1882.] FROM THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 627 



on a tree. It is very wild, and as it runs swiftly amongst the 

 brushwood is difficult to shoot. At Oran, where, however, they 

 are by no means plentiful, I shot them in an orange-grove. 



185. Penelope pileata, Wagl. 



c? . Sierras de Totoral, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., July 30, 1880. 



Iris brown. 



Very common in Oran and the Gran Chaco, and met with as far 

 south as the sierras of Totoral. Four or five are usually found 

 together on the same tree, in the midst of the densest forests, where 

 they seek the highest branches. Their notes, which are extremely 

 deceptive as to distance, consist of very harsh, deafening, grating, 

 metallic sounds, resembling the creaking of an ungreased double- 

 handed saw through a block of hard timber. On these birds I had 

 to rely chiefly for food on my travels in the north of the Republic ; 

 and when young they make no despisable dish ; but when old their 

 flesh is too tough to masticate, though it does well for soup. 



186. Ortalida guttata (Spix). 



S . Sauce Redondo, Salta, Arg. Rep., Oct. 17, 1880. 

 Iris sepia. 



These Guans are abundant in the forests of the north of the 

 Republic. 



187. Gallinula galeata (Licht.). 



c?. Salto, Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., Oct. 17, 1881. 



Iris reddish-brown. 



Abundant on the lagoons in the province of Buenos Aires. 

 Wattle at the base of the beak a deep orange-colour, and legs slaty 

 green. 



188. Parra jacana (Linn.). 



cj . Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., Nov. 1, 1S81. 



A rare bird in Buenos Aires, but common in the north of the Re- 

 public, especially on the swampy plains of Tucuman. 



189. Vanellus cayennensis (Gm.). 



cJ. Rio Lujan, Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., March 7, 1881. 



2 . Salto, Buenos Aires, Arg. Rep., Oct. 18, 1881. 



Iris crimson. 



This Plover, whose native name is " Teru-Tero," is very common 

 all over the camps of the province of Buenos Aires, but at the same 

 time found throughout the Republic ; and in the breeding-season, 

 which is now (October) at its height, annoys the sportsman by its 

 shrill screeching cry, by circling round his head, and by shamming 

 wounded, in order to attract his attention. Its nest is carefully 

 concealed in the grass, and consists of a mere shallow hollow ; but 

 it may be easily discovered when sheep are driven over the land, 

 as then the bird may be seen standing in front of its nest, and flap- 

 ping its wings violently to make the bidents part and pass on either 



