CROTOPHAGA. 449 



Mr. Lloyd Price remarks (Timehri (2) v. p. 63) : — " Another 

 and much larger species of this bird, called the King-Witch 

 {Croto])liaga major), is sometimes met with. The nest is built in 

 the densest bush, and is not often found. The eggs when scraped 

 are of the same rich blue. These birds have a curiously shaped 

 bill, somewhat like the keel of a boat." 



Mr. J. J. Quelch observed this species at Georgetown, and 

 remarks (Timehri (2) v. p. 103) : — Very common on the out- 

 skirts of the town. They are seldom seen more than two together, 

 not on the ground, but in the high trees and tall shrubs. The flesh 

 of these birds, owing to an unpleasant flavour, is not considered 

 good for the table ; though it is used among the older black 

 Creoles as a medicine for those subject to fits, for whom it is 

 supposed to be extremely beneficial. 



Mr. Barriugton Brown writes (C-anoe and Camp Life, p. 152) : — 

 " A large kind of Old Witch bird, very numerous in the low trees 

 growing along the river's edge. They fed on grasshoppers and 

 caterpillars, ferreted out from amongst the tree leaves, and pro- 

 duced bubbling sounds now and then, like that made by the 

 boiling of a pot of water." 



We quote the following note from Mr. W. Beebe (Our Search 

 for a Wilderness, p. 156) : — " Quite high in the air, clear of 

 the tops of the tallest trees, we saw a black cloud of birds 

 approaching. We soon made them out to be Greater Anis, or as 

 the natives called them ' Big Witch ' or ' Jumbio Birds.' When 

 first seen they were in a dense compact mass heading straight 

 toward us. Their flight was uniform, each biid giving three to 

 six flaps and then sailing ahead for several seconds. Hundreds 

 doing this at once made the sight a most striking one, while it was 

 enhanced by their long, wedge-shaped tails, high arched beaks, 

 bright yellow eyes, and the iridescence of their dark plumage as 

 the slanting rays of the sun struck them." 



Order SCANSOEES. 



Family CAP1T0N1D.E. 



The Barbets are birds of small size, and many of them havo 

 bright colours. The peculiar formation of their bills and rictal 

 bristles appear to be the chief characters which distinguish them 



2 u 



