48 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
Cardinals are most abundant and unite in large flocks. 
Asa rule they are not snared, but taken when young 
from the nest; thus most of the birds when first 
exposed for sale are in immature plumage. 
The Cardinal in a wild state is found as far south 
as the province of Buenos Ayres, but it is there a 
scarce bird. It breeds at the end of October, and 
makes a shallow nest of twigs, vine-tendrils, and 
horsehair. The eggs are four; ground-colour white 
or tinged with faint brown or greenish, and spotted 
with brown, more densely at the large end. 
The Lesser Cardinal Finch, P. capitata, common 
in Bolivia and Paraguay, is also found in Northern 
Argentina, 
LONG-TAILED REED-FINCH 
Donacospiza albifrons 
Above yellowish grey, the back striped with blackish; lesser wing- 
coverts clear grey; greater coverts and quills black; head like back, 
greyish in the cheeks; eye-stripe and under surface buff; length 
6 inches. 
THE slender body, great length of tail, and the hue 
of the plumage, assimilating to that of sere decaying 
vegetation, might easily lead one into mistaking this 
Finch for a Synallaxis where these birds are abundant. 
I have met with it in the marshy woods and reed- 
beds along the shores of the Plata, but it is a shy, 
rare bird in Buenos Ayres. I have followed it about, 
hoping to hear it utter a song or melodious note, but 
it had only a little chirp. I would not, however, on 
