Mr Dahjleish on Birds and E(jijsfrom Parofjuay. 77 



when known, and have added tlie name given by Azara, 

 as identified in the useful Systematic Index of Hartlaub, 

 published in 1847. 



It will be observed that many of the nests are described 

 as being placed in holes in palm trees ; these, my corre- 

 spondent informs me, are caused by the agency of the 

 frequent forest fires which are common in that country, and 

 are adapted by the various species to meet their require- 

 ments. 



I am again much indebted to Dr Sclater for his kindness 

 in identifying the species. 



1. Troglodytes furvus (Gm.). Brown House Wren. — Tlie 

 nesting habits of this species have formerly been described 

 from Uruguay. 



2. Emheryiagra platensis (Gm.). Eed-billed Ground Finch. 

 Local name Corichore (Ilabia de hanado. Azara). — Tliis bird 

 is found throughout Southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argen- 

 tina. "A ground-feeding species, it is usually met with in 

 damp spots, notably where the Pampas grass flourishes, on 

 whose sprays it is fond of perching. Hudson states that 

 it is disappearing along with this plant in the Argentine 

 Eepublic, before the advance of cultivation, contrary to the 

 usual result in the case of seed-eating birds. Like many of 

 the South American species it has little or no song. 



A clutch of three eggs taken 30th November 1887 from 

 a nest placed in a buncli of grass. These, with others from 

 the Argentine Republic, average l^V by ^ inch in size, 

 and are of pyriform oval shape, and white in colour, spotted 

 and streaked with very dark purple, chiefly at the large end. 

 The egg is figured in D'Orbigny's work on South America 

 (Plate 22). 



The nest is formed of withered grasses and palm fibre, is 

 slightly cup-shaped, measuring 4 J inches across, and 3 inches 

 over the opening. 



3. Cassicus alhirostris (Vieill.). Local name Guirangari 

 (Japa negro y amarillo. Azara). — This genus of birds is 

 remarkable for its curious pendulous nests. The present 

 species is not common in collections, being seemingly of 

 limited distribution. It is found in the provinces of Rio 



