Chapter V: Part V: 1837, p. 10 (3)

_S. olivaceo fuscus plumis singulis maculâ oblongâ fusco nigrâ;
remigibus primariis secundariisque basi ferrugineo fuscis, apice
nigro fuscis, flavescenti albo marginatis; lineâ superciliari, mento
abdomineque medio flavescenti albis; gulâ ferrugineo fuscâ; pectore
fulvescenti fusco, plumis singulis striâ pallidiore centrali
ornatis._

Long. tot. 6½ unc.; _rost._ ⅞; _alæ_, 3; _caudæ_, 3¼; _tarsi_, 1.

Head and all the upper surface and two centre tail feathers, brown,
with a large oblong patch of brownish black down the centre of each
feather; primaries, except the three outer ones, bounded posteriorly
with an irregular line of black; secondaries, rusty brown at the
base, and brown for the remainder of their length, margined all
round with greyish olive; lateral tail feathers brownish black,
largely tipped with tawny white; stripe from the nostrils over each
eye, chin, and centre of the abdomen, pale buff; sides of the face
and throat grey, with a spot of dark brown down the centre of each
feather; in the centre of the throat, a patch of ferruginous brown;
chest, pale brownish buff, with a fine pale stripe down each
feather; bill and feet brown.

Habitat, Patagonia. (_April._) Valparaiso. (_September._)

These birds are not uncommon on the dry rocky mountains near Valparaiso, and in the valleys of southern Patagonia, where a few thickets grow. They hop actively about the withered herbage and low thickets, and often feed on the ground. The hind claw is weaker and straighter than in most of the other species of this genus.

4. SYNALLAXIS MALUROIDES.

S. maluroides. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Voy de l’Amer. Mer. Ois. pl. xiv, f. 2.
Mag. de Zool. 1837, Cl. 11, pl. 22.

My specimens were shot near Maldonado. Iris yellow; tarsi very pale coloured.

This species, as well as some others of Synallaxis, Anumbius, and Limnornis, live amongst reeds and other aquatic plants on the borders of lakes, and have the same general habits. I will, therefore, here describe them. They all have the power of crawling very quickly by the aid of their powerful claws and feet, as I soon discovered when they were not killed at once, for then it was scarcely possible to catch them. Their soft tail-feathers show signs of being used, but they never apply them, as the Certhias do, as a means of supporting their bodies. The tail-feathers were (at least during June) so loosely attached, that I seldom procured a specimen with all of them perfect; and I saw many (especially of _S. maluroides_), flying about with no tail. All the species, or nearly all, utter an acute, but not loud, rapidly reiterated cry. They are active and busily seek for small insects, chiefly Coleoptera, in the coarse herbage. The iris in all is rusty red; the tongue is divided and terminates in bristly points. These reed birds, which are very numerous both in species and individuals, on the borders of lakes in the provinces north of the Plata, appear to supply in South America, the various Sylviæ, which frequent similar stations in Europe.

5. SYNALLAXIS FLAVOGULARIS. _Gould._

PLATE XXIV.

_S. supra fuscescenti cinereus, infra cinereo-fuscus; remigibus
obscurè fuscis, basi obscurè rufis; caudæ plumis sex mediis
nigro-fuscis, externis ferrugineis; genis gulâque flavescentibus,
plumis singulis apice obscurè fuscis._

Long. tot. 6½ unc.; _rost._ ¾;l _alæ_, 2½; _caudæ_, 3⅝; _tarsi_, ¾.

Head and all the upper surface, brown; primaries, dark brown, with the
basal portions rufous; six central tail-feathers, blackish brown;
the remainder ferruginous; sides of the face and throat yellowish,
with the tip of each feather dark brown; the remainder of the under
surface, greyish brown; bill and feet, dark brown.

Habitat, Patagonia.

My specimens were obtained at Bahia Blanca and at Santa Cruz, two extreme parts of Patagonia. It frequents the thinly scattered thickets on the arid plains: the hind claw of its foot is not produced as in _S. rufogularis_, and it lives less on the ground.

6. SYNALLAXIS BRUNNEA. _Gould._

_S. pallide rubro fusca; primariis secundariisque rufis apice fuscis;
caudæ plumis quatuor mediis nigrescenti fuscis, duabus proximis
ferrugineo fuscis internè nigrescenti-marginatis, duabus extimis
ferrugineo fuscis; genis, gulâ abdomineque medio albescentibus;
hypochondriis cinereis._

Long. tot. 5⁴⁄₁₂; unc.; _rost._ ⁵⁄₁₂; _alæ_, 2³⁄₁₂; _caudæ_, ⅝;
_tarsi_, ¹⁰⁄₁₂.

