138 BIRUS OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



the outer webs ; tail-feathers margined with white at the tips and 

 the central pair white at the extreme base ; scapulars, innermost 

 lesser upper wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts white like 

 the forehead, sides of face, throat, and under surface of body in- 

 cluding the axiilaries, and under wing-coverts; rictal bristles 

 black ; quill-lining and lower aspect of tail also black with white 

 tips to the latter. 



Total length 126 mm., exposed culmen 1] , width at base 7, 

 wing 69, tail 49, tarsus 21. 



The male described was collected on the Abary River in 

 July 1906. 



Adult female. Similar to that of the adult male both in colour 

 and measurements. 



Breeding-season. Apiil according to Beebe, ' Our Search for a 

 Wilderness,' p. 131. 



Nest. " Built in thorn bushes not far from the ground and is 

 composed of plant-cotton " [Schomburgh) . In low bushes especi- 

 ally when they hang over water. " It builds a dome-shaped nest 

 of dry pimpler sticks " {H. Lloyd Price) . 



Eggs. " It lays two, or at the most three white eggs " (Schom- 

 burgk}. " The Silk Cotton-bird lays three eggs, which are white 

 faintly spotted with red " {H. Lloyd Price). 



Range in British Guiana. Upper Takutu Mountains, Bartica, 

 Bonasika River, Abary River {McConnell collection); George- 

 town (Brown, Beebe, Quelch). 



Extralimital Range. Surinam JPenard), Venezuela, Colombia. 



Habits. According to Schomburgk (Reis. Guin. iii. p. 703) this 

 bird is more common on the coast than in the hinterland. Its 

 favourite haunts are in trees and bushes growing ot the banks of 

 ditches. Its nest is built in the thorn bushes not far from the 

 ground and is composed chiefly of plant-cotton, that is why the 

 natives and settlers call it the " Cotton-bird." It lays two, or at 

 the most three, white eggs. 



The following note has been" taken from Beebe (Our Search 

 for a Wilderness, p. 65) : — " The White Shouldered Ground Fly- 

 catchers or " Cotton-birds " which scurry along the ground over 

 pitch and fallen logs. Their tails continually wag from side to 

 side, and they come within a few feet us, uttering low inquiring 

 notes: pit! pit! They, too, are clad in white, except for back, 

 nape, wings, and tail." 



