OCR Text |
Show 1882.] FROM THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 599 This bird was shot in an open country dotted with thickets of low brushwood, in which it skips about. 38. POOSPIZA ASSIMILIS, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 137. cf. Concepcion, Misiones, Arg. Rep., July 1, 1881. Iris brick-red. Abundant amongst the thick weeds and grass in the outskirts of the ruins of the Jesuit town, and often found in the same localities as the common Zonotrichia pileata, and, most likely in consequence of its similarity in appearance and habits, passed over by me many times, supposing it to be that bird. [I have determined this bird, which Mr. White had taken for the nearly allied P. thoracica.-P. L. S.] 39. POOSPIZA TORQUATA (Lafr. et d'Orb.). cf. San Pedro, Santiago del Estero, Arg. Rep., Sept. 11, 1881. I saw three or four of this species actively engaged in eating the young shoots of the algaroba tree. 40. POOSPIZA MELANOLEUCA, Vieill. cf . Oran, Salta, Arg. Rep., Nov. 3, 1880. 5. „ „ Nov. 9, 1880. Iris crimson. This bird frequents the gardens in the vicinity of houses, where it vigorously pursues the ants amongst the branches of trees. 41. POOSPIZA ERYTHROPHRYS, Scl. Ibis, 1881, p. 599, t. xvii. fig. 1. cf. Rio Lujan, B. Aires, Arg. Rep., March 9, 1881. Iris sepia. I sent home a specimen of this bird, believing it to be P. nigro-rufa ; but Mr. Sclater declared it to be a new species, taking it for a type specimen, and describing it in 'The Ibis.' I obtained it on the Sierras of Totoral, Catamarca, a range which rises to the height of 3000 or 4000 feet above the sea-level, and is more or less densely wooded to near the summit; but since that time I have secured another specimen about 20 miles north of Buenos Aires, being the second I have yet seen. 42. PHRYGILUS GAYI (Eyd. et Gerv.). cf . Fuerte de Andalgala, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., Sept. 9, 1880. 2. » „ Sept. 14, 1880. Iris brown. Not uncommon round the outskirts of Andalgala; generally frequents the gardens and orchards. 43. CATAMENIA ANALIS (Lafr. et d'Orb.). cf. Fuerte de Andalgala, Catamarca, Arg. Rep., Sept. 14, 1880. This bird was shot as it took refuge under the corridor of our house during a very severe snowstorm that lasted two days. The only specimen I have seen. |