i8o Ih-ccdiii^ij; of the Misto Seed finch. 



small insects, but after a few days bread and milk, and seed 

 mixture were taken by the parents. The young ones feathered 

 fast, and when they left the nest on Jttly ist were strong on 

 the wing. 



In the meantime the second pair had also gone to nest 

 in very thick grass. The nest could only be seen by parting 

 the grass, which was a foot or more high. The hen reached 

 the nest by a short run way. This nest must have been dry 

 even in very wet weather. Here again four young ones left 

 the nest — all strong fliers. In colour they were a greyish- 

 brown, heavily striated on the back and wings, with the under 

 parts buflish-white, slightly striped on the throat with brown. 



Both pairs of birds again went to nest in July. 1 stepped 

 upon and annihilated one nest whilst walking across the 

 aviary, and I am inclined to think that the same fate must 

 have nappened to the other, as I left a brood of fottr when 1 

 went for my holiday, and forgot to warn my man of the exact 

 position of the nest. When I returned they had disappeared, 

 and the old hen as well, and I expect that he planted his foot 

 on them. When I was at damage's one day in August I 

 secured a single bird that they told me had been brought over 

 privately; they did not know what it was. This has turned out 

 to be a cock. 



Writing of the Misto Seedfinch in Argentine Ornitholugy, 

 Httdson says : — 



" This i.s a slender, graceful bird, less than the Canar\- in size; the 

 " wlioU' upper ])lumage yellowishi-olive with dun markings, the lower 

 " surface of a dull yellow. The female is a little smaller than the male, 

 " and her colours are somewhat dimmer. This species is resident and 

 " gregarious in the Argentine Republic, and in autumn frequently congre- 

 '■ gates in flocks of several thousands. They are not so universally 

 ■■ distributed as the Chin.golo, and are not wood birds, but frequent open 

 ■■ ]ilains abounding in thistles and other coarse herbage, which affords them 

 ■' shelter. In (ultivated districts where their food is most abundant, 

 " they are exccssi\cly numerous, and after the harvest has been gathered 

 " frec[uent the fields in immense flocks. W'hile feetling the flocks scatter 

 ■' over a large area of ground, being broken u]i into small companies of a 

 " dozen or more birds, rmd at such times are so intent on their food that a 

 ■' person can walk about amongst them without disturbing them. Thev 

 " take flight very suddenly, bursting into a thousand chirping, scolding 

 " notes, pur.sue each other through the air, and then wneeling about for a 

 " minute or two, suddenly drop down into the grass again, and are as 

 " silent as ever." 



