Bush-covered fissures in the cold paramo slopes above Tafi del Valle, Argentina, 

 desolate spot that Scytalopus was finally discovered 



It was in this 



ensconced in a hut hospitably provided 

 by one of the inhabitants. After the 

 fifteen and a half hours' uninterrupted 

 ride over a difficult trail we were ready 

 for a journey into a still more remote 

 region, and the sun was shining 

 brightly the following morning when 

 we again returned to the stern realities 

 of this world. 



Tafi del Valle is a most delightful 

 place. Even though the altitude is 

 seven thousand feet, the surrounding 

 peaks shut in the valley and protect it 

 from the icy winds. There is no natu- 

 ral forest in this region, but groves of 

 willows have been planted near the 

 houses; to these, large numbers of 

 birds came to spend the night. Hawks 

 were especially al)unflant and of many 

 kinds — we collected no fewer than sev- 

 enteen species during our ten days' 

 stay; then there were also burrowing 

 owls, larks, flycatchers, thrushes, and 



many other birds. Some species which 

 ordinarily live in brush-covered coun- 

 try had become adapted to their barren 

 surroundings and were nesting in holes 

 excavated in banks of earth. When 

 the birds had reared their broods, rats, 

 mice, and pigmy opossums occupied the 

 old nesting sites. 



A clear, cold stream, which flows 

 through one side of the valley, spreads 

 out at the lower end over a large area, 

 forming lagoons and marshes. Geese, 

 ducks, coots, night herons, and sand- 

 pipers made these places a favorite re- 

 sort. Pectoral sandpipers were not 

 uncommon, and were so fat that they 

 were unable to fly and could be taken 

 with the hands. There were also flocks 

 of stilts ; they are beautiful creatures, 

 either when flying in compact forma- 

 tion, with measured wing-beats and 

 outstretched necks and legs, or when 

 standing motionless in the shallow 



165 



