the Province of Buenos Ayres. 203 



141. tEchmophorus major (Bocld.) -, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. 

 p. 151. 



Common^ except during spring and summer. They are 

 found both singly and in small parties. During a severe fog 

 which we had in June last many were killed quite close to 

 the city. I observed this Grebe near Montevideo in May, 

 and at Baradero in April. 



142. Tachybaptes dominicus (Linn.) ; Scl. et Salv. /. s. c. 

 Uesident and common in lagoons and "■ arroyos.^^ The 



female is not quite so brightly coloured as the male, and the 

 elongated feathers on the head are shorter than in that sex. In 

 rapidity of diving it rivals the little Dabchick at home. A 

 few at Baradero in April. 



143. Rhynchotus rufescens (Temm.) ; Scl. et Salv. No- 

 mencl. p. 153. 



Was formerly common here ; but now it is necessary to go 

 a hundred miles from Buenos Ayres to meet with them. 



144. NoTHURA MACULOSA (Tcmm.) ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 

 1868, p. 143. 



Resident and abundant wherever the rough paja-grass or 

 thistles afford any cover. It also frequents fields of maize or 

 other cereals in considerable numbers. On a Sunday or holi- 

 day it is a curious sight to watch the " sportsmen " of various 

 nationalities flocking to the different railway-stations to have 

 a day^s '' perdiz " shooting. The dogs impressed into their 

 service on these occasions are, like their masters, of various 

 breeds, from a bull-terrier to a pointer, it being considered 

 of primary importance to be accompanied by some specimen 

 of the canine race. 



XVII. — 0)1 a new Form of Reed-bird fro7n Eastern Asia. 

 By R. SwiNHOE, F.R.S. &c. 



(Plate IV.) 



In 1863 Mr. Blakiston, who was then in England, gave me 

 a skin of a bird which he had shot in Canton. The speci- 

 men, unfortunately, had no tail ; but I took it and carefully 



