i8 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



remember one flying into a church in Buenos Ayres 

 one Sunday, and during the whole sermon-time 

 pouring out its bright lyric strain from its perch high 

 up somewhere in the ornamental woodwork of the 

 roof* 



The Wren sings all summer, and also on bright 

 days in winter. The song is not unlike that of the 

 European Wren, having the same gushing character, 

 the notes strong and clear, uttered with rapidity and 

 precision ; but the Argentine bird has greater sweet- 

 ness and power ; although I cannot agree with A^ara 

 that it resembles or comes nearest to the Nightingale, 



In spring the male courts his mate with notes high 

 and piercing as the squeals of a young mouse ; these 

 he repeats with great rapidity, fluttering his wings 

 all the time like a moth, and at intervals breaking out 

 into song. 



The nest is made in a hole in a wall or tree, 

 sometimes in the forsaken domed nest of some other 

 bird ; and where such sites are not to be found, 

 in a dense thistle or thorn-bush, or in a large tussock 

 of grass, I have also found nests in dry skulls of 

 cows and horses, in an old boot, in the sleeve of an 

 old coat left hanging on a fence, in a large-necked 

 bottle, and in various other curious situations. The 

 nest is built of sticks and lined with horsehair or 

 feathers, and the eggs are usually nine in number, of a 

 pinkish ground-colour, thickly spotted with pale red. 



