194 Mr. H. Durnford on the Birds of 
parting the rushes I was enabled to get a second view of it 
sitting in the nest, which, however, it left immediately on 
seeing me. The nest was placed about three feet from the 
ground, bound to and supported by the reeds which grew close 
around it. It was oval in shape, and entirely composed of little 
bits of dead reed cleverly woven together, and forming a struc¬ 
ture ten inches in height by seven, outside measurements. 
The aperture was in the side, and a little over three inches in 
diameter. How the old bird could so readily enter and leave 
this hole I do not know. It sat with its head partly pro¬ 
jecting. The eggs were two in number, of a dirty white 
colour, measuring 1*4 inch by 1; and as they were con¬ 
siderably incubated, I conclude two is the full complement. 
The food of this species consists of mollusks, larvae; and once 
I found the remains of a small fish in the gizzard. Iris dull 
crimson; beak pea-green, with a coral-red spot on the side, 
the base of lower mandible, and the base of upper mandible 
when the bird is first killed, having a tinge of pale blue; legs 
and feet pinkish coral. 
114. Aramides ypecaha (Yieill.); Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 
1868, p. 144. 
Common in reed-beds, coming out about dusk and in the 
early morning to feed. Common at Baradero in April. 
115. Porzana spiloptera, sp. nov. (Plate III.) 
Zapornia spiloptera , Burm. MS. 
I have frequently flushed a small Crake from the “Paja” 
and rough scrub near the river at Belgrano, but never been 
able to obtain a specimen. On the 25th August 1876, how¬ 
ever, a gardener gave me a bird which his dog had caught in 
a garden at Belgrano, and which, I think, though I cannot be 
certain, is of the same species as the small Crakes I have 
seen before. As far as I can learn, the only other specimen 
of the bird known is in the Museum of Buenos Ayres, and 
will be described by Professor Burmeister under the name of 
Zapornia spiloptera , in his new work on the fauna of this 
country. This specimen, like mine, was taken in a garden 
almost in the city of Buenos Ayres. 
