220 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



and more powerful Homorus, but keeps under the 

 diminutive scrubby plants in open, sterile situations. 

 About the roots of these wiry little bushes, only 

 twelve to eighteen inches high, the bird searches for 

 small insects, and when disturbed has a feeble jerky 

 flight, which carries it to a distance of about twenty 

 yards* It flies with great reluctance, and when 

 approached runs swiftly away, leaving a person in 

 doubt as to whether he has seen a mouse or a little 

 obscure bird* The only note I have heard it utter 

 is a faint creaking sound when alarmed or flying* 



HUDSON'S SPINE-TAIL 



Synallaxis hudsoni 



Above fulvous brown, mottled with black, each feather being marked 

 with a large black spot ; on the upper part of the back the feathers 

 are faintly edged with whitish grey ; wings blackish, basal halves of 

 feathers pale clear brown, forming a transverse bar, the terminal part 

 of the feathers slightly edged on the outer webs and tips with ochraceous ; 

 tail blackish, the outer pair of rectrices and broad tips of the next 

 two pairs on each side very pale brown, the two middle feathers broadly 

 margined on both webs with pale greyish brown ; beneath pale ochra- 

 ceous brown, with a pale sulphur-yellowish gular spot ; flanks with a 

 few black marks ; under wing-coverts light cinnamon ; length 7.8 inches. 



THIS Spine-tail, which Sclater named after me, is 

 the Argentine representative of 5* humicola of Chili, 

 It is common on the pampas, and is sometimes 

 called by the gauchos Tim-rim del campo, on 

 account of its resemblance in the upper plumage 

 and in language to Anwnbius acuticaudatus, which 

 is named Tim-rim in imitation of its call-note. 



