i 



BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 173 



Lorenzo near Callao. Peale's type is an immature male, now con- 

 siderably worn and stained by time. In small size, however, it 

 agrees with Lowe's diagnosis, so that the form found on the Peruvian 

 coastal region must be known as Th'moconis r. cuneicaudus (Peale). 

 The type specimen (in the United States National Museum) has the 

 following measurements : Wing, 97.5 ; tail, 52.3 ; culmen, 8.5 ; tarsus, 

 16 mm. 



At Zapala, Neuquen, on December 8 and 9, I encountered the small 

 seed snipe on its breeding grounds on the closely grazed slopes of an 

 open valley in which there was a tiny stream and occasional little 

 seeps or spring holes. As I came suddenly over the top of a high 

 bank above the little rill that drained the valley a half-grown chick, 

 that I recognized instantly as a seed snipe, ran out with wings spread 

 and low piping calls, and after some difficulty I captured it. The 

 mother flushed only a few feet away. Farther on in the valley adults 

 were fairly common and, though they were wild, on the two days 

 mentioned four males were taken. 



The area had an alkaline soil that supported scant herbage through 

 which were scattered hillocks a few inches high. Male seed snipe 

 rested quietly on the tops of these, at a distance resembling some 

 curious lark or sparrow. As I approached they ran quickly away 

 or crouched and hid. When flushed suddenly they rose swiftly and 

 darted away in swift zigzags, uttering a low harsh call. The mark- 

 ings of their wings and their appearance at these times bore a strik- 

 ing resemblance to those of a small snipe or sandpiper. Males when 

 at rest occasionally uttered a plaintively whistled whew with slightly 

 expanded pulsating throat. To escape pursuit they ran rapidly, 

 with head slightly forward like little plover, and when out of my 

 path crouched with head and neck extended on the gi-ound. When 

 not alarmed they walked slowly, with short steps, frequently wdth 

 nodding head like a dove. Occasionally males darted off to mount 

 high in air and circle over the valley. On their return they set their 

 wdngs and came down rapidly, checking their descent every few 

 feet so that they descended in a series of '' steps." The performance 

 was accompanied by a curious chuckling double note. 



The bill in these birds was usually stained by adherent bits of 

 vegetation on which they had been feeding. 



April 25, 1921, near Concon, Chile, about 25 seed snipe were found 

 at the mouth of the Rio Aconcagua, on a sandy area where vegeta- 

 tion was scant and there was much gravel mixed with the soil. A 

 part had scattered over a wide tract, but a dozen or so ranged 

 together and flew in unison. On alighting they spread somewhat in 

 search of food. At intervals males towered and called as in the 

 breeding season. 



