the Province of Buenos Ay res. 181 



situations as Cistothorus platensis. Its food, like that of the 

 other small SynallaxinsB; consists of minute insects, chiefly 

 Coleoptera. Iris primrose-yellow. 



58. Anumbiusacuticaudatus (Less.); Scl. etSalv. P. Z. S. 

 1868, p. 141. 



Synallaxis major, Gould. 



The Synallaxinse are largely represented in Buenos Ayres ; 

 and, with the exception of the present species, all the mem- 

 bers have nearly similar habits. To a stranger nothing is 

 more striking on his arrival here than the large and untidy- 

 looking masses of sticks, one or more of which may be seen in 

 most of the trees of any height. These nests are altogether 

 out of proportion to the number of birds ; but as they are 

 strongly built, and last for years, their number may be easily 

 accounted for. They are of enormous dimensions for the 

 size of the bird, and consist of two rooms, a passage leading 

 from the upper to the lower. The upper one is used, more 

 or less, all the year round for roosting in ; and the owners are 

 generally busily engaged in repairing their nests whenever 

 they are not taken up with eggs or young. 



I am not aware when poplar trees were first introduced 

 into this country ; but their introduction has caused a con- 

 siderable revolution in the habits of this bird. From its short 

 wings it is evidently not fitted for a long sustained flight ; and 

 yet the proportion of birds that build in poplars in preference 

 to any other tree is at least ten to one ; and these are natu- 

 rally the highest trees in the country. Nor is this all : the 

 motto of this bird is " Excelsior ; " and as the poplars increase 

 in height the Seiiateros become more ambitious, and it is now 

 quite a common sight to see two or more nests in the same 

 tree, the highest seventy or eighty feet from the ground. 

 Whenever the bird wishes to ascend to its nest, it starts 

 from the ground at just sufficient distance from the nest to 

 enable it, by taking a gradual curve, to just fetch the de- 

 sired spot ; and if it fails to do this, it reaches it by hopping 

 upwards from bough to bough ; for it is quite unable to turn 

 in its flight, or to rise except by a gradual upward motion. 



SER. IV, VOL. I. o 



