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

BIEDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 33
varying somewhat in the smoothness and elongation of the free end.
They constitute an odd development in an interesting bird, one connected
without doubt with bodily function, perhaps of aid in some
way in the conservation of water in a species specialized for life
in arid regions.
NOTHURA MACULOSA NIGROGUTTATA Salvadori
Xothiira nhjrognttata Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 27, 1895, p.
560. ("Central Pampas," Argentina.)
From specimens examined in the collection of the United States
National Museum, this form of the spotted tinamou seems to range
through the pampas of the Province of Buenos Aires north into
western Uruguay. (One specimen, seen, collected by Capt. T. J.
Page, in August, 18G0, marked " Uruguay " Avithout more definite
locality is similar to birds from northern Buenos Aires.) Nothura
m. nigroguttata is similar to N. ni. maculosa but is paler in general
coloration (more buffy, less rufescent) with the markings of the
under surface bolder, darker, and better defined. The northward
range in Argentina is at present uncertain. Hartert and Venturi ^*
record a specimen from Mocovi, Santa Fe, as nigroguttata^ but
an old skin from Corrientes, taken by Page in November, 1859,
may represent a distinct form ranging between nigroguttata of the
South and true maculosa of Paraguay: Above this bird resembles
nigroguttata in type of marking, but the general tone of the upper
parts is distinctly browner with less black, and the markings of the
underparts are restricted to scanty narrow bars on the sides and
flanks, and to narrow streaks on the breast and throat. In form of
markings this bird thus suggests Nothura m. savamiaruiii Wetmore,
but has the bold black color of that form replaced by browns.
On October 21, 1920, near Dolores, Province of Buenos Aires, I
flushed several of these tinamous in low ground near a marsh,
while on the following day a dozen or more were noted in crossing
from Dolores to Lavalle. Near Lavalle the species was common
from October 23 to November 17. It was noted subsequently near
Carhue from December 15 to 17, and at Guamini, from March 3 to 8.
The tinamou recorded from Rio Negro, western Uruguay, from
February 15 to 19, was supposed to be the present form, but no
specimens were taken.
The spotted tinamou, a bird of the open country, thrives especially
in the pampas, but ranges into more wooded country where open
savannahs or prairies cut through the groves and forests. In closely
grazed pastures it is often found in open tracts where the only
cover is a few weed stalks, or a clump or two of dead grass left
standing from the previous year. In such regions it is encountered
" Nov. Zool., vol. 16, 1909, p. 266.