AG^LEUS RUFICAPILLUS. 99 



individuals, which when they settle on the trees all sing in concert, 

 pouring out their few peculiar notes with great power and emphasis. 



Even in the breeding-season these companies do not always break up, 

 and frequently several pairs have nests near together. The nest is 

 usually built in a cardoon thistle, two or three feet above the ground, 

 and is made of dry grass. The eggs are four, pointed, white or with a 

 bluish tinge, and speckled irregularly with deep brown, the spots being 

 closer and sometimes confluent at the broad end. 



Concerning the plumage of this species Mr. Barrows writes : " Late 

 in March. 1881, we found this species in large flocks on the Pigue, 

 and it was a beautiful sight to see a hundred or more fluttering about 

 among the snowy plumes of the pampas grass, and displaying their rich 

 black and yellow dress. Unlike most other birds obtained at that time, 

 their plumage seemed nearly as bright and fresh as in summer/' 



99. AGEUEUS RUFICAPILLUS, Vieill. 

 (RED-HEADED MARSH-BIRD.) 



Agelaeus ruficapiUus, Scl. Cat. B. xi. p. 347, Xanthosomus ruficapillus, 



Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 159 (Buenos Ayres) ; iid. NomencL p. 37 ; 

 White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 602 (Salta, Catamarca). Chrysomus frontalis, 

 Burm. La- Plata Reise, ii. p 492 (Parana). 



Description. Glossy blue-black ; crown of head and middle of throat dark 

 chestnut ; bill and legs black : whole length 7-5 inches, wing 3'7, tail 2-9. 



Hab. Argentina and Paraguay. 



The sexes are alike in this species : the crown of the head is rufous, 

 and with this exception the whole plumage a rich glossy blue-black. 

 The beauty of the bird and its delicate, plaintive voice would no doubt 

 make it a favourite with man if he saw more of it, only it lives and 

 breeds in marshes, and does riot come near his habitations. The Red- 

 heads are gregarious and migratory. The flock can scarcely be said to 

 break up in the breeding-season, as the birds all make their nests near 

 together in the reeds. The nest is placed about one or two feet above 

 the water, is about six inches in depth, and made of leaves and aquatic 

 grasses woven together. The eggs are four, pointed, with a white or 

 pale bluish ground, and spotted with black at the larger end. 



The song of the Red-head is quite unique in character. It begins 

 with a low, hollow-sounding note, then the voice changes to a clear, 

 sorrowful tone, rising in a rapid succession of short notes, and falling 

 again in longer ones. 



After the breeding-season the birds fly about in flocks of two or three 

 hundred individuals, and sing in concert on the trees. 



