PACHYRAMPHUS, _G. R. Gray._
Pachyrhynchus, _Spix._
1. PACHYRAMPHUS ALBESCENS.
Pachyrhynchus albescens, _Gould, MS._
PLATE XIV.
_P. olivaceo-griseus; alis nigrescenti brunneis, albescenti
marginatis; gutture corporeque subtus griseo-albis; alarum
tectricibus inferioribus pallidè sulphureis._
Long. tot. 5³⁄₁₂ unc.; _alæ_, 2⁷⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, 2⁶⁄₁₂; _tarsi_, ⁸⁄₁₂;
_rost._ ⁷⁄₁₂.
Head and all the upper surface olive grey; wings blackish brown, the
coverts and secondaries broadly margined with dull white; primaries
narrowly margined with greyish white; tail blackish brown, the
external web of the outer feather white; under surface of the
shoulder pale sulphur yellow; throat and under surface greyish
white; bill and feet black.
Habitat, Buenos Ayres.
The generic name of Pachyrhynchus _Spix_, is changed by Mr. G. R. Gray,
to _Pachyramphus_, as the former word is used in entomology.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 14._
Pachyramphus albescens.
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 15._
_Pachyramphus minimus._
]
2. PACHYRAMPHUS MINIMUS.
Pachyrhynchus minimus, _Gould_. _MS_.
PLATE XV.
_P. rufo brunneus; capite guttureque brunneo-nigris; plumarum basibus
albis; alis caudâque brunneis, plumis flavescenti-albo marginatis;
colli lateribus, fasciâ pectorali hypochondriisque fulvis; jugulo
ventreque pallidè flavescentibus._
_Long. tot._ 3⁷⁄₁₂; _alæ_, 1¹⁰⁄₁₂; _cauda_, 1⁷⁄₁₂; _tarsi_, ⁶⁄₁₂;
_rost._ ⁵⁄₁₂.
Crown of the head, sides of the face and throat blackish brown, each
feather white at the base; back of the neck black, and upper tail
coverts rufous brown; wings and tail dark brown, each feather
margined with sandy white; sides of the neck, under surface of the
shoulder, band across the chest and flanks reddish fawn colour;
lower part of the throat, and centre of the abdomen very pale buff;
bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Monte Video, (_November_).
SUB-FAM.—FLUVICOLINÆ, SWAIN.
ALECTURUS GUIRAYETUPA. _Vieill_. Dict.
Muscicapa psalura, _Temm._, Pl. Col. t. 286 and 296.
—— risoria, _Vieill._, Gal. des Ois. Pl. 131.
Yetapa psalura, _Less._, Tr. d’Orn. i. p. 387.
Le Guirayetupa, _Azara_, No. 226.
This bird is not uncommon on the open grassy country near Maldonado on
the banks of the Plata. It sits generally on the top of a thistle; from
which it makes short flights and catches its prey in the air. The two
long feathers in its tail appear quite useless to it. It sometimes feeds
on the ground. In the stomach of one which I opened there was a spider
(_Lycosa_), and some Coleoptera.
1. LICHENOPS PERSPICILLATUS. _G. R. Gray._
Sylvia perspicillata, _Gmel._
Œnanthe perspicillata, _Vieill._
Ada Commersoni, _Less._
Perspicilla leucoptera, _Swains._, Nat. Libr. x. Flyc. p. 105, Pl. 9.
Fluviola perspicillata, _D’Orb. & Lafr._, Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 59.
Le Clignot ou Lichenops, _Comm._, _Sundev._
Le Bec d’argent, _Azara_, No. 228.
This bird belongs to the sub-genus, _Perspicilla_, of Mr. Swainson; but
as Mr. G. R. Gray has pointed out that Commerson had previously
considered it the type of his genus, _Lichenops_, we have been induced
to prefer the latter as the oldest name. It is common in the
neighbourhood of the Plata, and across the Pampas, as far as Mendoza on
the eastern foot of the Andes; it has not, however, crossed those
mountains and entered Chile. It usually sits on the top of a thistle,
and like our common fly-catchers (_Muscicapa grisola_), takes short
flights in pursuit of insects; but does not, like that bird, return to
the same twig. It feeds, also, occasionally on the turf: in the stomach
of some which I opened, I found Coleopterous insects, chiefly
Curculionidæ. Beak, eye-lid, and iris, beautiful primrose yellow.
