52 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
and musical voice. Unfortunately these qualities 
have made it a favourite cage-bird, and the young 
are diligently sought after in the forests in northern 
Argentina and Paraguay and taken from the nest to 
be reared by hand. In Buenos Ayres it is somewhat 
rare and is a summer visitor in pairs and small 
flocks. Its song is composed of four or five notes of 
great power and of a sweet quality. 
LESSER DIUCA FINCH 
Diuca minor 
Clear grey ; head, neck, and back faintly washed with brown ; wings 
blackish, the feathers edged with grey ; tail-feathers black, tipped with 
white on the inner webs; beneath white, the upper part of breast 
gtey ; a bright chestnut spot on the flanks ; length 6.5 inches. Female 
similar but less bright. 
THIs pretty little grey and white Finch is common 
on the Chilian side of the Andes and throughout 
Patagonia, and also occurs in the Mendoza district. 
It is a tuneful bird, lively, social, and frolicsome in 
disposition ; in autumn and winter uniting in flocks 
of from fifty to three or four hundred individuals ; 
swift of flight, and when on the wing fond of pursuing 
its fellows and engaging in mock battles. The song 
of the male is very pleasing, the voice having more 
depth and mellowness than is usual with the smaller 
fringilline singers, which as a rule have thin, reedy, 
and tremulous notes. In summer it begins singing 
very early, even before the faintest indication of 
