Notes of some Birds in the A?ides. 249 
Valley. Solitary except in the breeding season. Tlioy often 
but not always build at the end of long tunnels that they 
dig out with their long curved bills; sometimes the tunnel 
is as much as 6 feet long. I never found more than three 
eggs in one nest. The eggs are pure white, smooth and rather 
varied in shape. 
These would make i)articularly interesting pets in a big 
aviary with a sand mound in it. 
RED-TAILED EARTH-CREEPER: (U . ntfirauda) . 
During the summer I saw none of these birds lower than 
10,000 feet. 
They are very inquisitive and tame. 
The}' have the habit of continually jerking the head and 
tail so that the latter comes within an inch of the former. 
It utters a cry like the squeak of a saw. The natives call 
this bird the " Carpenter." 
TIT-LIKE SPINE-TAIL: (Lrplasfhennra cp.gilhaloidcs) . 
This is a rare bird. It is very small and brown Avith 
a long spiked tail. They feed on insects and small buds. 
SORDID SPINE -TAIL: (Sijnallaxis sordida). 
Very similar to the above. 
WHITE-CRESTED TYRANT: (Elainea albiccps). 
Lives in the Adesmia Scrub (a sort of gorse-like plant) 
ana feeds on tTie seeds. 
I found a new parasitic worm, curled up next the heart, 
inside the pericardial sac in one of these birds, which has 
been named Filar ia elainea;. 
WHITE-TAILED TYRANT: (Agriornis viaritima). 
These birds were seldom seen. A little like a "Mocking- 
bird in flight: the latter quite noiseless. Lives on carrion and 
often to be seen chasing smaller birds. It has a curious note 
— sounding like " Kank-kank-kank- kank." 
GOLDEN SISKIN: (Mclunornitris uropi/gialis). 
In habit very like the British Siskin. Lives in flocks 
among the Adesmia Scrubs, hopping about looking after seeds. 
CAYS' FINCH: (Phrt/giliis (ja//i). 
'l ese l)ri!liantly coknircd l)ir(ls ar(> fairly common at 
Inca and up to 11,000 feet. 
They lay flne speckled eggs in a nest some five feet 
