34 Mr. H. Duruford on some Birds obserced 



TjENIOPTERA rubetka. 



Rare. During my visit I saw only two examples, one of 

 which I shot on the 6th November. It proved to be a male, 

 with considerably enlarged testicles; and its stomach con- 

 tained the remains of small beetles. 



LlCHENOPS PERSPICILLATUS. 



Very common throughout the valley, nesting in the sides 

 of tufts of Pampas-grass along the banks of the river. From 

 three nests I found during my visit, in every case I flushed a 

 rufous-plumaged bird. Here, and at Chuput, I have now 

 dissected four rufous birds, which in all cases proved to be 

 females, whilst two black specimens examined were both 

 males. The black bird I have seen many times chasing the 

 rufous ones ; in fact one can scarcely take a walk in the 

 country here during the spring, where there is any swampy 

 land, without observing this. 



Hapalocercus flaviventris. 



Not uncommon amongst the willows along the banks of 

 the river. 



An^retes parulus. 



Rare. During my visit I observed two pairs amongst 

 thick bushes, and obtained a male and female ; the former 

 has a decided black crest. On the 7th November I took a 

 nest from a thick thorn-bush, about three feet from the 

 ground, composed of grass, warmly lined with feathers, and 

 containing two eggs, white in colour, and measuring '6 by 

 •4 of an inch. 



Cyanotis omnicolor. 



Pretty common in marshy places wherever the reeds grow 

 to the height of three or four feet, and probably breeding, 

 though I did not discover the nest. From its brilliant and 

 many-coloured hues of plumage, this is one of the most at- 

 tractive birds we have ; and as it carefully works through 

 every patch of reeds in search of insect food, now hanging 

 head downwards from a spray, displaying its crimson crest, 

 and the next minute running nimbly up a reed, it certainly 

 reminds one of our Tits at home. 



