SALTATRICULA MULTICOLOR. 61 



The prevailing colour of this little field-sparrow is grey, marked and 

 mixed with fuscous and brown ; the shoulder and space between the 

 beak and eye are yellow. It is a common species in the northern por- 

 tion of the Argentine country, and appears now to be gradually extend- 

 ing its range southwards. Many years ago I first noticed it on the 

 pampas north of Buenos Ayres ; afterwards I found it in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of that city ; then it began to spread over the plains to 

 the south, appearing every spring in greater numbers, but it is still far 

 from common. It has, I fancy, a limited migration, as I could never 

 find one in winter. It is solitary, and frequents open plains and fields ; 

 lives on the ground, and never alights on a tree. The male has a 

 favourite perch, a tall weed or post, where he spends a great deal of his 

 time, repeating his song at intervals of half a minute ; it is short and 

 pleasing, and has a slight resemblance to the song of the Yellow- 

 Hammer, but is more delicate and melodious. When approached, the 

 bird flies down and conceals itself in the grass. 



82. SALTATRICULA MULTICOLOR, Burm. 



(MANY-COLOURED GROUND-FINCH. 



[PLATE V.] 



Saltatricula multicolor, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 481 (Parana) ; Scl. et 

 Sato. Nomencl. p. 32 ; Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 355 (Salta) ; White, P. Z. S. 

 1882, p. 600 (Catamarca). 



Description. Above grey, faintly tinged with olivaceous on the head, neck, 

 and back ; a short white stripe behind the eye ; beneath the stripe and lower 

 part of neck velvet-black ; wings blackish ; tail-feathers black, tipped with 

 white ; beneath, throat white, breast grey ; sides and belly pale chestnut ; 

 middle of belly and under tail- coverts white ; bill and feet horn-colour : whole 

 length 6*6 inches, wing 2'9, tail 3'0. Female similar, but not so bright. 



Hob. North and Western Argentina. 



To Dr. Burmeister we owe the discovery of this brilliant Finch, as of 

 so many other Argentine species. He met with it at Parana, in the 

 bushy lands east of the city, and obtained five specimens. White found 

 it near Andagala in Catamarca, on trees, feeding on the insects in the 

 flowers and on seeds ; and Durnford collected specimens near Salta. 



Examples of this species were also obtained by Weisshaupt near 

 Mendoza (cf. Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 355). 



