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

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 209
Lazcano, Urui4uay, on February 7, and one was seen near Rio Negro,
Urug-iiay, on February 19. The ordinary call of this species is a
sharp click ch'ck given as the tail is twitched and the anterior por-
tion of the body is raised. This species has an air sac in the lower
eyelid similar to that described in C amazona.
Family BUCCONIDAE
NYSTALUS MACULATUS STRIATIPECTUS (Sclater)
Biicco strkiiipcctus Sctj^-Tek, Anu. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 13, ser. 2, May,
1854, p. 3G4. (Bolivia.)
Thongh Dr. P. L. Sclater read a description of Bucco sfoiafipectus
before a meeting of the Zoological Societ}' of Ijondon on December
13, 1853, this was not published in the Proceedings until November
14. 1854, so that the reference to the first published description must
be cited from the Annals and INIagazine of Natural History for
May, 1854, where it is included in a synopsis of the Bucconidae.
This species was observed only near Tapia, Tucuman, from April
7 to 11. 1921, save for several .seen near Rio Colorado. Tucuman,
on April 1, from a train. Buccos were found at rest on low perches
in the trees, often in rather brushy localities, in regions cut by
steep-w^alled barrancas. During clear weather that followed rains
they occasionall}^ came out to more open perches or even rested in
the sun on telegraph and telephone wires. They perched with head
drawn in. bill held level or pointed slightly upward and tail
elevated, the latter from its slender form appearing as if stuck into
the body. The birds were stolid and allowed close approach, though
at times they turned toAvard an intruder with a half-threatening
air that was ludicrous. When startled they flew for short distances
with a loud rattling flutter made by their small, rounded wings.
They were wholly silent. Local!}' the species was known as durmi-
dxirmi or dunyiili-durmili.
Five specimens collected on April 7, 8, 9, and 11 include adults
and young of both sexes. A male when first killed had the bill, in
general, dull black; sides of maxilla, and mandible at cutting edge,
etruscan red; iris straw yellow, becoming neutral gray at outer
margin ; tarsus and toes grayish olive ; claws dull black.
The small size of the brain with slight development of the cerebellum
in this species is particularly noticeable, while in the skele-
ton the huge skull in contrast to the tiny plate of the low-keeled
sternum is even more striking.
There are two specimens in the United States National Museum
collections marked as secured by Capt. T. J. Page on the Bermejo
River in Februaiy, 1860. a region from which the bird does not
appear to have been reported previously.