1^5 Barrows on Birds of the Loiver Uruguay. [J"ly 



45. Leistes superciliaris Bp. Pecho-colorado (Red- 

 breast). — My attention was first called to these birds by a some- 

 what odd habit of the males soon after their arrival from the 

 north early in October. They I'ise quickly and silently by vigo- 

 rous beats of the wings to a height of fifty or sixty feet, when 

 they suddenly spread the wings and glide slowly down to the 

 ground again, at the same time giving vent to a wheezy little 

 song, which suggests the idea that the exertion of the ascent has 

 left very little breath for vocal exeixises. The wings are not 

 moved at all during the descent until within a few feet of the 

 ground. This exercise is repeated once in every two or three 

 minutes, sometimes for hours together, and the sight is very 

 pleasing when, as is usually the case, the birds are quite numer- 

 ous. The nest is placed on the ground and the eggs are spotted. 

 The only set taken was found December 20, 1880, and consisted 

 of four fresh eggs. The birds are only found in open, wet, 

 grassy places, and while many pairs may be found in the same 

 meadow or field, they never seem to be truly gregarious, even 

 after the nesting season is over. 



46. Sturnella defilippii Bp. Pecho-Colorado (Red- 

 breast). — Not found at Conception at all, nor was it met with 

 until reaching Azul. iVt this place and further south it seems 

 to replace the preceding species and bears the same name. It 

 was seen nearly every day during our trip to the Pampean 

 Sierras, and only parted company with us at Puan after several 

 severe frosts. At the last-named place the flocks frequently 

 numbered several hundred individuals, and during the whole 

 time of our acquaintance with it it was always seen in large 

 but scattering flocks. 



47. Cyanocorax pileatUS Temvi. Urraca (in imitation 

 of its usual call-note) . — -Confined to the islands in the river and 

 to the deep woods along the shores, where it is resident through 

 the year. Even in such places it is no longer abundant, and 

 very few specimens were obtained. 



The following twelve species, belonging to the sub-family 

 FluvicolifK^ Cab. {T'ceniopteriizce ^^p.) ., iovm one of the most 

 interesting groups found in the Argentine Republic. To almost 

 all the general habits of Flycatchers they add others peculiarly 

 their own. some of which are not readily explainable. 



