RED-CAPPED BUSH-BIRD 237 
birds. Like the Tyrants and Wood-hewers it is 
confined to America, but less diffused than those 
two families, being mostly birds of the tropical 
forest region. 
The present species is quite common in the eastern 
provinces of Argentina, and extends south to Buenos 
Ayres. It is a shy, solitary bird, found in woods 
and thickets along the shores of La Plata; and utters 
occasionally a singular low rasping note, its only 
language. The nest is a slight shallow structure 
placed in a low tree; the eggs are white, thinly 
spotted with reddish brown. Probably this species 
is to some extent migratory, as I have only observed 
it in the summer season. 
Azara’s account of another species, the Larger 
Bush-bird, Thamnophilus major, which inhabits Para- 
guay and North Argentina, is prefaced by the fol- 
lowing interesting remarks on the birds of this genus 
known to him : 
“ These birds inhabit only th: dense and tangled 
thickets, and never show themselves outside of their 
hiding-place, except for a few moments in the early 
morning and in the evening ; but at no time do they 
perch high on the trees, but keep always within a 
few feet of the earth. They live in pairs; feed 
solely on insects caught in the bushes which they 
frequent, or on the ground, on which, however, the 
bird alights only to pick up its prey, and then returns 
to the twig to devour it. They are stationary, and fly 
only from one thicket to another. Many of the 
species have a similar voice or song, which is singular, 
