Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY,
URUGUAY, AND CHILE
By Alexander Wetmore
Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution^
INTRODUCTION
The successful operation of the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty
in according protection, hitherto uncertain, to migratory game and
insectivorous birds, with resultant increase in many species, led
naturally to inquiries regarding the present status of birds that
migrate in winter beyond our borders. Particularly was this the
case with those species, mainly shore birds, that pass south into the
southern portion of the South American Continent. To gather first
hand information on the questions involved the Biological Survey,
United States Department of Agriculture, in May, 1920, dispatched
the writer to Argentina with instructions to carry on the desired
observations. During the extended period of field work incident to
such a task there was abundant opportunity to make representative
collections of native birds and to record many points of interest
concerning their distribution and habits.
Since observation of shore birds was the main object in mind,
travel was restricted largely to the level sections where suitable
shores and marshes were available, so that collections were made in
the main in the lowlands. The area covered extended from north-
ern Paraguay south to northern Patagonia, and from the eastern
border of Uruguay west to the foothills of the Andes in Mendoza,
and included a limited section near Valparaiso, Chile. Points for
work were chosen carefully to allow comprehensive survey of as
large an area as practicable. Studies of the specimens secured to-
gether with field observations, where pertinent, are presented here-
with in as much detail as is warranted.
For assistance while in South America, thanks are due especially
to Dr. Roberto Dabbene of the Museo Nacional in Buenos Aires,
^ The investigations covered in the following pages were made when the author was
on the staff of the Bureau of Biological Survey, U. S. Department of Agriculture. The
report has been brought to completion since he became Assistant Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution.
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