Cape San Antonio, Buenos Ayres. 19 
consists of, first, a short indistinct note, which is followed by a 
long clear plaintive whistle, and finishes with three or four 
other insignificant notes similar to the first. But it is the 
strength and purity of the prolonged whistle that is so admi- 
rable, with something human about its sweet and tender 
cadences. The fact is, the first time I heard it I could have 
continued to sit my horse for hours in that swamp and 
listen, cold winter’s day though it was, riding-boots full of 
water and all! 
Those I have dissected, mostly shot at the maize, had, of 
course, their crops principally filled with broken or entire 
grains of the same ; but two or three had, in addition, a good 
many small beetles, entire. 
Two which I had winged or wounded slightly I endea- 
voured to tame ; but though they took food readily enough, 
they were very restless, and died within three or four days. 
Breeding- Notes.—Vhat A. holosericeus breeds in the swamps 
there can be no doubt; but its extreme rarity has put it 
out of my power to give much information on the subject. 
The only nest I ever obtained was brought to me by one of 
our shepherds, with the following notes :—“ Nov. 15th. Nest 
taken in a swamp (in the neighbourhood of which I had twice 
or thrice seen the birds previously) ; in size, shape, materials, 
und construction resembled that of our Thrush (Turdus rufi- 
ventris), and was built any or attached to, some reeds or 
rushes. Both birds seen.’ 
The two eggs measured naeaeanvale © 39 x 20 and 12, x 
In shape similar to those of the Stine! pte in oie 
pale blue. One had no markings at all; but the other showed 
a very few small spots, ight lilac and dark brown, and one 
dark brown streak about two lines long, but semicircular. 
The above nesting-notes and eggs coincide with a descrip- 
tion of those of this bird given, I think, in one of Dr. Bur- 
meister’s books or papers. 
23. PaROARIA CUCULLATA. 
Curiously enough, this pretty bird and sweet songster is 
now common in our district, while twenty-five years ago it 
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