NOVITATES ZoOLOGICAE XXI. 1914. 159 



73. Mimus herrmanni Reich. = M. modulator calandria (Lat'r. & Orb.) 



Orpheus modulator Gould, Proc. Zoid. Hoc. Lond. iv. 183G. p. 6 (April 1830. — '• in fret. Magell in." 

 errore! We substitute as type locality : mouth I'f the Rio de la Plata (Monterideo, 

 Maldonado), whence there are specimens from the voyage of the " Beagle " in the Brit. 

 Mus.).] 



Orpheus ailandria Lafresnaye & D'Orbigny, Syu. Av. i. in Maij. Zoo!, vii, el. ii. p. 17 (1837. — 

 Corrientes.) 



Miniiis herniiiinni Reichenow, Oniith, Monber. 16. p. 37 (1908. — "in dem Gebiet des oberen 

 Pilkonayo (.<«•) im sUdiistlichen Bolivien," sc. Rio Pilcomayo, S.E. Bolivia.) 



No. 1. Mils. d'Hist. Nat. Paris, skin: " No. T4, 



D'Orbigny coll., juillet 18:i9, Corrientes. 



Orpheus caUiiuhia Nob. Male" . c? ad. : Wing 111 ; tail 114; bill 18J mm. 

 No. 2. Mus. Turin: " Viaggio Borelli, bSOo, 



No. 128. S. Fraucisco, Dioembre. a." * 



cJ ad. : Wing 117; tail 12.5 ; bill 19 mm. 

 No. 3. Mns. Turin : " Viaggio Borelli, 189(3, 



No. 329. Oaiza, Marzo. S, b." * . <? ad. : Wing 114; tail 126; bill 18^ mm. 



For comparison, 1 have ten specimens from N.W. Argentine (Salta, Tucnman), 

 three from Paraguay (Paragnari, Asuuf'ion), one from Eiitrerios (La Soledad) and 

 several ('mm the province of Buenos Aires. Beside.s, I liave examined the series 

 in the British Museum. Birds in freshly moulted plumage f have the upper parts 

 distinctly spotted with blackish brown (the dusky centres of the feathers being 

 relieved by pale brown edges), and the rnmp conspicuously rufescent while the 

 sides, under tail-coverts, and more or less also the chest are washed with buff. \\\ 

 abraded plumage, the upper parts are duller as well as more uniform, the light 

 brown edges being either entirely worn off or barely apparent ; the rump is much 

 less tinged with rufescent, and the under surface nearly pure white. This seasonal 

 difference must be kej)t in mind when specimens from various localities are 

 comjjared. 



The type of O. calandria, an adult male in very worn plumage, agrees iu 

 coloration, dimensions, and size of bill with examples iu corresponding stage from 

 N.W. Argentine, especially an adult male obtained by Mons. G. A. Baer at Tapia, 

 Tucnman, in the Munich Rluseiuu (collector's No. 1218). The male from ( !aiza, 

 !S.E. Bolivia (topotyjucal of M. herniianni, No. 3), iu slightly better condition, 

 shows faint traces of pale brown edges on the back (which have entirely disappeared 

 in the Corrientes and Tucnman skins), and the rump is a little brighter rufesceut- 

 buff, but in the small bill and other proportions it resembles the type of 

 0. calandria. 



Again, on comparing freshlj'-moulted birds from Paraguay, N.W. Argentine 

 (Salta, Tucuman), and S.E. Bolivia (No. 2), I fail to discover, either in size or 

 colour, any difference connected with geographical distribution. The presence or 

 absence of dusky streaks on the Hanks is a purely individual character. For 

 instance, of two adult S3 killed on December 17, 19U2, by Mons. Baer at Tapia 

 (Tucuman), one has the flanks conspicuously streaked with blackish brown, whereas 

 in the other they are perfectly uniform ; and of the two Bolivian skins in the Turin 



* Topolj'pes of M. herniianiii. Calza aud .s. Francisco are viUages on the Upper Pilcomayo, 

 S.E. Bolivia. 



t One adult from Salta, two g $ from TiicumAn, two from Paraguay, and one i^ Iron* Caiza, 

 iJ.E. Bolivia (No, 3 of the above list) are in this condition, 



