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

BIEDS OF AEGENTIjS^A, PAEAGUAY, L^RUGUAY, AND CHILE 201
hrasilianum in darker, more suffused coloration on the dorsal surface
and in heavier markings on the imderparts. The two groups are
comj^lementar}' in range and it seems highly probable that in time
they will be found to intergrade.
ASIO FLAMMEUS FLAMMEUS (Pontoppidan)
^trlx flaiiimca Poxtoppidan, Daiiske Atlas, vol. 1. 1763, p. 617, pi. 25.
(Sweden.)
The short-eared owl was fairh^ common in marshy areas on the
pampas, and elsewhere was found in tracts of low greaseAvoods or
other small bushes. It was recorded as follows : Formosa, Formosa,
August 24. 1920; Dolores, Buenos Aires, October 21: Lavalle,
Buenos Aires, October 29 to November 15; General Roca. Rio
Negro, November 25 and December 3; Zapala, Neuquen, December
9: Ingeniero White (Bahia Blanca), Buenos Aires, December 13;
Carhue, Buenos Aires, December 15 to 18; Guamini, Buenos Aires,
^larch 3.
At Carhue I heard the high-pitched hooting call of this owl and
one circled about mj'^ head, giving a curious barking note.
A female v,as taken at Lavalle, Buenos Aires, October 29, 1920.
According to Bangs's outline of this group,*^ this bird should stand
as Asia fwnmeus l)revlauris (Schlegel), but in the series available
to me from South America there is nothing apparent to distinguish
them from North American birds either in color or size of bill.
SPEOTYTO CUNICULARIA CUNICULARIA (Molina)
fitrix Cioiictilaria Molina, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili, 17S2, p. 263. (Chile.)
At Las Palmas, Chaco, a burrowing owl was seen in a little open
prairie near the fonda where I was lodged during July, 1920, but no
others were observed in the north. Near Dolores, Buenos Aires, one
was noted October 21, and in the vicinit}^ of Lavalle the species
was common from October 27 to November 15. An occupied nest
hole, recorded November 4, was dug in the side of a sand dune,
while another, seen November 13, was in a level open pasture. In
both the entrance had been decorated with broken bits of dried cow
dung. Near General Roca, Rio Negro, burrowing owls were fairly
common from November 23 to December 3, mainh^ on alkaline plains
near the Rio Negro. Two were seen at Zapala, Neuquen, on December
9. They were recorded in fair numbers at Carhue. Buenos
Aires, from December 15 to 18, and near Victorica. Pampa. from
December 23 to 27. Near Carrasco, Uruguay, young full}' grown
were seen January 9, 1921, and others were recorded January 16.
s' Notes on South American Shcrt-eared Owls, I'roc. New Enfrland Zool. Club, vol. 6,
Feb. IS, 1910, p. 9G.