796 



PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: ZOOLOGY. 



of this last locality south to Tierra del Fuego and winters in eastern Pata- 

 gonia (Bull. M. C. Z. Ixv. No. 9, p. 322). 



Hudson says : This little dark grey bird I first saw in the month of 

 June, and I afterwards met with several small flocks of them. I am dis- 



FiG. 391. Muscisaxicola madoviana mentalis, cT 7642. About three-quarters natural size. 



posed to think, from my never having seen one till the depth of winter, 

 that they migrate towards the north from the extreme southern portion of 

 the continent in the cold season. In its habits, so far as I observed them, 

 as well as in conformation, it closely resembles many other species of 

 Tcenioptera : it has a rapid, easy flight, goes in small flocks, is fond of 

 alighting on smooth barren spots of earth, over which the individuals of 

 the flock immediately scatter, running about like Plovers in all directions 

 with great rapidity ; it also occasionally assumes the habit of the true Fly- 

 catcher, darting from its position on a dry stalk or spray to catch an insect 

 on the wing. It is a shy bird, and has no song but the low plaintive 

 note common to all the birds of its genus." (P. Z. S. 1872, p. 541.) 



