arcuatum, lateraliter compressum, haud emarginatum; naribus magnis
basalibus linearibus apertis aut partim operculo tectis_: alæ
_brevissimæ rotundæ, plumis quarta, quinta sextaque ferè æqualibus
et longissimis_; cauda _rotundata et graduata, scapis aliquanto
ultra radios productis_; tarsi _mediocres, fortiter scutellati;
halluce digito medio breviore, robusto, ungue robusto armato,
digitis lateralibus ferè æqualibus, intermediis aliquanto
brevioribus_.
1. LIMNORNIS RECTIROSTRIS. _Gould._
PLATE XXVI.
_L. pallide flavescenti fusca; cervice nigrescenti fusco; caudâ rufa;
tectricibus primariis secundariisque fuscis rufo latè marginatis;
fasciâ pone oculos, gulâ abdomineque flavescenti albis;
hypochondriis fulvis._
Long. tot. 6²⁄₁₂ unc; _rost._ ²⁄₁₂, _alæ_, 2⁶⁄₁₂ _caudæ_, 2⁹⁄₁₂
_tarsi_, ⁹⁄₁₂.
Crown of the head brown; the remainder of the upper surface, pale
yellowish brown; tail rufous and acutely pointed; wing coverts,
primaries and secondaries brown, broadly margined with rufous;
stripe behind the eye, throat, and all the under surface buffy
white; flanks tawny; bill lengthened, orange at the base, dark brown
at the tip; iris rusty red; feet very pale coloured; claws whitish.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata. (_June._)
This bird lives amongst the reeds on the borders of lakes. It often
alights vertically on stems of plants, but in climbing does not use its
tail: habits, generally similar to those of _Synallaxis maluroides_.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 26._
_Limnornis rectirostris_
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 25._
_Limnornis curvirostris._
]
2. LIMNORNIS CURVIROSTRIS. _Gould._
PLATE XXV.
_L. rufescenti-fusca; caudâ, remigiumque basibus pallidè:
castaneo-fuscis, lineâ superciliari, genis, gulâ abdomineque albis;
hypochondriis cervino tinctis._
Long. tot. 7 unc., _rost._ 1⅛; _alæ_, 2⁸⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, 3¹⁄₁₂; _tarsi_,
¹⁰⁄₁₂.
Head, all the upper surface, and wings reddish brown; tail and basal
portion of the outer margins of the primaries and secondaries
reddish chesnut brown; stripe over the eye, throat, and all the
under surface white, tinged, especially on the flanks, with fawn
colour; bill orange at the base, the tip brown; legs pale bluish;
claws white; tongue bristled on the sides; near the extremity it is
divided into little bristly points.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata. (_June._)
This species frequents the same localities with the last, and I am
unable to point out any difference in its habits. Of the two specimens
collected, the beak of one is very nearly one-tenth of an inch longer
than that of the other; but this is almost wholly due to the sharp point
of the upper mandible projecting beyond the lower mandible in the one,
whereas they are nearly equal in the other.
1. OXYURUS TUPINIERI. _Gould._
Synallaxis tupinieri. _Less._ Zool. de la Coqu. pl. 29. f. 1.
Oxyurus ornatus. _Swains._ 2 Cent, and ¼. p. 324.
This bird is perhaps the most abundant of any land species inhabiting
Tierra del Fuego. It is common along the west coast, (and numerous in
Chiloe,) even as far north as a degree south of Valparaiso; but the dry
country and stunted woods of central Chile are not favourable to its
increase. In the dark forests of Tierra del Fuego, both high up and low
down, in the most gloomy, wet, and scarcely penetrable ravines, this
little bird may be met with. No doubt, it appears more common than it
really is, from its habit of following, with seeming curiosity, every
person who enters these silent woods; continually uttering a harsh
twitter, it flutters from tree to tree, within a few feet of the
intruder’s face. It is far from wishing for the modest concealment of
the creeper (_Certhia familiaris_); nor does it, like that bird, run up
the trunks of trees, but industriously, after the manner of a willow
wren, hops about and searches for insects on every twig and branch.
2. OXYURUS? DORSO-MACULATUS. _Gould._
Synallaxis dorso-maculata. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Voy. de l’Amer. Mer. Ois.
pl. 14. f. 1.
—— Mag. de Zool. 1837, Cl. 11. p. 21.
