14 



I here saw a good number of Dinca Sjmnvivs which 

 belong to a much larger form than those found in the 

 Argentine Republic. 



The Diuca takes in Chili the place of our House Sparrow. 

 Whenever during my travels through that country I saw 

 Diucas I was sure to find some settlement or other. 



They go about in troops and are quite tame. Amongst 

 them one generally sees a pair or two of Zonotrichia pil- 

 eata. These birds although often going with the Diucas 

 keep to themselves. They are rather retiring of disposition 

 and are long gone away before the Diucas think of ever 

 movi7ig. 



They are dainty little birds to look at, and seem to be 

 ashamed of going about in such vulgar company as the 

 Diucas are. The crown-feathers are er.ectable and give 

 them a very pretty look. 



There is a pretty park or garden in the outskirts of 

 Santiago called the Quinta Normal. Besides containing other 

 buildings it boasts of the Natural History Museum. I went 

 over it under the kind guidance of the Curator Senor 

 Quyada. 



I am sorry that I can say nothing good about the way 

 this museum is kept as a more neglected lot seldom came 

 to my view ! 



This is a great pity as there is a very good collection 

 of Chilian birds. 



I noted two fine specimens of Fulica giga?ifea of the 

 laguna Huachiri (1870), some specimens of the curious 

 Hylactes megapodius Kittl., of Pteroptochus alhicoUis Kittl., 

 etc. etc. The Director Dr. Moore (a Chilian with an English 

 name) told me that they were going to improve things in 

 the Quinta Normal. They had just completed to build him 

 a new house! Let us hope that the museum will have a 

 turn next! 



In the same garden there is a small zoological collection 

 mostly consisting of tame poultry, I am sorry to say. The 

 trees in the Quinta are very fine. 



From Santiago I took the train south to Valdivia. 



Notes from tlie Leyden IMuseum, Vol. XXXV. 