2. LICHENOPS ERYTHROPTERUS. _Gould._
PLATE IX.
_L. suprà nigrescenti-brunneus, plumis rufo-marginatis; primariis
secundariisque castaneis, apicibus pogoniæque externæ dimidio
apicali brunneis; gutture corporeque subtus cervinis; pectore
brunneo-marginato._
Long. tot. 6 unc.; _alæ_, 3; _caudæ_, 2⅜; _tarsi_, 1; _rostri_, ⁹⁄₁₂.
All the upper surface and tail blackish brown, each feather margined
with rufous; primaries and secondaries reddish chesnut, their tips
and their external webs for half their length from the tip, brown;
tertiaries, greater and lesser wing-coverts dark brown, each feather
margined with reddish buff; throat, and all the under surface, fawn
colour; the chest spotted with brown; base of the bill, and chiefly
of the lower mandible, as well as the iris, bright yellow; eye-lid,
blackish yellow; feet, dark brown.
Habitat, Banks of the Plata.
This bird is not very common. It frequents damp ground, where rushes
grow, on the borders of lakes. It feeds on the ground and _walks_. It is
certainly allied in many respects with the foregoing species, but in its
power of walking, and in feeding on the ground, there is a marked
difference in habits. As it has lately been described (Swainson’s Nat.
Libr. Ornith. x. p. 106.) as the female of the _L. perspicillatus_, I
will here point out some of its chief distinguishing characters. Its
beak is slightly more depressed, but with the ridge rather more plainly
pronounced. In the _L. perspicillatus_, the upper mandible is entirely
yellow, excepting the apex; in the _L. erythropterus_, it is entirely
pale brown, excepting the base. The eye-lid in the former is bright
primrose yellow, in the latter blackish yellow. The tail of _L.
erythropterus_ is squarer and contains only ten feathers instead of
twelve: the wing is ⁴⁄₁₀ of an inch shorter, and the secondaries
relatively to the primaries are also shorter. The red colour on the
primaries represents, but does not correspond with, the white on the
black feathers of _L. perspicillatus_; and the secondaries in the two
birds are quite differently marked. In _L. erythropterus_, the third,
fourth, and fifth primaries are the longest, and are equal to each
other; the second is only a little shorter than the third. In _L.
perspicillatus_ the third is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth;
and the second is proportionally shorter relatively to the third, so
that the outer part of the wing in this species is more pointed than in
_L. erythropterus_. The hinder claw in the latter is only in an
extremely small degree straighter than in the former; and this,
considering that the _L. perspicillatus_ is generally perched, and when
on the ground, can only hop; and that the _L. erythropterus_ feeds there
entirely, and walks, is very remarkable.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 9._
_Lichenops erythropterus._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 10._
_Fluvicola Azaræ._
]
1. FLUVICOLA ICTEROPHRYS. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 59.
Muscicapa icterophrys, _Vieill._ Encyc. Meth. p. 832.
Le Suiriri noirâtre et jaune, _Azara_, No. 183.
Specimens were found by me both at Monte Video and at Maldonado, on the
banks of the Plata. I found Coleoptera in their stomachs.
2. FLUVICOLA IRUPERO. _G. R. Gray._
Tyrannus Irupero, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 856.
Muscicapa mœsta, _Licht._ Cat. p. 54.
Muscicapa nivea, _Spix_, Av. pl. 29. f. 1.
Pepoaza nivea, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 62.
Irupero, _Azara_, No. 204.
This elegant bird, which is conspicuous amongst most land species by the
whiteness of its plumage, is found, though not commonly, (in November)
in Banda Oriental; whilst near Santa Fé, three degrees of latitude
northward, it was common during the same time of year. It is rather shy,
generally perches on the branches of bushes and low trees.
3. FLUVICOLA AZARÆ. _Gould._
PLATE X.
