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406 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM that there is no sharp dividing line. Phrygilus unicolor (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye), Avhich has been proposed as type of a genus Geospizopsis Bonaparte/^ is identical in form with P. gayi and must be considered a synonym of true Phrygilus. Haplospiza Cabanis/^ with Haplospiza. unicolor Cabanis as its type, is closely similar to certain forms of Phrygilus unicolor in general appearance. It differs structurally from true Phrygilus in more rounded tail, more rounded wing tip, in having the ninth (outermost) primary shorter than the third, about equal to the second, more attenuate bill, and shorter lateral toes, with the fourth toe without claw reaching barely beyond the base of the last joint of the middle toe, and the second toe without claw barely extended to that point. Haplospiza unicolor^ in addition to smaller size, is distinguished at a glance from any Phrygilus in lacking any edging of lighter color on the outer webs of the primaries. Near General Roca, Phrygilus fruticeti was common from Novem- ber 25 to December 2 (four prepared as skins), and others were re- corded at Zapala, Neuquen (one taken). The birds were not breeding, but were gathered in little flocks that fed on the open ground under shelter of desert shrubs of various species. The birds were wary, and at any alarm rose and flew with a swiftly darting or undulating flight for long distances before again dropping to cover. In early morning they rested in low bushes in the sun. Their call was a low, mewing note or a sharp pUck. On December 2 males were singing a song that sounded like the effort of some icterid. On comparison of a good series that includes 10 skins fronj the highlands of Peru, 5 from central Chile, and 11 from Rio Negro and Neuquen, in Argentine Patagonia, it appears that Phrygilus fruticeti pemviwruas Zimmer,^^ while not sharply differentiated, may be distinguished from true fruticeti in adult males by the grayer coloration above, with more sharply defined, blacker streaks, and in females by heavier streaking above, especially on the head. The white spots on middle and greater coverts are usually, but not always, larger in peruvianus. In size the two forms, from the series at hand, appear quite similar, except that in Peruvian birds the bill is slightly larger. In five males from La Raya and one from Are- •quipa, Peru, the wing ranges from 94 to 100.5 mm., the bill from 14.4 to 15.5 mm. ; in three males from Santiago and central Chile the range is from 94 to 100.2 and 13-2 to 13.5 mm. ; while in five from Rio Negro, Argentina (General Roca, Arroyo Cumallo, Arroyo Seco, Paja Alta, and Nahuel Niyeu), it is 91 to 98 and 13 to 14.7 mm. The length of wing, it will be noted, is practically identical. ^ Compt. Rend., vol. 42, 1856, p. 955. ^Mus. Hein., pt. 1, April, 1851, p. 147. 13 Field Mus. Nat. Hist, Zool. Ser., vol. 12, Apr. 19, 1924, p. 63. (Matucana, Peru.) I

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 407 PHRYGILUS CARBONARIUS (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye) Emheriza carionaria d'OEBiGNY and Lafresnaye, Mag. Zool., 1837, cl. 2, p. 79. (Patagouia.) The present species has the wing structure typical of the subgenus €orydospiza^ with the inner secondaries elongated until they are nearl}^ as long as the longest primaries. Near Ingeniero White, the port of Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, an adult male was taken December 13, 1920, among greasewoods near the ba3^ Another was shot December 26 near Victorica, Pampa, in rather high bunch grass in an old pasture. Both specimens were very wild and were secured with difficulty. Their flight was undulating, and thej^ alighted indifferently on the ground or on low bushes. The male taken December 13, when first killed had the bill between mustard and primuline yellow; iris Vandyke brown; tarsus and toes chamois; nails deep neutral gray. PHRYGILUS ALAUDINUS ALAUDINUS (Kittlitz) FringilJa alaudina, Kittlitz, Kupf. Naturg. Vog., 1832, p. 18, pi. 23, fig. 2. (Chile.) Near Concon, Chile, April 28. 1921, these birds were fairly common amid scattered, scrubb}^ bushes over a broad flattened hill top, where they fed on the ground in company with Brachyspisa and diuca finches. When flushed they flew away with undulating flight or perched in the tops of low bushes. Of three taken, a pair were pre- served as skins and a single bird as a skeleton. An adult male, when first killed, had the bill tipped with dark mouse gray, the remainder chamois ; iris Vandyke brown ; tarsus and toes honey yellow; claws dark neutral gray. In a female the base of the mandible except at the cutting edge was wood brown, and the remainder of the bill fuscous black ; iris Vandyke brown ; tarsus and toes honey yellow ; claws dark neutral gray. PHRYGILUS ALAUDINUS VENTURII Hartert Phrygilus alaudimis venturii, Hartert, Nov. Zool., December, 1909, p. 180. (Laguuita, Tucuman, 3,000 meters.) An adult female and a juvenile male were taken at an altitude of 2,300 meters on the Sierra San Xavier, above Tafi Viejo, Tucuman, on April 17, 1921. The adult female has the following measurements: Wing (worn), 78; tail, 60.4; culmen from base, 13.2; tarsus, 24.5 mm. Four females of alaudinus from central Chile (Concon, Santiago, and two without locality) show the following range: Wing, 72.0-74.6; tail, 50.4-55.5; culmen from base, 12.1-13; tarsus, 20-21.8 mm. The bird from Tucuman is darker than those from Chile, and is duller white on the abdomen.

