78 BIRDS OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO 



though I have carefully examined all holes anywhere near the 

 spot, I have never been able to trace a nest, except once, when 

 I had no means of digging it out. 



OXYURUS SPINICAUDA (Gmelin) 



Motacilla Spinicauda, Gmelin, Systema Naturce, i, p. 978, 1788. 

 SynallaxiS tupinieri, Lesson, Voy. " Goquille," Atl., pi. xxix, 1826. 

 OxyurUS tupinieri, Gould and Darwin, Voy. " Beagle,'' Birds, p. 81, 



1841. 

 OxyurUS spinicauda, Sclater, Oat. Birds Brit. Mus., xv, p. 30, 1890 ; 



Oustalet, Miss. Sci. Cap Horn, Ois., p. 69, 1891. 



Habitat. — Patagonia, Chili, and Tierra del Fuego. 



<?, Rio McClelland Settlement, 24th I^ov., 1904. 

 Iris — brown ; bill — dark drab ; legs — greenish drab. 



This is one of the commonest forest birds ; it is almost as 

 plentiful as the Cape Horn Wren, and both make common cause 

 in resenting the intrusion of man. No other bird shows itself 

 so hostile and aggressive. Go where one will, it comes to one, 

 following one persistently within reach of one's person, chirping 

 incessantly, and attracting others of its kind — until one is 

 accompanied by two or three pairs, exclusive of allies in Wrens 

 and Thrushes. It seeks its food on the branches of trees, much 

 after the manner of the Golden-crested Wren. Its call is an 

 ear-piercing chirp. 



Common as this bird is and so much in evidence, it has come 

 in for little mention by expeditions to these regions : indeed, 

 Darwin alone seems to have recorded anything of its life habits. 



" It is," he says, " perhaps the most abundant of any land 

 species inhabiting Tierra del Fuego. It is common along the 

 west coast, and numerous in ChUoe, even as far north as a degree 

 south of Valparaiso ; but the dry country and stunted woods 

 of Central Chili are not favourable to its increase. In the 



