2*1 (^ Barrows o>/ Birds of the Loiver Uruguay. [July 



to build a bulky nest in trees and lay white, unspotted eggs. Its 

 flesh is much esteemed, and the bird is easily domesticated. 



174. Rallus maculatus Bodd. — -The only specimen 

 obtained was one which had died in captivity, but was supposed 

 to have been taken near Concepcion. More probably it was 

 brought down the river by boatmen from Paraguay or Brazil. 



175. Rallus antarcticus King. — Rather common at Car- 

 hue early in April, where the only specimens were obtained. 

 At Concepcion I several times started a bird much resembling 

 this, and which I could not then name. It may have been this 

 bird, or possibly the young of the following species. 



176. Rallus rythyrhynchus Vieill. — Called Galli?ieta 

 chica^ or little Rail, at Concepcion, where all the Rails were 

 called Gallhtetas^i though the word is only used properly to indi- 

 cate the European Sandpiper {Tringa hypoleuca). This beau- 

 tiful Rail — about the size of the Virginia Rail— is the most 

 abundant bird of its family at Concepcion, as well as on the 

 pampas. Resident thi^ough the year, it seems to be equally 

 abundant at all times, and often in mid-winter, while watching 

 in the edge of the reeds for passing Ducks, I have had half a 

 dozen of these restless, inquisitive little birds in sight at a time. 

 The colors of bill and legs vary much according to the season. 

 In breeding livery they are among the prettiest of the waders. 

 Although I searched often and long for the nest, I found but one 

 (Oct. 2, 1S80), and did not actually catch the bird on that one. 

 The eggs were but two, pure white, with a very few, small, 

 brown spots. The nest was precisely like that of a Virginia 

 Rail, and was placed in a tussock of grass in the middle of a 

 half submerged swamp. 



On the Pigu6, where this bird was abundant, I shot one which 

 lodged on some slender twigs just above the water. The blood 

 trickling from its bill soon attracted some fish, and after one or 

 two trials a large fish, like a catfish, jumped up nearly a foot and 

 dragged the bird under before I could reach it. 



177. Aramides ypecaha ( Vieill.) Gallineta grande 

 (Big Rail). — A noisy bird, as large as a hen, and with some 

 other resemblances to that bird ; for example, carrying the tail 

 over the back, nmning some distance before using the wings, etc. 



This is not a rare bird at Concepcion, but from its shyness, and 

 the nature of its favorite ground, it is not an easy bird to secure. 



