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

280 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
PHAGE LLODOMUS SIBILATRIX Sclater
Phacellodomus siMlatrix " Doring, MS.," Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. London,.
1879, p. 461. (Cordoba.)
An adult male taken July 15, 1920, at Las Palmas, Chaco, near the
Riacho Quia, was the only one seen.
PSEUDOSEISURA GUTTURALIS (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye)
Anatates gutturaUs d'ORBiGNY and Lafeesnaye, Mag. Zool., 1838, cl. 2^
p. 15. (Rio Negro, Patagonia.)
The present species of shy, secretive habit, an inhabitant of arid
regions, was encountered near General Roca, Rio Negro, November
24 to December 2, 1920; at Zapala, Neuquen, from December 7 to 9;
and near the city of Mendoza, in western Argentina, on March 13.
These birds frequent the denser growths of low, thorny brush that
grows over the dry, barren slopes of stony, sandy hills in these
regions, where, though they may be noted at a distance, it is difficult
to approach them. They are seen occasionally running
swiftly on the ground, with the tail erect, taking advantage of
any cover that may offer. When excited they may come out to
rest on some low branch with jerking wings and tail, while they
peck nervously at the branches near at hand. They are found in
pairs or family groups that remain near their huge stick nests
placed in the low bushes. Their song is a loud, rattling call given
in chorus by male and female, similar in a way to that of Furnarius
rafus, but less loud and perhaps slightly more metallic in sound.
In addition they give a low, clucking call. Though their laughing
calls may be heard frequently at a distance, the birds slip away
rapidly through the brush, so that it is difficult to approach within
gunshot.
ground.
Their undulating flight carries them barely above the
An adult female when first taken had the maxilla and tip of the
mandible dark mouse gray; base of mandible pale Russian blue;
iris cream buff; tarsus gray number 6.
Adult females were taken at General Roca, November 24 and 29,
and an adult female and three immature birds (two females and
one male) at Zapala, on December 9. The adult birds are in exceedingly
worn plumage and have begun molt on the head. Immature
birds of both sexes are alike, and differ from the adults
in having faint, dusky cross bars on the breast. The white throat
feathers in this species are soft and silky to the touch.