BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 175 



other dark on the ventral surface. Intergradation apparently takes 

 place through this region. The skins listed from above the mouth 

 of the Rio Bermejo, from the old Page collection, are somewhat 

 open to suspicion as to locality. 



An immature female from an altitude of 2,000 meters on the 

 slopes of the Sierra San Xavier, above Tafi Viejo, Tucuman, is 

 placed tentatively with L. o. ochroptera on the basis of small size. 

 Concerning the validity and relationships of L. callauchen and 

 L. saturata named by Salvadori ^^ from San Lorenzo, in eastern 

 Jujuy, I am uncertain. 



These pigeons inhabit rather heavy growths of \o\< Avoods and, 

 though their habits are somewhat like those of quail doves, are not 

 difficult to secure, as they come out frequently in openings or are seen 

 walking in trails or in sections free of undergrowth. When not 

 alarmed they walk steadily about with nodding heads, or if fright- 

 ened may remain motionless. When alarmed they flush rapidly, 

 with darting flight, often with a rattle of Avings. On infrequent 

 occasions their initial flight is accompanied bj^ a shrill whistling 

 like that made by a woodcock, produced probably by the attenuated 

 tip of the outermost primary. They may dai't away to heavy cover, 

 or after a flight of a few yards may perch on some low limb where 

 they are partly screened from view. 



Occasionally one bowed low with elevated tail and suddenly 

 flashed the white tij^s of the rectrices, an action observed more fre- 

 frequently during the breeding season, and one that suggested a 

 similar habit in Melopelia asiaflea. The call was a low, resonant 

 who whoo-oo, a sound similar to that produced by blowing across the 

 opening of a wide-mouthed bottle, and one that suggested the note 

 of OreopeJeia montana. I was surprised to find that the female as 

 well as the male gave this curious note. More rarely a bird gave a 

 low coO'OO, barely audible at the distance of 10 meters. The white 

 tail tip and reddish-brown undersurface of the wings are prominent 

 in flight. 



At the Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, from August 9 to 21, these birds 

 were fairly common ; males were taken on August 9 and 18. In very 

 early morning they Avere found in open roads or trails but later in 

 the day sought the seclusion of the forest. Individuals recorded at 

 Formosa, Formosa, on August 23, may have been of the subspecies 

 chlorauchenia. 



Near Puerto Pinasco the species was fairly common and was en- 

 countered at Kilometer SO, and beyond to Laguna Wall on the west- 

 ward, from September 1 to 25. An adult male w^as taken September 

 8 near the port, and females on September 16 and 23 near Kilome- 



=1 Boll. Mus. Zool. Anat. Comp. Univ. Torino, vol. 12, no. 292, May 12, 1897, p. 33. 



