Mr Dalgleisli on Birds and Eggs from Central Uruguay. 249 



Clutch of four eggs, taken 21st November 1879, from a 

 nest situated in a tree in Tala garden. Twelve eggs average 

 14 X |-^ inch. They are of an oblong oval shape, tapering at 

 one end, and one of a yellowish white colour, spotted with 

 deep and prominent markings of dark red and reddish brown, 

 much resembling those of other American flycatchers (PL 

 VIII., fig. 2). 



The nest accompanying the above clutch of eggs is made 

 of small twigs, roots, and coarse herbs, or reeds, lined with 

 finer roots, wool, and grass seeds. It measures 2^ inches 

 across the top. Although having no clay in its composition, 

 it is a very firm structure. The eggs are frequently only three 

 in number, and are most courageously defended by the parent 

 birds, the female even occasionally attacking the caracara. 



19. Nothura maculosa (llQm) — native name "Perdiz comun." 

 — The common or lesser partridge of the South American 

 Pampas is found throughout Brazil and the countries to the 

 south thereof. It lives entirely among grass, maize, or other 

 herbage, and is generally seen singly, although usually a 

 number are present in the same locality. They are rather 

 tame, and when numerous are easily killed in some parts of 

 the country, by sticks or whips. The flesh is dry and taste- 

 less. It has two distinct notes, which are heard all the year 

 round, one of which it utters as it w^alks or runs along. 



Clutch of four eggs, taken 22d October 1879, from a nest 

 in the campo, or plains. 



Another clutch of four eggs, taken 30th October 1879, from 

 a nest in a similar situation. 



Twelve eggs in my collection average in size l-ff x 1^-^ inch. 

 The eggs are of a dark wine purple colour, and so highly 

 polished, as almost to seem as if cut out of some dark stone (PL 

 VIII., fig. 4). The nest is merely a scrape among the grass, and 

 contains no artificial lining. The usual number of eggs is four, 

 and although in the Argentine Republic they are said to lay 

 seven, and even eight or nine eggs, my correspondent at Tala 

 considers that when so many occur in one nest — a circum- 

 stance he has frequently observed — they are the produce of 

 more than one female bird. 



20. Rhynchotus rufescens (Tern.)— native name " Perdiz 



