SYNALLAXIS PHRYGANOPHILA. 181 



from those I have seen. " Entrance is gained by the bird," he says, 

 '" through a long tube, which is built on to the nest at a point about 

 half way up the side. This tube is formed by the interlocking of 

 thorny twigs, and is supported by the branches and twigs about it. It 

 may be straight or curved ; its diameter externally varies from two to 

 four inches, and its length from one to two feet. The passage-way 

 itself is but just large enough to admit the birds one at a time, and it 

 has always been a mystery to me how a bird the size of a Chipping- 

 Sparrow could find its way through one of these slender tubes, bristling 

 with thorns, and along which I found it difficult to pass a smooth 

 slender twig for more than five or six inches. Yet they not only pass 

 in and out easily, but so easily that I was never yet able to surprise one 

 in the nest, or to see the slightest disturbance of it by the bird's hurried 

 exit/' 



The bird has a very wide range in South America, and Mr. Salmon 

 observed its breeding-habits in Antioquia in Colombia. There also the 

 bird varies the form of its nest, making it as large as that of an English 

 Magpie, and roofing the top with a mass of large leaves to protect it 

 from the heavy rains. The eggs, he says, are very pale greenish blue, 

 nearly white ; but he does not give the number. 



195. SYNALLAXIS WHITII, Scl. 

 (WHITE'S SPINE-TAIL.) 



Synallaxis whitii, Scl. Ibis, 1881, p. 600, pi. xvii. fig. 2 ; White, P. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 611 (Salta). 



Description. Above dark brown, lores and superciliaries white ; wings and 

 tail chestnut-red ; beneath cinnamomeous, paler on the middle of the belly ; 

 large spot in the middle of the throat black ; inner margins of wing-feathers 

 and under wing-coverts cinnamomeous ; bill black, feet pale hazel : whole length 

 5'7 inches, wing 2*5, tail 2'6. 



Hab. Northern Argentina. 



White obtained a single example of this new species near Oran in 

 November 1880. It is most nearly allied to S. scutata of Brazil. 



196. SYNALLAXIS PHRYGANOPHILA (VieilL). 

 (PRETTY-THROATED SPINE-TAIL.) 



Synallaxis phryganophila, Sunn. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 469 (Parana) ; Scl. 

 et Salv. Nomend. p. 64 ; Scl. P. Z. 6'. 1874, p. 17; White, P. Z. S. 1882, 



