Birds of Cental Patagonia. 403 



many cross the Cliupat^ going southwards. It was nesting 

 on the hills bordering the valley of the Sengel, and generally 

 seen throughout our journey. On the 30th December I 

 caught two chicks on Tombo Point : they are pretty little 

 downy things, mottled all over with light and dark chocolate 

 and white. 



The adult has the iris wood-brown, beak black, legs flesh- 

 colour, feet and claws black. 



H^MATOPUS PALLIATUS. 



Several pairs were observed on Tombo Point in December ; 

 and the bird occasionally occurs at the mouth of the Chupat. 

 It was nesting in the former place ; but I failed to discover 

 the eggs. 



H^MATOPUS ATER. 



Seen on Tombo Point in December. I never observed it at 

 Chupat. 



Iris dark orange ; beak dark pink ; legs and feet greenish 

 yellow. 



^ThINOCORUS RUMICIVORUS. 



Resident ; abundant throughout our journey. I took eggs 

 at the end of October; and the young were running in the 

 middle of November : but this species probably has two or 

 more broods in the season ; for I found chicks in March. The 

 nest is a slight depression in the ground, sometimes lined 

 with a few blades of grass ; and before leaving it the old bird 

 covers up the eggs with little pieces of stick. The eggs are 

 pale stone ground-colour, very thickly but finely speckled 

 with light and dark chocolate markings ; they have a polished 

 appearance, and measure 1*3 X '8 inch. 



The chick is finely mottled all over with light and dark 

 brown. It has the beak pale horn-colour ; legs flesh-colour ; 

 iris wood-brown. 



■^RhYNCH^A SEMICOLLARIS. 



Rare in the Chupat valley. Not observed during my visit 

 to the lake. 



