48 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



Cardinals are most abundant and unite in large flocks* 

 As a rule they are not snared, but taken when young 

 from the nest; thus most of the birds when first 

 exposed for sale are in immature plumage. 



The Cardinal in a wild state is found as far south 

 as the province of Buenos Ayres, but it is there a 

 scarce bird. It breeds at the end of October, and 

 makes a shallow nest of twigs, vine-tendrils, and 

 horsehair. The eggs are four ; ground-colour white 

 or tinged with faint brown or greenish, and spotted 

 with brown, more densely at the large end. 



The Lesser Cardinal Finch, P. capitata, common 

 in Bolivia and Paraguay, is also found in Northern 

 Argentina, 



LONG-TAILED REED-FINCH 



Donacospiza albifrons 



Above yellowish grey, the back striped with blackish ; lesser wing- 

 coverts clear grey; greater coverts and quills black; head like back, 

 greyish in the cheeks ; eye-stripe and under surface buff ; length 

 6 inches. 



THE slender body, great length of tail, and the hue 

 of the plumage, assimilating to that of sere decaying 

 vegetation, might easily lead one into mistaking this 

 Finch for a Synallaxis where these birds are abundant, 

 I have met with it in the marshy woods and reed- 

 beds along the shores of the Plata, but it is a shy, 

 rare bird in Buenos Ayres, I have followed it about, 

 hoping to hear it utter a song or melodious note, but 

 it had only a little chirp, I would not, however, on 



