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Show 1866.] MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE BIRDS Ol LIMA. 97 4. ANTHUS, sp. ? " Common in all the meadows near Lima: soars in the air almost perpendicularly for about 60 feet, and sings while ascending. Feeds on worms, &c. The female lays four eggs, of a dirty-white colour. Irides dark brown."-W. N. 5. TANAGRA DARWINI, Bp. " Possibly T. darwini, but cannot be T. striata, as we have males and females here in Lima. Tschudi never saw a female; his description only refers to the male. In the months of August and September one or two male birds can be found in every fruit-garden in Lima. The females are extremely scarce. This year I shot in one garden thirty birds, and only obtained two females. When the fruit-season is over they go away, I do not know where. They rarely build in Lima ; only once I saw a nest; it was on the top of a willow in a garden, in the month of September. A mischievous fellow shot the female on the nest. Irides reddish."-W. N. Certainly Tanagra darwini, Bp. (Tanagra frugilegus of Tschudi's 'Fauna Peruana'), and quite distinct from Tanagra striata (Gm.), although at one time I held a contrary opinion. See my note, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 453. 6. SALTATOR STRIATIPECTUS, Lafr. " More common than T. darwini. Frequents fruit-gardens and bushes on the sides of cultivated fields. I think this species does not migrate like the other. Irides light red."-W. N. 7. CATAMENIA ANALOIDES (Lafr.). " Migratory ; I have one alive in a cage. I never saw this bird till last year. I ran after it day after day for three months. With all my trouble and expense I could only procure two birds. They generally arrive in December and go away in May. Feeds on the seeds of Sida maculata. I never saw a bird so graceful when it is in its bush feeding. Irides nearly black."-W. N. In my American catalogue I have placed the genus Catamenia near Spermophila. I am now, however, quite convinced that it is much more nearly allied to Phrygilus. My C. homochroa is in fact an intermediate form, perhaps more correctly referable to the latter group. 8. VOLATINIA JACARINA (Linn.). " One of the commonest birds around Lima, exceedingly tame and gentle. Makes its nest in low bushes ; and lays two eggs, with brownish patches on a dirty-white surface. I have among my ' Birds of Peru' a carefully made drawing of the male and female, which, strange to say, have never been described yet by any ornithologist. All the descriptions I have seen refer to the male only. When the female is sitting on the eggs, the male makes a number of jumps in the air from a branch near the nest. Irides nearly black."-W. N. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1866, No. VII. |