6 BIRDS OF LaQePLATA 
by the early colonists of the Plata. Moreover, by 
a curious irony of fate, the Spanish naturalist him- 
self, by employing this unsuitable name in his Birds 
of Paraguay, even while protesting against it, has 
been the cause of its introduction into scientific 
nomenclature. 
It would be impossible to improve on the account 
Azara gives of the bird’s appearance and manners. 
The prevailing colour of the plumage is grey, the 
irides are deep green, the beak black, slender and 
curved. The tail is long, jerked and elevated when the 
bird is at rest, spread open and depressed in flight. 
The Calandria’s movements are measured and digni- 
fied, its flight low and never extends far, the bird 
usually passing from one tree to another in a long 
graceful curve. It goes alone or with its mate only ; 
feeds chiefly on the ground ; does not penetrate into 
deep forests, nor is it seen on the treeless plains. It 
frequents the borders of woods and open grounds 
abounding in isolated shrubs and trees; is fond of 
coming about houses, and invariably perches itself 
on the most conspicuous places. It sings chiefly in 
spring, and its really wonderful vocal powers have 
made it one of our best-known and most admired 
songsters. To sing, it usually places itself on the 
summit of a bush or tree, and occasionally, as if 
carried away by excitement, it darts upwards three 
or four yards into the air, and then drops back on to 
its perch. So varied are its notes, and so frequently 
suggestive of the language of other species, that the 
listener finds himself continually asking whether the 
