58 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



have at all events never seen them followed by the 

 young of Molothrus demanding food* 



As a rule small seed-eating birds are beneficially 

 affected by the presence of man ; thus our common 

 Zonotrichia and other sparrows and finches have 

 become excessively numerous in the most thickly- 

 settled districts. With the Red-billed Finch, however, 

 just the contrary has happened ; and since I have 

 known this species it has disappeared from many 

 localities where it was once quite common, Azara's 

 name for this species, Habia de bahado, signifies that 

 it is a marsh bird ; but though now found chiefly 

 in marshy situations, it was once common enough 

 over the entire pampas region, before the great 

 plains were settled on by Europeans. The bird is 

 very badly protected by nature against raptorial 

 species, owing to its very conspicuous red beak, its 

 habit of perching on the summit of tall plants and 

 other elevated positions, its loud impetuous voice, 

 which invites attention, and the weak eccentric 

 flight, which challenges pursuit. It is essential to 

 its safety that it should have, in the open country 

 it frequents, a dense grass cover into which it can 

 plunge on the slightest alarm. Where cattle are 

 introduced, the original pampas-grass which afforded 

 the suitable conditions disappears, giving place to 

 the soft, perishable grasses, clovers, and thistles of 

 Europe. Where these changes take place, the bird 

 cannot escape from its enemies and quickly dis- 

 appears ; while many Dendrocolaptine species in- 

 habiting the same situations are saved by their 



