56 
among the shady trees of (һе promenades; has a better song than our Blackbird, which is heard at 
a distance, especially in the evening. Called “Crispin” in Tucuman " (La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 474, 
1862). 
Mr. Е. W. White (P. Z. S. 1882, р. 598) remarks :— I have noticed this bird in the provinces 
of Mendoza, San Juan, San Luis, Cordova, and Catamarca, where it is much esteemed as a cage-bird 
on account of its beautiful whistle. In Mendoza it goes by the name of *Sorsal, in Catamarca and 
Cordova by that of ‘ Merlo,’ and in Andalgala * Chocoyno'; in the last-mentioned place it is seen 
generally about the hedges round the town. In Catamarca, however, it is only observed during 
winter and spring. Тһе Italians settled in the town of Mendoza are very fond of its flesh, and are 
rapidly exterminating it in that neighbourhood." 
The species has also been sent from the Pampas Argentinas by Leybold (cf. Martins, J. f. O. 
1875, p. 448). А specimen said to have been obtained by Mr. T. Bridges in Chile is in the British 
Museum, but in all probability this locality is erroneous, and the example really came from Dolivia, 
where Mr. Bridges also made large collections. Mr. E. C. Reed (Ibis, 1893, p. 595) says that 
although the species is found near Mendoza he has never seen any Chilian specimens. 
Adult male. General colour above blackish-chocolate, darker towards the crown and hind-neck ; 
wings and tail dark brown; lores, sides of face, and ear-coverts blackish ; entire under surface of 
body blackish-chocolate, the under wing-coverts and axillaries like the breast: * bill and feet bright 
yellow; iris reddish-brown; eyelids bright yellow” (A. D’Orbigny). Total length 11 inches, 
culmen 1:45, wing 5:5, tail 4:65, tarsus 1:55. 
Adult female. Slaty-grey above and below, lighter on the under surface, especially on the throat, 
which has some blackish streaks; under wing-coverts and axillaries ochreous-brown. Total length 
10 inches, culmen 1:2, wing 5:25, tail 4:4, tarsus 1:4. 
Young. Greyer than the adults below and lighter brown above; the underparts mottled with 
buff centres to the feathers, which have also blackish margins ; the under wing-coverts ochraceous-buff, 
with dusky edges. 
The birds from the Argentine Republic differ from those of Mendoza in having a shorter bill 
and in being lighter and greyer in colour, but some examples from Mendoza cannot be distinguished 
from those from Argentina. 
A male from Cosquin (E. W. White, July 17, 1882) has the culmen only 1:15 inch. Тһе 
plumage is not nearly so black as in the male bird from Mendoza, and there are hoary-grey margins 
to the primaries ; below it is decidedly more ashy than the Mendoza individual described, especially 
on the sides of the body. 
А female from Cosquin (E. W. White, Aug. 15, 1882) is much more ashy-brown than the male, 
but has the hoary fringes along the outer web of the primaries. Тһе chin is hoary-grey, and there 
are traces of dusky blackish stripes on the sides of the throat. Culmen 1-1 inch. 
obsolete signs of dark streaks оп the throat. 
Mr. Seebohm states that the fourth and fifth primaries are nearly equal and longest, and that 
the second primary is about equal to the eighth. I find, however 
being from San Rafael in the same province, obtained in Jul 
y 1897, and presented to the British 
Museum by Professor Moreno. 
ІК. В. 8.) 
— M DRE 