Head and all the upper surface pale reddish brown; primaries and
secondaries, brown at the tip and rufous at the base; four central
tail feathers, blackish brown; the next on each side rusty brown,
margined internally with blackish brown; the two lateral feathers
wholly rusty brown; sides of the face, throat, and centre of the
abdomen, whitish; flanks cinereous; bill and feet brown.

Habitat, Port Desire, Patagonia. (_January._)

_Birds. Pl. 24._

_Synallaxis flavogularis._
]

This little bird frequents the thickets in the dry valleys near Port Desire. It often flies from bush to bush, and its habits are nearly like those of the rest of the genus. From its tail feathers, however, being little used, and the tarsi being slightly elongated, I suppose it lives chiefly on the ground. I may observe, that this species comes nearest to _S. flavogularis_, but that in the form of its tail, straightness of bill, and kind of plumage, it departs from Synallaxis, and approaches Eremobius.

7. SYNALLAXIS ÆGITHALOIDES. _Kittl._

S. Ægithaloides. _Kittl._ Mem. de l’Acad. 11. pl. vii.—_Vog. von Chili_,
p. 15, pl. vii.

This bird is common throughout Patagonia and Central Chile, being found wherever thickets grow on a rocky or dry soil. It sometimes moves about in small flocks. Its habits, as Kittlitz remarks, resemble in many respects, those of a titmouse (_Parus_); but there is one remarkable point of difference, namely, that this bird is able to _run_ very quickly on the ground. It does not always do so, but often hops about with great activity; nevertheless, I repeat, I have distinctly seen it running very quickly amongst the thickets. When hopping from twig to twig, it does not use its long tail, any more than the long-tailed titmouse (_Parus caudatus_) of Europe. It utters a harsh, shrill, quickly reiterated cry, like so many other species of this genus and the allied ones. In Chile, I several times saw a very large cylindrical nest, built of prickly twigs of the mimosa, and placed in the middle of a thorn-bearing bush, with its mouth at the upper extremity; I was assured by the country people, that although so very large, it belonged to this little bird.[11] This kind of nidification, the habit of feeding on the ground, and the length of acuminated tail, are points of resemblance with _S. major._

8. SYNALLAXIS RUFICAPILLA. _Vieill._

Synallaxis ruficapilla. _Vieill._ Gal. des Ois. pl. lxxiv. Parulus ruficeps. _Spix._ Av. Sp. Nov. tom. 1. p. 84, t. lxxxvi. f. 1, m. f. 2. fem. Sphenura ruficeps. _Licht._ Ver. p. 42.

My specimens were obtained at Maldonado, (June) where it was rare, and at Buenos Ayres. Near Santa Fè, in Entre Rios, 3° northward, it was common: Spix found it near the Rio San Francisco in Brazil. Iris yellowish red; legs with faint tinge of blue; tongue terminated in bristly points, not deeply bifid. This Synallaxis approaches in character _Anumbius ruber_. Habits similar to those of _S. maluroides_.

ANUMBIUS RUBER. _D’Orb. & Lafr._

Anumbius ruber. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Mag. de Zool. 1838, p. 18.
Furnarius ruber. _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 514.
Anumbi rouge. _Azara_, No. 220.

Frequents reeds on the borders of lakes near Maldonado. Habits very similar to those of _Synallaxis maluroides_, and likewise of the two species of Limnornis; to one of which _L. curvirostris_, it is most closely allied in structure. Iris bright yellowish orange; tarsi, with faint tinge of blue; tongue divided on each side a little below the extreme point.

GENUS.—LIMNORNIS. _Gould._

Rostrum _capitis longitudine seu longius, leviter a basi ad apicem
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_.

_Birds. Pl. 26._

_Limnornis rectirostris_
]

_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.

_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.

_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.

_Birds. Pl. 29._

_Ammodramus longicaudatus._
]

_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.

This species is not uncommon in Tierra del Fuego, wherever there is any open space. Of the few birds inhabiting the desert plains of Patagonia, this is the most abundant. At Port Desire I found its nest: egg, about .83 in length; form somewhat more elongated than in that of the last species; colour, pale green, almost obscured by minute freckles and clouds of pale dull red.