_F. albâ; alis, caudâ caudæque tectricibus atris, his albo-marginatis;
primariis flavescenti-albis, basibus apicibusque nigris; rostro
pedibusque atris._
Long. tot. 8³⁄₁₂ unc.; _alæ_, 4⁹⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, 4³⁄₁₂; _tarsi_, 1;
_rost._ 1.
Head, all the upper and under surface white; wings and tail black;
tail coverts black margined with white; primaries broad and crossed
near their extremity with sulphur white, and tipped with brown; bill
and legs black.
Habitat, banks of the Plata.
This bird is very common in the neighbourhood of Maldonado, where it
frequents the open grassy plains. It sits on the top of a thistle, or on
a twig, and catches the greater part of its food on the wing. It is
generally quiet in its movements and silent. Mr. Gould remarks, that he
finds “nearly all the species of this peculiar group to differ
remarkably in the structure of their wings and tail, while in all other
respects they closely resemble each other both in form and habit; I
have, therefore, hesitated to separate them into so many genera. I have
assigned the present species to Mr. Swainson’s sub-genus _Fluvicola_,
considering that differences in the form of one organ alone would not be
sufficient grounds for the institution of a new genus among such closely
allied species; the present bird evidently leads off to _Tænioptera_, a
genus proposed many years since, by the Prince of Musignano for the
_Pepoazas_ of Azara.
“This species is closely allied to, if not identical with the _Pepoaza
Dominicana_ of Azara, but as there is a degree of obscurity in his
description, which causes some doubt on this point, I have considered it
better to pay a just tribute of respect to that zealous labourer in the
field of natural science, by assigning his name to this very elegant
bird.”
1. XOLMIS CORONATA. _G. R. Gray._
Tyranuus coronatus, _Vieill._ Eucy. Meth. p. 885.
Muscicapa vittiger, _Licht._ Cat. p. 54.
My specimen was obtained on the wooded banks of the Parana, near Santa
Fé, in Lat. 31° S.
Boie’s name of Xolmis is adopted by Mr. G. R. Gray, as it was proposed
some five years anteriorly to that of the Prince of Musignano’s.
2. XOLMIS NENGETA. _G. R. Gray._
Lanius nengeta, _Linné_, 1. p. 135. 7.
Tyrannus nengeta, _Swains._ Journ. Sci. xx. p. 279.
Fluvicola nengeta, _Swains._ Nat. Libr. Fly-catchers, p. 102. pl. 8.
Tyrannus pepoaza, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 855.
Muscicapa polyglotta, _Licht. Spix._ II. pl. 24.
Tyrannus polyglottus, _Cuv._
Le Pepoaza proprement dit, _Azara_, No. 201.
My specimen was procured at Maldonado, north bank of La Plata, where it
is not common. Its habits in many respects are like those of the
_Fluvicola Azaræ_; it appears to catch its prey on the wing. Iris bright
red.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 11._
_Tænioptera variegata._
]
3. XOLMIS VARIEGATA. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XI.
Pepoaza variegata. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63. Voy. dans
l’Amer. Mèr. Orn. pl. 39. f. 2.
Tænioptera variegata. On plate.
This bird feeds in small flocks, often mingled with the icteri, plovers,
and other birds on the ground. Its manner of flight and general
appearance never failed to call to my recollection our common fieldfares
(_Turdus pilaris_, _Linn._) and I may observe that its plumage (in
accordance with these habits) is different from that of the rest of the
genus. I opened the stomachs of some specimens killed at Maldonado, and
found in them seeds and ants. At Bahia Blanca I saw these birds catching
on the wing large stercovorous Coleoptera; in this respect it follows
the habits, although in most others it differs from those of the rest of
its tribe. Iris rich brown.
4. XOLMIS PYROPE. _G. R. Gray._
Muscicapa pyrope, _Kitlitz._ Mem. l’Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters.
1831. p. 191. pl. 10. Vögel von Chili, pl. 10. p. 19.
Pepoaza pyrope, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63.
This bird is not uncommon near Port Famine in Tierra del Fuego, and
along the whole western coast (at Chiloe specimens were obtained) even
as far north as the desert valley of Copiapó. In the thickly wooded
countries of Tierra del Fuego and Chiloe, where it is more common than
further northward, it generally takes its station on the branch of a
tree, on the outskirts of the forest. When thus perched, usually at some
height above the ground, it sharply looks out for insects passing by,
which it takes on the wing. Iris scarlet. It builds a coarse nest in
bushes. Egg perfectly white, pointed oval; length one inch, breadth ·76
of an inch.
