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

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

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168 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM the typical form in larger size and in more buffy coloration. The light margins on the feathers of the back and wings are more rufescent and are broader than the dark central streaks, the head, neck, and rumj) are more buffy, less grayish, and the undersurface has a rufescent wash. It is probable that birds from central Chile may be differentiated from eastern specimens with a more extensive series than is available to me, as two specimens from near Santiago have the gray of the breast more restricted than some from Argentina. BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS CHILENSIS (Molina) Pai-ra Chilensis Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 17S2, p. 258. (Cliile.) The use of the name bestowed by Molina on the Chilian lapwing has been disputed but after due consideration it seems that it may be recognized. In the first edition of his work on the Natural History of Chile (cited above), Molina gave a brief diagnosis in Latin as a footnote for each species of bird treated. On referring to his account of the present bird we find it given as number 23, II Theghel, Pm^a Chilensis, with the diagnosis " Parra unguibus modicis, pedibus fuscis, occipite subcristato." The description that follows wath a considerable account of the habits refers to Belonop- terus save that he states "la sua fronte e guernita di una carnosita rossa divisa in due lobi," a condition found in the Jacana and not in the lapwing. Evidently he was endeavoring to describe the plover as he gives an excellent account of its habits but had confused with it the lobed forehead of the Jacana— probably because both birds possess a spur on the w4ng. In the second edition of Molina's work, printed in 1810 (p. 205), is a duplication of the account of Pm^a Chilensis save that it is numbered T, has the Latin diagnosis omitted, and has included a reference to a Chilian vocabulary. On page 206 is added the following statement : " Questa proprieta, che gli e comune col Vanello, e la maggior parte de' caratteri sopra-esposti, me avevano da prima determinato a porlo nel medesimo genere, denominandolo Tringa Chilensis., ma la piccola carnosita della sua fronte m' ha obbligate a lasciarlo nel genere Parra, dal quale pero si scosta per la modicita delle sue dita." Here, again, there is confusion regarding a supposed fleshy lobe on the head, but again attention is called to the short toes of the bird in mind. Molina's description therefor is composite, but when it is carefully considered will be found to apply in the main to Belonopterus; there can be no question but that Belonopterus is intended. It appears that the use of chilensis as the subspecific name of the western form of the South American lapwing is warranted. Should any decide that this name is not properly identified, then they must fall back on Vanellus occidentalis Harting,^^ a new name ^i^Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1874, p. 450. (Chile.)

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 169 proposed for the Chilian bird, with Pdrra chilensis, concerning whose identity Harting was apparently uncertain, cited in the synonymy. Dr. P. R. Lowe when he considered Molina's name untenable ^^ and proposed to call the western form Belonopterus cayannensis moJina, evidently overlooked this action of Harting's though the type of occidentalism^ is supposed to be in the British Museum. As I have noted beyond the name Vanellus grisescens Prazak,*^ based on a specimen from North Chile is also a synonym under this form. The Chilian lapwing is even handsomer, in its larger size and more extensive black markings contrasted boldly with the gray head, than the teru teru of the eastern and northern pampas, to which it is similar in habits and appearance. Like that fine bird, though it exasperates one with the ceaseless iteration of its calls, it may be forgiven much for confiding interesting traits that it exhibits at times and for its showy coloration. No lover of birds can recall days afield in the pampas without seeing in recollection the contrasted markings of these fine plovers. The call notes of the Chilian lapwing, though similar to those of the eastern bird, are harsher and are pitched in a higher tone so that there is no difficulty in recognizing it when one enters its haunts. I encountered it first at Zapala in western Neuquen on December 8, 1920, but secured no specimens. At Tunuyan, Mendoza, males, taken on March 25 and 26, 1921, are similar in color and size to Chilian specimens from the western side of the Andes. They were observed here in small numbers from March 23 to 28. At Concon, Chile, they were noted from April 25 to 27. East of the Andes this form occurs on the somewhat broken plains at the base of the mountains where it ranges eastward for an unknown distance. It is possible that there is a gap between the areas inhabited by the eastern and western forms. The specimens from Tunuyan (both males) have the following measurements, in millimeters: Wing, 256-258; tail, 114.5-129; ex- posed culmen, 30-30.5; tarsus, 74.5-73.5. BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS LAMPRONOTUS (Wagler) Chm'adrius Lampronotus Waglek, Syst. Av., pt. 1, 1827, p. 74. (Paraguay.) Study of the South American lapwings available has shown that they may be divided into three well-marked races, as follows 1. BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS CHILENSIS (Molina). Range : Chile, Patagonia, western Argentina along the eastern base of the Andes, and Peru (no Peruvian specimens seen). Char- ts buu. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 41, Apr. 13, 1921, p. 111. *o Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 24, 1896, p. 735. *i Ornith. Monatsber., vol. 4, 1896, p. 23. :

