EMBERIZOIDES SPHENURUS. 63 



settled on by Europeans. The bird is very badly protected by nature 

 against raptorial species, owing to its very conspicuous red beak, its 

 habit of perching on the summit of tall plants arid other elevated 

 positions, its loud impetuous voice, which invites attention, and the 

 weak eccentric flight, which challenges pursuit. It is essential to its 

 safety that it should have, in the open country it frequents, a dense 

 grass cover into which it can plunge on the slightest alarm. Where 

 cattle are introduced, the original pampas-grass, which afforded the 

 suitable conditions, disappears, giving place to the soft, perishable 

 grasses, clovers, and thistles of Europe. Where these changes take 

 place, the bird cannot escape from its enemies and quickly disappears ; 

 while many Dendrocolaptine species inhabiting the same situations are 

 saved by their inconspicuous protective colouring, sharp wedge-like 

 bodies, and swift mouse-like motions on the ground. In marshy places 

 on the pampas, abounding with long aquatic grasses and reed-beds, the 

 Red-bill still maintains its existence, but from its old habitat on the 

 open grassy plains, where it was once the dominant Finch, it has utterly 

 vanished. 



84. EMBERNAGRA OLIVASCENS (d'Orb. et Lafr.). 

 (OLIVE GROUND-FINCH.) 



Embernagra olivascens, d'Orb. Toy., Ois. p. 285; Burm. La-Plata JReise, ii. 

 p. 485 (Mendoza) ; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 32 j Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 355 ; 

 Doring, Exp. al Rio Negro, Zool. p. 40 (R. Colorado). 



Description. Similar to Embernagra platensis, but the back unstriped, and 

 the olive hue somewhat purer ; also the abdomen of a paler buff : total length 

 8*1 inches, wing 3'7, tail 4-0. Female similar. 



Hab. Bolivia, Western Argentina, and Patagonia. 



This species, which was met with by Dr. Burmeister near Mendoza, 

 was found by Dr. Doring as far south as the Rio Colorado, on the 

 pampas. 



85. EMBERIZOIDES SPHENURUS (Vieill,). 

 (WEDGE-TAILED GROUND-FINCH.) 



Embernagra macroura, d'Orb. Voy., Ois. p. 285. Emberizoides macrurus, 

 Burm. La- Plata Reise, ii. p. 485 (Parana). Emberizoides sphenurus, 



Scl et Salv. Nomencl. p. 33. 



Description. Above yellowish brown, striped with black ; shoulders edged 

 with yellow ; wing-feathers blackish, edged with olive-green ; tail-feathers 





