persuasive, beginning somewhat cheerful, and ending more coax- 

 ingly. From its colour and its habit of remaining immovable while 

 one is passing, this bird is somewhat difficult to see. I have fre- 

 quently seen this bird squatting close to the ground while I passed 

 within a few feet of it. It seldom flies, and never flies far when 

 compelled to take wing. 



%.Y> 



