BIRDS. 93 



t. Fringilla Diuca. Mol. 



Fringilla Diuca, Kittl. Mem. de St. Petersb. t. i. pi. 11. 



Mag. de Zool. 1S37, pi. 69. 



Eniberiza Diuca, D'Orh. et Lafr. Syn. Mag. of Zool. 1838, f. 77. 



This bird is very common on the coast of Chile, from the humid forests of 

 Chiloe to the desert mountains of Copiapo. In Chiloe it is perhaps the most 

 abundant of the land birds ; south of Chiloe I never saw it, although the nature of 

 the country does not change them. On the eastern side of the continent, I met 

 with this bird only at the Rio Negro, in northern Patagonia. I do not believe 

 it inhabits the shores of the Plata, although so common in the open country, 

 under corresponding latitudes west of the Cordillera. The Diuca, as this 

 Fringilla is called in Chile, generally moves in small flocks, and frequents, al- 

 though not exclusively, cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of houses : habits 

 very similar to those of the Zonotrichia matiitina. During incubation, the male 

 utters two or three pleasing notes, which Molina has in an exaggerated de- 

 scription called a fine song. In October, at Valparaiso, I found the nest of this 

 bird in the trellis-work of a vineyard, close by a much frequented path. The 

 nest is shallow, and about six inches across ; the outer part is very coarse, and 

 composed of the thin stalks of twining plants, strengthened by the husky calices 

 of a composite flower ; this outside part is lined by many pieces of rag, thread, 

 string, tow, and a few feathers. Eggs rather pointed, oval, -94 of an inch in 

 length ; colour, pale dirty green, thickly blotched by rather pale dull-brown, which 

 small blotches and spots become confluent, and entirely colour the broad end. 



2. Fringilla Gayi. Eyd. ^' Gerv. 



Fringilla Gayi, Ei/d. ^-^ Gerv. Mag. de Zool. 1834. pi. 23. 

 Emberiza Gayi, var. D'Orh. Sf Lafr. Syn. p. 76. 



This Fringilla, which was first brought from Chile, is abundant in the southern 

 parts of Patagonia. 



3. Fringilla Formosa. Gould. 



F.fronte lorisque nigris; vertice, gents, gidd, alarum tegminibus ccendeo griseis, leg- 

 minibus primariis, secundariis rectricibusque griseo-nigris, c(eridescenti-griseo mar- 

 ginatis, dorso Jlavescenti castaneo ; tegminibus caudalibus infer ioiibns pallid^ griseis; 

 uropygio pectore abdomine hypochondr Usque saturalh fiavis. 



Long. tot. 5g unc. ; ala\ Z\ ; cauda; 2| ; tarsi, | ; rostri, ^. 



Forehead and lores black ; crown of the head, sides of the face, throat, wing 



