154 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



Besides the twelve species described there are five 

 more Ducks in Argentina, namely : — ^the Crested 

 Duck, Sarcidiornis carimculata; Muscovy Duck, 

 Cairina moschata; Black-headed Duck, Heteronetta 

 melanocephala ; Rusty Lake Duck, Erismatura ferru- 

 ginea; and White-winged Lake Duck, Nomonyx 

 domnicus. 



All these species I knew, with the exception of 

 the Crested Duck ; but they were rare in my district 

 and I could learn nothing of their habits from my 

 own observation. 



ARGENTINE WOOD-PIGEON 



Columba picazuro 



Above pale brown; head and neck vinous; back of neck with 

 white cross-bands which are edged with black ; lower back and tail 

 plumbeous; wings plumbeous, larger coverts broadly edged with 

 white ; beneath pale vinaceous ; flanks and crissum plumbeous ; 

 length 14 inches, wing 8 inches. Female similar. 



This bird so closely resembles the European Wood- 

 Pigeon in its appearance, habits, and language that 

 I prefer in this book to drop the name of Picazuro 

 Pigeon used in the former work {Argentine Orni- 

 thology} a.nd call it the Argentine Wood-Pigeon. The 

 chief differences are the absence of the white collar 

 and the strangely human-like sound of its notes. 



In summer they inhabit woods, and are seen in 

 pairs or small parties, but in winter unite in flocks of 



