202 The American Naturalist. [Mareh, 
sociable in their habits, living and breeding in flocks, and the 
branches of some favorite tree may often be seen covered with 
their long pendent nests. The difference in size between the 
cock and the hen is considerable, although the plumage is the 
same. They are probably attracted to these plantations by the 
quantity of ripe “ panpa” and banana. Large flocks of a small 
kind are seen at certain seasons of the year. I shot several, 
but only secured one, the undergrowth of brush and cane being 
so matted together by creepers and bush-ropes. 
“I sometimes saw among the pines very handsome hawks. 
The cry of the “bean-bean” is always to be heard on the 
savannahs. It has a curious knob of skin at the base of the 
neck. In color it is a sort of dull drab, shaded underneath 
with white. In habits, this bird resembles the magpie, hop- 
ping on the ground and amongst the branches of the trees, in 
the same springy manner. The hen-hawk is very common 
among the pine walks in the savannahs, and large green par- 
rots fly chattering overhead, morning and evening. Their 
flight is exceedingly rapid and powerful.. Trogons, pigeons, 
and other birds were to be seen in the thickets, and a red- 
headed woodpecker. However, there are few land-birds there. 
The white crane is very shy and will not admit of a near ap- 
proach. Some large snipe, and rarely, a muscovy duck, would 
rise from the sedge.” 
UPON AN UNDESCRIBED SPECIES OF MEGASCOLIDES 
FROM THE UNITED STATES. 
By FRANK SMITH. 
Through the kindness of Mr. R. W. Doane of the Washington 
Agricultural College and School of Science at Pullman, 
Washington, I have recently received four specimens of a 
species of earthworm which I refer to the genus Megascolides. 
Mr. Doane writes me that this species is very abundant 1m 
that region of country and that their burrows are sometimes 
