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

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 93
Lavalle, Buenos Aires, October 23 to November 15; General Roca,
Rio Negro, November 23 to December 3; Zapala, Neuquen, Decem-
ber 7 to 9; Carhue, Buenos Aires, December 15 to 18; Victorica,
Pampa, December 26 to 30; Carrasco, Uruguay, January 9 and 16,
1921; La Paloma, Uruguay, January 23; San Vicente, Uruguay,
January 26 to February 2; Lazcano, Uruguay, February 3 to 9;
Guamini, Buenos Aires, March 3 to 8; (Potrerillos, Mendoza, March
20 a rectrix found) ; Tunuyan, Mendoza, March 24 to 28; Concon,
Chile, April 26 to 28. Adult males taken at Lavalle, November 8,
General Roca, November 26, Carhue, December 15, and an immature
female shot at Tunuyan, March 24, are all representative of the
typical form. Milvago c. femucoensis Sclater'^ described from
Palal near Temuco, Province of Cautin, Chile, and said to range in
the Provinces of Cautin and Valdivia, is represented in the United
States National Museum by specimens collected by naturalists from
the United States Fish Commission steamer Albatross, at Laredo
Bay, Straits of Magellan, a considerable extension of range over
that j)reviously known for this form. These birds agree with one
from Valdivia in darker coloration and more heavy persistent bar-
ring below than is found in typical chimango. Apparently temu-
c-oensis ranges throughout the region of heavy rains in southern
Chile. Specimens from near Santiago, Chile, Tunuyan, and Gen-
eral Roca show a tendency toward dark coloration, but are so near
chwiango as to be indistinguishable. A skull and a skeleton of adult
males were preserved at Victorica, Pampa, on December 28 and 31,
und the skull of an immature bird with the cranial bones not yet
ankylosed was found near Guamini, Buenos Aires.
The chimango is a common species of the open country, and is
seen almost inevitably by the naturalist on every day afield during
work within its range. The birds are at their best as scavengers
along muddy shores where they feed or forage in little groups, often
in company with gulls, or are found beating back and forth over
areas where food may be found. In the open country they rest on
the ground or on fence posts, or perch in low bushes or trees where
such are available. The birds have little fear, as they are despised
for their manner of living, and, save where they become too numer-
ous, are seldom molested. It was common to have them come about
fearlessly while I examined dead birds in the field, and care was
necessary to guard specimens from damage. The flight of the
chimango is comparatively weak, though the birds often delight in
soaring and sailing during windy weather, particularly at the beginning
of the breeding season. When in the air they show a white
^ Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 38, March 4, 1918, p. 43.
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