18/2.] MR.W. H. HUDSON ON PATAGONIAN BIRDS. 541 



migratory family: probably it passes the winter on those great 

 plains covered with forest west of Bahia Blanca. The bird is called 

 Calandria blanca in Patagonia ; but the same name is also given, 

 and more appropriately, to another species, which I have not seen ; 

 but as the descriptions of seven or eight different persons, who have 

 observed it, and spoken to me about it, all agree, I have no doubt 

 of its existence. It is found, they say, in the thickets near the 

 Rio Colorado, is like the common Calandria in shape and size, but 

 its plumage is entirely of a snowy white. All the Guanchos whom 

 I have heard speak of it say precisely the same thing, that it is a 

 most beautiful bird, a fine singer, and is invariably to be seen in 

 one particular little wood through which the road from Bahia 

 Blanca to Patagonia runs. 



7. [Muscisaxicola mentalis (Lafr. et D'Orb.), Scl. Cat. A. B 

 p. 205.— P. L. S.] 



This little dark grey bird I first saw in the month of June, and 

 I afterwards met with several small flocks of them. I am disposed to 

 think, from my never having seen one till the depth of winter, tbat 

 they migrate towards the north from the extreme southern portion of 

 the continent in the cold season. In its habits, so far as I observed 

 them, as well as in conformation, it closely resembles many other 

 species of Tcenioptera: it has a rapid, easy flight, goes in small 

 flocks, is fond of alighting on smooth barren spots of earth, over 

 which the individuals of the flock immediately scatter, running 

 about like Plovers in all directions with great rapidity ; it also occa' 

 sionally assumes the habit of the true Flycatcher, darting from its 

 position on a dry stalk or spray to catch an insect on the wing. It 

 is a shy bird, and has no song but the low plaintive note common to 

 all the birds of its genus. 



8. [Tcenioptera RUBETRA, Burm. ; La Plata-Reise, ii. p. 4fil. 

 —P. L. S.] v 



I saw this pretty brown and white Tcenioptera in summer and 

 autumn ; but it is not a common bird. They go in small scattered 

 flocks, and frequent level plains abounding in low bushes. In notes, 

 flight, and manner of feeding they resemble most of the other 

 species of Tcenioptera, but are not so wild or active as the last. 



9. [Tcenioptera murina, Lafr. et D'Orb.— P. L. S.*] 



This species, like the preceding, lives singly or in pairs ; in winter 

 it leaves the Rio Negro, but reappears there early in the spring. 



10. [Cnipolegus hudsoni, sp. nov. (Plate XXXI.) 



Niger unicolor : remigum pogoniis internis pro dimidio basali 

 et maculis plumarum hypochondrialium albis : rostro obscure 

 plnmbeo, pedibus nigerrimis : remigibus tribus externis valde 

 angustatis, acutis : long, tota 6, alee 2'8, caudce 2*6, tarsi 8. 



Hub. Rio Negro of Patagonia {Hudson). 



* Pepoaea murina, D'Orb. Voy. p. 348. 