3. ZONOTRICHIA STRIGICEPS. _Gould._

_Z. capite castaneo, lineâ mediâ obscure diviso, plumis singulis striâ
mediâ nigro-fuscâ, humeri flexurâ rufâ; corpore supra fuscescente,
plumis singulis striâ latâ mediâ obscure fuscâ; remigibus, primariis
caudâque nigro-fuscis pallidè fusco marginatis; strigâ superciliari,
faciei collique lateribus, gulâ pectore abdomineque medio cinereis;
hypochondriis tegminibusque caudæ inferioribus flavescentibus._

Long. tot. 5¾ unc.; _rostri_, ½; _alæ_, 2½; _caudæ_, 2⅞; _tarsi_, ⅝.

Head chestnut, divided down the middle by a line of deep grey, each
feather with a stripe of blackish brown down the centre; point of
the shoulder rufous; the remainder of the upper surface light brown,
with a broad stripe of dark brown down the centre of each feather;
primaries and tail brown; secondaries blackish brown, margined all
round with pale brown; stripe over each eye, sides of the face and
neck, throat, breast, and centre of the abdomen, grey; flanks and
under tail-coverts buff; upper mandible black; under mandible light
horn colour; feet brown.

Habitat, Santa Fe. Lat. 31° S. (_October._)

This species appears to replace in this latitude the _Z. matutina_, which is so abundant on the banks of the Plata and in Chile, as that species does the _Z. canicapilla_ of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

PASSERINA JACARINA. _Vieill._

Tanagra jacarina, _Linn_.
Passerina jacarina, _Vieill_. Ency. Meth. p. 933.
Emberiza jacarina, _D’Orb. & Lafr._, Syn.
Le Sauteur, _Azara_, No. 138.
Euphone jacarina, _Licht_. Cat. p. 30.
Fringilla splendens, _Vieill_. Ency. p. 981?

I procured a specimen of this bird at Rio de Janeiro.

1. FRINGILLA DIUCA. _Mol._

Fringilla Diuca, _Kittl._ Mem. de St. Petersb. t. i. pl. 11.
—— Mag. de Zool. 1837, pl. 69.
Emberiza Diuca, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Syn. Mag. of Zool. 1838, f. 77.

This bird is very common on the coast of Chile, from the humid forests of Chiloe to the desert mountains of Copiapó. In Chiloe it is perhaps the most abundant of the land birds; south of Chiloe I never saw it, although the nature of the country does not change them. On the eastern side of the continent, I met with this bird only at the Rio Negro, in northern Patagonia. I do not believe it inhabits the shores of the Plata, although so common in the open country, under corresponding latitudes west of the Cordillera. The Diuca, as this Fringilla is called in Chile, generally moves in small flocks, and frequents, although not exclusively, cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of houses: habits very similar to those of the _Zonotrichia matutina_. During incubation, the male utters two or three pleasing notes, which Molina has in an exaggerated description called a fine song. In October, at Valparaiso, I found the nest of this bird in the trellis-work of a vineyard, close by a much frequented path. The nest is shallow, and about six inches across; the outer part is very coarse, and composed of the thin stalks of twining plants, strengthened by the husky calices of a composite flower; this outside part is lined by many pieces of rag, thread, string, tow, and a few feathers. Eggs rather pointed, oval, ·94 of an inch in length; colour, pale dirty green, thickly blotched by rather pale dull brown, which small blotches and spots become confluent, and entirely colour the broad end.

2. FRINGILLA GAYI. _Eyd. & Gerv._

Fringilla Gayi, _Eyd. & Gerv._ Mag. de Zool. 1834. pl. 23.
Emberiza Gayi, var. _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Syn. p. 76.

This Fringilla, which was first brought from Chile, is abundant in the southern parts of Patagonia.

3. FRINGILLA FORMOSA. _Gould._

_F. fronte lorisque nigris; vertice, genis, gulâ, alarum tegminibus
cæruleo griseis, tegminibus primariis, secundariis rectricibusque
griseo-nigris, cærulescenti-griseo marginatis, dorso flavescenti
castaneo; tegminibus caudalibus inferioribus pallidè griseis;
uropygio pectore abdomine hypochondriisque saturatè flavis._

Long. tot. 5½ unc.; _alæ_, 3¼; _caudæ_, 2⅝; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, ½.

Forehead and lores black; crown of the head, sides of the face,
throat, wing coverts, and the margins of the primaries, secondaries,
and tail feathers, blue grey; the remainder of the primaries,
secondaries, and tail feathers, greyish black; back yellowish
chestnut; under tail coverts light-grey; rump, breast, abdomen and
flanks, deep wax yellow; bill bluish horn colour; feet light brown.

Habitat, Tierra del Fuego (_December and February_).

