AVES ICTERID/E. 



853 



feathers. One taken at Palaike January 18 had lost all these tips through 

 abrasion. 



Fig. 409. Trupialis militaris, 9 7575- About one half natural size. 



A. A. Lane says: "This bird, known in Chili as the 'Loica' or 'Loyca,' 

 is plentiful in all the southern provinces and extends southward to Chiloe 

 and the adjacent mainland, wherever suitable localities exist. 



"The female may perhaps be a trifle smaller than the male. Both sexes 

 vary in colouring, the male attaining more brilliant plumage after the 

 moult. The iris is black. They frequent the hills in Central Chili, and 

 in other localities prefer large open expanses of grass-land or agricultural 

 districts. They appear to be more terrestrial than arboreal in their habits, 

 and I should say they fed altogether on the ground. They are to a great 

 extent insectivorous, though they also eat various grasses and, I believe, 

 fruit. 



"I never found the nest of this bird, but was told it is built as a rule in 



