.1 Tour in Soutli America and Auiai-ij Notes. 
We crossed the Andes on mules which was rather a 
terrifying' I'xperience. We stayed at Vino (h'l Mai' and went l)y 
tram to Valparaiso, wiiere 1 l)ou^lit two small hirds. I never 
could find out their names. One was jet black about tlie size of a 
Cole Tit, with yellow bands underneath and yellow bai'S across its 
winys, it had a small t)eak shaped like a Bullfinch's. 1 was so sorry 
when it died on our way lionie. The other, T was told, is rare 
and delicate, it is about the size of a BeuKalese l)Ut much more 
slender, small short head and thick beak, lonj; tail : colour : black 
head, wiufis, I)ack, tail ami throat ; white underneath ; white cheeks 
and white strip(> down centre of head.* At Buenos Aires, just 
before leaving, I bought several birds. They were very well kept 
and in splendid condition and health. Twelve young Crested 
Cardinals, their heads still being yellow, eight arrived home safely, 
they are very tame and very fond of mealwoi-ms. One large l)ird 
about the size of a Chough, but more slender, beautiful blue black 
plumage which looks brilliant purple in some lights. He can 
raise his shoulder feathers like a cape and when he flies these 
feathei'S have a grey tint. He walks like a Kook, and his head 
and beak are like a Rook's. He can, I am told, be taught to talk 
and whistles well, he feeds on canary seed, soft food and any- 
thing he can get. He was called Tordo Bolivierano. Two other 
birds ai-e re;U jet black and are exactly like miniature Jackdaws 
in every way except size, in which they resemble a Blackbird. 
They make a noise like a Jackdaw when caught or frightened, 
walk like one and whistle l)eautif ully. The cock and hen are 
alike, they wei'e calli'd Mii-lrs del Chaco. Thi'ee birds were like 
Starlings, in size, walk, and behaviour ; alas I two were dead, one 
was a grey brown and very tame, flew on to my liand for meal- 
worms, and whenever I went into the aviary it flew to meet me. 
The other was black with bauds of fawn, black mask, and fawn 
head. These died within the last week, l)ronehitis and pneumonia 
brought on by bitter east winds and fog which we had soon after 
our arrival. I am having them stuffed. The other which is at 
present alive and healthy, was called a Charlatan, and is such a 
curious mixture of brown and black, that I find it hard to des- 
cribe. It is rather smaller than a Cardinal, with hrown head, 
black mask, speckled breast, striped slioulders, and wing feathers 
black edged with brown. All these birds whistle beautifully. 
* Very i)rob;ibly the Lined B'inch {Spn nuiiihild lineata.j — En. 
