remains of insects, which, I suspect, are much more the object of its search than honey is. The note of this species, like that of nearly the whole family, is extremely shrill. In the Appendix an anatomical description of this bird by Mr. Eyton is given. ORDER—SCANSORES. 1. CONURUS MURINUS, _Kuhl._ Psittacus murinus, _Gmel._ Perruche, _Pernet_, voy. 1. p. 312. This parrot feeds in large flocks on the grassy plains of Banda Oriental, where not a tree can be seen. They are very destructive to the corn-fields. I was assured that in one year, near Colonia del Sacramiento, on the north bank of the Plata, 2,500 were killed, a reward being given for each dozen heads. Many of these birds build their nests close together in trees, the whole composing a vast mass of sticks. I saw several of their compound nests on the islands in the river Parana. 2. CONURUS PATACHONICUS. Psittacus Patagonus, _Vieill._ Ency. Meth. p. Psittacara Patagonica, _Less._ Voy. de la Coquille Zool. pl. 35 bis. Psittacara Patachonica, _Lear’s_ Ill. Psitt. Le Patagon, _Azara_, No. 277. Pattagonian maccaw, _Lath._ Hist. 11, 105. I obtained specimens of this bird at Bahia Blanca in Northern Patagonia, where there is not a single tree, and the country is dry and very sterile. I did not meet with this species in the southern parts of Patagonia, but it is common near Concepcion in Chile, in nearly the same latitude. They build their nests in holes in cliffs of earth or gravel, together with the _Hirundo cyanoleuca_. In September, at Bahia Blanca, they were laying: their eggs are quite white, and small in proportion to the bird. Several usually rush forth from their holes at the same instant, and utter a noisy scream. PICUS KINGII. _G. R. Gray._ Picus melanocephalus, _King_, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1830, p. 14. I procured specimens at Valparaiso, and at the Peninsula of Tres Montes (Lat. 46° S.) At the latter place, I killed in January a pair, male and female. Captain King’s specimens were obtained from Chiloe. The male has its whole head scarlet with only the nape black, so that Captain King’s specific name is unfortunately not applicable for the species; therefore Mr. G. R. Gray thinks it should be named after the first describer. The head of the female is black, with some short reddish brown feathers over nostrils. There appears to be no other difference in the plumage of the sexes. CHRYSOPTILUS CAMPESTRIS. _Swains._ Picus campestris, _Licht._ Cat. p. _Spix_, Av. Br. pl. 116. Le charpentier des champs, _Azara_, No. 253.