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

that there is no sharp dividing line. Phrygilus unicolor (d'Orbigny<br />

and Lafresnaye), Avhich has been proposed as type of a genus<br />

Geospizop<strong>si</strong>s Bonaparte/^ is identical in form with P. gayi and<br />

must be con<strong>si</strong>dered a synonym of true Phrygilus.<br />

Haplospiza Cabanis/^ with Haplospiza. unicolor Cabanis as its<br />

type, is closely <strong>si</strong>milar to certain forms of Phrygilus unicolor in<br />

general appearance. It differs structurally from true Phrygilus in<br />

more rounded tail, more rounded wing tip, in having the ninth<br />

(outermost) primary shorter than the third, about equal to the<br />

second, more attenuate bill, and shorter lateral toes, with the fourth<br />

toe without claw reaching barely beyond the base of the last joint<br />

of the middle toe, and the second toe without claw barely extended<br />

to that point. Haplospiza unicolor^ in addition to smaller <strong>si</strong>ze, is<br />

distinguished at a glance from any Phrygilus in lacking any edging<br />

of lighter color on the outer webs of the primaries.<br />

Near General Roca, Phrygilus fruticeti was common from Novem-<br />

ber 25 to December 2 (four prepared as skins), and others were re-<br />

corded at Zapala, Neuquen (one taken). The birds were not breeding,<br />

but were gathered in little flocks that fed on the open ground<br />

under shelter of desert shrubs of various species. The birds were<br />

wary, and at any alarm rose and flew with a swiftly darting or<br />

undulating flight for long distances before again dropping to cover.<br />

In early morning they rested in low bushes in the sun. Their call<br />

was a low, mewing note or a sharp pUck. On December 2 males were<br />

<strong>si</strong>nging a song that sounded like the effort of some icterid.<br />

On comparison of a good series that includes 10 skins fronj the<br />

highlands of Peru, 5 from central Chile, and 11 from Rio Negro<br />

and Neuquen, in Argentine Patagonia, it appears that Phrygilus<br />

fruticeti pemviwruas Zimmer,^^ while not sharply differentiated, may<br />

be distinguished from true fruticeti in adult males by the grayer<br />

coloration above, with more sharply defined, blacker streaks, and<br />

in females by heavier streaking above, especially on the head. The<br />

white spots on middle and greater coverts are usually, but not always,<br />

larger in peruvianus. In <strong>si</strong>ze the two forms, from the series at hand,<br />

appear quite <strong>si</strong>milar, except that in Peruvian birds the bill is<br />

slightly larger. In five males from La Raya and one from Are-<br />

•quipa, Peru, the wing ranges from 94 to 100.5 mm., the bill from<br />

14.4 to 15.5 mm. ; in three males from Santiago and central Chile the<br />

range is from 94 to 100.2 and 13-2 to 13.5 mm. ; while in five from Rio<br />

Negro, Argentina (General Roca, Arroyo Cumallo, Arroyo Seco,<br />

Paja Alta, and Nahuel Niyeu), it is 91 to 98 and 13 to 14.7 mm.<br />

The length of wing, it will be noted, is practically identical.<br />

^ Compt. Rend., vol. 42, 1856, p. 955.<br />

^Mus. Hein., pt. 1, April, 1851, p. 147.<br />

13 Field Mus. Nat. Hist, Zool. Ser., vol. 12, Apr. 19, 1924, p. 63. (Matucana, Peru.)<br />

I

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