GENUS.—AGRIORNIS. _Gould._
Tyrannus, _Eyd. & Gerv._
Pepoaza, _D’Orb. & Lafr._
_Rostrum longitudine capitis, rectum, forte, compressum, abruptè
deflexum, emarginatum; tomiis rectis integris; naribus basalibus,
lateralibus, rotundis, patulis; rictu pilis rigidiusculis obsesso.
Alæ mediocres, remige primâ longâ, tertiâ, quartâque æqualibus,
longissimis. Cauda mediocris, quadrata. Tarsi longi, fortes, squamis
crassis annulati; digito ungueque postico mediano breviore,
lateralibus æqualibus, liberis._
Mr. Gould observes that the members of this genus are remarkable for
their robust form and for their strength and magnitude of their bills;
and their habits strictly accord with their structure, as they are
fierce and courageous.
The species are closely allied to those of the preceding genus.[10]
1. AGRIORNIS GUTTURALIS. _Gould._
Tyrannus gutturalis, _Eyd. & Gerv._ Voyage de la Fav. Ois. dans Mag. de
Zool. 1836. pl. 11.
Pepoaza gutturalis, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 64.
My specimens were obtained near Valparaiso in Chile. I saw it as far
north as the valley of Copiapó. I was assured by the inhabitants that it
is a very fierce bird, and that it will attack and kill the young of
other birds.
2. AGRIORNIS STRIATUS. _Gould._
_A. Fæm. intensè olivaceo-brunnea; alis caudâque fuscis, utriusque
plumis marginibus apiceque pallidè brunneis; rectricum externarum
pogoniâ externâ albâ; gutture facieque lateribus albis, his
nigrostriatis; pectore hypochondriisque olivaceo-brunneis; ventre
crissoque flavescentibus._
Long. tot. 10 unc.; _alæ_, 4⁹⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, 4³⁄₁₂; _tarsi_, 1³⁄₁₂;
_rostri_, 1²⁄₁₂.
Head, and all the upper surface dark olive brown; wings and tail dark
brown, each feather margined and tipped with pale brown, and the
outer web of the external tail-feather, white; throat, and sides of
the face, white, striated with black; breast and flanks olive brown;
centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts, buff; bill, horn
colour; feet, black.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 12._
_Agriornis micropterus._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 13._
_Agriornis leucurus._
]
Habitat, Santa Cruz, Patagonia. (_April._)
I am not aware of any difference in habits between this species, and the
following (_A. micropterus_); and the country inhabited by it is
similar. From these circumstances I am induced to suspect, that it is
the same species in an immature state.
3. AGRIORNIS MICROPTERUS. _Gould._
PLATE XII.
_M. pallidè brunneus, subtus flavescenti-albus; alarum caudæque plumis
griseo-marginatis; gutturis albis, brunneo-marginatis._
Long. tot. 9³⁄₁₂ unc.; _alæ_, 4⅓; _caudæ_, 2⅞; _tarsi_, 1³⁄₁₂;
_rostri_, 1⅜.
Head, all the upper surface, wings and tail, pale brown, each feather
of the wings and tail margined with greyish brown; throat, white,
striated with dark brown; the remainder of the under surface, buffy
white; bill, dark horn colour; feet brown.
Habitat, Port Desire, and St. Julian, Patagonia. (_January_).
These birds frequent the wild valleys in which a few thickets grow. They
generally take their stand on the upper twigs. They are shy, solitary,
and not numerous. Mr. G. R. Gray considers the two specimens which were
obtained to be immature, and that one is a full-fledged young, and the
other a nestling of the _Agr. striatus_.
4. AGRIORNIS MARITIMUS. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XIII.
Pepoaza maritima, _D’Orb. & Lafr._, Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 65.
Agriornis leucurus. _Gould’s MSS._, and on Pl. xiii.