This finch is common on the outskirts of the forests in Tierra del Fuego. Mr. Gould remarks, that it is nearly allied to _F. Gayi_, but it is much smaller, and is richer in its colouring.

4. FRINGILLA FRUTICETI. _Kittl._

Fringilla fruticeti, _Kittl._ Kupf. der Vögel, pl. 23. f. 1. Emberiza luctuosa, _Eyd. et Gerv._ Mag. de Zool. 1834. Cl. 11. pl. 71. ——— _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Syn. p. 80.

I obtained specimens of this bird from Northern Chile, and Southern Patagonia. I saw it also in the Cordillera of Central Chile, at an elevation of at least eight thousand feet, near the upper limit of vegetation. In Patagonia it is not common, it frequents bushy valleys in small flocks, from six to ten in number. These birds sometimes move from thicket to thicket with a peculiar soaring flight: they occasionally utter very singular and pleasing notes.

5. FRINGILLA CARBONARIA. _G. R. Gray._

Emberiza carbonaria, _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Synop. p. 79.

I never saw this bird but once, and then it was in small flocks, on the most desert parts of the plains between the rivers Negro and Colorado, in Northern Patagonia.

6. FRINGILLA ALAUDINA. _Kittl._

Fringilla alaudina, Kupf. der Vögel, pl. 23. f. 2.
Emberiza guttata, _Meyen_, Nov. Act. Cur. xvii. pl. 12.
——— _D’Orb. & Lafr._ Syn. p. 78: Adult.
Passerina guttata, _Eyd. & Gerv._ Mag. de Zool. 1834. pl. 70. p. 22.

My specimens were obtained from the neighbourhood of Valparaiso.

_Birds. Pl. 31._

_Passer Jagoensis._
]

_Birds. Pl. 32._

_Chlorospiza melanodera._
]

1. PASSER JAGOENSIS. _Gould._

PLATE XXXI.

Pyrgita Jagoensis, _Gould_, Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1837. p. 77.

_P. summo capite, et maculâ parvâ gulari intensè nigrescenti-fuscis;
strigâ superciliari, collo, humeris dorsoque intensè castaneis,
hujus plumis strigâ fuscâ centrali notatis; alis caudâque brunneis,
tectricibus alarum minoribus albis, qui color fasciam transversam
efficit: lineâ angustâ albâ à nare ad oculum; genis corporeque
subtùs albis, hoc colore in cinereum ad latera transeunte: rostro,
pedibusque fuscis._

Long. tot. 5 unc.; _caudæ_, 2¼; _alæ_, 2½; _rost._ ½; _tarsi_, ⁵⁄₄.

Crown of the head and a small mark on the throat intense blackish
brown, with a stripe on the eyebrows, the neck, shoulders and back
bright chestnut, the feathers of the latter marked with a central
dusky streak; wings and tail brown, with the smaller wing coverts
white, forming a transverse bar; a narrow white line from the
nostrils to the eye; cheeks and under side of body white, this
colour passing into grey on the sides; beak and feet dusky.

Habitat, St. Jago, Cape Verde Islands (_January_).

This is the commonest bird in the island; it frequents, generally in small flocks, both the neighbourhood of houses and wild uninhabited spots. It was building its nest towards the end of August.

2. PASSER HISPANIOLENSIS. _G. R. Gray._

Fringilla Hispaniolensis, _Temm. Man._ i, 353.

In the month of January I obtained a specimen of this bird from St. Jago, one of the Cape Verde Islands, where it was not common.

1. CHLOROSPIZA? MELANODERA. _G. R. Gray._

PLATE XXXII.

Emberiza melanodera, _Quoy & Gaim._ Voy. de L’Uranie, Zool. i. p. 109.

_C. flavescenti olivacea; dorso superiori cinereo rufoque mixto;
vertice, auribus, colli lateribus pectoreque cinereis rufomixtis;
lineâ à naribus pone oculos transiente genisque albis; plumis inter
rostrum et oculos gulâque atris; remigibus primariis et secundariis
nigrescentibus flavo marginatis: caudâ rectricibus mediis olivaceo
fuscis, tribus externis ferè toto pallidè flavis; abdomine medio
flavescenti albo, lateribus obscurioribus._

Long. tot. 6½ unc.; _alæ_, 3½; _caudæ_, 2¾; _tarsi_, 10 lines;
_rostri_, 5 lin.

