Mr Dalgleish on Birds and Eggs from Central Uruguay. <S1 



fibrous lichen, not unlike that occasionally found in the Scot- 

 tish Highlands growing on very old birch trees. It is lined 

 with a few feathers, and was found in a wood near Tala. 



29. Troglodytes furvus (Gm.) — native name " Eatoncito," 

 another form of the diminutive term for a mouse. — This is a 

 noisy, restless bird, somewhat resembling our common wren 

 in appearance, as well as in its song and actions, although 

 not so retiring in its habits. It occurs from Nicaragua down 

 through South America to Patagonia, where it was obser^^ed 

 by Durnford. It has usually an angry harsh note, but has 

 also a rather pleasing song, which it pours forth from the top 

 of a bush, an aloe leaf, or even the top of a house. It is 

 familiar and fearless, and comes into houses. Gibson 

 narrates, that on one occasion he was sitting reading in the 

 house, when one entered by the window, and actually alighted 

 on the book he was reading, and rested there for a few seconds. 



Clutch of three eggs, taken 20th November 1880, from a 

 nest placed in the thatch of a house. Another clutch of 

 three eggs, taken from a similar situation 11th December 

 1881. These average f|- x -rg- inch in size, the largest being 

 |-g- X If inch, the smallest |-§- x |^ inch. They vary much in 

 markings as in size. The ground colour is white, which is 

 minutely freckled with pinkish red spots, with a few lilac 

 ones. Sometimes the spots are confluent towards the large 

 end forming a zone, the markings running into each other. 

 The shape is a somewhat round oval. The nest is placed in 

 various situations, sometimes in a hole in a tree, when, if the 

 hole is large, some twigs are used, but situations are often 

 chosen like those adopted by the blue titmouse, such as the 

 roof of a barn, the rose of a watering can, the sleeve of an 

 old coat, or, as in this instance, under the thatch of a house. 

 Its breeding season varies from the 20th October to the 

 middle of January. The nest sent with the first-mentioned 

 clutch of eggs is formed chiefly of horse hair and a few roots, 

 and plentifully lined with feathers of the domestic fowl. 



30. Anthus correndera (Yiell.) — native name " Chachila." 

 — This species is, like the last, widely distributed throughout 

 South America, from New Granada to the Straits of Magellan, 

 and it is also found in the Falkland Islands. It is very like 



VOL. VIII. F 



