RED-BELLIED THRUSH 3 



anywhere near a human habitation ; and it is prob- 

 ably owing to its recluse habits that its excellent song 

 has not been hitherto noticed, Azara perhaps mistook 

 the song of this species for that of Turdus rufiventris, 

 a very inferior vocalist. 



The nest is made in the centre of a thick bush or 

 tree six or eight feet above the ground, and is a deep 

 elaborate structure, plastered inside with mud, and 

 lined with soft dry grass. The eggs are four in 

 number, oblong ; the ground-colour light blue, 

 abundantly marked with reddish-brown spots. 



This Thrush has, I believe, a partial migration in 

 Buenos Ayres. In the autumn and winter I have 

 frequently observed it in localities where it is never 

 seen in summer. 



RED-BELLIED THRUSH 



Turdus rufiventris 



Above olive-grey, throat to breast white, striped with dark brown ; 

 under surface and under wing-coverts rufous red, deepest on the belly ; 

 bill dull yellow ; feet brown ; length 9 inches. 



THE Red-bellied Thrush, distinguished from the 

 species just described by its larger size and the 

 bright rufous colour of its under plumage, is common 

 everywhere in the Plata district, and does not appear 

 to be migratory. It is a noisy, strong-winged, quarrel- 

 some bird, closely resembling the Dusky Thrush in 

 its manners. It inhabits forests, runs on the ground 