My specimen was procured from Maldonado, (_June_), where it was not
common. It frequents the same localities with _Synallaxis maluroides_,
and the two species of _Limnornis_, and has very similar habits with
them. In structure, and in the general shade of its plumage, it is
closely allied to the foregoing species, although differing from it in
habits.
GENUS.—DENDRODRAMUS. _Gould._
_Rostrum capitis longitudine, aut longius, culmine recto, gonide
ascendente, per omnes partes lateraliter compressum, durum et apice
inemarginatum, naribus basalibus longitudinalibusque; alæ mediocres
et subacuminatæ, plumis tertia, quarta et quinta æqualibus
longissimisque; cauda mediocris, scapis ultra radios in spinas
acutas productis; tarsi sub-breves, digitis unguibusque longis, his
multum curvatis, digito externo valido et ferè digiti medii
longitudine, digitis lateralibus inæqualibus, internis multum
brevioribus._
DENDRODRAMUS LEUCOSTERNUS. _Gould._
PLATE XXVII.
_D. capite, dorsi parte superiore alisque nigrescenti fuscis,
rubro-tinctis; primariis secundariisque subferrugineo fusco
irregulariter marginatis, uropygio caudâque nitidè ferrugineis, gulâ
pectoreque albis, abdomine medio rufescenti-fusco, singulis plumis
ad apicem maculâ magnâ ovali albâ; hypochondriis saturatè rufis;
rostro basi corneo, apice pedibusque nigro fuscis._
Long. tot. 6³⁄₁₂ unc.; _rostri_, 1¹⁄₁₂; _alæ_ 3; _caudæ_, 2⁹⁄₁₂;
_tarsi_, ⁹⁄₁₂.
Head, upper part of the back and wings blackish brown, tinged with
red; primaries and secondaries irregularly margined with dull rusty
brown; rump and tail rich ferruginous; throat and chest white;
feathers of the centre of the abdomen reddish brown, with a large
oval spot of white near the tip of each feather; flanks deep rufous;
bill horny at the base, the remainder and the feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Chiloe and Southern Chile.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 27._
_Dendrodramus leucosternus._
]
This bird is common in the forests of Chiloe, where, differently from
the _Oxyurus tupinieri_, it may constantly be seen running up the trunks
of the lofty forest trees. Its manners appeared to me to resemble those
of _Certhia familiaris_. I found Coleopterous insects in its stomach.
Its range does not appear to be extensive; Chiloe to the south, and some
woods near Rancagua (a degree south of Valparaiso) were the extreme
points where I met with it. The Dendrodramus is not found in Tierra del
Fuego, where the _O. tupinieri_ is so numerous. Mr. G. R. Gray remarks
that this genus is very nearly allied to Dendroplex of Mr. Swainson.
FAMILY.—SYLVIADÆ.
SUB-FAM.—MOTACILLINÆ.
1. MUSCISAXICOLA MENTALIS. _D’Orb. & Lafr._
M. mentalis, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 66.
—— Voy. dans l’Amer. Mer. Ornith. pl. 40, f. 1.
I procured specimens of this bird from Bahia Blanca, in Northern
Patagonia, from Tierra del Fuego, from Chiloe, and from Central and
Northern Chile. It is everywhere common. It frequents open places; so
that in the wooded countries it lives entirely on the sea beaches, or
near the summits of mountains, where trees do not grow. In the
excessively sterile upper valleys of the Cordillera of Northern Chile I
met with this bird, even at a height of little less than ten thousand
feet, where the last traces of vegetation occur, and where no other bird
lives. It generally moves about in very small flocks, and frequents
rocky streams and marshy ground: it hops and flies from stone to stone,
very much after the manner of our whinchat (_Motacilla rubetra_), but
when alighting it frequently expands its tail like a fan. The sexes are
exactly similar in size and plumage.
Mr. G. R. Gray observes, that the genus Muscisaxicola is probably
synonymous with Lessonia of Mr. Swainson; but the latter name cannot be
used, as it has already been twice employed in other branches of Natural
History.
2. MUSCISAXICOLA MACLOVIANA. _G. R. Gray._
Sylvia macloviana, _Garn._ Voy. de la Coqu. Zool. p. 663.