Inhabits the coast of Patagonia. It is a scarce, shy, solitary bird,
frequenting the valleys in which thickets grow, but often feeding on the
ground. In the interior plains of Patagonia, on the banks of the Santa
Cruz, I several times saw it chasing beetles on the wing, in a peculiar
manner, half hopping and half flying; when thus employed, it spreads its
tail, and the white feathers in it are displayed in a very conspicuous
manner. I also met with this species in the lofty and arid valleys on
the eastern side of the Cordillera of Central Chile, and likewise at
Copiapó.
FAMILY.—LANIADÆ.
SUB-FAM.—LANIANÆ, SWAINS.
CYCLARHIS GUIANENSIS, _Swains._
C. Guianensis, _Swains._, Ornith. Draw. Pl. 58. ♀
Tanagra Guianensis, _Gmel._
Laniagra Guyanensis, _D’Orb. & Lafr._
Falcunculus Guianensis, _Swains._, (1837.)
Le Sourciroux, _Levaill._ Ois. D’Afr. Pl. 76. f. 2.
My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, in the latter end of May. I did
not see another during my residence there. In its stomach were
Coleoptera.
SUB-FAM.—THAMNOPHILINÆ.
THAMNOPHILUS DOLIATUS, _Vieill._
Lanius doliatus, _Linné_.
My specimen was obtained at Maldonado, where it is not very common. It
generally frequents hedge-rows. Cry rather loud, but plaintive and
agreeable. Iris, reddish orange; bill, blue, especially base of lower
mandible. I observed individuals (females?) in which the black and white
bands on the breast were scarcely visible, and even those on the under
tail-coverts but obscurely marked.
FAMILY.—TURDIDÆ.
1. TURDUS RUFIVENTER. _Licht._
T. rufiventer, _Licht._ Cat. p. 38.
—— _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 639?
—— _Spix_, Av. Sp. Nov. tom. 1. p. 70. t. lxviii.
—— _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Av. p. 203.
Grive rousse et noirâtre, _Azara_, No. 79.
Turdus Chochi, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 639.
—— _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1835. p. 17.
T. leucomelas, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 644.
T. albiventer, _Spix_, Av. Sp. Nov. tom. 1. p. 70. t. lxix. f. 1. m. 2
fem.
La grive blanche et noirâtre, _Azara_, No. 80.
The white-bellied thrush, described under the three latter synonyms,
according to M. D’Orbigny, (p. 203 of the ornithological part of his
work), is the female of the _T. rufiventer_. My specimens were obtained
at Maldonado and the Rio Negro, which latter place, in 41°, is its most
southern limit: Spix found it near Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It utters a
note of alarm very like that of the common English thrush, (_Turdus
musicus_).
2. TURDUS FALKLANDICUS. _Quoy et Gaim._
T. Falklandicus, _Quoy et Gaim._ Zool. de l’Uranie, p. 104.
—— _Pernetty_, Hist. d’un Voy. aux Iles Malouines, II. p. 20.
—— _D’Orb. & Lafr._, Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Av. p. 202.
T. Magellanicus, _King_, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1830) p. 14.
—— _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1835. p. 16.
M. D’Orbigny has pointed out that the _Turdus Magellanicus_ of King is
only the male bird of _Turdus Falklandicus_. I obtained specimens from
the Rio Negro, Falkland Islands, Tierra del Fuego and Chiloe: I believe
I saw the same species in the valleys of Northern Chile; I was informed
that the thrush there lines its nest with mud, in which respect it
follows the habits of species of the northern hemisphere. In the
Falkland Islands it chiefly inhabits the more rocky and dryer hills. It
haunts also the neighbourhood of the settlement, and very frequently may
be seen within old sheds. In this respect, and generally in its habits,
it resembles the English thrush (_Turdus musicus_): its cry, however, is
different. It is tame, silent, and inquisitive.
1. MIMUS ORPHEUS. _G. R. Gray._
Orpheus Calandria, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. (1835) p. 17.—Voy. de
l’Amer. Mer. Av. 206. pl. x. f. 2.
Turdus Orpheus, _Spix_. Av. t. 1. pl. 71.
Mimus saturninus, _P. Max._ Beitr. p. 658?
