Neighbourhood of Buenos Ayres. 159 



abundant, and is now (October) nesting everywhere. The 

 nest is made of moss, lined with hair, and sometimes a httle 

 wool ; it is usually to be found at the foot of a small tree or 

 bush. The complement of eggs seems to be four ; they vary 

 exceedingly, but always have the appearance of belonging to 

 a Finch. From the 5th to the 10th of September I saw 

 Chrysomitris magellanica common near Ranchos, about 70 

 miles from Buenos Ayres ; they were frequenting the Eu- 

 calyptus trees planted in the neighbourhood. 



ICTERID^. 



Molothrus bonariensis I frequently see, being most common 

 in marshy ground. Agelceus thilius was in flocks at Punta 

 Lara on June 29th, when I shot a male ; the females were 

 scarcer, and did not mix with the other sex, but were also in 

 flocks. In October the species was common at Belgrano, 

 but in pairs. On July 8th I saw four individuals at Punta 

 Lara ; one of those I shot had been feeding on some aquatic 

 plants, the seeds of which were in its mouth when I picked 

 it up. I have not seen this bird since, but am told that it is 

 common and resident here. Sturnella defilippii is common in 

 the winter in large flocks. 



Tyrannid^. 



Sisopygis icterophrys is pretty common in damp situations 

 amongst trees and low bushes, from the 1st to 13th October. 

 From May to September I saw many Lichenops perspicillata, 

 usually singly, at most in pairs. I feel pretty sure that the 

 female is the ferruginous, and the male the black bird, as I 

 have constantly seen the two paired. On October 13th they 

 were still common, but not yet building. 



On August 3rd I shot a specimen of Machetornis rixosa 

 from a flock that were dusting themselves in the road ; it 

 does not appear to be a common bird. Hapalocercus flavi- 

 ventris is abundant in rushes and low bushes from October 

 1st to the middle of the month. Serpophaga subcristata 

 is common here ; its nest is a beautiful little structure 

 of lichen and horsehair, lined with feathers. I have taken 

 several nests, none of which contained more than two eggs. 



