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 con- 

 nected 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. 



