470 



APPENDIX. 



the ruins and on the tops of the churches. It is quite abundant in Yu- 

 catan, though only one specimen was obtained, which was shot from the 

 top of the cross over the gateway at the hacienda of the senote (Mu- 

 cuyche), as we rode up on our way to Uxmal. There does not appear to 

 be any published description of this hawk. Still another hawk was pro- 

 cured, which also seems not to have been described ; but, as it appears to 

 be in immature plumage, it may be the young of some known bird. Be- 

 sides these, among the specimens is the laughing falcon (Falco Cachin- 

 nans of Lin.). It is called by the natives koss, and was shot at Chichen 

 Itza near the Castillo, and was stuffed. Another specimen of the same bird 

 was procured on the way from Nohcacab to Uxmal, after our first attack 

 of sickness. These birds are quite numerous throughout Yucatan. 

 . Of the genus Strix but three varieties were seen, and of those two were 

 preserved, both of which are believed to be undescribed. The first, a little 

 owl, about six inches and a half long, of a tawny colour, lighter beneath, 

 which was shot near Merida. The second is about six inches long, of a 

 brown above and lighter beneath, called by the natives tiquim thohca. 

 Several specimens of both these owls were seen. The third was caught 

 in one of the ruined buildings, and kept alive for a little while, but after- 

 ward escaped. It resembled somewhat the Strix Aluco of Europe. One 

 was afterward shot at Sabachshe, but was so much injured that it could 

 not be stuffed. 



Of the genus Corvus werp procnred three species, two of which are ap- 

 parently not described. The first is a very beautiful jay, the head and 

 belly black ; back, wings, and tail of a beautiful blue ; the bill of the male 

 is yellow, and of the female black ; the legs yellow. It was first seen and 

 shot near Sisal, on the way up to Merida, and afterward several other spe- 

 cimens were obtained in different parts of the country, for they are numer- 

 ous throughout Yucatan. The other was first met with at Uxmal, where 

 a female was shot, and afterward two males. They are of a dark brown 

 on the head, neck, back, and tail ; belly white ; bill of male black, and female 

 yellow ; they have a most singu^fciformation of the trachea, there being a 

 sort of membranous sack or bag coming off in front of the trachea at about 

 the middle of its length, and intimately connected with the skin of the neck} 

 this formation, together with the great muscularity of the larynx, may ac- 

 count for their excessively loud and disagreeable cry. The other jay is the 

 Corvus Peruvianus, Peruvian jay. (Shaw, vol. viii., plate 27.) This 

 most beautiful bird is found in great abundance in almost all parts of 

 Yucatan, which is probably its native country, as it is mentioned as rare 

 in Peru. 



Of the genus Psittacus were procured four species, three of which have 

 been described, and perhaps the fourth also ; but, as the specimen is bad, it 

 is not easy to ascertain positively whether it has or not. One, the Psit- 

 tacus Albifrons (Ind. Orn., vol. i., p. 119), white-crowned parrot (Shaw, 



