Q6 BIRDS OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO 



AnthUS VariegatUS, Eydoiox et Gervais, Zool. Voy. "■ Favorite,^^ v, Ois., 



p. 38, pi. XV, 1839. 

 MuSCisaxicola nigra, Gould and Darwin, Voy. ''Beagle," Birds, 



p. 84, 1841. 

 CentriteS niger, Dumford, IMs p. 395, 1878 ; Sclater, Gat. Birds 



Brit. Mus., xiv, p. 61, 1888 ; Sclater and Hudson, Argentine Orn., i, p. 134, 



1888; Oustalet, Miss. 8ci. Gap Horn, Ois., p. 57, 1891. 



Habitat — Chili and Bolivia, to Tierra del Fuego. 



(^ , San Sebastian Settlement, 22nd Sept. ; ? , 2nd Oct. ; ? , 4tli Oct. ; 

 Eggs, Rio McClelland Settlement, 14tli Dec. ; 21st Dec. ; Cheena Creek Set- 

 tlement, Dec, 1904. 



Iris — dark brown ; bill and legs — black. 



The Chestnut-backed Tyrant is a summer visitor, arriving at 

 the end of September, and breeding in the island. The males 

 appear in advance of the females : they are also the first to leave. 

 The first specimen I observed was a male at San Sebastian, 

 September 22nd, on which day, and subsequent days, I saw 

 several more, but never a female until October 1st, then a 

 single example. Later, females became as numerous as males. 

 At the end of summer — in January and February — at Rio 

 McClelland, numbers of females were to be seen, but rarely 

 a male. 



To account for this has puzzled me. 



Durnford's experience in Central Patagonia seems to have 

 been somewhat similar, as he says: — " Males of this species were 

 common throughout September and during the first few days of 

 October. On the 5th of the latter month I observed the first 

 females, which gradually increased in numbers." 



This little bird is extremely common in open country, whether 

 on the flats or m the hills at moderate altitudes. I have seen it 

 in the Sierra Carmen Sylva up to 1,000 feet. In warm weather 

 it frequents the sea shore, even down to low water mark to feed 

 on the insects swarming in myriads over the sea- weed. Whether 

 in settlements or in uninhabited tracts it is a familiar object 



