191 8.] Cape San Antonio, Buenos Ayres. 375 



the more usual clutch and the number of nestlings reared. 

 Ground-colour pale blue, thickly spotted with reddish brown; 

 generally most marked towards upper end, where it some- 

 times takes the form of a ring or cap. The blue is more 

 pronounced than in those of the Calandria Mocking-bird 

 {Mimus modulator)^ and the eggs generally rounder in shape ; 

 otherwise there is much and confusing siuiilarity between 

 the eggs of the species. 



Measurements: General average 29x21 mm. Largest 

 clutch 29x22 mm. ; smallest 26 x20 mm. 



6. Mimus modulator Gould. Calandria Mocking-bird. 



It would be impossible to add to, or improve upon, 

 Mr. Hudson's notes on this species. As abundant in the 

 district as Tardus rufiventris, it shares in many respects 

 — food and locality — the latter's habits. It is a voracious 

 and bold fruit-eater, and is not deterred by scarecrows in 

 the shape of stuffed cats and hawks, nor driven far afield by 

 shooting. Generally distributed about the woods, it is 

 equally at home in the patio and around the houses, where 

 it examines the fresh sheep-skins and the rubbish-boxes in 

 front of the kitchens, for scraps of meat and grease. Like 

 the Thrush above referred to, it will nest in the creepers of 

 my house-verandah ; and, what is more, the whole family 

 will continue to roost subsequently in the same locality until 

 the approach of the following spring. Indeed, the conti- 

 nuity of the family-association is very marked all through 

 the autumn and the greater part of winter. A group of 

 nine, however, recorded in the middle of April, must have 

 consisted of two families. Courageous and pugnacious are 

 adjectives well merited by the Calandria. Away back in the 

 year 1875 I made the following note : — " Saw a Calandria — 

 after repeatedly trying to dislodge a Carancho Carrion-Hawk 

 (Foly bonis tharus) from its perch on the top of a large 

 Tala tree — deliberately alight on its back and remain there 

 for fully half-a-minute, the Carancho merely looking round 

 at it once or twice." The date being 5 August, there could 

 be no question of a nest or young to defend. It was a day 



SEU. X. VOL. VI. 2 E 



