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

BIRDS OP ARGENTINA, PARA.GUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 297
rested in usual flycatcher fashion on the top of a bush, but frequently
dropped down to run raj^idly about on the ground. They were wary
and when approached flew away barely above the ground, many times
traveling for long distances before a pause, passing so low among
the bushes that it was difficult to follow their course. Others were
seen Dec mber 7 and 9 in similar territory near Zapala, Neuquen,
four being observed together on one occasion, when they pursued
one another with high-pitched, petulant calls. On March 27, 1921,
several were seen in brush-grown areas east of the Rio Tunuyan,
near Tunuyan, Mendoza, where they sought the tops of bushes that
offered a commanding outlook over the surrounding ground. At
rest their erect position, large head, and long bill are marked characters,
while when flying their clay brown coloration and long wings
are displayed.
A male, taken NoA^ember 29, had the maxilla dull black ; mandible
pale drab gray ; iris natal brown ; tarsus and toes black.
AGRIORNIS MONTANA (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye)
Pepoaza montana (I'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, ]\Iag. Zool., 1837, CI. 2,
p. 64. (Chuquisaca, Bolivia.)
A male was shot at an altitude of 1,500 meters above Potrerillos,
Mendoza, on March 17, 1921, and another (preserved in alcohol)
was secured March 19, near El Salto, at 1,800 meters. The skin
secured is of a bird in molt into first-winter plumage that lias the
primaries normal as in females. In the fully adult male the ninth
and tenth primaries are slender and are narrowed for a distance
of 14 or 15 mm. at the tip. Berlepsch ''^ has found that Agr'i&rnis
maritima''^ (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye) is based on an adult male
of A. montana of the same authors. As the name TnontaTia occurs
on the page preceding the one where maritima is found, it has
priority and must be used for the species.
Though it is probable that the bird from western and southern
Argentina should be distinguished as the subspecies leucura Gould,"
material at hand does not include specimens from Bolivia, so that
adequate comparisons may not be made.
The two examples of Agriornis montana observed were found on
the ground or on low bushes near streams. They did not differ in
actions from striata or livida, but were readily distinguished by
the white in the tail.
The male taken had the bill dull black; iris natal brown; tarsus
and toes black.
Proc. Fourth Int. Ornith. Congr., February, 1907, p. 464-465.
""^Pepoaza maritima d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, Mag. Zool., CI. 2, 1837, p. 65. (Cobija,
BoUvia.)
''''Agriornis leucurua Gould, Zool. Voy. Beagle, pt. 3, Birds, 1839, pi. 13. (Patagonia.)