Adult. Yellowish olive, mixed with grey and rufous on the upper part
of the back; top of the head, ears, sides of the neck and breast,
grey mixed with rufous; the lines from the nostrils reaching behind
the eyes and cheeks, white; the space between the bill and eye, and
the throat, deep black; the primaries and secondaries blackish,
margined with yellow; the tail, with the middle feathers, olivaceous
black, with the three external nearly wholly pale yellow; the middle
of the abdomen yellowish white, with the flanks darker.

Young: Upper surface brownish white, with the middle of each feather
black; the throat lighter; the wing coverts and secondaries margined
with white and brown; the primaries with yellow; the tail blackish,
with their outer margins yellow, and the external feather wholly
pale yellow white; beneath the body pale yellowish white, streaked
on the breast and flanks with a darker tint.

Habitat, East Falkland Island {_March_), and Santa Cruz, Patagonia (_April_).

This bird is extremely abundant in large scattered flocks in the Falkland Islands.

2. CHLOROSPIZA? XANTHOGRAMMA. _G. R. Gray._

PLATE XXXIII.

_C. cinerascenti olivacea, rufo paulo tincta; lineâ à naribus pone
oculos transiente genisque flavis; plumis inter rostrum et oculos
gulâque atris; remigibus secundariis nigrescentibus, cinereo et
olivaceo latè marginatis; primariis nigrescentibus, flavo angustè
marginatis; caudâ cinerascenti nigrâ, plumis externis albis; corpore
infra flavescenti albo, hypochondriis obscurioribus._

Long. tot. 7²⁄₈ unc.; _alæ_, 3⅞; _caudæ_, 3; _tarsi_, 1; _rostri_, 7
lin.

Adult: Greyish olive, very slightly mixed with rufous, a line from the
nostrils reaching behind the eyes and cheeks, yellow; the space
between the bill and eye, and the entire throat, deep black; the
secondaries blackish, broadly margined with grey and olive; the
primaries blackish, slightly margined with yellow; the tail greyish
black, with the outer feathers white; beneath the body yellowish
white, darker on the flanks.

Female: Upper surface brownish white, with each feather blackish brown
in the middle, the head and throat paler; the wing-coverts and
secondaries blackish, margined with brownish white; the primaries
blackish, slightly margined with yellow; the tail blackish
white-margined, with the outer feathers nearly wholly white; beneath
the body yellowish white, streaked with brown on the breast and
flanks: and the space from the nostrils reaching to behind the eyes
and cheeks, yellowish.

Habitat, East Falkland Island (_March_), and Tierra del Fuego (_February_).

_Birds. Pl. 33._

_Chlorospiza Xanthogramma._
]

_Birds. Pl. 34._

_Tanagra Darwinii._
]

This species is common at the Falkland Islands, and it often occurs mingled in the same flock with the last one. I suspect, however, it more commonly frequents higher parts of the hills. These species have a very close general resemblance; but the marks about the head, which are white in the _C. melanodera_, are yellow in the _C. xanthogramma_, while the parts of the tail-feathers which are white in the latter, are yellow in the _C. melanodera_: this difference of colours does not hold in the females, but they may be at once distinguished by the greater length of wing, when folded, of the _C. xanthogramma_.

CHRYSOMITRIS MAGELLANICA. _Bonap._

Fringilla Magellanica, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. 983; Ois. Chant. de la Zône Torride, pl. 30; Audubon, Birds of Am. pl. 394, f. 2. Gafarron, _Azara_, No. 134. Fringilla icterica, _Licht._ Cat. p. 26.

This bird was very abundant in large flocks during May, at Maldonado; I found it also at the Rio Negro.

SUB-FAMILY.—TANAGRINÆ.

PITYLUS SUPERCILIARIS.

Tanagra superciliaris, _Spix._ Av. Sp. Nov. 2. t. lvii. fig. 1. p. 44.

My specimen was procured from Santa Fé, in Lat. 31° S.

1. AGLAIA STRIATA. _D’Orb. & Lafr._

PLATE XXXIV.

♂ Tanagra striata, _Gmel._ Syst. 1. 899; Ency. Meth. 776; _Licht._ Cat. p. 31. Sp. 347; Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 121, pl. 34 of this work. L’Onglet, _Buff._ iv. p. 256. Le Lindobleu, dore et noir, _Azara_, No. 94. ♀ Tanagra Darwinii, _Bonap._; Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 121.

I saw the only specimen, which I procured, feeding on the fruit of an opuntia at Maldonado.

Mr. G. R. Gray is induced to consider the species figured under the name of _T. Darwinii_, as the _T. striata, Gm._ and the _T. Darwinii_ of the Zoological Society’s Proceedings, as the female of the same species, while the young birds may be described as following:

Brown, with the margins of the dorsal feathers greenish brown, those
of the wings and tail margined brownish white; head and neck greyish
green; beneath the body pale dusky green, somewhat darker on the
breast and sides; uropygium yellowish green.

