196 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



places Miner a (Miner), or Caminante (Traveller or 

 Pedestrian), from its habit of running rapidly along 

 a clean road or bridle-path before a person riding or 

 walking, 



It is a stout little bird, with very short toes quite 

 unsuited for perching, and it does not, in fact, ever 

 perch on a tree, though it manages to cling to a 

 perpendicular bank very well when engaged in 

 tunnelling. It is resident and pairs for life, and 

 lives in sterile places, feeding on small insects and 

 spiders. In manner it is very lively, and runs swiftly 

 over the bare ground, stopping very abruptly, then 

 running on again, and at every pause slowly moving 

 its half-open tail up and down. It flies swiftly, close 

 to the ground, and always during its short flight 

 trills out its clear, ringing, rapidly reiterated cry, 

 which in sound resembles the laughter of a child. 



On the grassy pampas the Mineras invariably attach 

 themselves to the Vizcacheras as the groups of great 

 burrows made by the large rodent, the Vizcacha, are 

 called ; for there is always a space free from grass 

 surrounding the burrows where the birds can run 

 freely about. In the sides of the deep pit-like entrance 

 to one of these burrows the bird bores a cylindrical 

 hole, from three to six feet long, and terminating in 

 a circular chamber. This is lined with soft dry grass, 

 and five white eggs are laid. 



Though the birds inhabit the Viscacha village all 

 the year, they seem always to make a fresh hole to 

 breed in every spring, the forsaken holes being given 

 up to the small Swallow, Atticora cyanoleuca. 



