In form and size _T. militaris_ resembles the Common Starling of Europe, but differs from it in habits, flight, language, and in colouring; its upper plumage being fuscous mottled with yellowish grey, the throat and bosom scarlet inclining to crimson. This hue varies greatly, the breast-feathers being often tipped with white, which subdues the intense red, and gives it a rosy tint in some individuals. The female is paler-plumaged than the male, and has less red on the breast. It inhabits the whole of Patagonia to the Strait of Magellan, but is confined to the valleys or to the neighbourhood of water; and Durnford remarks that it is a useful bird to the traveller in that thirsty country, as its presence is a sure indication of water. It is resident, and is seen in small parties of four or five, or in small flocks seldom exceeding twenty or thirty in number. It feeds and lives on the ground, and only occasionally is it seen to perch on a low bush. Its flight is strong, and it flies about a great deal, and usually utters its song when on the wing. The song is continued all the year, and is heard even on the coldest days in winter; the notes are few and not highly melodious, but are cheerful and vigorous. The nest is made of dry grass and rootlets attached to the rushes in moist ground, and placed close to or resting on the surface. The eggs are five, the ground-colour white spotted or blotched with reddish brown. 104. TRUPIALIS DEFILIPPII, Bp. (DE FILIPPI'S MARSH-STARLING.) +Sturnella defilippii+, _Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S._ 1869, p. 161 (Buenos Ayres); _iid. Nomencl._ p. 38; _Döring, Exp. al Rio Negro, Zool._ p. 41 (Pampas); _Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl._ viii. p. 136 (Pampas south of Buenos Ayres). +Trupialis defilippii+, _Scl. Cat. B._ xi. p. 357. +Trupialis militaris+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 490 (Rosario, Paraná). _Description._--Like _Tr. militaris_, but rather smaller, and with the under wing-coverts black. _Hab._ Northern Argentina and Uruguay. Throughout the country where this species abounds it is called _Pecho colorado_, which is certainly better than Azara's barbarous, if picturesque, name of _Degollado_; but no happier name than _militaris_ could have been invented for it, by which it was formerly known to naturalists; and though it was given to the bird merely on account of the red breast, and was therefore equally applicable to all the red-breasted species on the globe, in this case it accidentally seemed to describe a peculiar habit of the bird, as well as its bright livery.