Curruca macloviana, _Less._
I brought home only one specimen of this bird; it came from East
Falkland Island, whence also those described by Messrs. Lesson and
Garnot were procured. Mr. Gould considered it a distinct species, but
having carefully compared it with _M. mentalis_, I can see not the
smallest difference in any point, excepting that it is somewhat larger
in all its dimensions. The length of the whole body is .6 of an inch
greater, of wing when folded .45, of tarsus .2, greater than in the
foregoing species. I can scarcely hesitate in thinking it a large-sized
local variety, from some favourable condition in the Falkland Islands to
its growth.
3. MUSCISAXICOLA BRUNNEA. _Gould._
_M. griseo-fusca; gutture abdomineque albis flavescenti tinctis,
pectore obscuro; alis caudâque obscure fuscis, singulis plumis
rufescenti-fusco marginatis; rectricum externarum radiis lateralibus
flavescentibus._
Long. tot. 5 unc.; _rostri_, ¹¹⁄₁₆; _alæ_, 3⅛; _caudæ_, 2⁴⁄₈; _tarsi_,
1.
Head, and all the upper surface greyish brown; wings and tail dark
brown, each feather margined with reddish brown; the outer webs of
the external tail feathers buffy white; throat and all the under
surface white, slightly tinged with buff; bill and feet blackish
brown.
Habitat, Port St. Julian, Patagonia. (_January_).
The only specimen I procured was immature.
4. MUSCISAXICOLA NIGRA. _G. R. Gray._
Alauda nigra, _Boddater_.
—— rufa, _Gmel._
—— fulva, _Lath._ Index.
Anthus fulvus, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. 309.
—— variegatus, _Gerv. & Eydoux_, Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 26.
Sylvia dorsalis, _King._
Lessonia erythronotus, _Swains._ Class. of Birds.
Alouette noire à dos fauve, _Pl. enl._ 738.
L’Alouette à dos rouge, _Azara_, No. 149.
This bird has a wide geographical range. It is found in La Plata,
Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, and on the west coast at least as far north
as the valley of Copiapó, in Northern Chile. It is every where common:
it is a quiet, tame, inoffensive little bird: it lives on the ground,
and frequents sand-dunes, beaches, and rocky coasts, which it seldom
leaves: the broad shingly beds of the rivers in Chile have, however,
tempted it inland, together with the Opetiorhynchus. I was told that it
builds in low bushes.
1. ANTHUS CORRENDERA. _Vieill._
Anthus correndera, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. i. p. 325.
La correndera, _Azara_, No. 145.
This titlark is found in La Plata, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. I
was informed by an intelligent sealer, that it is the only land-bird on
Georgia and South Orkney (lat. 61° S.): it has, therefore, probably a
further range southward than any other land-bird in the southern
hemisphere. It does not live in flocks, is very common, and resembles a
true Alauda in most of its habits. This species (as well as the
following) is so closely allied to our meadow pipit, _Anthus pratensis_,
that Latham considered it only as a variety; the latter has a high
northern range, as the former has a southern one. There can be little
doubt that the bird alluded to by Mr. Yarrell (British Birds, p. 392,
vol. i.) as having been caught in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, nine
hundred miles from Georgia, was this species, which was mistaken, owing
to its close similarity, for the true _Anthus pratensis_.
2. ANTHUS FURCATUS. _D’Orb. & Lafr._
A. furcatus, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 27. Voy. de l’Amer.
Mer. Av. p. 227.
My specimens were procured on the northern bank of the Plata. It is more
common there than the foregoing species, to which it is most closely
allied: its chief distinguishing character appears to be the greater
shortness of its toes and of the hind claw. I have seen this species
alight on twigs. In the breeding season it flies upward, and then falls
to the ground, with raised wings, in the peculiar manner common to the
_Anthus arboreus_ of England. It builds on the ground; nest simple; egg
¹⁰⁄₁₂ of an inch in length, and ⁷⁄₁₂ in width; colour dirty white, with
small specks and blotches of dull red and obscurer ones of purple. This
species, both in habits and structure, appears to be an analogue of _A.
arboreus_ of the northern hemisphere, as _A. correndera_ is of _A.
pratensis_. Mr. Yarrell informs me that the egg of _Anthus furcatus_ is
very different from that of _A. arboreus_, although the parent birds are
so similar.
3. ANTHUS CHII. _Licht._
A. Chii, _Licht. Spix_, Av. Sp. No. i. t. lxxvi. fig. 2. p. 75.
Le Chii, _Azara_, No. 146.
