from the Argentine Republic. 131 



the former white, with black tips to the wings — the latter white, 

 with black necks. A small reddish Grebe was also common. 

 All over the camp the " small Partridge " was very abundant ; 

 and in the long grass by the river there were always some 

 " big Partridge/' These two birds are the only ones in the 

 country that remind one of game, and are not bad shooting, 

 but very dry and tasteless. The larger bird is about the size 

 of a hen Pheasant, and rises very like one ; the small is in size 

 about halfway between a Partridge and a Quail *. Over the 

 grass by the river there were always Harriers (Circus cinereus) 

 beating along with Eagles and Chimangos. These latter and 

 the Caranchos were of course always to be seen wherever there 

 was a carcass. On the whole the variety of birds here was 

 small, as one would expect from the utter absence of wood. 

 Besides Geese, Swans, Ducks, and Partridges, I shot the fol- 

 lowing birds, which have been identified for me by Messrs. 

 Sclater and Salvin from the skins which I brought home : — 



1. Geranoaetus melanoleucus. 



A bird which I thought might be the female of this species 

 came and sat on the chimney one night, where I shot it. It 

 was just the same size, and the cere and legs the same colour, 

 but the plumage dark brown, with barred markings. The 

 natives, however, assured me that they had seen both parent 

 birds at a nest in the same blue plumage ; so perhaps this 

 was a young bird. 



2. Circus cinereus. 



Very common, a most graceful bird ; the brilliant yellow of 

 the eyes and legs is very striking. 



^~3. Hypotriorchis femoralis. 



Not uncommon. 



4. TlNNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS. 



Very common. 



5. Pholeoptynx cunicularia. 



To be seen everywhere on the plains. 



* [No doubt Tinamous — the larger Rhi/nchotis rufescens, the smaller 

 Nothura maculosa. — Ed.] 



