250 
Notes of !iO)u<' Birds in the Andes. 
ofT the ground. They would iiiako most dcsii'al)!^ additions 
to the aviary. 
MOURNING FINCH: (Pliri/gilns frntieeti). 
A quiet retiring The female is of a dark 
brown colour whilst the male is absolutely black in places. 
For a long time I heard the song without seeing the bird. 
The song is a very sweet warlile, some of the notes are 
almost harsh, and this conti'asting {)leasantly with tlie more 
harmonious notes, gives the song a peculiar fascination. These 
l)irds are fairly common. The adjective "mourning" is very 
appropriate, as the plumage in the male is mostly black 
and th;^ song is extremely sad. 
I do not know if any of our members have kept these 
l)irds, Init they would make delightful pets. 
PILEATED PONG-SPAREOW: (Zono! rirhia pileata). 
These are the commonest birds l)f)th liigh up in the 
mountains and in the plains below. 
They are quite like our common s])arro\v, but more 
elegant in shape, with a grey and black crest antl a ruddy 
brown collar. 
The native name is " Chingolo." 
The nest is placed in the bushes and on the ground. 
They have a sweet song which I have often heard on 
moonlight nights. I caught several " Chingolos " and brought 
them home to the Zoological Gardens. I have lately lieen 
sent one of these birds by Mr. Willford, which I was vei\y 
glad to get and want very much to pi-ocure a hen bird as 
I have no doubt they would breed ui captivity.* 
BLACK-WINGED DOVE: (Mctriopelia melanoptera) . 
These doves began to arrive at Inca in December (late 
spring) and soon became very common, fifty or more in a 
nock. Seen up to 12,000 feet. 
They went away with the first cold weather. 
I saw one flock of about five or six hundred birrls. 
They are very good eating, specially after weeks of 
living on tinned food. 
*This species has been bred in captivity by our esteemed 
member, Mr. W. E. Toschemakcr (ride B.A'., TV;/. 17/, p. t 
and 29.) —Ed. 
To he continued. 