My specimen was procured at Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
SYLVICOLA AUREOLA. _Gould._
PLATE XXVIII.
_S. supra flavescenti olivacea; fronte cerviceque nitide flavis,
singulis plumis ad apicem rufescenti castaneis; occipite griseo;
alis caudâque nigrescentibus, latè flavo-marginatis; genis
guttureque nitidè flavis; pectore concolori sed singulis plumis in
medio pallidè castaneo notatis; abdomine albescenti._
Long. tot. 5 unc.; _rostri_, ⁸⁄₁₂; _alæ_, 2⁶⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, 2³⁄₁₂;
_tarsi_, ¹⁰⁄₁₂.
The nape of the neck, back and tail-coverts yellowish olive; the wings
and tail blackish, broadly margined with yellow; the front and crown
yellow, with the tips of the feathers reddish castaneous; the hind
head grey mixed with yellow, the cheeks and the throat bright
yellow; the breast of the same colour, but each feather is marked
down the middle with pale reddish castaneous, the sides and middle
of the abdomen whitish.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (_September_).
This bird is not uncommon on these islands. It has the habits of our
Sylviæ. It frequents the thickets in the lower, dry and rocky parts of
the island, and especially a peculiar bush, with thick foliage, which
grows only near the sea-coast.
CYANOTIS OMNICOLOR. _Swains._
Regulus omnicolor, _Vieill._ Gal. pl. 166.
Sylvia rubrigastra, _Vieill._
Regulus Byronensis, _Gray_, Griff. An. King. pl.
Tachuris omnicolor, _D’Orb. & Lafr._
Tachuris roi, _Azara_, No. 161.
My specimens were obtained at Maldonado in June, and therefore probably
it is not a bird of passage. It frequented reeds on the borders of a
lake, but was exceedingly rare. I likewise saw one in Northern
Patagonia, and in a collection of birds at Santiago, in Chile, made
there by an inhabitant of the place. The soles of the feet of this
exquisitely beautiful little bird are bright orange.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 28._
_Sylvicola aureola._
]
TRICHAS VELATA. _G. R. Gray._
Sylvia velata, _Vieill._ Ois. de l’Amer. Sept., ii. pl. 74.
—— _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1836, p. 20.
Tanagra canicapilla, _Swains_, Ill. Orn. pl. 174.
Trichas canicapilla, _Swains_.
My specimen was procured at Maldonado in June.
FAMILY.—FRINGILLIDÆ.
SUB-FAM.—ALAUDINÆ.
MELANOCORYPHA CINCTURA. _Gould._
_M. Fæm. fuscescenti rufa; gulâ abdomineque medio pallidioribus;
remigibus ad apicem nigrescenti fuscis; rectricibus singulis maculâ
albâ ovatâ nigrescenti fuscâ ad apicem notatis._
Long. tot. 5¾ unc.; _alæ_, 3¼; _caudæ_, 2¼; _tarsi_, ¾; _rost._ ½.
The whole of the plumage, bill, and feet, sandy rufous brown, which is
lightest on the throat and centre of the abdomen; primaries near
their extremities passing into blackish brown; and each of the tail
feathers with a large oval spot of blackish brown near the tip.
Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands. (_September._)
This bird inhabits the most arid plains of lava; it runs, and in its
habits resembles, in many respects, a lark.
PYRRHALAUDA NIGRICEPS. _Gould._
_P. supra fuscescenti albâ, plumis medio obscurioribus; fronte, genis
lineâque pectoris utrinque albis; corpore infra lineâque à basi
rostri supra oculos ad occiput transiente nigris; caudæ plumis
mediis nigrescentibus fuscescenti albo marginatis, plumis externis
atris._
Long. tot. 4⅝ unc.; _alæ_, 2⅞; _caudæ_, 1⅝; _tarsi_, ⁶⁄₁₀; _rost._
⁴⁄₁₀.
Upper surface brownish white, with the middle of the feathers darker;
the front, cheeks, and a line on each side of the breast white;
beneath the body, and a line from the bill passing over the eyes to
the hind head, black; the tail with the middle feathers blackish,
margined with brownish white, the outer feathers deep black; the
bill and feet pale.
Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands. (_September and January._)
Like the last species, this bird inhabits sterile lava plains; it runs
like a lark, and generally goes in small flocks.
SUB-FAM.—PYRRHULINÆ.
