214 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
that I was never yet able to surprise one in the nest, 
or to see the slightest disturbance of it by the bird’s 
hurried exit.”’ 
The bird has a very wide range in South America, 
and Mr. Salmon observed its breeding-habits in 
Antioquia in Colombia. There also the bird varies 
the form of its nest, making it as large as that of an 
English Magpie, and roofing the top with a mass of 
large leaves to protect it from the heavy rains. The 
eggs, he says, are very pale greenish blue, nearly 
white; but he does not give the number. 
BLACK-AND-YELLOW THROATED 
SPINE-TAIL 
Synallaxis phryganophila 
Above, front brown, crown chestnut, superciliaries white ; sides of 
head, neck, back and tail pale fulvous brown, with broad blackish 
Striations on the neck and back; upper wing-coverts pale chestnut ; 
wing feathers blackish, the outer webs edged with pale fulvous brown ; 
beneath, upper half of throat sulphur-yellow, lower half black, with a 
white patch on each side of the black ; breast and belly whitish, washed 
with earthy brown, slightly fulvous on the breast and flanks; under 
wing-coverts fulvous white ; length 8.5 inches. 
THIs pretty Spine-tail is nowhere common in the 
Argentine country, and in Buenos Ayres it is exceed- 
ingly scarce. It is rather large for a Synallaxis, the 
total length being nine inches. The two middle 
feathers of the acuminated tail greatly exceed the 
others in length, measuring five inches. The plumage 
