39 
in the Chuput Valley, Patagonia. 
from dead cattle, hare’s fur, some horse-dung, and a few 
straws. This nest measured three feet in diameter. Whilst 
looking at the two old birds on the wing, and standing be¬ 
neath them, I could detect no difference between the male 
and female; and I wounded one, which unfortunately fell too 
far off for recovery. In the hope that the remaining bird, 
which, after its mate was shot, rose to an immense height in 
the air, would continue to feed the young ones, I left them, 
intending to return on the first opportunity, which I did on the 
following day but one, and after sitting fruitlessly under the 
nest for four hours, during which time I saw nothing of the 
old bird, I resolved to take the chicks. From their starved 
and weak appearance, I am inclined to think their remaining 
parent had deserted them, especially as the whole time I sat 
under the nest they kept constantly uttering a plaintive note, 
not unlike that of young chickens when in search for their 
mother. They were covered with a snow-white down, with 
the exception of their wings and back, where a few rufous 
feathers were commencing to show themselves. The cere is 
dark slate-colour, legs and feet pale orange, irides dark brown. 
During my stay at the colony I visited several other nests of 
this bird, but found them empty, nor could I again get a 
shot at an old bird, as before I could get within range they 
would invariably leave their post of observation and soar to 
an immense height in the air. The colonists have designated 
this bird the “ white horsewhilst it sits motionless on the 
top of the highest bush it can find, its white underparts are 
seen from a considerable distance, and, when they are search¬ 
ing for their horses and cattle, frequently deceive them. 
Tinnuncultjs sparverius. 
On the 8th November I obtained two pairs about the Tosca 
cliff up the valley, and shot a male bird. On the 15th I 
observed it at Ninfas Point. At the former place it was 
breeding; and during a second visit, on the 24th inst, I found 
a nest in a slight cavity high up in the face of the cliff, com¬ 
posed of sticks, but containing no eggs ; it was probably also 
nesting at Ninfas Point. Seen on the wing at the same time 
