546 MR. HUDSON ON THE BIRDS OF BUENOS AYRES. [June 23, 
«The White Teeniopteras perch and roost in reeds and bushes ; 
they avoid the open level ground, and frequent rough stubbles, reedy 
swamps, and plantations, also plains where the cardoon abounds. 
I have been told by old men that the Tenioptera coronata was in 
this district a very common bird fifty years ago, when the long 
grasses had not been destroyed, and that they bred here. ‘This is easy 
to believe ; for as soon as we pass into the long-grass region this bird 
becomes quite common. I have met with great numbers of them 
200 miles west of Buenos-Ayres city ; and when outside the frontier 
I frequently noticed the 7’. coronata gathering from all sides and fol- 
lowing our party, probably from curiosity, as human forms must 
have been strange to them in such a place. 
«« They have no regular migration, as they are seen at all seasons 
in the regions they inhabit; but in the settled districts, where there 
are none in summer, stragglers are always found in winter. Several 
years ago great numbers of them came ; and it was amusing, on still 
mornings, to watch the dogs thrown into the greatest excitement by 
their long low whistling notes, sounding from all sides. From this pe- 
culiar note the bird is commonly called the Buellero (ox-driver). 
“The T. dominicana much resembles the last in habits, but in 
winter goes in flocks. When flying it is a pretty bird, from the con- 
trast of its black wings, tipped with white, with the pure white of 
its body. There are dull black and grey markings on the upper 
plumage of the young bird; but of all the adults I have shot, both 
in summer and winter, the plumage on the body of the male was 
entirely white, the upper plumage of the female a light grey. Some 
individuals breed in the vast reed-beds along the Plata; but as these 
are few, probably most of the flocks seen in winter visit us from 
more distant regions. 
“ The Tenioptera irupero is smaller and much rarer than either 
of the preceding species. From its snowy-white plumage and jet- 
black bill, feet, and quill-tips, giving it a mourning appearance, it is 
called here Viudita, or ‘ Little Widow.’ With the exception of a 
pair of these birds which I discovered last summer, it has always been 
in winter that I have met with them. A single individual sometimes 
appears in this season, and haunts the same spot during its stay, in- 
variably alighting on the same tree or shrub and disappearing at the 
approach of spring. Still, I cannot say that it is a winter visitor ; as 
it is so rare a bird at all times, it might easily escape observation in 
the laying-season without leaving the country. 
«The three white Tzeniopteras I have described perch on reeds 
and thistles, are fond of isolated shrubs, but avoid trees growing 
near together. They resemble each other closely in their feeding- 
habits. Like some Flycatchers they watch for insects from a stand, 
to which they frequently return after leaving it; but they do not, 
like the Flycatchers, watch for their prey in the air above and around 
them, but gaze down intently on the ground, as the Kingfisher does 
on the water. When they have discovered an insect they dart down 
and seize it, and proceed to kill and devour it on the spot, returning 
afterwards to their perch. When opened, their stomachs are found 
