174 Mr. O. Y. Ai^lm on the 



being preferred to the gums. The local name is ''Pecho 

 araarillo/^ 



33. Trupialis DEFiLippii. De Filippi's Marsh Starling. 

 The '^ Pecho Colorado/^ as it is called, is a resident, but at 



the same time it is partially migratory. It usually breeds 

 about Sta. Elena, but in 1892, possibly on account of the 

 seca and the small growth of cardoon, beds of which they are 

 fond of frequenting, none did so. I saw only one bird there 

 (25th October) until early in February, when I met with a 

 pair in moult. On ] st April I saw a small flock, and after 

 that date they became fairly numerous, going either in little 

 parties or joining with the Cow-birds. They were generally 

 rather wild, but when among cover (paja tufts, for instance) 

 they will sometimes try to hide behind the plants, and I have 

 seen one crouch like a Partridge as I rode close to it. In 

 December, when riding up to the Rio Negro, I saw a good 

 many near Porongos, where there was a good deal of cardoon, 

 and I also met with a few on the north side of that river. 



34. Cy^nocorax chrysops. Urraca Jay. 



This beautiful bird is well known to the English residents 

 as well as to the OrientaJes. It is said that no one has ever 

 found its nest ; and that, while frequenting the thicker parts 

 oi the moute, it is a very inquisitive bird, and tame under 

 certain circumstances. For instance, if a piece of meat is 

 hung up in the monte, the Urracas will come to it and almost 

 suffer themselves to be noosed; they will even come to see 

 what you are doing. What I saw of the birds confirmed this. 

 I had no difficulty in watching them at close quarters as they 

 hopped about in a thick growth of mataojo or other scrub, 

 and on the 26th November, while smoking a pipe after break- 

 fasting in the monte of the Arroyo Grande near the Paso de los 

 Loros (Sta. Elena), I heard a bird making some curious low 

 crow-like notes close at hand. Peering through a thick 

 growth of shrubs and creepers, I caught sight of something 

 blue, and shot a female Urraca, which I did not at all expect 

 to do, as I was assured the Urraca was not found in that part 

 of the country. I never met with it again tlierCj and it must 



