Mar. , 1910 EFFECT OF ENEMIES ON NESTING HABITS OF HONDURAS BIRDS 
59 
colonies permits of such a choice, Myiozetctes and Lcgatus invariably and even 
Pitcingus occasionally build their nests in one of the small acacias with hollow 
thorns inhabited by stinging ants; it is, therefore, not unusual to see the nests of 
two or three species of flycatchers in a single small tree. 
A few words may be added here regarding the relation of ants to the nesting 
habits of British Honduras birds. In several instances referred to their presence 
is employed by the birds as a means of defence from larger enemies, but they are 
by no means alw r ays beneficial. The writer once found a nest of Myiarchus 
Fig. 20. NEST OF THE CINNAMON BECARD, PACHYRHAMPHUS 
CINNAMOMEUS 
mexicanus containing a newly hatcht bird just breathing its last and covered with 
small red stinging ants that had evidently attackt it as their prey. Such cases 
are doubtless common. The fierce driver ants of the genus Eciton, which move in 
vast hosts thru the forests, destroying every living creature that remains in 
their path, can not fail at times to come upon nests that are placed on or near the 
ground. These ants do not usually ascend far into the trees nor go out to the ends 
of long branches; it may be partly for this reason that some of the manikins and 
