CROTOPHAGA. 447 



Adult female. Dull bLick above and below witli blue reflections 

 on the quills and tail-feathers^ and paler metallic margins to the 

 feathers on the fore-neck, sides of neck, hind-neck, mantle, and 

 upper \ving-coverts. 



Total length 330 mm., culmen 29, wing 150, tail 168, tarsus 35. 



The female described was collected on the Abary River. 



Adult male. Similar to the adult female. ^Ving- 154 mm. 



Breeding-season. Unknown in British Guiana. 



Xest. "In the thick pimpler bushes the nest may be found 

 composed of dry sticks loosely put together '' {Lloyd Price). 



Eggs. " The eggs when laid are covered with a loose chalky 

 substance, like fine powder, but when this is scraped otF, they are 

 of a beautiful blue, which, however, quickly fades when subjected 

 to a strong light'"' [Lloyd Price). 



Range in British Guiana. Mount Roraima, Upper Takutu 

 Mountains, Bonasika River, Abary River (McConnell collection) ; 

 Bartica (Whitely) ; Matope, Georgetown (Beebe). 



Extralimital Range, South America to Argentina, West India 

 Islands and Central America to the Southern United States of 

 Xorth America. 



LLahits. Schomburgk writes (Reis. Guian. iii. p, 713) that this 

 bird is more often found near the coast in the outskirts of light 

 woods, and in the proximity of cattle herds. 



Mr. Lloyd Price writes (Timehri (2) v. p. 63) : — "In the thick 

 ])iinpler bushes the nest of the Old Witch or Jumby Bird (Crofo- 

 pJiaga ani) may be found composed of dry sticks, loosely put 

 together. Several of these birds make use of the same nest, ten 

 to fourteen eggs being frequently found. The eggs when laid 

 are covered w^ith a loose chalky substance, like fine powder, but 

 when this is scraped off, they are of a beautiful blue, which, 

 however, quickly fades when subjected to a strong light." 



Mr. J. J. Quelch remarks (Timehri (2) v. p. 94) : — "These birds 

 live in large flocks and build their nests together gregariously, 

 frequenting the pastures and roads as well as the low bush, 

 especially where cattle are kept, in search of larvae and other 

 insects. The flesh of these birds, owing to an unpleasant flavour, 

 is not considered good for the ta))le ; tiiough it is used among the 

 older black Creoles as a medicine for those subject to fits, for w houi 

 it is supposed to be extremely beneficial." 



We <|Uote tlic following notes from 3Ir. Bcebc (Our Search 



