CACHILA PIPIT 21 



only land-bird found on Georgia and South Orkney 

 (lat. 61 deg. S.). 



In colour and language, possibly also in size, the 

 Cachila is variable. It is a very common bird, widely 

 and plentifully distributed over the pampas, found 

 alike on marshy and dry grounds, but rare in the 

 region of giant grasses. While abundant it is also 

 very evenly dispersed, each bird spending its life on 

 a very circumscribed plot of earth. Those frequenting 

 marshy or moist grounds are of a yellowish-cream 

 colour, thickly mottled and striped with fuscous and 

 black, and have two narrow parallel pure white marks 

 on the back, very conspicuous when the bird is on 

 the ground. The individuals frequenting high and 

 dry grounds are much paler in hue, appearing almost 

 grey, and do not show the white marks on the back. 

 They also look larger than the birds on marshy 

 lands ; but this appearance is probably due to a 

 looser plumage. The most strongly marked pale 

 and dark-plumaged variations may be found living 

 within a few hundred yards of each other, showing 

 how strictly each bird keeps to its own little " beat " ; 

 for this difference in coloration is no doubt due 

 entirely to the amount of moisture in the ground 

 they live on. 



The Cachilas are resident, living in couples all 

 the year round, the sexes being faithful. Several 

 pairs frequent a small area, and sometimes they 

 unite in a desultory flock ; but these gatherings 

 are not frequent. In the evening, at all seasons, 

 immediately after the sun has set, the Cachilas all 



