2i4 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



that I was never yet able to surprise one in the nest, 

 or to see the slightest disturbance of it by the bird's 

 hurried exit/' 



The bird has a very wide range in South America, 

 and Mr. Salmon observed its breeding-habits in 

 Antioquia in Colombia* There also the bird varies 

 the form of its nest, making it as large as that of an 

 English Magpie, and roofing the top with a mass of 

 large leaves to protect it from the heavy rains. The 

 eggs, he says, are very pale greenish blue, nearly 

 white ; but he does not give the number. 



BLACK-AND-YELLOW THROATED 

 SPINE-TAIL 



Synallaxis phryganophila 



Above, front brown, crown chestnut, superciliaries white ; sides of 

 head, neck, back and tail pale fulvous brown, with broad blackish 

 striations on the neck and back; upper wing-coverts pale chestnut; 

 wing feathers blackish, the outer webs edged with pale fulvous brown ; 

 beneath, upper half of throat sulphur-yellow, lower half black, with a 

 white patch on each side of the black ; breast and belly whitish, washed 

 with earthy brown, slightly fulvous on the breast and flanks ; under 

 wing-coverts fulvous white ; length 8.5 inches. 



THIS pretty Spine-tail is nowhere common in the 

 Argentine country, and in Buenos Ayres it is exceed- 

 ingly scarce. It is rather large for a Synallaxis, the 

 total length being nine inches. The two middle 

 feathers of the acuminated tail greatly exceed the 

 others in length, measuring five inches. The plumage 



