192 DENDROCOLAPTID.E. 



Darwin discovered it. It inhabits dense reed-beds which grow in the 

 water, and is not found in any other situation. It pairs for life, has a 

 very feeble flight, and flies with great reluctance, but lives always in 

 close concealment in one spot. It is, however, very inquisitive, and 

 when approached the two birds creep up to the summit of the rushes 

 and utter peculiar loud, rattling, and jarring notes, as if angrily pro- 

 testing against the intrusion. 



The Rush- bird has a stout body and short graduated tail, strong claws, 

 and a slender curved beak three-fourths of an inch long. The upper 

 plumage is brown, the tail rufous, the under surface and a mark over 

 the eye white. 



208. PHACELLODOMUS FRONTALIS (Licht.). 

 (RED-FRONTED THORN-BIRD.) 



Phacellodomus frontalis, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 467 (Tucuman) ; Scl. et 

 Salv. Nomencl p. 65 ; Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 359 (Salta) ; White, P. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 612 (Buenos Ayres). Phacellodomus sincipitalis, White, P. Z. S. 

 1883, p. 433. 



Description. Above nearly uniform olive-brown, crown blackish brown, 

 superciliaries white ; beneath dirty brownish white ; under wing-coverts pale 

 cinnamon ; bill and feet horn-colour : whole length 6' 8 inches, wing 2-6, tail 2-6. 

 Female similar. 



Hob. S. America, from Venezuela to Argentina. 



The Red-fronted Thorn-bird, which is found in the Northern provinces 

 of Argentina, arid only occurs as a straggler near Buenos Ayres, resorts 

 to the thickets, and in its habits is said to resemble the Synallaxes of 

 the group to which S. spix'i and S. albescens belong. It builds a large 

 nest of sticks, and White says that it makes a peculiar chattering sound 

 that has the effect of exciting other small birds, and causes them to 

 rowd about it. 



209. PHACELLODOMUS SIBILATRIX, Scl. 

 (WHISTLING THORN-BIRD.) 



Phacellodomus sibilatrix, Scl P. Z. S. ]879, p. 461; Wliite, P. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 612 (Buenos Ayres); Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. viii. p. 209 (En- 

 trerios). 



Description. Above dull olive-brown, paler on the sides of the head ; front 

 and lesser wing-coverts chestnut-red ; wing-feathers blackish, edged with olive- 

 brown ; tail light chestnut, the middle pair of feathers and the inner webs of 



