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

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

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396 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM persistent notes that were heard constantly during the breeding season. The Angiiete Indians called this species yum a fow ookh. SALTATOR CAERULESCENS CAERULESCENS Vicillot Saltator caerulescens Vieixlot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 14, 1817, p. 105. (Paraguay.) On July 17, 1920, an adult male was taken at Las Palmas, Chaco. Several were seen in brush-grown areas, where they were shy and difficult to approach. Their call was a sharp tsip. It is possible that they were seen on other occasions, but all others taken were Saltator s. similis. SALTATOR AURANTIIROSTRIS AURANTIIROSTRIS Vieillot Saltator aurantii rostris Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 14, 1817, p. 103. (Paraguay.) The boldly marked orange-billed saltator was found at Las Palmas, Chaco, on July 23 and 26, and was fairly common, though so shy that it came seldom in view. The species inhabited clumps of dense brush in pasture lands where safe cover Avas available. At intervals males came out on open perches on dead limbs, often near the tops of the trees in order to sing, but at the slightest alarm pitched down into heavy growth below. The manner of delivery of the song was quick and explosive, in a way suggesting the method of enunciation employed by the white-eyed vireo {Vireo griseus), so that on my first encounter with the species I was somewhat surprised to identify the singer as a member of the present family. The abrupt, but musical song may be rendered as chu chu chu ivheet a su]\ with the last syllable heavily accented. An adult pair was secured on July 26. The female has the coloration less intense and the black breastband restricted though still c,omplete. The male when first killed had the bill zinc orange, marked obscurely with fuscous at the tip, especially along the distal third of the culmen, and in front of the nostrils; iris Eood's brown, tarsus and toes deep neutral gray. The duller coloration of the plumage in the female extended to the tint of her bill which was marked obscurely with honey yellow on the lower mandible, especially toward the tip and along the gonys, and elsewhere was dull black. The color of ej^es and tarsi were similar to those of the male. In Formosa, near the Riacho Pilaga, this subspecies was encountered on August 8, 13, and 14, when specimens were taken. One was preserved as a skeleton and the other two as skins. These last two are somewhat paler, especially on the undersurface, than those se- cured at Las Palmas. The Toba Indians named this bird chi pi gih yo.

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 397 In the extensive areas of diy scrub that covered the low hills near Tapia, Tuciiman, the present form was common from April 6 to 13, 1921. An adult bird, probably a female, in molt was taken April 6, and an immature male in process of change to the post-juvenal plumage on April 7. Males sang occasionally during this period, in spite of their ragged feathers. Measurements, in millimeters, of these specimens are appended in the following table. It may be noted that the rectrices in this species often indicate considerable abrasion so that their measurement is variable. Museum No.

396 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM<br />

per<strong>si</strong>stent notes that were heard constantly during the breeding<br />

season.<br />

The Angiiete Indians called this species yum a fow ookh.<br />

SALTATOR CAERULESCENS CAERULESCENS Vicillot<br />

Saltator caerulescens Vieixlot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 14, 1817, p. 105.<br />

(Paraguay.)<br />

On July 17, 1920, an adult male was taken at Las Palmas, Chaco.<br />

Several were seen in brush-grown areas, where they were shy and<br />

difficult to approach. Their call was a sharp t<strong>si</strong>p. It is pos<strong>si</strong>ble<br />

that they were seen on other occa<strong>si</strong>ons, but all others taken were<br />

Saltator s. <strong>si</strong>milis.<br />

SALTATOR AURANTIIROSTRIS AURANTIIROSTRIS Vieillot<br />

Saltator aurantii rostris Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 14, 1817,<br />

p. 103. (Paraguay.)<br />

The boldly marked orange-billed saltator was found at Las Palmas,<br />

Chaco, on July 23 and 26, and was fairly common, though so shy<br />

that it came seldom in view. The species inhabited clumps of dense<br />

brush in pasture lands where safe cover Avas available. At intervals<br />

males came out on open perches on dead limbs, often near the tops<br />

of the trees in order to <strong>si</strong>ng, but at the slightest alarm pitched down<br />

into heavy growth below. The manner of delivery of the song was<br />

quick and explo<strong>si</strong>ve, in a way suggesting the method of enunciation<br />

employed by the white-eyed vireo {Vireo griseus), so that on my<br />

first encounter with the species I was somewhat surprised to identify<br />

the <strong>si</strong>nger as a member of the present family. The abrupt, but<br />

mu<strong>si</strong>cal song may be rendered as chu chu chu ivheet a su]\ with<br />

the last syllable heavily accented. An adult pair was secured on<br />

July 26. The female has the coloration less intense and the black<br />

breastband restricted though still c,omplete. The male when first<br />

killed had the bill zinc orange, marked obscurely with fuscous at<br />

the tip, especially along the distal third of the culmen, and<br />

in front of the nostrils; iris Eood's brown, tarsus and toes deep<br />

neutral gray. The duller coloration of the plumage in the female<br />

extended to the tint of her bill which was marked obscurely with<br />

honey yellow on the lower mandible, especially toward the tip and<br />

along the gonys, and elsewhere was dull black. The color of ej^es<br />

and tar<strong>si</strong> were <strong>si</strong>milar to those of the male.<br />

In Formosa, near the Riacho Pilaga, this subspecies was encountered<br />

on August 8, 13, and 14, when specimens were taken. One was<br />

preserved as a skeleton and the other two as skins. These last two<br />

are somewhat paler, especially on the undersurface, than those se-<br />

cured at Las Palmas. The Toba Indians named this bird chi pi<br />

gih yo.

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