Volume I Part 42 (2/2)

+Rhinocrypta fusca+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ pp. 76, 161.

_Description._--Above uniform pale cinnamomeous brown; superciliaries whitish; tail blackish, except the middle pair of rectrices, which are the same as the back; beneath white, faintly tinged with cinnamomeous; bill horn-colour, feet black: whole length 65 inches, wing 25, tail 24.

_Hab._ Mendoza.

The original examples of this species were obtained by the German collector, Weisshaupt, near Mendoza. It appears to have been mistaken for the young of the preceding species, but is decidedly different.

229. PTEROPTOCHUS ALBICOLLIS, Kittl.

(WHITE-NECKED TAPACOLA.)

+Pteroptochus albicollis+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 471 (Mendoza); _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 76.

_Description._--Above chestnut-brown, obscure or slightly olivaceous on the neck and upper part of back; inner webs of wing-feathers blackish; lores, superciliaries, and under surface white, the breast spa.r.s.ely, and the belly and flanks thickly marked with transverse spots of blackish brown; lower flanks and under tail-coverts chestnut-brown, obscurely spotted with black; bill and feet black: whole length 85 inches, wing 31, tail 29. _Female_ similar.

_Hab._ Chili and Western Argentina.

Dr. Burmeister tells us that he met with this Chilian species in the water-courses near Mendoza, where it was seen running about on the stones like a Dipper.

Darwin has given us some interesting notes on this bird:--”This species is called by the Chilenos 'Tapacola,' or 'cover your posteriors.' The name is well applied, as the Tapacola generally carries its short tail more than erect, that is, inclined backward and toward the head. It is extremely common in Central Chile. The Tapacola frequents hedge-rows and the bushes which are scattered at a considerable elevation over the sterile hills, where scarcely another bird can exist; hence it plays a conspicuous part in the ornithology of Chile. The Tapacola is very crafty; when frightened by any person, it will remain motionless at the bottom of a bush, and will then, after a little while, try with much address to crawl away on the opposite side. It is also an active bird, and continually making a noise; these noises are various and strangely odd; one is like the cooing of doves, another like the bubbling of water, and many defy all similes. The country-people say it changes its cry five times in the year, which is according, I suppose, to some change of season. I was told that the Tapacola builds its nest at the bottom of a deep burrow.” (Darwin, in Zool. Voy. 'Beagle,' iii. p. 72.)

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