on the Birds of Chili. 45 



men I met on the coast seemed to have some idea that a 

 certain " singing fox " was found in the woods ; but though 

 this conjecture was somewhat imaginative, it was indeed 

 more natural to attribute the sounds to a quadruped of that 

 size than to a small bird. I scarcely got any of these birds, 

 as I had not time, while in their locality, to become 

 sufficiently acquainted with their habits. 



Fig. 4 gives a diagram of a nest near Mansel, which I was 

 lucky in finding, as the bird ran out as I was passing the 

 entrance, which was in a low bank on the hillside, close to a 

 bush. I had to return another day with a spade to dig it 

 out. I dug in on the main passage for about 3 feet, but this 

 seemed to terminate after I had discovered the furthest siding, 

 which led to nothing, and subsequently, after almost giving 

 up the search, I found another branch, and got the nest 

 and egg, which I sent home. The local authority among 

 the farm hands (who knew very little) told me the clutch 

 was only two ; I think he may have been right on this 

 occasion, as I heard others say the same. 



39. Trtptorhinus paradoxus (Kittl.). (Fig. 5, p. 46.) 



Ti'iptorhinus paradoxus, Sclater, B. M. C. xv. p. 351. 



(Coronel and Calle-calle.) 



This bird is plentiful from Arauco southward and also in 

 the island of Chiloe. In the Avinter season it appeared to go 

 about in companies, and I have seen at least six together. The 

 sexes are, apparently, of the same colour, the male being 

 perhaps better marked, and the female duller and perhaps a 

 tiifle smaller. The measurements of the male are : — Length, 

 bill to tip of tail, 5'75 inches. Beak (tip to gape) {-^ of an 

 inch. Tail 225 inches ; the middle rectrices number two, but 

 all I examined had only four lateral each side. The wing is 

 2*25 inches from shoulder to tip ; the two measure not 

 more than 8 inches. Tibia 1*25 inch, tarsus 1, middle and 

 hind toes "75 and "5 respectively (to ends of claws). 



These birds are generally in the bottom of thick covert or on 

 the ground, seldom rising more than 3 feet above the ground. 

 In the more cultivated districts they also occur in thick 



