POOSPIZA NIGRORUFA. 49 



58. DONACOSPIZA ALBIFRONS (Vieffl.). 

 (LONG-TAILED REED-FINCH.) 



Donacospiza albifrons, Sol. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 632 (Buenos Ayres), 

 iid. Nomencl. p. 30 ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 171 (Buenos Ayres) ; White, 

 P. Z. S. 1883, p. 38 (Cordova) ; Dor ing, Exp. al Rio Negro, Zool p. 38 

 (Pampas). Poospiza albifrons, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 484 (Parana). 



Description. Above yellowish grey, the back striped with blackish ; lesser 

 wing-coverts clear grey ; greater coverts and wing-feathers black, edged with 

 brown ; head nearly the same as the back, somewhat grey on the cheek, the 

 crown and nape washed with olive-brown ; superciliary stripe and under surface 

 buff; bill and feet horn-colour : total length 6-0 inches, wing 2-5, tail 3-0. 



Hab. Paraguay, Uruguay, and La Plata. 



The slender body, great length of tail, and the hue of the plumage, 

 assimilating to that of sere decaying vegetation, might easily lead one 

 into mistaking this Finch for a Synallaxis where these birds are abun- 

 dant. 



I have met with it in the marshy woods and reed-beds along the shores 

 of the Plata, but it is a shy, rare bird in Buenos Ayres. I have followed it 

 about, hoping to hear it utter a song or melodious note, but it had only 

 a little chirp. I would not, however, on this account pronounce it to 

 be the one silent member of a voiceful family, as my acquaintance with 

 it is so very slight. 



59. POOSPIZA NIGRORUFA (d'Orb. et Lafr.). 

 (BLACK-AND-CHESTNUT WARBLING FINCH.) . 



Poospiza nigrorufa, Burm. La- Plata Reise, ii. p. 484 (Parana) ; Scl et Salv. 

 Nomencl. p. 30; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 171 (Buenos Ayres) ; Doring, Exp. 

 al Rio Negro, Zool. p. 38 (Rio Sauce) ; Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. viii. 

 p. 129 (Concepcion). 



Description. Entire upper parts black, faintly washed with olive ; super- 

 ciliary stripe pale straw-colour ; two outer tail-feathers on each side tipped with 

 white ; throat and under surface bright chestnut ; centre of abdomen white ; 

 under tail-coverts pale buff: total length 5*8 inches, wing 2-5, tail 2-2. 

 Female : upper parts not so dark as in male ; underparts light buff, mottled 

 and striped with blackish. 



Hab. South Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. 



This sweet-voiced little songster appears in Buenos Ayres at the end 

 of September ; it is a common bird in grounds abounding in bushes 

 and scattered trees, and, in its bright ruddy breast and dark upper 

 plumage, has some resemblance to the English Robin ; only it has a very 



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