iSS 3 .] 
Barrows on Birds of the Lower Uruguay. 
I 4 I 
1880, which had these parts perfectly bare, and of a bright 
orange-red color. As this was the breeding season I can only 
suppose that the feathers are lost from these parts at that time, 
and not regained until the entire moult takes place. The birds 
seem to prefer high grass and weeds in wet open ground. 
55. Sisopygis icterophrys ( Vieill . ) . — Not uncommon in 
open woods and bushy places through the entire year. A nest 
found December 24 was a rather shallow affair, built of twigs, 
weed-stalks, etc., and lined with wool and soft vegetable mate- 
rials. It was placed on the horizontal branch of a bush over- 
hanging the water, on the edge of a swamp, and contained 
three eggs nearly ready to hatch. Their color was white, with 
a few (in one case only five or six) large dots and splashes of 
brown. 
56. Cnipolegus cyanirostris ( Vieill .). — Apparently only 
a migrant, as but three specimens were taken, one September 
29, 1879, and one each on September 26 and 29, 1880. 
57. Lichenops perspicillatus ( Gm .). Viudita negra 
(Little Black Widow). — Abundant at Concepcion in summer 
and many winter there. The plumage of the adult male is 
glossy black, the outer primaries alone being partly white. This 
would make a very pretty little “widow” did not the yellow 
appendages or outgrowths on the eye-lids give the bird such a gro- 
tesque appearance. They are bright yellow, as are also the irides 
and bill, so that even at long range it is impossible to mistake 
the bird for any other. They frequent the tall grass and reeds 
in wet places and are never found far from water. While they 
frequently go to the ground for insects, and even hop about there 
considerably, they only seem really at home when swaying on 
the long grass or perched on the top of some swamp shrub. In 
warm, quiet weather, even in winter, the male has a habit of 
flying perpendicularly upward from such a perch and returning 
again instantly. So quickly is the action performed that although 
he must rise to a height of ten or fifteen feet, not more than a 
single second is occupied in it. It looks precisely as if the bird 
were shot up by a spring and pulled back by an elastic, as in 
the case of a toy return-ball. A little quavering whistle is heard 
at the same time, and I suspect it is partly due to the action ot 
the wings. The performance is doubtless an act of display for 
the benefit of the female, or a challenge to other males. It cer- 
