342 MR. p. L. SCLATER ON PERtJVIAN BIRDS. [Mar. 28, 



(i. Sycalis lutkiventris (Meyen). 



Prof. Nation's specimen of this species agrees best with a skin 

 collected by Fraser at Cuenca in Ecuador, which I have hitherto 

 referred (Cat. A. B. p. 126) to S. arvensis of Chili. Chilian exam- 

 ples, however, are certainly rather larger in size, and not so bright 

 in colouring, so that it may. be necessary to separate the northern 

 form. In this case the latter may take the name luteiventris of 

 Meyen*, which is founded on Peruvian specimens. 



"This bird does not reside with us all the year round, but breeds 

 here. I have one in a cage, and never heard any South- American 

 bird sing so sweetly." — W. N. 



"i*?. EupsiLOSTOMA pusiLLUM, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, pp. 68, 283, 

 et Cat. A. B. p. 215. 



These skins agree very well with the types described I. c, which 

 were collected by Fraser at Pallatanga and Babahoyo. 



"This little bird is quite new to me. It is so small and so se- 

 cluded in its habits as to have hitherto escaped my notice. I have 

 lately found its nest, and, knowing its haunts, shall soon get a clue 

 to-its habits."— W. N. 



8. Tyrannus MELANCHOLicus, Vieill. 



Agrees with the northern form called satrapa by Cabanis and 

 Heine, and in my * American Catalogue.' 



"Very rare in Lima. I found four birds on a dry branch of a 

 tree overhanging a inud wall, in which Mason-wasps (Pelopceus 

 flavipes) were making their nest. By the aid of a glass I observed 

 that every time a Pelopceus passed the Tyrants captured it, and re- 

 turned to the branch to eat it. I obtained two specimens." — W. N. 



•f- 9. Antrostomus ^quicaudatus (Peale). 



Caprimulgus cequicaudatus, Peale, Zool. Expl. Exp. Birds, p. 168. 



" Stenopsis parvulus, Gould," Cassin, ib. ed. 2. p. 188. 



" Near Lima, and probably all along the Peruvian coast, we have 

 only the present species of Caprimulgus. Its favourite haunts are 

 dry stony places, where there is little or no vegetation, and no water 

 near. In such spots the colour of the earth harmonizes with the 

 plumage of the bird, so that even a hawk cannot see it at a few yards 

 fiistance. Nestled on the shady side of a stone or clot of dry earth 

 to protect it from the scorching sun, it must be almost trodden upon 

 before it takes to wing, and flies noiselessly to a few yards distance, 

 where it settles again on the ground without outspread wings. If 

 repeatedly disturbed it will fly to a greater distance, but returns to 

 its old haunts when alarm has subsided. 



"The female makes no nest, but lays one egg. of a bluish grey 

 marbled with ijrown, on the ground. Having observed that our Eu- 

 ropean species will remove its egg if touched, I was curious to see 

 whether this Goatsucker would do likewise. On finding, therefore, 

 * Nov. Act. xvi. Suppl. pi. 12. f. 3. 



