—— Mag. de Zool. 1837, pl. 69.
Emberiza Diuca, D’Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Mag. of Zool. 1838, f. 77.
This bird is very common on the coast of Chile, from the humid forests of Chiloe to the desert mountains of Copiapó. In Chiloe it is perhaps the most abundant of the land birds; south of Chiloe I never saw it, although the nature of the country does not change them. On the eastern side of the continent, I met with this bird only at the Rio Negro, in northern Patagonia. I do not believe it inhabits the shores of the Plata, although so common in the open country, under corresponding latitudes west of the Cordillera. The Diuca, as this Fringilla is called in Chile, generally moves in small flocks, and frequents, although not exclusively, cultivated ground in the neighbourhood of houses: habits very similar to those of the Zonotrichia matutina. During incubation, the male utters two or three pleasing notes, which Molina has in an exaggerated description called a fine song. In October, at Valparaiso, I found the nest of this bird in the trellis-work of a vineyard, close by a much frequented path. The nest is shallow, and about six inches across; the outer part is very coarse, and composed of the thin stalks of twining plants, strengthened by the husky calices of a composite flower; this outside part is lined by many pieces of rag, thread, string, tow, and a few feathers. Eggs rather pointed, oval, ·94 of an inch in length; colour, pale dirty green, thickly blotched by rather pale dull brown, which small blotches and spots become confluent, and entirely colour the broad end.
2. Fringilla Gayi. Eyd. & Gerv.
Fringilla Gayi, Eyd. & Gerv. Mag. de Zool. 1834. pl. 23.
Emberiza Gayi, var. D’Orb. & Lafr. Syn. p. 76.
This Fringilla, which was first brought from Chile, is abundant in the southern parts of Patagonia.
3. Fringilla formosa. Gould.
F. fronte lorisque nigris; vertice, genis, gulâ, alarum tegminibus cæruleo griseis, tegminibus primariis, secundariis rectricibusque griseo-nigris, cærulescenti-griseo marginatis, dorso flavescenti castaneo; tegminibus caudalibus inferioribus pallidè griseis; uropygio pectore abdomine hypochondriisque saturatè flavis.
Long. tot. 5½ unc.; alæ, 3¼; caudæ, 2⅝; tarsi, ¾; rostri, ½.