50 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



There are six more species of Poospiza found in 

 the Argentine country, all of them in the northern 

 parts* 



The English generic name of Warbling Finches 

 was invented for this group by the late Dr. P* L* 

 Sclater, and although I retain it here I am by no 

 means sure that it is the right one. Of the seven 

 Argentine species we only know the song of one 

 the Black-and-Chestnut Finch, and its song is not 

 exactly a warble in the sense in which we use the 

 word of the performance of the Garden- Warbler, 

 Blackcap, Willow- Wren, and other European species* 



MOURNING FINCH 



Phrygilus fruticeti 



Grey, with minute black markings on head and neck and broader 

 stripes on the back ; greater coverts and wings black, a band of white 

 across the coverts; tail black; beneath, throat and upper breast 

 black, faintly mottled with grey ; lower breast and belly grey with a 

 few black spots ; beak yellow ; feet flesh-colour ; length 7.3 inches. 

 Female obscure grey without black throat and breast. 



THIS Finch is common on the western slopes of the 

 Andes as far north as Peru ; it is also found in the 

 Mendoza district and throughout Patagonia. It is 

 very abundant on the Rio Negro, especially in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of the Carmen settlements, 

 for, like the Chingolo and other fringilline species, 

 it is beneficially affected by cultivation. Though not 

 possessing any bright tints, it is a very charming bird, 



