the Province of Buenos Ay res. 195 



P. spiloptera is nearly allied to P. spilonota (found by Dar- 

 win in the Galapagos archipelago^ and figured and described 

 in the ^Voyage of the Beagle ') . It differs^ however, from the 

 Galapagos bird in having irregular white stripes, and not 

 merely white spots, on the wings ; and the white markings on 

 the flanks and stomach are larger and clearer than in Mr. 

 Darwin^s bird. The back also of P. spilonota is ferruginous 

 brown, but that of the Buenos- Ayres bird olive-brown with 

 black markings. (^ . Total length 5*5, beak '5, tarsus '7. 

 Head above olivaceous brown and black, forehead very dark 

 slate, nearly black. Sides of head, throat, chest, and stomach 

 dark slaty grey. Neck above and back olivaceous, centre of 

 each feather broadly marked with black. Flanks very dark 

 grey, with transverse bars of white. Primaries dull brown. 

 Secondaries the same, but with a small white wedge-shaped 

 mark in the centre of some of the feathers near their tips. 

 Greater wing-coverts dark olivaceous, distinctly but irregu- 

 larly striated with white. Tail dark brown, edges of feathers 

 lighter. Under tail-coverts black and white in transverse 

 bars. Beak very dark horn, nearly black. Legs and feet 

 of a browner colour, and rather lighter. Iris crimson, in- 

 clining to scarlet. 



The bird had been kept alive for a day or two; and its 

 stomach was quite empty when I received it. 



116. PoRPHYRiops MELANOPs (Vicill.) ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 

 1869, p. 634. 



Not uncommon, but, from its skulking habits, rarely seen. 

 Legs and feet pale olivaceous. 



117. FuLicA LEucoPTERA, ViciU. j Scl. ct Salv. Ex. Orn. 

 pi. 60, p. 119. 



Common in almost every 'arroyo^ and lagoon in the country, 

 where reeds and aquatic plants afford any cover. 



118. FuLicA ARMiLLATA, Vicill.; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, 

 p. 145. 



I have only observed this Coot to the north of Buenos 

 Ayres ; but there it is quite common. It does not seem to 

 mix with the last-named species. 



