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Show 96 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE BIRDS OF LIMA. [Feb. 13, 4. On the Birds of the Vicinity of Lima, Peru. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., &c. With Notes on their Habits; by Professor W . N A T I O N , of Lima, C.M.Z.S. (Part I.) (Plate X L ) Our Corresponding Member, Prof. W. Nation, of Lima, Peru, has recently sent me a small collection of birds obtained in the vicinity of that city, to which he has been kind enough to add some interesting notes on their habits, localities, &c. I have carefully determined the species, and appended some few observations on the synonymy and other points which appeared to call for remark. The ornithology of this part of Western Peru is not yet very well known to us, Tschudi's (somewhat imperfect) 'Fauna Peruana' being our chief authority on the subject. Some few species were collected on this coast during the voyage of the ' Beagle ;' and the well-known French collector, Delattre, passed through Lima on one of his journeys. The new species obtained by the latter naturalist were described by Lafresnaye in the 'Revue Zoologique' for 1847. Prof. Nation, who is a resident at Lima, informs me that he has made a considerable collection in this neighbourhood, and promises to send me a second portion of it for examination very shortly; so that I hope to have before long a second paper to submit to the Society on this subject. The species contained in the present collection are the following, the nomenclature adopted being, unless the contrary is stated, that of m y American Catalogue :- 1. TURDUS CHIGUANCO, Lafr. & D'Orb. " Migratory : arrives in June, departs in October. Resorts to the valleys near Lima. Feeds on spiders, small snails, &c. Irides reddish brown."-W. N. 2. MIMUS LONGICAUDATUS, Tsch. F. P. p. 190, pi. 15. f. 2. "Haunts corn-fields and woody parts of the Rimac. Feeds on worms, & c , and Indian corn. Nest artlessly made of small sticks in Acacia trees ; lays two eggs. Irides blackish brown."-W. N. This is the first specimen I have met with of this Mocking-bird, which, as Tschudi observes, is nearly related to the Chilian M. thenca, but differs in its longer and more curved bill and longer tail. Mimus leucospilos, von Pelzeln (Sitz. Ak. Wien, xxxi. p. 323), seems to be the same as Tschudi's bird. 3. TROGLODYTES FURVUS (Gm.). " Found on the tufts of reeds, along with Cyanotis omnicolor. Habits just like those of Cyanotis. I have a nest; it is somewhat like the nest of the Marsh-Wren of North America. Irides brownish black."-W. N. |