the Provitice of Buenos Ayres. 167 



that I am anxious to record. Every one in England is familiar 

 with the subdued but querulous chuckle of the Blackbird, 

 which it almost invariably utters before leaving the friendly 

 shelter of a thick bush. Now, though Turdus leucomelas 

 has scarcely any song, certainly nothing that can be com- 

 pared to that of a Blackbird, it has exactly this same peculiar 

 note, and utters it under precisely the same conditions as 

 the Blackbird ; and so much did this coincidence strike me, 

 that I thought when I first heard the sound that an escaped 

 Blackbird was the author of it. I look upon this as one 

 of the many isolated facts which seem to prove descent from 

 a common progenitor. Common at Baradero in April. 



2. Turdus rufiventris, Vieill. ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, 

 p. 138. 



Resident, but never observed in parties like the foregoing 

 species. One shot on the 25th May had in its stomach re- 

 mains of Coleoptera. Common at Baradero in April. 



3. MiMUs CALANDRiA (Lafr. et D'Orb.); Scl.et Salv. P. Z. S. 

 1868, p. 139. 



A few individuals remain with us all the winter; but the 

 greater part are spring and summer visitors. Though it is 

 the only bird here that can boast of really having a song, its 

 vocal powers are chiefly exercised in imitating the notes of 

 other birds, in which it shows great proficiency. Common 

 at Baradero in April. 



4. PoLioPTiLA DUMicoLA (Vicill.) ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 

 1868, p. 139. 



Observed throughout the year, but not by any means a 

 common bird. I found it plentiful at Baradero in April, 

 frequenting thickets and low scrub, preferring wet marshy 

 spots. Its food consists of small insects. Iris dark wood- 

 brown. Legs, feet, and claws black. 



5. Troglodytes furvus (Gm.); Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, 

 p. 158. 



Resident and abundant everywhere. I stated in my last 

 note that this bird lays five eggs. I should have said seven 

 or eight. Common at Baradero in April. 



N 2 



