132 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



I subsequently found a nest ; it was about seven 

 inches deep, composed entirely of lichens gathered 

 from the boles of trees, ingeniously woven together 

 and suspended from the small twigs and leaves at 

 the extremity of a branch. There were no eggs in 

 it, but the birds fluttered in great trouble about me, 

 and, what greatly surprised me, uttered a variety of 

 singing notes, unlike their usual song, but closely 

 resembling the notes of other songsters, which made 

 me think that the Icterus possesses the mimicking 

 faculty to some extent* This, however, is a question 

 it would be difficult to decide. It seems certain, 

 however, that this species is incapable of expressing 

 any distressing feeling, such as pain, fear, or parental 

 anxiety, with loud harsh notes like other birds. It 

 is much to be regretted that Azara, who found this 

 species common in Paraguay, did not pay more 

 attention to its habits and language, which make it 

 specially interesting even in a family so rich in 

 strange habits as the Icteridae. 



CHOPI 



Aphobus chopi 



Uniform black; bill and feet black, lower mandible sulcated ; 

 length 9.2 inches. Female similar but smaller and duller black. 



THE Chopi, which is said to be quite common in 

 Paraguay, is only found in the north-eastern part 

 of the Argentine Republic, consequently I have 



