LEPTASTHENURA FULIGTNICEPS. 177 



189. LEPTASTHENURA JEGITHALOIDES (Kittl.). 

 (TIT-LIKE SPINE-TAIL.) 



Synallaxis aegithaloides, Burm. La-Plata Rcise, ii. p. 469 (Mendozn) ; Hud- 

 son, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 544 (Rio Negro). Leptasthenura aegithaloides, Scl. 

 et Sah\ P. Z. S. 18G9, p. 632 (Buenos Ayres) ; iid. Nomencl. p. (53 ; Durn- 

 ford, Ibis, 1877, p. 180 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 396 (Centr. Patagonia) ; 

 Gibson, Ibis, 1880, p. 30 (Buenos Ayres); White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 611 

 (Catamarca) j Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. CL viii. p. 206 (Entrerios). 



Description. Above pale earthy brown ; crown black, striped with clear 

 brown ; lores, sides of head, and throat white, with minute black spots ; wings 

 blackish, the edges of the outer webs of the primaries and the basal part of 

 the secondaries light rufescent brown ; tail black, lateral rectrices tipped and 

 margined with pale grey ; beneath pale grey, throat white : bill and feet horn- 

 colour : whole length 6-2 inches, wing 2-4, tail 3'5. Female similar. 



Hob. Chili, Argentina, and Patagonia. 



This is a restless little bird, seen singly or in parties of three or four. 

 In manner and appearance it resembles the Long-tailed Titmouse 

 (Parus), as it diligently searches for small insects in the trees and 

 bushes, frequently hanging head downwards to explore the under surface 

 of a leaf or twig, and while thus engaged continually uttering a little 

 sharp querulous note. They are not migratory, but in winter seem to 

 wander about from place to place a great deal ; and in Patagonia, in the 

 cold season, I have frequently seen them uniting in flocks of thirty or 

 forty individuals, and associating with numbers of Spine-tails of other 

 species, chiefly with Synallaxis sordida, and all together advancing 

 through the thicket, carefully exploring every bush in their way. 



D'Orbigny says that it makes a nest of rootlets and moss in a bush ; 

 but where I have observed this bird it invariably breeds in a hole in a 

 tree, or in the nest of some other bird, often in the clay structure of 

 the Oven-bird. But in. Patagonia, where the Oven-bird is not known, 

 this Spine-tail almost always selects the nest of the Synallaxis sordida. 

 It carries in a great deal of soft material soft grass, wool, and feathers 

 to reline the cavity, and lays five or six, white, pointed eggs. 



190. LEPTASTHENURA FULIGINICEPS (d'Orb. et Lafr.). 

 (BROWN-CRESTED SPINE-TAIL.) 



Leptasthenura fuliginiceps, Scl. et Ralo. Nomencl. p. 63 ; White t P. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 611 (Catamarca). Synallaxis fuligimceps, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. 

 p. 469. 

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