Orpheus modulator, _Gould_, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part IV. (1836) p. 6.
This bird is described in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society
(Part IV. 1836, p. 6.) as having come from the Straits of Magellan,
which undoubtedly is a mistake. It is extremely common on the banks of
the Plata; but a few degrees south of it, is replaced by the _O.
Patagonica_ of D’Orbigny. In Banda Oriental these birds are tame and
bold; they constantly frequent the neighbourhood of the country houses
to pick the meat, which is generally suspended to the posts and walls.
If any other small bird joins in the feast, the Calandria (as this
species is usually called in La Plata) immediately chases him away. In
these respects, and in its manner of sometimes catching insects, the
Mimus is related in its habits with that division of the _Muscicapidæ_,
which includes the genus _Xolmis_: indeed, the general colour of the
plumage of _X. Nengeta_ is so like that of Mimus, that it might readily
be mistaken for a bird of that genus. The Calandria haunts thickets and
hedge-rows, where it actively hops about, and in doing so often elevates
and slightly expands its tail.
2. MIMUS PATAGONICUS. _G. R. Gray._
Orpheus Patagonicus, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 19.—Voy. de
l’Amer. Mer. Av. p. 210, pl. xi. f. 2.
I obtained specimens of this bird at the Rio Negro and at Santa Cruz in
Southern Patagonia, at both of which places it is common. It is not
found in Tierra del Fuego, for neither it nor the other species of the
genus inhabit forests. This species has slightly different habits from
the _M. Orpheus_. It is a shyer bird, and frequents the plains and
valleys thinly scattered with stunted and thorn-bearing trees. It does
not appear to move its tail so much. Its cry, like that of the rest of
the genus, is harsh, but its song is sweet. The _M. Patagonicus_, whilst
seated on the highest twig of some low bush, often enlivens the
dreariness of the surrounding deserts by its varying song. Molina,
however, describing the song of an allied species, has greatly
exaggerated its charms. It may be compared to that of the sedge-bird
(_Motacilla salicaria_, Linn.), but is much more powerful, some harsh
notes and some very high ones being mingled with a pleasant warbling.
The song of the different mocking thrushes certainly is superior to that
of any other bird which I heard in South America; and they are almost
the only ones which formally perch themselves on an elevated twig for
the purpose of singing. They sing only during the spring of the year. I
may here mention, as a curious instance of the fine shades of difference
in habits between very closely allied species, that when I first saw the
_M. Patagonicus_, I concluded from habits alone that it was different
from _M. Orpheus_. But having afterwards procured a specimen of the
former, and comparing the two without particular care, they appeared so
very similar that I changed my opinion. Mr. Gould, however, immediately
upon seeing them (and he did not then know that M. D’Orbigny had
described them as different) pronounced that they were distinct species;
a conclusion in conformity with the trifling difference of habit and
geographical range, of which he was not at the time aware.
3. MIMUS THENCA. _G. R. Gray._
Turdus Thenca. _Mol._
Orpheus Thenca. _D’Orb._ Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Orn. p. 209, pl. f. 3.
This species seems to be confined to the coast of the Pacific, west of
the Cordillera, where it replaces the _M. Orpheus_, and _M. Patagonicus_
of the Atlantic side of the continent. Its southern limit is the
neighbourhood of Concepcion, (lat. 37° S.) where the country changes
from thick forests to an open land. The Thenca, (which is the name of
this species, in the language of the Aboriginal Indians,) is common in
central and northern Chile, and is likewise found (I believe the same
species) near Lima, (lat. 12°) on the coast of Peru. The habits of the
Thenca are similar, as far as I could perceive, to those of the _M.
Patagonicus_. I observed many individuals, which had their heads stained
yellow from the pollen of some flower, into which they bury their heads,
probably for the sake of the small beetles concealed there. Molina
describes the nest of the Thenca, as having a long passage, but I was
assured by the country people, that this nest belonged to the
_Synallaxis ægithaloides_, and that the Thenca makes a simple nest,
built externally of small prickly branches of the mimosa.
4. MIMUS TRIFASCIATUS. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XVI.
Orpheus trifasciatus. _Gould_, in Proc. of Zool. Soc. Part v. 1837, p.
27.