Three specimens of this species are contained in the British Museum, exhibiting male, female, and young.

2. AGLAIA VITTATA.

Tanagra vittata, _Temm._ Pl. col.

Maldonado; not common.

PIPILLO PERSONATA. _Swains_.

PLATE XXXV.

P. personata, _Swains_. Two cent. and a quart. p. 311.

Maldonado; not common. The stomach of one, which I shot, contained seeds.

EMBERIZOIDES POLIOCEPHALUS. _G. R. Gray._

_E. olivaceus, dorsi plumis medio nigro striatis; capite gulâque
cinereis, priore plumis singulis, medio nigrostriatis; corpore infra
rufescenti albo; hypochondriis tectricibus caudæ inferioribus
obscurioribus; alarum margine latè flava, remigibus primariis
secundariisque nigris; prioribus pallidè olivaceo, posterioribus
olivascente flavo latè marginatis._

Long. tot. 7¾ unc.; _alæ_, 3½; _caudæ_, 4; _tarsi_, 1¼; _rostri_, 8
lin.

Olivaceous, with the feathers of the back marked down the middle with
black; the head and throat cinereous, with each feather of the
former streaked down the middle with black; beneath the body rufous
white, darker on the flanks and under tail coverts: the border of
the wings bright yellow; the secondaries and primaries black, the
former broadly margined with pale olive, the latter with bright
olivaceous yellow; base of bill dusky orange.

Habitat, northern shore of the Plata. (_May_ and _August_.)

This bird is common both near Monte Video and Maldonado, in swamps. Stomach full of seeds: it makes a shrill loud cry: its flight is clumsy, as if its tail were disjointed.

FAM.—COCCOTHRAUSTINÆ.

GENUS, GEOSPIZA, _Gould_.

_Corporis figura brevissima et robusta._

_Rostrum magnum, robustum, validum, altitudine longitudinem præstante;
culmine arcuato et capitis verticem superante, apice sine denticulo,
lateribus tumidis._

_Naribus basalibus et semitectis plumis frontalibus._

_Birds. Pl. 35._

_Pipilo personata_
]

_Mandibulâ superiori tomiis medium versus sinum exhibentibus, ad
mandibulæ inferioris processum recipiendum. Mandibula inferior ad
basin lata, hoc infra oculos tendente. Alæ mediocres remige primo
paulo breviore secundo, hoc longissimo._

_Cauda brevissima et æqualis._

_Tarsi magni et validi, digito postico, cum ungue robusto et digito
intermedio breviore; digitis externis inter se æqualibus at digito
postico brevioribus. Color in maribus niger, in fœm. fuscus._

This singular genus[13] appears to be confined to the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago. It is very numerous, both in individuals and in species, so that it forms the most striking feature in their ornithology. The characters of the species of Geospiza, as well as of the following allied sub-genera, run closely into each other in a most remarkable manner.

In my Journal of Researches, p. 475, I have given my reasons for believing that in some cases the separate islands possess their own representatives of the different species, and this almost necessarily would cause a fine gradation in their characters. Unfortunately I did not suspect this fact until it was too late to distinguish the specimens from the different islands of the group; but from the collection made for Captain FitzRoy, I have been able in some small measure to rectify this omission.

In each species of these genera a perfect gradation in colouring might, I think, be formed from one jet black to another pale brown. My observations showed that the former were invariably the males; but Mr. Bynoe, the surgeon of the Beagle, who opened many specimens, assured me that he found two quite black specimens of one of the smaller species of Geospiza, which certainly were females: this, however, undoubtedly is an exception to the general fact; and is analogous to those cases, which Mr. Blyth[14] has recorded of female linnets and some other birds, in a state of high constitutional vigour, assuming the brighter plumage of the male. The jet black birds, in cases where there could be no doubt in regard to the species, were in singularly few proportional numbers to the brown ones: I can only account for this by the supposition that the intense black colour is attained only by three-year-old birds. I may here mention, that the time of year (beginning of October) in which my collection was made, probably corresponds, as far as the purposes of incubation are concerned, with our autumn. The several species of Geospiza are undistinguishable from each other in habits; they often form, together with the species of the following sub-genera, and likewise with doves, large irregular flocks. They frequent the rocky and extremely arid parts of the land sparingly covered with almost naked bushes, near the coasts; for here they find, by scratching in the cindery soil with their powerful beaks and claws, the seeds of grasses and other plants, which rapidly spring up during the short rainy season, and as rapidly disappear. They often eat small portions of the succulent leaves of the _Opuntia Galapageia_, probably for the sake of the moisture contained in them: in this dry climate the birds suffer much from the want of water, and these finches, as well as others, daily crowd round the small and scanty wells, which are found on some of the islands. I seldom, however, saw these birds in the upper and damp region, which supports a thriving vegetation; excepting on the cleared and cultivated fields near the houses in Charles Island, where, as I was informed by the colonists, they do much injury by digging up roots and seeds from a depth of even six inches.

