BIRDS. 75 



2. Troglodytes platensis. Gmel. 



I procured specimens of this bird from Bahia Blanca, in Northern Patagonia, 

 and likewise from the Falkland Islands, where it is not uncommon. When first 

 killed, its legs and beak appear of larger size, compared to its body, than in other 

 species of this genus. In the Falkland Islands it lives, almost exclusively, close 

 to the ground, in the coarse grass which springs from the peaty soil. I do not 

 think I ever saw a bird which, when it chose to remain concealed, was so difficult 

 to disturb. I have frequently marked one down to within a yard on the open 

 grassy plain, and afterwards have endeavoured, quite in vain, by walking back- 

 wards and forwards, over the same spot, to obtain another sight of it. 



1. SVNALLAXIS HUMICOLA. Kitll. 



S. humicola, Kittl. Mem. de I'Acad. St. Peters, i. pi. 6. — Id. Yog. von Chili, p. 13, pi. vi. 



Not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Valparaiso. Kittlitz has well de- 

 scribed its habits. He says it lives on the ground under thickets, that it is active 

 in running about, and that it readily flies from bush to bush. It holds its tail 

 upright; utters a shrill, quickly reiterated cry; feeds on insects; but Kittlitz 

 found in the stomach chiefly grains and berries, with little stones. From these 

 circumstances, he conceives that this bird shews some affinity with Pteropto- 

 chos, but I feel no doubt that in the form of its beak, wings, tail, manner of 

 carrying the latter, kind of plumage, sound of voice and habits, the relationship 

 is much closer with Eremobius, which perhaps it may be considered as represent- 

 ing on the Pacific side of the Cordillera. Its tongue is furnished with bristly 

 points, but apparently is less deeply bifid than in the other species of Synallaxis 

 or Limnornis. I obtained both sexes, but there is no difference in their plumage. 



For the reason just given, I have put this species at the head of its genus, 

 and therefore nearest to Eremobius, although it is impossible to represent by a 

 linear arrangement, the multiplied relations between the following genera — 

 Furnarius, Uppucerthia, Opetiorhynchus, Eremobius, Anumbius, Synallaxis, 

 Limnornis, Oxyurus ; and again, Rhynomya, Pteroptochos, Scytalopus, and 

 Troglodytes, which, with the exception of the last, are strictly South American 

 forms. 



