1918.] Cape San Antonio^ Buenos Ayres. 415 



his noii-acquaintcince with it. Tlie present writer professes 

 equal ignorance of its habits, pleading that all species of this 

 form present much difficulty in identification and observa- 

 tion, owing to their sti'ictly local habitat and secretive 

 nature, and that accordingly (following his general pro- 

 cedure) he maintains silence when he has nothing to say. 



Claude Grant, however, establishes its presence in this 

 locality as being " fairly common, inhabiting rough grass- 

 lands and the canadons ; it has a whistling call. The nest 

 is usually placed in a low solitary tree or shrub, and is a 

 longish structure of sticks placed almost horizontally, the 

 entrance being at the higher end and with a tunnel coni- 

 umnicating with the nesting-cavity ; it is lined with wool 

 and hair." The following is the consensus of various nests 

 examined by myself : — Placed in a Brusquilla bush or isolated 

 and stunted Tala tree (in the '* rincon " district), from three 

 to six feet from the ground. Built of thorny twigs of the 

 two above-mentioned plants. A.bout twenty inches long, 

 and generally situated perpendicularly (not horizontally). 

 From the entrance at the top, and at a slight angle, a 

 narrow passage — lined with moss, wool, dry grass, and 

 horsehair — leads down to a false nest ; at the opposing side 

 of which, and as it were a step down, is the real breeding, 

 chamber (rather larger than the preceding). This last is 

 domed, deep, and lined all round with fine rootlets and some 

 wool, dry grass, and a few feathers. The nesting-bird sits 

 close, and on being disturbed leaves silently and takes refuge 

 in the surrounding esparto. 



The eggs are laid at the end of October or early in 

 November, and the clutch apparently consists of four. 

 They are pure white in colour, rather pointed, and average 

 21 X 16 mm. 



My own measurements of birds in the flesh are not in 

 accordance with those of Hudson, and none are furnished 

 by C/laude Grant. On the other hand, I agree with the 

 latter as to the colouring of the iris, bill, and feet, in both 

 adults and young. 



[To be coutiiiued.] 



