54 TYEANNID^, 



numerous in the low-lying heavily forested country north of Cohan, and thence north- 

 ward in the direction of Peten. Here we obtained several specimens in the early 

 months of 1862. It was usually found in the neighbourhood of streams, its note being 

 familiar to the Indian hunters, to whom it is known by the name of " Pilok," and by 

 the Spanish name of " Resplendor." It is also found in the forests of the Pacific side of 

 the Cordillera, where our hunters obtained examples at Retalhuleu and at Paraiso, half- 

 way to the port of Champerico. 



Mr. Nutting found it both in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica, and gives the foUovdng 

 note on its occurrence at La Palm a in the latter country : — 



" This exquisitely ornamental Flycatcher is abundant in the vicinity of La Palma, 

 especially along the watercourses. Indeed, I never saw it away from the water. It 

 builds its nest on a branch overhanging a stream, seems to be quite content to remain 

 in the vicinity of its home, and is quiet and modest in its manner. 



" Never having seen this bird before, my surprise and admiration were unbounded 

 when I held one in my hand for the first time and saw its wonderfully beautiful fan- 

 shaped crest. The bird was only wounded, and the crest was fully spread, while the 

 head was slowly moved from side to side, which gave it the appearance of a bright 

 flower noddmg in the wind. While admiring this new wonder I heard a twitter of 

 distress immediately above me, and, looking up, was delighted to see the female perched 

 on a twig not more than ten feet above me, Avith her crest erected and spread, and 

 making the same waving motion of the head. Is it not possible that this bird is pro- 

 vided with its remarkable crest for the purpose of attracting its insect-prey, and that 

 the slow and regular waving motion is calculated to still further deceive by a simulation 

 of a flower nodding in the breeze "? " 



Galbraith describes ^ the nest of this species as placed in very secluded spots, and 

 surrounded with a mass of loose straggling material, so that he had no suspicion of its 

 being a bird's nest until he observed the bird enter it ; inside of the loose grass &c. is a 

 curious hanging structure about three feet in length, large in the centre, and decreasing 

 in size towards each end ; the entrance is on the side where the diameter is largest and 

 where the nest proper is placed, this being very perfect in form ; the number of eggs 

 was found to be invariably two. These appear small for the size of the bird ; the 

 ground-colour is dull pale reddish white, marked for half the length with dull reddish 

 brown, lighter at the ends, which gives the appearance of a confused broad belt just 

 beyond the middle; the smaller end is irregularly spotted and streaked with the same 

 dark colour. 



CNIPODECTES. 



Cnipodectes, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1873, p. 281 (type Cyclorhynchus mbbrunneus, Scl.)j Scl. Cat. 

 Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 197. 



A genus of uncertain position having the appearance of a Rhynchocyclus of the larger 



