BIRDS. 183 



PHYTOTOMA RAEA, Molina. 



Phytotoma rara, Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 1*782. 



Pliytotoma silens, Kittlitz, Mem. Acad. St. Petersburg I, 1831, 1*75, 



.Phytotoma Bloxliami, (Children,) Geifpith's ed. Cuv. Eeg. An. 11, 1829, 319. 



Phytotoma rara, (Mol.) Gay, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 363. 



VuLG. Bara. 



Figures. — Jard. and Selb. 111. Orn. I, PL iv. 



" GuERiN, Mag. de Zool. 1844, PL 5. 



" Kittlitz, Mem. Acad. St. Petersburg, PL i. 



This bird is of frequent occurrence in Chile, and is one of the most remarkable of the birds 

 of that country. It is provided with a short, strong bill, with the edges of both mandibles 

 serrated, and well adapted to the destruction of tender plants or the buds of fruit trees, on 

 which it subsists, and does much injury to orchards and gardens. 



This may be regarded as the only well known species of this singular group of birds, though 

 several others have been described by naturalists as inhabiting various parts of South America. 



Excellent specimens are in the collection of the expedition, mostly obtained in the vicinity of 

 Santiago, though this bird is found throughout the country from Coquimbo to Chiloe. 



Tribe II. DENIROSTEES. 



AGRIORNIS LIVIDUS, (Kittlitz.) 



Thamnophilus lividus, Kittlitz, Mem. Acad. St. Petersburg, II, 1834, 465. 

 Tyrannus gutturalis, Eyd. and Gerv. Mag. de Zool. 1836, 6. 

 Dasycephala livida, (Kittl.) Gat, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 327. 

 VuLG. Mero. 



Figures. — Mem. Acad. St. Petersburg, II, PL i. 



" Guerin's Mag. de Zool. 1836, PL 63. 



This species is of frequent occurrence throughout Chile. 



MIMUS THENOA, (Molina.) 



Turdus thenca, Mol. Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 1*782. 



Gat, Fauna Chilena, Aves, 333. 

 VuLG. Chile Mocking Bird. Thenca, or Trenca. 



A species nearly allied to the Mocking Bird of North America, (3fimus polyglottus,) and, like 

 it, possesses remarkable powers of song. It is a common bird of Chile, and a universal favorite, 

 frequenting the cultivated parts of the country. 



Of the birds of this group, several other species inhabit South America, all of which are more 

 or less intimately related to our famed northern songster^ and possessing considerable reputa- 

 tion themselves as performers in the same line. The present species is regarded as the best. 



MERULA FALKLANDICA, (Quoy and Gaimard.) 



Turdus falMandicus, QuoT and Gaim. Voy. Uranie Zool. I, 1824, 104. 

 Turdus magellanicus, King, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1830, 14. 

 Turdus falMandicus, (QuoY and Gaim.) Gay, Fauna Chilena, Aves^ 331. 



