100 



Their chirp has a peculiar metallic sound, and can be imitated by 

 tapping on the edge of a copper bell with the finger-nail. 



100. LEISTES SUPERCILIARIS, Bp. 



(RED-BREASTED MARSH-BIRD.) 



Leistes superciliaris, Hudson, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 333 (Buenos Ayres) ; Scl. et 

 Salv. Nomencl p. 38 ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 175 (Buenos Ayres) ; White, 

 P. Z. S. 1882, p. 602 (Salta) ; Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. viii. p. 136 

 (Entrerios) ; Scl. Cat. B. xi. p. 349. Trupialis guianensis, Burm. La- 

 Plata Reise, ii. p. 490 (Banda Oriental). 



Description. Brownish black ; superciliaries pale brown ; bend of the wing 

 and body beneath from the chin to the middle of the belly bright scarlet ; hill 

 and legs black : length 7*0 inches, wing 4*0, tail 2-5. Female pale brown, 

 above variegated with black, below stained with red on the breast ; flanks and 

 lower belly striated with black; tail cinereous brown, with black cross bars. 

 Hub. Argentina, Paraguay, and E. Brazil. 



The most interesting point concerning this species is the very great 

 difference in habits, as well as appearance, existing between the sexes. 

 In form it resembles the Starling of Europe, but is a trifle smaller and 

 has a shorter tail. The male is black, the upper parts faintly mottled 

 with yellowish grey ; there is a straw-coloured stripe over the eye ; the 

 throat and breast bright crimson. The female is a smaller bird, and in 

 colour dull fulvous grey, mottled with fuscous; the red tint on the 

 breast scarcely perceptible. 



These birds are migratory, and appear everywhere in the eastern part 



of the Argentine country early in October, arriving singly, after which 



each male takes up a position in a field or open space abounding with 



coarse grass and herbage, where he spends most of the time perched on 



the summit of a tall stalk or weed, his glowing crimson bosom showing 



at a distance like some splendid flower above the herbage. At intervals 



of two or three minutes he soars vertically up to a height of twenty or 



twenty-five yards to utter his song, composed of a single long, powerful, 



and rather musical note, ending with an attempt at a flourish, during 



which the bird flutters and turns about in the air ; then, as if dis- 



cou raged at his failure, he drops down, emitting harsh guttural chirps, 



to resume his stand. Meanwhile, the female is invisible, keeping closely 



concealed under the long grass. But at length, attracted perhaps by 



the bright bosom and aerial music of the male, she occasionally exhibits 



herself for a few moments, starting up with a wild, zigzag flight, like a 



Snipe flushed from its marsh, and, darting this way and that, presently 



drops into the grass once more. The moment she appears above the 



grass the male gives chase, and they vanish from sight together. Thus, 



