1872.] mr. \v. n. nuDsoN on patagonian birds. £43 



to twig in a leisurely delicate manner, the male and female all the 

 time uttering a variety of low notes, as if conversing together. 

 They have also a shrill, impetuous song, uttered by the two birds 

 in concert. 



12. Serpophaga*. 



There is a considerable difference between the appearance of this 

 bird and the last ; he is, perhaps, the least of this tribe, and carries 

 a distinguishing badge in the long curling crest that adorns his head. 

 But in all bis habits he closely resembles the other bird. Indeed, 

 with one exception, all the species belonging to this group with 

 which I am acquainted, so closely resemble each other in habits 

 that a description of one will very nearly apply to the others. They 

 are residents all the year in the places they frequent, live in pairs, 

 answer each other in low chirping notes, have also long notes, like 

 squealing of mice, sing in concert, never rest from their easy, calm 

 motions, and build beautiful deep little nests. The one exception 

 I mentioned is S. nigricans, a bird differing in many of his habits 

 from the others. 



13. The GALLiTof. 



Is very well known to the residents on the Rio Negro, and derives 

 its vernacular name of little cock from the manner of carrying the 

 tail elevated like the domestic fowl. 



I found it exceedingly numerous in the thickets near to the town 

 of Carmen ; but following up the river it becomes scarcer. It is in 

 its habits an amusing bird, scarcely possessing the power of flight, 

 but so ready to take alarm, swift of foot, and fond of concealment, 

 that it is often very difficult to get a sight of it. No sooner do they 

 spy out an intruder in the thicket, than the alarm is spread, each 

 bird hopping up into a bush, and uttering incessantly, at intervals 

 of three or four seconds, a loud, hollow chirrup, aud at times a 

 violent scolding cry, several times repeated. If the bird finds him- 

 self approached, he immediately springs to the ground and runs off 

 with amazing rapidity to a safe distance. Then he again ascends a 

 bush and resumes the angry note. Three or four times I have seen 

 one raise itself from the ground, and fly several yards with a low 

 feeble flight ; but whenever I chanced to come on one in an open 

 place I found that I could overtake it running, without the bird 

 being able to raise itself. They often fly down from a bush, but 

 always ascend it by hopping from branch to branch. 



The nest is built in the centre of a bush, from four to six feet 

 above the ground ; it is domed, has a small entrance, and is con- 

 structed entirely of a dry hair-like grass. They lay four white eggs. 



14. [Synallaxis sordida, Less.; Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 153. — 

 P. L. S.] 



This little bird is very common in the woods of Patagonia, goes 



* Anarctes -pandits (Kittl.), Scl. Cat. A.B. p. 212.— P. L. S. 



f Rhinocrypta lanceolata (Geoff.), Burm. La-Plata Eeise. ii. p. 471. — P. L. S. 



