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Show 1883.] MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM YUCATAN. 455 bee-raiser, as its food consists exclusively of these insects. itself in the vicinity of the hives, or frequenting the trees to which the bees resort to seek for honey, it is ever busy collecting them. It is rather inactive and clumsy, scarcely appearing at ease in any position. Its song is neither beautiful, nor varied, nor often repeated. 129. DROMOCOCCYX PHASIANELLUS (Spix). Only one specimen of this bird was seen by me in Yucatan ; and as it has no name, neither in Maya nor in Spanish, I conclude it is seldom found in this State. 130. RHAMPHASTOS CARINATUS (Swains.). Said to be very common in all parts of the State, though I have not found this to be the case. Only six specimens have been observed by me during the year. It is also said to go in immense flocks, but I have only seen solitary individuals. It lives upon fruits, and is found in the forests, rarely in the settlements, and never in the towns. [In Dr. Cabot's collection.-0. Si] 131. PTEROGLOSSUS TORQUATUS (Gm.). Common in most parts of the State. Lives in flocks in the forests, rarely seen near the ranchos, and never in the towns. Lives upon fruit, of which it is very fond and eats a great deal. It generally takes its food three times a day-at 7 A.M., and at 2 and 5 P.M. ; at these hours it is easily shot, as it is not very wild when eating. 132. CONURUS AZTEC, Souance ; Lawr. I. c. p. 207. This bird abounds in all parts of Yucatan ; but the largest flocks were met with in Western Yucatan, where 400 or 800 were seen in a single flock. In November and December they were feeding upon the seeds of a plant which grows very abundantly in that part of this State. The sharp piercing cry of these birds is almost deafening when in large flocks. 133. CHRYSOTIS ALBIFRONS (Sparrm.) ; Lawr. I. c. p. 207. This bird abounds in every part of Yucatan, rarely entering the villages, though common near the ranchos, and frequently seen in immense flocks in the wild-orange groves, where it spends much of its time eating the fruit of this tree. This bird is found domesticated in almost every house, and learns to speak quite readily. [In Dr. Cabot's collection.-O. Si] 134. CHRYSOTIS XANTHOLORA, G. R. Gray; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 327. This bird seems to be very rare. Only three specimens were sent by Gaumer, who made no special remarks on them, probably believing that they were the same as G. albifrons. [In Dr. Cabot's collection.-O. Si] |
