1883.] Barrows on Birds of the Lozver Uruguay. 8"^ 



last point we arrived early in April, returning thence directly to 

 Azul and Buenos Aires. 



During this trip about 800 miles of the pampas were hastily 

 crossed and the largest part of the time passed among the desolate 

 sierras and the hardly more fertile plains at their feet. Collec- 

 tions were made at all favorable points, but, the season being late 

 summer and autumn, the birds taken were largely migrants and 

 nearly all well-known species. Whatever of interest with regard 

 to them was collected has been incorporated in the notes which 

 follow. 



1. Turdus leucomelas Vieill. Zorzal (Thrush) of the 

 Entre-Rianos. — This bird abounds at Concepcion the year round, 

 and was taken also at Buenos- Aires. It was not observed either 

 at Azul or any of the points further south. It is found in the 

 gardens of the town as well as in the depths of the swampy 

 woods, but never seen far from leafy cover of some kind, and 

 does not appear at home on the ground. It is very unsuspicious 

 and is frequently caged and becomes reconciled to its imprison- 

 ment, yet is not very musical. The nest is usually well hidden 

 among the tops of bushes or masses of twining plants, never 

 more than ten feet from the ground, and resembles in general the 

 nest of our own Robin, but is smaller and contains no mud in 

 its composition, so far as my observation goes. The eggs, 

 commonly four, are splashed and dotted with several shades of 

 brown on a dirty green ground. Sets were taken through Octo- 

 ber and November, and frequently the eggs of the Cowbird were 

 found with them. 



2. Turdus rufiventris Vieill. Zorzal vientre Colorado 

 (Red-bellied Thrush). — Less abundant and more retii"ing 

 than the preceding ; seldom seen except in the woods. Resident 

 thi'ough the year at Concepcion. In breeding habits precisely 

 similar to the preceding, and the nest and eggs of the two species 

 are generally indistinguishable, though the eggs of the present 

 species would probably average a little larger. 



3. Mimus calandria (Za/r. & d'Orb.). Calandria. — 

 Very abundant and well known, and resident at Concepcion 

 through the year. Undoubtedly a fine singer, but its song, so far 

 as my observation goes, is far inferior to that of our own Brown 

 Thrush i^Harporhynchus rttfus) , and cannot approach at all that 

 of our Mocking Bird. I have never heard it sing for more than 



