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

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 427
at Tucuman, by D. S. Bullock, also is distinctly greener on the back
than a small series of gossei.
EMBERNAGRA OLIVASCENS GOSSEI Chubb
Emiemagra gossei Chubb, Ibis, 1918, p. 3, pi. 1, fig. 2. (Lujan, Mendoza.)
The southern subspecies of oUvascens, described by Chubb as
gossei, is characterized by the gray dorsal surface. At Tunuyan,
Mendoza, it was fairly common from March 22 to 29 near wet,
swampy localities. Specimens taken include an adult female and
two young in juvenal plumage. Adults at this season were in worn
dress and were molting, while juveniles were beginning to assume
first fall plumage. In the juvenal stage this species is duller in
color than E. jilatensls and has the dark streaks narrower and less
sharply defined, particularly on the upper surface.
The birds at this season frequently found congenial haunts in
cornfields bordering the saw-grass tracts of the extensive cieuagas
that formed their usual homes.
DONACOSPIZA ALBIFRONS (Vicillot)
Sylvia alMfrons Vielllot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 11, 1817, p. 276.
(Paraguay.)
Strange little long-tailed finches of this species were first seen in
dense grass bordering a marsh at Las Palmas, Chaco, July 28, 1920
(adult male secured). Later, on October 25 and November 15 they
were found breeding in growths of rushes near the mouth of the Rio
Ajo, below^ Lavalle, Buenos Aires, where three w^ere taken. They
perched on the rush stalks with long tails blowing in the wind, or
flew to secure coverts with rapid, tilting flight. Their call was a
low chip or zit. The song was a pleasant buzzing warble that may
be written as tsef tsef tsef wee tsu wee tsu wee tsu, barely audible
above the rustling of the wind in the grass.
The species in general suggests a Poospiza of the nigro-rufa type
with a greatly elongated tail.
MYOSPIZA HUMERALIS HUMERALIS (Hose)
Tanagra humeraUs Bosc, Journ. Hist. Nat., vol. 2, 1792, p. 179, pi. 34,
fig. 4. (Cayenne.)
As indicated by Chubb,^^ Tanagra hiimeralis of Bosc from Ca}^enne
has priority over Fringilla nianimbe Lichtenstein,^*^ as birds
from Bahia and the Guianas appear identical. In recent years
several forms have been distinguished in this widely distributed
«Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 31. Jan. 25, 1913, p. 39.
'^^ Fringilla ilanimbe Lichtensteiii, Verz. Doubl. Zool. Mus. Berlin, 182."!, p. 25.
(Babia.)