in the Chuput Valley, Patagonia. 39 



from dead cattle, hare's fur, some liorse-dmig, and a few 

 straws. This nest measured three feet in diameter. Whilst 

 looking at the two old birds on the wing, and standing be- 

 neath them, I could detect no difference between the male 

 and female ; and I wounded one, which unfortunately fell too 

 far off for recovery. In the hope that the remaining bird, 

 which, after its mate was shot, rose to an immense height in 

 the air, would continue to feed the young ones, I left them, 

 intending to return on the first opportunity, which I did on the 

 following day but one, and after sitting fruitlessly under the 

 nest for four hours, during which time I saw nothing of the 

 old bird, I resolved to take the chicks. From their starved 

 and weak appearance, I am inclined to think their remaining 

 parent had deserted them, especially as the whole time I sat 

 under the nest they kept constantly uttering a plaintive note, 

 not unlike that of young chickens when in search for their 

 mother. They were covered with a snow-white down, with 

 the exception of their wings and back, where a few rufous 

 feathers were commencing to show themselves. The cere is 

 dark slate-colour, legs and feet pale orange, irides dark brown. 

 During my stay at the colony I visited several other nests of 

 this bird, but found them empty, nor could I again get a 

 shot at an old bird, as before I could get within range they 

 would invariably leave their post of observation and soar to 

 an immense height in the air. The colonists have designated 

 this bird the '^ white horse :" whilst it sits motionless on the 

 top of the highest bush it can find, its white underparts are 

 seen from a considerable distance, and, when they are search- 

 ing for their horses and cattle, frequently deceive them, 



TiNNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS. 



On the 8tli November I obtained two pairs about the Tosca 

 cliff" up the valley, and shot a male bird. On the 15th I 

 observed it at Ninfas Point. At the former place it was 

 breeding ; and during a second visit, on the 24th inst, I found 

 a nest in a slight cavity high up in the face of the cliff', com- 

 posed of sticks, but containing no eggs ; it was probably also 

 nesting at Ninfas Point. Seen on the wing at the same time 



