i88 3 ]. 
Barrows on Birds of the Lower Uruguay. 
203 
which were very similar to those of Milvulus tyran?2us , but 
rather smaller. 
74. Milvulus tyrannus (Linn~). Tijerita (Little Scis- 
sors, in allusion to the tail). — By far the most abundant Fly- 
catcher which breeds at Concepcion. Arriving early in October, 
it breeds during November and December, and leaves for the 
north again before April 1. It was met with at Azul on Jan- 
uary 31, 1881, and a single one was seen at Bahia Blanca 
February 9. 
75 * Pachyrhamphus, sp. incog . — Three males of a beau- 
tiful species probably belonging to this genus were taken at 
Concepcion during November, 1880. They were shy and silent, 
moving leisurely from one low tree to another along the borders 
of the streams. 
76. Phytotoma rutila Vieill. — An abundant bird among 
shrubbery everywhere, especially in winter. Gravelly localities 
where the mimosas and other thorny shrubs alternate with the 
melon and prickly-pear cactuses and where there are occasional 
patches of brambles and creeping vines overrunning all, are 
favorite resorts. Here the brick-red breast of the male is a rather 
conspicuous object as he sits on the top of some low bush utter- 
ing from time to time that characteristic note which has been 
well likened by Hudson to the bleat of a new-born lamb. The 
nest, which may be found late in September or early in October, 
is quite frail and is commonly well hidden in the green interior 
of a prickly bush, or a mass of twining vines. It is built mostly 
of fine twigs and finer rootlets and in it the bird deposits usually 
three bluish-green eggs with brownish flecks. The birds feed 
largely on green leaves of various kinds with perhaps some 
berries and a few insects. 
77. G-eositta cuniciilaria (Vieill .). — Hardly more than 
a winter visitor at Concepcion, though a pair seen October 26 
appeared to have eggs or young. In winter, however, it is very 
abundant and may be seen running about singly or in pairs on 
dry, grassy or gravelly places. It is strictly terrestrial and when 
running about singly it may be driven before one like a chicken. 
It has a rolling call similar to that of the Downy Woodpecker 
(Picus pnbescens) but weaker, and a nervous way of flirting its 
wings and raising and dropping the tail which is common to 
many other birds of this group. It was abundant at Bahia 