1. GEOSPIZA MAGNIROSTRIS. _Gould._

PLATE XXXVI.

_G. fuliginosa, crisso cinerascenti-albo; rostro nigro-brunnescente
lavato; pedibus nigris._

Long. tot. 6 unc.; _alæ_, 3½; _caudæ_, 2; _tarsi_, 1; _rostri_, ⅞;
alt. _rost._ 1.

Fœm. vel Mas jun.; _corpore intensè fusco singulis plumis olivaceo
cinctis; abdomine pallidiore; crisso cinerascenti-albo; pedibus el
rostro, ut in mare adulto._

Sooty black; with the vent cinereous white, the bill black, washed
with brownish, and the feet black.

Female, or young male: Deep fuscous, with each feather margined with
olive, the abdomen much paler, with the under tail-coverts cinereous
white, the feet and bill like those of the male.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (Charles and Chatham Islands.)

I have strong reasons for believing this species is not found in James’s Island. Mr. Gould considers the _G. magnirostris_ as the type of the genus.

2. GEOSPIZA STRENUA. _Gould._

PLATE XXXVII.

_G. fuliginosa, crisso albo, rostro fusco et nigro tincto; pedibus
nigris._

Long. tot. 5½ unc.; _alæ_, 3; _caudæ_, 1⅜; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, ⅝;
alt. _rost._ ⅜.

Fœm. _Summo corpore fusco singulis plumis alarum caudæque plumis
exceptis, pallidè cinerascenti-olivaceo cinctis; gulâ et pectore
fuscis; abdomine lateribus et crisso pallidè cinerascenti-fuscis;
rostro brunnescente._

Sooty black, with the under tail coverts white; the bill brown, tinged
with black, and the feet black.

Female: Upper part of the body fuscous, with the margins of each
feather, except those of the wings and tail, pale cinereous olive;
the throat and breast fuscous: the abdomen, sides, and under
tail-coverts pale cinereous-fuscous; the bill brownish.

_Birds. Pl. 36._

_Geospiza magnirostris_
]

_Birds. Pl. 37._

_Geospiza strenua_
]

_Birds. Pl. 38._

_Geospiza fortis_
]

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago (James and Chatham Islands.)

GEOSPIZA FORTIS. _Gould._

PLATE XXVIII.

_G. intense fuliginosa, crisso albo; rostro rufescenti-brunneo, tincto
nigro; pedibus nigris._

Fœm. (vel Mas jun.) _Corpore suprà pectore et gutture intensè fuscis,
singulis plumis cinerascenti-olivaceo marginatis; abdomine crissoque
pallidè cinerascenti-brunneis; rostro rufescenti-fusco ad apicem
flavescente; pedibus ut in mare._

Long. tot. 4¾ unc.; _alæ_, 3; _caudæ_, 1½; _tarsi_, ¹⁰⁄₁₂; _rostri_,
⁷⁄₁₂.

Deep sooty black; with the under tail-coverts and the bill reddish
brown tinged with black; the feet black.

Female (or young male): The body above, breast and throat, deep
fuscous, with each feather margined with cinereous olive: the
abdomen, and under tail-coverts pale cinereous brown; the bill
reddish fuscous, with the apex yellowish, and the feet like those in
the male.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (Charles and Chatham Islands.)

4. GEOSPIZA NEBULOSA. _Gould._

_G. summo capite et corpore nigrescenti-fuscis; singulis plumis
cinerascenti-olivaceo marginatis; corpore subtus pallidiore,
abdomine imo crissoque cinerascentibus; rostro et pedibus intensè
fuscis._

Long. tot. 5 unc.; _alæ_, 2¾; _caudæ_, 1¾; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, ⅝;
alt. _rost._ ½.

MALE.—Upper part of the head and body blackish fuscous, with each
feather margined with cinereous olive; the body beneath paler, with
the lowest part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts ashy; the bill
and feet deep fuscous.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (Charles Island.)

