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G e n u s .—SERPOPHAGA. Gould.
Rosti-um capite multò hrevius, rectum, suhdepressum ; iomiis rectis ; mandibuld
superiore suhemarginatà ; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, pilis molUbus anticè versis
partim tectis. Alce breves, concavce, remige quarta longissimà. Cauda longiuscula
subrotundata. Tarsi mediocres squamis duris annidati; digitis parvis, postico
mediano breviore, lateralibus cequahbus, exteriore cum mediano usque ad articuluni
priorem connatum.
i . S e r p o p h a g a P a r u l u s . Gould.
Muscicapa parulus, Kitlitz, Mem. L’Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters. 1831. J. p. 190. PI. 9.
Sylvia Bloxami, Gray’s Zool. Mise. 1831. p. 11.
Culicivora parulus, UOrhxg. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 57.
This bird is common in centrai Chile, in Patagonia, and although found in
Tierra del Fuego, it is not numerous there. Its specific name is very well chosen,
as I saw no bird in South America whose habits approach so near to those of our
tom-tits \Parui). It frequents bushes in dry places, actively hopping about them,
and sometimes repeating a shrill cry ; it often moves in small bodies of three and
four together. In August I found the nest of one in a valley in the Cordillera of
central Chile ; it was placed in a bush and was simply constructed.
2 . S e r p o p h a g a a l b o - c o r o n a t a . Gould.
S. supra olivaceo-brunnea, subtus pallidè jiava ; pileo nigrescenti brunneo, in hoc phi-
marum basibus lineâque supra oculos albis; alis nigrescenti brunneis, primariis
augustè oliváceo marginatis, tectricibus latè olivaceo-griseo marginatis, gutture
griseo.
Long. tot. aloe, 2; caudæ, 2; tarsi, rost.-^.
A stripe of white from the nostrils over each eye; crown of the head brown, the
base of all the feathers pure white ; back of the neck, back and upper tail
coverts olive brown ; wings blackish brown, the external edges of the primaries
finely margined with olive, and the greater and lesser wing coverts
largely tipped with olive grey; tail uniform brown; throat grey; abdomen
and under tail coverts pale citron yellow ; bill and feet brown.
Habitat, Maldonado, La Plata, {June).