(BROWN CINCLODES.)
+Cinclodes fuscus+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 62; _Durnford, Ibis_,
1877, p. 179 (Buenos Ayres); _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 610
(Catamarca); _Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl._ viii. p. 205
(Entrerios and Pampas). +Cinclodes vulgaris+, _Burm. La-Plata
Reise_, ii. p. 463 (Mendoza, Paraná).
_Description._--Above dark earthy brown, lores and superciliaries
whitish; wings blackish, with a broad transverse cinnamomeous bar;
outer tail-feathers blackish, broadly tipped with pale cinnamomeous
white; beneath pale cinereous, with a cinnamomeous tinge; throat
white, slightly spotted with blackish; bill and feet horn-colour:
whole length 7·3 inches, wing 4·0, tail 3·0. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ Argentina, Chili, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
This homely little species differs considerably from most Dendrocolaptine
birds in colour and habits; and being of a uniform dull, fuscous
hue, its appearance is most uninteresting. It inhabits the whole of
Patagonia, but is migratory, possessing, what is rare in this family,
a powerful flight. In winter it is common all over the pampas and the
Plata district, ranging north to Paraguay. It is always found near
water, its favourite hunting-ground being the borders of a stream. On
the ground its motions are quick and lively, but when perching on a tree
it sits motionless in one position, and when attempting to move appears
to lose its balance. These birds cannot be called strictly gregarious,
but where abundant they are fond of gathering in loose flocks, sometimes
numbering one or two hundred individuals, and when thus associating are
very playful, frequently pursuing and wheeling about each other, and
uttering a sharp, trilling note. On a warm day in winter they are
occasionally heard attempting to sing, the bird darting up vertically
into the air and pouring out with great energy a confused torrent of
unmelodious sounds.
Their habits, so much less sedate and strikingly in contrast with those
of most of the birds in this family, are no doubt due to the greater
powers of flight possessed by _Cinclodes_.