202 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



At La Paloma, Uruguay, the species was noted January 23. Near 

 San Vicente, Uruguay, from January 25 to February 2, and in the 

 vicinity of Lazcano, from February 3 to 9, the birds were com- 

 mon in open country, and were among the prominent forms of the 

 region. Single birds or little groups were noted constantly, and it 

 was amusing to see them drop prudently down a hole as I ap- 

 proached instead of taking to wing. The sjiecies must be counted 

 among valuable enemies of the locust. In certain country dis- 

 tricts in Uruguay the flesh of the burrowing owl is served as a 

 V delicacy to those conA'alescing from illness in the belief that it 

 produces appetite for other food. At Guamini, Buenos Aires, these 

 owls were noted froni March 3 to 8, and at Tunuyan, Mendoza, 

 they were recorded from March 24 to 29. Near Tapia, Tucuman. 

 they were heard calling occasionally at night from April G to 13, 

 and one was seen at Concon, Chile, April 28. 



Males were collected at General Roca, Rio Negro, on November 

 30, 1920, and at Tunuyan, Mendoza, March 27, 1921. This species ex- 

 hibits even more variation in color from light to dark on the south- 

 ern continent than in the United States. Specimens that were very 

 light, in fact almost white, were observed frequently, at times using 

 the same holes as dark individuals. In revision of subspecies this 

 must be borne in mind as otherwise confusion Avill result. The two 

 specimens secured agree fairly well in size and color with birds 

 from Chile, though there is a tendency for Argentine birds to aver- 

 age larger. Those from northwestern Argentina are particularly 

 large and with abundant material may prove to belong to a distinct 

 race. 



Family NYCTIBIIDAE 



NYCTIBIUS GRISEUS GRISEUS (Gmelin) 



Caprimulgus griseus Gmelin, Syst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1789, p. 1029. 

 ( Cayenne. ) 



A female Nyctihius was taken September 30, 1920, on the heavily 

 forested slopes of the Cerro Lorito on the eastern side of the Para- 

 guay River opposite Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay. The form of the 

 bird as it rested on a gall projecting from the trunk of a tree 150 

 mm. in diameter caught my eye by chance. The claws grasped the 

 perch firmly while the body stood erect parallel to the tree, and 

 separated from it only by the space of 25 mm. The tail hung 

 straight down, the eyes were closed, and the feathers in front of 

 and above the eye on either side were erected to form projecting 

 horns. The bird resembled a bit of stick that had fallen to become 

 lodged on the tree trunk. 



The specimen taken is grayish in tone and has the following 

 measurements: Wing, 267.0; tail, 183.5; exposed culmen, 14.6; tar- 



