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

BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 35
cars. Many thousands are killed each year by sportsmen, and the
hunting of this species is a favorite pastime with those addicted to
such sport. Like the bobwhite of North America, the spotted tinamou
seems to have adapted its habits to changes brought about by
man in its haunts, so that when it receives the slightest encouragement
it remains common in spite of persecution. The meat is white
and palatable and the bird larger in bulk than a quail. It is hunted
with dogs, and though it has a tendency to run before them, makes
a very satisfactory game bird that might thrive if introduced in the
more temperate portions of the United States
NOTHURA MACULOSA SAVANNARUM Wetmore
Nothiira maculosa savannarum WEyrMORE, Journ. Washington Acad. Sci.,
vol. 11, Nov. 4, 1921, p. 435. (San Vicente, Department of Rocha,
Uruguay.)
The type specimen of this well-marked subspecies, an adult female,
was taken at San Vicente, Department of Kocha, Uruguay, on January
27, 1921. As pointed out in the original description, the bird
differs from Nothura m. nigroguttata in much bolder, heavier black
markings on the dorsal surface, paler, more finely streaked hind
neck, and more restricted, darker markings on the breast. In addi-
tion, the lateral bars on the sides and flanks are heavier and do not
extend as far out on the abdomen and upper breast. The same characters
set it off from true Nothura ni. maculosa^ while savannarum
in addition is paler, more buffy, less rufescent above and below.
Specimens of Nothura m. viinor (Spix) are not available, but from
Hellmayr's observations,^" this form, described from Diamantina
(formerly called Tejuco), Minas Geraes, Brazil, resembles savannarum
in paler, more buffy coloration and restricted ventral markings,
but is distinctly smaller. The wing in the type of savannarum
measures 139.5 mm., while the same measurement in a series of five
minor, according to Hellmayr, varies from 111 mm. to 116 mm.
The subspecies described as savanna-imm is supposed to range through
eastern Uruguay into Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and to meet minor
somewhere to the northward in southern Brazil. Names that have
been applied to spotted tinamous seem to refer entirely to other subspecies
than the present one. TiTiamius major (Spix)^^ is said by
Hellmayr ^^ to be a synonym of N. m. maculosa. Tinamus medius
Spix,^" also a synonym of true maculosa, is said to be based on an
immature bird. There may be confusion in regard to these names,
as T. medius and T. minor were described from Tejuco, now called
Diamantina, Minas Geraes, while T. major is given as from " Campis
" Abhand. KOn. Bayerischen Akad. Wiss., vol. 22, 1906, pp. 707-708.
"Av. spec. nov. Brasiliam, vol. 2, 1825, p. 64, pi. 80.
" Av. spec. nov. Brasiliam, vol. 2, 1825, p. 65, pi. 81.