Mr Dalgleish 07i Birds and Eggs from Central Uruguay. 241 



the burrows of the prairie dog (Ardomys htdovicianus), aud 

 in the Argentine Eepublic, those of the Bizcacha {Lagostomus 

 tricliodactylus). These burrows are formed on any level spot 

 of sandy soil. They are, at all events in Tala district, 

 always to be found near some habitation, it being a sure sign 

 at night of being near a dwelling if one is seen to rise. They 

 feed morning and evening, after sunrise and before sunset, 

 and their food consists of small animals, as mice, and also of 

 insects and reptiles. They frequently sit on a clod or thistle 

 whence they fly to catch insects on the wing. In the 

 Argentine Eepublic their principal food is a beautiful green 

 beetle. Although congregating in communities, each pair has 

 its own hole, which they occupy during the whole year, and 

 they do not migrate. They are sometimes tamed as pets. 



Clutch of four eggs, taken from a burrow, 8th December 

 1878 ; nest formed of dry grass. 



Other two clutches, of four eggs each, taken on 2 2d 

 October and 12th November 1879, from similar nests. 



These eggs average in size 1|^ x 1^ inch, the largest being 

 1\% X 1-^ inch, and the smallest 1-^ x -^-^ inch, there being 

 little difference in size. 



They usually lay four or five eggs, about 5 feet from the 

 entrance to the burrow or hole, the nest being merely a few 

 feathers, or a little dry grass. The eggs are round and white, 

 and of the usual owl type. 



6. Podager nacunda (Viell.) — native name " Dormilon" (or 

 the sleepy one), probably from its nocturnal habits. — This 

 bird, a species of nightjar, is distributed over most of South 

 America, being found in British Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, and 

 the countries lying to the south of these last. It is very 

 common in the neighbourhood of Tala, where it is only found 

 on stony places, on which it lies asleep all day, unless when 

 disturbed. It is stationary. 



Clutch of two eggs, taken on 16th October 1879. They 

 were laid, without any formed nest, on a scraped place in the 

 campo. 



Other three clutches of two eggs each, taken, two on 28th 

 October, and the other on 6tli November, in the same year, 

 all being laid in similar situations to the first. 



VOL. VI. g 



