6 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



by the early colonists of the Plata. Moreover, by 

 a curious irony of fate, the Spanish naturalist him- 

 self, by employing this unsuitable name in his Birds 

 of Paraguay, even while protesting against it, has 

 been the cause of its introduction into scientific 

 nomenclature. 



It would be impossible to improve on the account 

 Azara gives of the bird's appearance and manners. 

 The prevailing colour of the plumage is grey, the 

 irides are deep green, the beak black, slender and 

 curved. The tail is long, jerked and elevated when the 

 bird is at rest, spread open and depressed in flight. 

 The Calandria's movements are measured and digni- 

 fied, its flight low and never extends far, the bird 

 usually passing from one tree to another in a long 

 graceful curve. It goes alone or with its mate only ; 

 feeds chiefly on the ground ; does not penetrate into 

 deep forests, nor is it seen on the treeless plains. It 

 frequents the borders of woods and open grounds 

 abounding in isolated shrubs and trees ; is fond of 

 coming about houses, and invariably perches itself 

 on the most conspicuous places. It sings chiefly in 

 spring, and its really wonderful vocal powers have 

 made it one of our best-known and most admired 

 songsters. To sing, it usually places itself on the 

 summit of a bush or tree, and occasionally, as if 

 carried away by excitement, it darts upwards three 

 or four yards into the air, and then drops back on to 

 its perch. So varied are its notes, and so frequently 

 suggestive of the language of other species, that the 

 listener finds himself continually asking whether the 



