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

202 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
At La Paloma, Uruguay, the species was noted January 23. Near
San Vicente, Uruguay, from January 25 to February 2, and in the
vicinity of Lazcano, from February 3 to 9, the birds were common
in open country, and were among the prominent forms of the
region. Single birds or little groups were noted constantly, and it
was amusing to see them drop prudently down a hole as I approached
instead of taking to wing. The sjiecies must be counted
among valuable enemies of the locust. In certain country dis-
tricts in Uruguay the flesh of the burrowing owl is served as a
V delicacy to those conA'alescing from illness in the belief that it
produces appetite for other food. At Guamini, Buenos Aires, these
owls were noted froni March 3 to 8, and at Tunuyan, Mendoza,
they were recorded from March 24 to 29. Near Tapia, Tucuman.
they were heard calling occasionally at night from April G to 13,
and one was seen at Concon, Chile, April 28.
Males were collected at General Roca, Rio Negro, on November
30, 1920, and at Tunuyan, Mendoza, March 27, 1921. This species ex-
hibits even more variation in color from light to dark on the south-
ern continent than in the United States. Specimens that were very
light, in fact almost white, were observed frequently, at times using
the same holes as dark individuals. In revision of subspecies this
must be borne in mind as otherwise confusion Avill result. The two
specimens secured agree fairly well in size and color with birds
from Chile, though there is a tendency for Argentine birds to aver-
age larger. Those from northwestern Argentina are particularly
large and with abundant material may prove to belong to a distinct
race.
)
Family NYCTIBIIDAE
NYCTIBIUS GRISEUS GRISEUS (Gmelin)
Caprimulgus griseus Gmelin, Syst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1789, p. 1029.
( Cayenne.
A female Nyctihius was taken September 30, 1920, on the heavily
forested slopes of the Cerro Lorito on the eastern side of the Paraguay
River opposite Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay. The form of the
bird as it rested on a gall projecting from the trunk of a tree 150
mm. in diameter caught my eye by chance. The claws grasped the
perch firmly while the body stood erect parallel to the tree, and
separated from it only by the space of 25 mm. The tail hung
straight down, the eyes were closed, and the feathers in front of
and above the eye on either side were erected to form projecting
horns. The bird resembled a bit of stick that had fallen to become
lodged on the tree trunk.
The specimen taken is grayish in tone and has the following
measurements: Wing, 267.0; tail, 183.5; exposed culmen, 14.6; tar-