544 MR. W. H. HUDSON ON PATAGONIAN BIRDS. [Apr. 16, 



in pairs, and builds a large nest of sticks with a narrow long entrance, 

 and lays four pointed white eggs ; but there is as little in its habits 

 or language, as in its form or colour, to distinguish it from many 

 other members of the extremely monotonous tribe to which it 

 belongs. 



15. [Synallaxis patagonica, D'Orb. Voy. p. 249. — P. L. S.] 



This bird resembles the last in colour and size, but is distinguished 

 by its short tail, which it carries elevated like the Wren. It hops 

 with great rapidity over the bare ground, and feeds much about the 

 roots of dwarf bushes*. 



16. [Synallaxis sulphurifera, Burm. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 636. 

 —P. L.S.J 



I send you two, unfortunately much injured, specimens of this 

 bird, which appears to me identical with Burmeister's S. sulphuri- 

 fera. It must be exceedingly rare in Patagonia ; for this pair were 

 the only ones I saw during my sojourn in that country, though 

 I constantly sought for them in the most likely places. You will 

 observe that its affinities are with the Limnornis curvirostris ; in 

 note and habits it also closely resembles that bird. 



The male and female keep together, and glean for insects about 

 the roots of reeds and giant grasses, and when approached run to 

 their tops, uttering shrill, angry notes. 



17. Synallaxis striaticeps, Lafr. et D'Orb. 



This species is rare in Patagonia, and seems to be identical with 

 the northern species. 



18. Synallaxis ^egithaloides, Kittl. 



Perhaps if you compare this species, of which I send several 

 examples, with specimens from the Plata, you will detect some dif- 

 ference p. The Patagonian bird differs considerably in language and 

 habits from the Buenos-Ayrean bird ; the latter is solitary, the 

 former gregarious, often being seen in loose flocks of forty or fifty 

 individuals. 



19. [Upucerthia dumetoria, Geoffr. et D'Orb. — P. L. S.] 



This bird is exceedingly common wherever I have been in Pata- 

 gonia ; I mentioned in a former letter having obtained a pair of 

 them in Buenos Ayres. 



* Mr. Hudson likewise sends two specimens of " another species of Synal- 

 laxis with short tail, which closely resembles, in habits as well as structure, the 

 species No. 15," i. e. 8. patagonica. These birds are referable to 8. modesta, 

 Eyton, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 153. Mr. Hudson shot them " in the valley of the 

 river, 60 miles distant from the locality in which the other species was ob- 

 tained."— P. L. S. 



t I have compared Mr. Hudson's skins with specimens from La Plata and 

 from Chili, but can see no differences worth dwelling upon. But see D'Or- 

 bigny's remarks, Voy. Ois. p. 243. — P. L. S. 



