of some Guatemalan Birds. 67 
no doubt; I have frequently had described to me such a nest, but 
never by one who had seen it.—0. S. 
18. Geococcyx affinis. “ Siguamonte,” or “ Guarda camino” 
San Geronimo, April 3, 1860. Bird and four eggs. 
The egg is pure white with a smooth surface; it measures, 
axis 1*45 in., diam. T05 in. 
This is a very common bird at San Geronimo. It builds its 
nest in the forks of trees, generally about 12 feet from the 
ground. The nest is a loose unfinished-looking structure, con¬ 
sisting of a few dried twigs lined with stalks of grass. 
19. Centurus santacruzii. u Carpentero 99 San Geronimo, 
June 2, 1860. Bird and four eggs. 
The eggs are pure white, but somewhat stained with spots of 
foreign matter; they measure, axis 1 in., diam. *75. 
These eggs were taken in one of the high trees which are 
scattered all over the plain of San Geronimo. They were quite 
fresh. 
20. Polyborus tharus. “ Quebranta-hueso” San Gero¬ 
nimo, April 2, 1860. Two birds and four eggs. 
The egg, which is well known in North American collections, 
has a light-red ground colour, but is spotted and blotched all 
over with several shades of a darker red. It measures, axis 
2T5in., diam. P6in. 
One nest which I took was built on the very crown of a high 
tree in the plain of San Geronimo. It was made of small 
branches twisted together, and had a slight lining of coarse 
grass. It was shallow, and formed a mass of considerable size. 
I had some trouble in getting the eggs : the position of the nest 
and the thick branchless trunk of the tree were difficulties which 
the Indian whose services I had engaged pronounced insur¬ 
mountable. All my proposed expedients for facilitating his 
ascent were knocked on the head by that everlasting “ Quien 
sabe. Patron V 9 and it was only on the following conditions that 
my dusky friend allowed himself to be tied to one end of a 
lasso, the other end being thrown over the lowest branch and 
hauled through the air until he got into fair climbing. I was 
to pay him well if he went up and came down again safely; but 
