34 Mr. H. C. Martin,


almost wholty of a glossy purple black, the name of which I do

not know, though it is locally called " bandurria," the very com-

mon " tero-tero," or Spur-winged Plover, which I was soon glad

to part with as he is much too noisy a customer for a confined

space, though a most beautiful and elegant bird, some pretty

wild duck, some pigeons — there are four kinds in my particular

district — several pairs of " boyeros," or black Hanguests, I be-

lieve, little slim-bodied birds of charming habits though sombre

in their garb of black, an " ornero " or Oven-bird — a most in-

teresting species about which I ma}'' be one da)' able to send some

special notes — and sundry other small fry. Worth mentioning

too, though not an " avis," was a coypu (so called by the natural

history books, though in his native country he is always " nutria,"

the name by which his soft warm pelt is known in the fur trade) :

he shared the Herons' quarters, and having been caught quite

small, was for some time a most pleasing and comical pet, delight-

ing to be rolled over, stroked and tickled, and diving and playing

in his tank like a miniature Zoo. sea lion. As he grew larger

however his temper became unreliable and he was at times very

savage, not to say dangerous, for a bite from the chisel-like

teeth of a water rat as big as a fox terrier is no laughing matter.


My first favourites however were the " urracas " and some

White-capped Tanagers " Cardinal imperial," very lovely birds,

tame and gentle, but which I was unhappily never able to keep

for long even in their own climate, though natives have assured

me that they are quite hardy and will live well on scalded maize-

meal with a little shredded cooked meat and plenty of green food.

I was not able to give my birds much attention personally, but

I had them supplied with a rather more liberal diet, including

fruit. However, I lost them all, apparently by wasting, while I

noticed that the moult was very protracted and imperfect. If I

try again I shall keep them alone in a large cage and try to dis-

cover what it is they need.


To come back however to the " urracas" : one of these I

obtained as a week-old nestling and it has become about the

most ridiculously tame bird I have ever seen : I thought in fact

that it never would learn to feed itself as, for a long time, though

fully grown and feathered, it used to starve rather than do so,



