NESTING OF SOME GUIANA BIRDS. 3 
guianensis, seems to be the most prolific, as many as 
fourteen eggs being sometimes found in a nest, which, 
like that of the large Maam, is a shallow depression near 
to some tree root, having an arched approach of about a 
foot in length, formed by the bending inward of grass 
blades and twigs. The entrance to this is always care- 
fully concealed, and the eggs, which are white, are about 
the size of those of a domesticated pigeon. | 
For a long time we could gather no reliable informa- 
tion concerning the nesting habits of the Warracaba, 
Psophia crepitans, some persons stating that all the 
females in a flock of these birds laid together in a com- 
mon nest on the ground, others declaring they nested in 
trees and that the eggs were blue. At last we had the 
pleasure of taking a nest in the Savannah from a hole in 
the fork of a tree at a height of about twenty feet from 
_ the ground, It contained seven dirty white eggs, a trifle 
smaller than those of a common fowl, and as they were 
perfeétly fresh most likely the bird had not finished laying 
her full complement. . 
A singular thing about the Warracaba is its dislike for 
young ducks which it always destroys when it finds the 
opportunity. I am told thatit is impossible to rear ducks 
where any of them are kept. 
The pretty little ground dove, Chamzpelia passerina, 
deserves mention for the peculiar habit it has of pretend- 
ing to be wounded when it thinks its nest in danger of 
being robbed. The nest, which is small and flat, is 
usually placed on a low shrub or stump of a tree, and never 
contains more than two pearly white eggs. Should any 
one approach it, while the little bird is sitting on her 
charge, she immediately flutters to the ground and toddles 
; A2 