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 169<br />

proposed for the Chilian bird, with Pdrra chilen<strong>si</strong>s, concerning<br />

whose identity Harting was apparently uncertain, cited in the<br />

synonymy. Dr. P. R. Lowe when he con<strong>si</strong>dered Molina's name<br />

untenable ^^ and proposed to call the western form Belonopterus<br />

cayannen<strong>si</strong>s moJina, evidently overlooked this action of Harting's<br />

though the type of occidentalism^ is supposed to be in the British<br />

<strong>Museum</strong>. As I have noted beyond the name Vanellus grisescens<br />

Prazak,*^ based on a specimen from North Chile is also a synonym<br />

under this form.<br />

The Chilian lapwing is even handsomer, in its larger <strong>si</strong>ze and<br />

more exten<strong>si</strong>ve black markings contrasted boldly with the gray<br />

head, than the teru teru of the eastern and northern pampas, to<br />

which it is <strong>si</strong>milar in habits and appearance. Like that fine bird,<br />

though it exasperates one with the ceaseless iteration of its calls,<br />

it may be forgiven much for confiding interesting traits that it<br />

exhibits at times and for its showy coloration. No lover of birds<br />

can recall days afield in the pampas without seeing in recollection<br />

the contrasted markings of these fine plovers.<br />

The call notes of the Chilian lapwing, though <strong>si</strong>milar to those of<br />

the eastern bird, are harsher and are pitched in a higher tone so that<br />

there is no difficulty in recognizing it when one enters its haunts.<br />

I encountered it first at Zapala in western Neuquen on December 8,<br />

1920, but secured no specimens. At Tunuyan, Mendoza, males,<br />

taken on March 25 and 26, 1921, are <strong>si</strong>milar in color and <strong>si</strong>ze to<br />

Chilian specimens from the western <strong>si</strong>de of the Andes. They were<br />

observed here in small numbers from March 23 to 28. At Concon,<br />

Chile, they were noted from April 25 to 27. East of the Andes this<br />

form occurs on the somewhat broken plains at the base of the<br />

mountains where it ranges eastward for an unknown distance. It is<br />

pos<strong>si</strong>ble that there is a gap between the areas inhabited by the<br />

eastern and western forms.<br />

The specimens from Tunuyan (both males) have the following<br />

measurements, in millimeters: Wing, 256-258; tail, 114.5-129; ex-<br />

posed culmen, 30-30.5; tarsus, 74.5-73.5.<br />

BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS LAMPRONOTUS (Wagler)<br />

Chm'adrius Lampronotus Waglek, Syst. Av., pt. 1, 1827, p. 74. (Paraguay.)<br />

Study of the South American lapwings available has shown that<br />

they may be divided into three well-marked races, as follows<br />

1. BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS CHILENSIS (Molina).<br />

Range : Chile, Patagonia, western Argentina along the eastern<br />

base of the Andes, and Peru (no Peruvian specimens seen). Char-<br />

ts buu. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 41, Apr. 13, 1921, p. 111.<br />

*o Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 24, 1896, p. 735.<br />

*i Ornith. Monatsber., vol. 4, 1896, p. 23.<br />

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