FLUVICOLA. — ARUNDIXICOLA. 



139 



The following note has been copied from H. Lloyd-Price 

 (Timehri (2) v. p. 64) who remarks as follows: — " In low bushes, 

 especially when they hang over water, the little black and white 

 silk Cotton-bird {Fluvicola pica), builds a dome-shaped nest of dry 

 pimpler sticks and lays three eggs, which are white, faintly 

 spotted with red.'^ 



Mr. J. J. Quelch (Timehri (2) v. p. 91) observed this species 

 in Georgetown, and remarks: — "A very common small Tyrant, 

 about 4-5 inches in length, known as Cotton-bird {Fluvicola pica), 

 is also usuallv to be found about the grassy parts of the town, 

 and more especially by the trenches of the outskirts among grassy 

 and busiiy wastes. These pretty but sober-colonred little birds 

 feed chiefly on worms and insects which they seek among the 

 grass and low bush and on the ground. They are not at all shy, 

 but will allow of one's close approach." 



Genus ARUNDINICOLA d'Orb. 



Arundinicola d'Orbigny, Yoy. Amer. Merid. Ois. p. 334, 1840. A. 



leiicocephcda (Linn.). 



Fiy. 



Arundinicola leucocephala. 



This genus is also coiisi)icuous by the black and white plumage 

 of the n)ale. The bill is proportionately long, hooked at the tip 

 of the ujjper mandible, and finished with rictal bristles at the base; 

 the widiii at the basal portion is about three-hfths the length of 

 the exposed culmen. The win^ is nuiiuled, the fourth, fifth, and 

 sixth primaries longest and subequal, the first is short, the second 

 abnormally narrow, slightly longer than the tiiird, and almut 

 equal to the eighth. The tail is slightly rounded at the tip and 

 rather more tiiaii two-thirds the length of the wing. The tarsus 

 is short, being only slightly longer then the exposed culmen. 

 ('oloration: mahi and female ditlerent. 



