1885.] I'ROF. W. NATION ON PERUVIAN BIRDS. 279 



mouth of the Andean valleys. Tlie nest is always found on human 

 habitations. In the vicinity of Li.na and within twelve miles of the 

 walls there are at present fourteen colonies. 



I hope to give a fuller account of this interestin? species soon. 



2. PSITTACULA ANDICOLA, Fiusch. 



This robust little mountain Parrot, which seems to be peculiar to 

 the higher parts of the Western valleys of Peru, is found in the 

 valley of the Rimac wherever vegetation can be seen on the mountain- 

 sides. It associates in parties of from 5 to £0 individuals ; when 

 disturbed flies to a short distance, and generally alights upon a bush 

 of the greenish foliage. 



In its habits it resembles so much the common coast species 

 (Brotogerys aurifrons) that I have always considered it, whenever I 

 have seen it feeding in ils habitat, to be of the same species. Mr. 

 Dallas mistook it for B. aurifrons also, and sent me excuses for 

 sending such a common bird. It is remarkable that two Parrots 

 specifically and generically distinct should resemble each other so 

 closely in colour, form, and habit, and inhabit, one the lower part of 

 a valley, and the other the upper part of it. The tail of this species 

 is very peculiar. My first impression, on seeing it, was that the two 

 middle tail-feathers had been lost. The wing also seemed to be 

 disproportionally long. These striking peculiarities are lost in the 

 most carefully prepared skin ; whilst dissecting it I observed that 

 the skin (not as observed in any other Parrot) was quite greeu on 

 both surfaces. I rides black ; bill yellowish green. 



Total length 6 y^^ inches, wing 4 ■^^^. 



[Two skins of this species forwarded to me by Prof, Nation agree 

 well with others in my collection from Paucartambo {Whitely) and 

 Puuamarca {Jelski). Cf. P. Z. S. 1874, p. 679.— P. L. S.] 



3. CyPSELUS ANDICOLA. 



This beautiful Swift inhabits the western valleys of the Peruvian 

 Andes from GCOO ket to 13,000. Mr. Dallas found large flocks of 

 this species flying over meadows at 8000 feet, in October 1883. 

 In February 1884 it had disappeared from the ])lace where it was 

 found by Mr. Dallas, and was seen at 13,000 feet in the same 

 valley. All the birds found near the Cordillera during warmer 

 months of the year descend the valleys on the approach of winter. 



My present knowledge of this bird is very imperfect: I have traced 

 it in tiie western valley of the Andes more than 300 miles to the 

 south of Lima and a little more on the north. I have also discovered 

 that it is found on the other side of the Andes, and that it breeds at 

 high altitudes under the eaves of houses. I have written to a German 

 gentleman, under the n of of whose house it is said to build its nest, 

 to send me an account of its habits ; but I have received no answer 

 yet. Bill black ; irides black. 



Total length bj^ inches ; wing 5^^^-. 



[I have previously only seen examples of this fine Swift from as 

 far north as Arequipa and Tinta in Peru (P. Z. S. 18G8, p. 569). 

 Mr. Nation's skin agrees with Whitely's specimens. — P. L. S.] 



19* 