SPERMOPHILA NIGROGULARIS. _Gould._
_S. capite corporeque supra, alis caudâque fusco cinereis; loris
gulâque nigris; lineis à rostri angulis per collum utrinque
descendentibus, pectore abdomineque mediis, tegminibusque caudalibus
inferioribus cinereo albis._
_Fem.? supra olivaceo fusca, subtus pallidior._
Long. tot. 3 unc.; _alæ_, 2¼; _caudæ_, 2; _tarsi_, ⅝; _rostri_, ⁵⁄₁₆.
Male.—Head, all the upper surface, wings and tail, brownish grey;
lores and throat black; lines from the angle of the bill down each
side of the neck, centre of the chest and abdomen, and the under
tail coverts greyish white; bill light horn colour; feet dark brown.
Female?—The whole of the plumage olive brown above, and lighter
beneath; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Monte Video. (_November._)
1. CRITHAGRA? BRASILIENSIS.
Fringilla Brasiliensis, _Spix_, Av. Sp. Nov. ii. t. lxi. f. 1. m. 2.
fem. p. 47.
My specimens were obtained from the northern bank of the Plata, in the
months of June and November.
2. CRITHAGRA? BREVIROSTRIS. _Gould._
_C. vertice dorsoque pallidè olivaceo fuscis, plumis singulis striâ
angustâ mediâ nigro-fuscâ, pennis scapularibus alis caudâque
nigro-fuscis cinereo olivaceo latè marginatis; uropygio virescenti
flavo; loris, gulâ, pectore humero infra, abdomine, tegminibusque
caudæ inferioribus latè flavis._
Long. tot. 5 unc.; _rostri_, ⁷⁄₁₆; _alæ_, 2⅞; _caudæ_, 2¼; _tarsi_, ⅝.
Crown of the head and back, light olive brown, with a narrow stripe of
blackish brown in the centre of each feather; scapularies, wings and
tail, blackish brown, broadly margined with greyish olive; rump
greenish yellow; lores, throat, chest, under surface of the
shoulders, abdomen, and under tail-coverts bright yellow: bill and
feet brown.
Habitat, Maldonado (_May_), and Valparaiso (_September_).
Near Maldonado, I saw very large flocks of this species feeding on the
open grassy plains. When the whole flock rises, these birds utter a low
but shrill chirp. In Chile I obtained only one specimen.
SUB-FAM.—EMBERIZINÆ.
1. EMBERIZA GUBERNATRIX. _Temm._
Emberiza gubernatrix, _Temm._, Pl. Col. 63 & 64.
—— cristata, _Swains_, Zool. Ill. pl. 148.
—— cristatella, _Vieill._ Gal. des Ois. pl. 67.
Yellow crested grosbeak, _Lath._ Hist.
La huppe jaune, _Azara_, No. 129.
My specimen was procured on the banks of the Parana, near Santa Fe, in
latitude 31° S.
2. EMBERIZA LUTEOVENTRIS. _G. R. Gray._
Fringilla luteoventris, _Meyen_, Nov. Act. 1880, pl. 12. f. 3.
This bird was procured at Santa Cruz, in Southern Patagonia; it was rare
there.
CHRYSOMETRIS CAMPESTRIS. _Gould._
Fringilla campestris, _Spix_, Avium Nov. Sp. ii. p. 47, pl. 59. f. 3. ♀
_C. Mas: olivaceous; dorsi plumis singulis flavo marginatis, uropygii
præsertim; vertice, gulâ, alis caudâque nigris, alis caudâque plus
minusve flavo-marginatis; capitis lateribus corporeque infra latè
flavis._
Long. tot. 4 unc.; 11 lin.; _rost._ 5 lin.; _alæ_, 2¾; _caudæ_, 2¼;
_tarsi_, 7 lin.
Male; olivaceous, with each feather of the back margined with yellow,
especially on the rump; the top of the head, throat, wings and tail,
black, the two latter margined more or less with yellow; the sides
of the head and beneath the body bright yellow.
Habitat, forests of Tierra del Fuego (_February_), Valparaiso
(_September_).
SUB-FAM.—FRINGILLINÆ.
1. AMMODRAMUS LONGICAUDATUS. _Gould._
PLATE XXIX.