5. GEOSPIZA FULIGINOSA. _Gould._

_G. intensè fuliginosa, crisso albo, rostro fusco; pedibus
nigrescenti-fuscis._

Long. tot. 4½ unc.; _alæ_, 2½; _caudæ_, 1⅝; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, 1½;
alt. _rostri_, ⅜.

Fœm. _Summo corpore, alis, caudâque intensè fuscis; singulis plumis
cinerascenti-ferrugineo marginatis; corpore infra cinereo, singulis
plumis medium versus obscurioribus; rostro brunneo; pedibus
nigrescenti-brunneis._

Deep sooty black, with the under tail coverts white; the bill fuscous,
and the feet blackish fuscous.

Female: Upper part of the body; the wings and tail deep fuscous, with
each feather margined with ashy ferrugineous; beneath the body
cinereous, with each feather towards the middle darker; the bill
brown, and the feet blackish brown.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (Chatham and James’ Island.)

6. GEOSPIZA DENTIROSTRIS. _Gould._

_G._ (Fœm. vel Mas jun.) _mandibulæ superioris margine in dentem
producto, vertice corporeque supra fuscis; singulis plumis medium
versus obscurioribus; secundariis tectricibusque alarum ad marginem
stramineis; gutture et pectore pallidè brunneis, singulis plumis
medium versus obscurioribus, imo abdomine crissoque
cinerascenti-albis; rostro rufo-fusco; pedibus obscurè plumbeis._

Long. tot. 4¾ unc.; _alæ_, 2⅜; _caudæ_, 1¾; _rostri_, ½; alt. _rost._
⅜.

The margin of the upper mandible produced into a tooth; the vertex and
above the body fuscous, with each feather towards the middle darker;
the margins of the secondaries and wing coverts straw colour; the
throat and breast pale brown, darker towards the middle of each
feather; the sides and under tail-coverts cinereous white; the bill
rufous fuscous, and the feet obscure lead colour.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.

Mr. Gould considered this specimen a female, from the appearance of its plumage; but from dissection, I thought it was a male.

7. GEOSPIZA PARVULA. _Gould._

PLATE XXXIX.

_G._ (Mas) _capite, gutture, et dorso fuliginosis; uropygio
cinerascenti-olivaceo; caudâ et alis nigrescenti brunneis; singulis
plumis caudæ et alarum, cinereo-marginatis; lateribus olivaceis,
fusco guttatis; abdomine et crisso albis, rostro et pedibus
nigrescenti-brunneis._

Long. tot. 4 unc.; _alæ_, 2⅜; _caudæ_, 1½; _tarsi_, ¾; _rostri_, ⅜;
alt. _rost._ ⁵⁄₁₆.

Fœm. _Summo capite et dorso cinerascenti-brunneis, gutture, pectore,
abdomine crissoque pallidè cinereis, stramineo tinctis._

The head, throat, and back, sooty black; the lower part of the back
cinereous olive; the tail and wings blackish brown, margined with
cinereous; the sides olive with fuscous spots; the abdomen and under
tail-coverts white; the bill and feet blackish brown.

Female: The upper surface cinereous brown; the throat, breast,
abdomen, and the under tail coverts, pale cinereous tinged with
straw colour.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. (James’ Island.)

_Birds. Pl. 39._

_Geospiza parvula._
]

_Birds. Pl. 40._

_Camarhynchus psittaculus._
]

_Birds. Pl. 41._

_Camarhynchus crassirostris._
]

8. GEOSPIZA DUBIA. _Gould._

_G._ (Fœm. Mas ignot.) _summo capite et corpore suprà fuscis, singulis
plumis cinerascenti-olivaceo marginatis; strigâ superciliari, genis,
gutture, corpore infrà cinerascenti-olivaceis, singulis plumis notâ
centrali fuscâ; alis caudâque brunneis singulis plumis
olivaceo-cinereo marginatis; rostro sordidè albo, pedibus obscurè
fuscis._

Long. tot. 3⅜ unc.; _alæ_, 2¾; _caudæ_, 1⅝; _tarsi_, ⅞; _rostri_, ⅝;
alt. _rostri_, ⅜.

Upper surface fuscous, with each feather margined with cinereous
olive; the streak above the eye, cheeks, throat, and beneath the
body, cinereous olive, with the middle of each feather fuscous; the
wings and tail brown, with each feather margined with cinereous ash;
the bill white, and the feet obscure fuscous.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago, (Chatham Island.)

SUB-GENUS.—CAMARHYNCHUS. _Gould._