1882.] FROM THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 601 



This pretty song-bird is exceedingly common around the houses 

 in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. 



The nest, when located in holes in the houses, is built of straw 

 and twigs, but when in trees is usually lined with horsehair. The 

 breeding-season extends from early spring to autumn ; and the 

 eggs, rather sharply pointed, are of a light green ground, mottled 

 with brown spots ; and the clutch consists of four. 



Meas. : axis 19 millim., diam. 14 millim. 



[I have not seen Mr. White's specimens ; but they are probably 

 S. pelzelni, mihi. Ibis, 18/2, p. 42, if the species are distinct, as I 

 believe is the case. — P. L. S.] 



50. MOLOTHRUS BONARIENSIS (Gm.). 



6 . Monte Grande, B. Aires, Arg. Rep., Dec. 31, 1880. 

 ?. _ „ „ „ Jan. 4, 1881. 



The birds are common all over the Republic. It is usual for 

 them to lay in the nests of other birds, such as Troglodytes furvus ; 

 indeed I have never known these lazy architects take the trouble to 

 construct their own dweUings. 



The number of eggs varies in different nests, as likewise their 

 coloration. All, however, have a white ground; but some are dotted 

 with large rufous-brown spots, whilst others are entirely devoid of 

 them ; but the typical shell is sprinkled over thickly with minute 

 reddish -brown spots on a white ground. 



Meas.: axis 24 miUim., diam. 19 millim. 



51. MoLOTHRUS RUFO-AXILLARIS, CaSS. 



cJ . Fuerte de Andalgala, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., Sept. 2, 1880. 



$ . City of Catamarca, Arg. Eep., Aug. 7, 1880. 



Iris brown. 



Rather common round the hedges and high trees by the side of 

 alfalfa-fields in the neighbourhood of Andalgala, but by no means 

 rare likewise in the province of Buenos Aires. In the spring of 

 1882 I obtained near Salto, Buenos Aires, its eggs, and found them 

 laid in an old and large nest built of sticks by Anumhius acuticau- 

 datus, high up in a Eucalyptus tree. The old birds kept near the 

 nest, and, the moment any one approached, came close up to and 

 around him, screeching. Four eggs in a clutch ; the shell rather 

 elongated, with pale green ground, streaked and spotted with dark 

 sepia, thicker around the blunt end. 



Meas.: axis 22 milhm., diam. 16 millim. 



52. Agel^us ph(kniceus (Linn.). 



cJ. Adrogue, Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., Jan. 28, 1881. 

 Iris dark. 



Of these birds I obtained two or three in a maize-field. 

 [This specimen requires examination. I have never seen A.phoe- 

 niceus from anywhere so far south. — P. L. S.] 



