y68 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: ZOOLOGY. 



with buffy white, tertials cinnamon on the outer webs, secondaries with a 

 a patch of tawny on the outer webs, primaries with spots of tawny form- 

 ing a diagonal band across the middle ; tail graduated, the middle pair 

 longest, all with the barbs much prolonged in slender spines, dark brown 

 except the middle pair, which are largely chestnut, the three outer pairs 

 with a large oval terminal chestnut spot ; lower surface white, cinnamon 

 buff on the flanks, thighs and under tail coverts. 



Geographical Range. — Patagonia from Tierra del Fuego to about 40° 

 South Latitude or farther in Chili, recorded from the Falkland Islands, 



Peters says: "This is another representation of the Magellanic fauna 

 occurring in northwestern Patagonia only in the forests of the east An- 

 dean slopes. Generally found in small companies of half a dozen or 

 more individuals, both adults and immature were present together. It 

 is a very active species, somewhat wren-like in actions, and with a con- 

 siderable variety of notes, squawks and scolds for the most part." (Bull. 

 M. C. Z. Ixv. no. 9, p. 315.) 



This is a characteristic bird of the forest regions of southern South 

 America, and appears to be a resident form, not changing its habitat at 

 all with the varying seasons. Mr. Hatcher and his assistants collected it 

 at every point where they explored the wooded regions of Patagonia as 

 well as at Sandy Point, where this little creeper-like bird was particularly 

 abundant at all times when collections were made there. In this region 

 it must breed in November, as fully fledged young, except for the tail, 

 were taken commonly at Sandy Point during the last two weeks of De- 

 cember. Except in the breeding season the birds are gregarious and go 

 about in small flocks hunting through the trees in a tit-like way. They 

 are said also to feed at times on the ground in the woods, hunting among 

 dead leaves for their insect prey. The birds do not according to general 

 testimony climb the trunks or branches of trees, a habit which would 

 seem to be indicated by the creeper-like tail and general look. An old 

 male taken December 20 was in the moult. 



A. A. Lane says of it: "This is one of the species characteristic of the 

 great southern forest district. It has various local names, such as ' Coli- 

 largo' and 'Tijerito.' I do not know how far north these birds extend. 

 They are plentiful in Arauco and all through the more southerly prov- 

 inces, especially in the forest-covered districts. . . . 



"They are, I think, resident wherever they occur. They feed like Tits 