_A. vertice humeroque cinereo-fuscis, dorso pallescenti fusco,
uropygio rufescenti-fusco tincto, plumis singulis strigâ mediâ
fuscâ; tectricibus alarum majoribus, remigibus primariis
secundariisque et caudâ nigrescentibus, cinereo albo externe
marginatis; fronte, strigâ superciliari corporeque infra
flavescentibus._
Long. tot. 5¾ unc.; _alæ_, 2⅜; _caudæ_, 3; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, ⁹⁄₁₆.
Crown of the head and shoulder, greyish brown; back, light brown,
tinged with reddish brown on the rump, and with a stripe of dark
brown down the centre of each feather; greater wing-coverts,
primaries, secondaries, and tail blackish, margined externally with
greyish white; forehead, stripe over the eye, and all the under
surface, buff; bill black; feet brown. Young, or a bird after
gaining its new plumage, differs in having the whole of the upper
surface rich brown, with a tinge of olive and with a stripe of dark
brown down each feather, and in having the wing coverts margined
with reddish instead of greyish brown.
Habitat, Monte Video (_November_), Maldonado (_June_).
At Maldonado this bird frequented, in small flocks, reeds and other
aquatic plants bordering lakes. In general habits, as well as in place
of resort, it resembles those species of Synallaxis and Limnornis, with
which it is often associated. It appears to live entirely on insects,
and I found in the stomach of one which I opened various minute
Coleoptera. Mr. Gould remarks, that the structure of this Ammodramus is
very remarkable, for that it has a great general resemblance both in
form and colouring to Synallaxis, although the thickness of its bill
shows its relation to the Fringillinæ. In its habits it certainly is
more allied to the former genus, than to its own family.
2. AMMODRAMUS MANIMBE. _G. R. Gray._
PLATE XXX.
Ammodramus xanthornus, in Plate, and in Gould’s MS.
Fringilla Manimbè, _Licht._, Cat. No. 253.
Emberiza Manimbè, _D’Orb. & Lafr._, Syn. p. 77.
Manimbè, _Azara_, No. 141.
My specimen was obtained from Maldonado.
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 29._
_Ammodramus longicaudatus._
]
[Illustration:
_Birds. Pl. 30._
_Ammodramus xanthornus._
]
1. ZONOTRICHIA MATUTINA. _G. R. Gray._
Fringilla matutina, _Licht._, Cat. 25.
—— _Kittl._ Kupfertafeln der Vögel, pl. 23. f. 3.
Tanagra ruficollis, _Spix_, Av. Sp. Nov. ii. t. liii. f. 3. p. 39.
Chingolo, _Azara_, No. 135. Chingolo Bunting, _Lath. Hist._
I procured specimens of this species from the banks of the Plata, Bahia
Blanca in Northern Patagonia, and from Valparaiso in Chile: in these
countries it is perhaps the commonest bird. In the Cordillera, I have
seen it at an elevation of at least 8000 feet. It generally prefers
inhabited places, but it has not attained the air of domestication of
the English sparrow, which bird in habits and general appearance it
represents. It does not go in flocks, although several may be frequently
seen feeding together. At Monte Video I found on the ground the nest of
this species. It contained three eggs; these were .75 of an inch in
length; form, rather rounded; colour, dirty white, with numerous small
spots of chesnut and blackish brown, almost confluent towards the
broadest end. It was in this nest that I found the parasitic egg,
supposed to belong to a species of Molothrus, described in my
journal.[12]
2. ZONOTRICHIA CANICAPILLA. _Gould._
_Z. vertice cinereo; loris regioneque paroticâ obscure fuscis: dorso
collique lateribus rufis, dorso superiori et uropygio fuscis; dorso
medio nigrescenti fusco, plumis singulis pallido fusco marginatis;
tectricibus alarum nigrescenti fuscis, rufescente fusco marginatis,
apice albis, duas fascias obliquas trans alarum formantibus._
Long. tot. 5½ unc.; _alæ_, 2⅞; _caudæ_, 2½; _tarsi_, ⅞; _rostri_, ½.
Crown of the head grey; lores and ear-coverts dark brown; back and
sides of the neck rufous; upper part of the back and rump brown;
centre of the back blackish brown, each feather margined with light
brown; wing-coverts blackish brown, margined with reddish brown, and
tipped with white, forming two oblique bands across the wing;
primaries, secondaries, and tail, dark brown, margined with greyish
brown; throat and all the under surface brownish grey; and feet
brown.
Habitat, Port Desire in Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego.