BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 169 



proposed for the Chilian bird, with Pdrra chilensis, concerning 

 whose identity Harting was apparently uncertain, cited in the 

 synonymy. Dr. P. R. Lowe when he considered Molina's name 

 untenable ^^ and proposed to call the western form Belonopterus 

 cayannensis moJina, evidently overlooked this action of Harting's 

 though the type of occidentalism^ is supposed to be in the British 

 Museum. As I have noted beyond the name Vanellus grisescens 

 Prazak,*^ based on a specimen from North Chile is also a synonym 

 under this form. 



The Chilian lapwing is even handsomer, in its larger size and 

 more extensive black markings contrasted boldly with the gray 

 head, than the teru teru of the eastern and northern pampas, to 

 which it is similar in habits and appearance. Like that fine bird, 

 though it exasperates one with the ceaseless iteration of its calls, 

 it may be forgiven much for confiding interesting traits that it 

 exhibits at times and for its showy coloration. No lover of birds 

 can recall days afield in the pampas without seeing in recollection 

 the contrasted markings of these fine plovers. 



The call notes of the Chilian lapwing, though similar to those of 

 the eastern bird, are harsher and are pitched in a higher tone so that 

 there is no difficulty in recognizing it when one enters its haunts. 

 I encountered it first at Zapala in western Neuquen on December 8, 

 1920, but secured no specimens. At Tunuyan, Mendoza, males, 

 taken on March 25 and 26, 1921, are similar in color and size to 

 Chilian specimens from the western side of the Andes. They were 

 observed here in small numbers from March 23 to 28. At Concon, 

 Chile, they were noted from April 25 to 27. East of the Andes this 

 form occurs on the somewhat broken plains at the base of the 

 mountains where it ranges eastward for an unknown distance. It is 

 possible that there is a gap between the areas inhabited by the 

 eastern and western forms. 



The specimens from Tunuyan (both males) have the following 

 measurements, in millimeters: Wing, 256-258; tail, 114.5-129; ex- 

 posed culmen, 30-30.5; tarsus, 74.5-73.5. 



BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS LAMPRONOTUS (Wagler) 



Chm'adrius Lampronotus Waglek, Syst. Av., pt. 1, 1827, p. 74. (Paraguay.) 



Study of the South American lapwings available has shown that 

 they may be divided into three well-marked races, as follows : 



1. BELONOPTERUS CHILENSIS CHILENSIS (Molina). 



Range : Chile, Patagonia, western Argentina along the eastern 

 base of the Andes, and Peru (no Peruvian specimens seen). Char- 

 ts buu. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 41, Apr. 13, 1921, p. 111. 

 *o Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 24, 1896, p. 735. 

 *i Ornith. Monatsber., vol. 4, 1896, p. 23. 



