544 CUCULID^. 



Hah. Panama, E. Atrato (Wood^). — South Ameeica generally, from Colombia ^ to 

 Peru, Guiana, Brazil, and La Plata *. 



The name of this Crotojphaga is included in Cassin's list of birds collected by 

 Lieut. Michler's party during their exploration of the Isthmus of Darien, but we have 

 no other evidence of its occurrence elsewhere within our boundaries. It has been 

 recorded from other parts of Colombia by Salmon and others, and its range spreads 

 thence over the valley of the Amazons and to Guiana and southwards throughout 

 Brazil to the valley of the La Plata. 



In general colour Grotophaga major is a much brighter bird than either of its sombre 

 congeners, being of a shiny steel-blue with greenish edgings to the feathers. It is, 

 too, a much larger bird. 



In habits it resembles C. ani and C. sulcirostris, which are described more at length 

 below. 



The iris, according to Prince Wied, is light green, with a narrow yellow ring round 

 the pupil. 



2. Crotophaga ani. 



Crotophaga ani, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 154 ' ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 301 ^ ; Scl. & Salv. 

 P. Z. S. 1864, p. 366 ' ; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 211 ' ; Ibis, 1889, p. 372 ' ; 1890, p. 88 '; 

 Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 577 ' ; Cory, Birds W. Indies, p. 102 ' ; Shelley, Cat. 

 Birds Brit. Mus. xix. p. 439 \ 



Nigra, plumis omnibus corporis anticis, cervicis eb capitis aeneo-nigro limbatis ; rostri culmine acuto elevato 

 regulariter arcuato, lateribus glabris ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long, tota circa 13'0, alse 5"7, caudae rectr. 

 med. 7"0, rectr. lat. 6-0, rostri a rictu 1-16, tarsi 1'5. (Descr. maris ex Lion. Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



2 mari similis. 



Hab. NoETH Ameeica, Florida &c. — Mexico, Holbox I., Cozumel L [Q.F. Gaumer^^); 

 HoNDUEAS, Euatan I. (G. F. Gaumer^) ; Panama, Mina de Chorcha {Arce*}, Lion 

 Hill {M'-Leannan^ ^), Obispo [0. S.). — South Ameeica, from Colombia to Brazil ^ ; 

 Antilles generally ^. 



Though the range of Crotophaga ani is general in the Antilles and over a large 

 portion of the South-American continent, it is quite partial in Central America and 

 confined to the islands of Holbox and Cozumel ofi" the coast of Yucatan and Euatan in 

 the Bay of Honduras. It is also found on the Isthmus of Panama as far westward as 

 the district of Chiriqui. All through the rest of Mexico and Central America 

 C. sulcirostris takes its place. It occurs sparingly in Southern Florida, and has been 

 recorded from various places in the South-eastern States of America. 



The familiar habits of this bird have been frequently described, and the notes of 

 Gosse, Newton, and others give a good account of them. Several birds live together 

 in small flocks in open savanas and pastures, and are usually to be seen amongst herds 

 of cattle, from which they pick the ticks which infest them. Their flight is a laboured 



