Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 361 



row, not unlike, but much prettier than our European Sparrow 

 (Zonotrichia pileata) , the small yellow-breasted Misto Finch 

 (Sy calls luteola), and the Red- billed Finch (Embernagra 

 platensis) are all common. The prettiest of the Finches are, 

 however, the Cardinal, said to be the finest Finch in' the world 

 (Paroaria cucullata), of clear slaty-blue colour, white be- 

 neath, and with a magnificent head-piece, gorget, and tall 

 pyramidal crest of the brightest scarlet imaginable, and the 

 Black-headed Siskin (Chrysomitris icterica), of bright yellow 

 tints with coaly-black head. The place of the Finches is, 

 however, in great part taken up by the Tyrannidse, which 

 are very numerous, both in individuals and species. Perched 

 on a withered hemlock by the water's edge may be seen the 

 Silver-bill Tyrant (Lichenops perspicillatus), with plumage 

 pure black, except the wings, which are equally pure white. 

 By-the-by, the frequency of black as a colour amongst the 

 birds here strikes one after the British avifauna, with its 

 three or four black birds. The Scissor-tail Tyrant is pretty 

 common here (Milvulus tyr annus), resembling in general 

 appearance a large Swallow, and characterized by the im- 

 mensely long outer rectrices of the tail, which is expanded 

 and closed during flight, so that the long feathers open and 

 shut like a pair of scissors. More worthy of being classed 

 as a Tyrant is the " Bien te veo " (Pitangus bolivianus) . It 

 is a bird somewhat larger than a Thrush, of a brown colour 

 above, black, head, with white eyebrows and yellow crest and 

 belly. It has an immense dagger-like beak, and looks really 

 worthy of its name. It constantly screams " Bien te veo " 

 (I see you well) in a loud and harsh voice, which is perhaps 

 the most prominent sound one hears in the monte. The list 

 of commoner birds here is closed by a few Dendrocolaptidse, 

 the most prominent among which is the Oven-bird (Furna- 

 rius rufus). This bird is not unlike a Thrush in appearance, 

 and its curious oven-like nests are to be seen everywhere in 

 the monte. The nests are spheroidal structures, built of 

 mud, about a foot in diameter, and attached to a tree or post. 

 At one side is the opening leading into the interior by a 

 cunningly curved passage. What strikes a European about 



