BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 209 



Lazcano, Urui4uay, on February 7, and one was seen near Rio Negro, 

 Urug-iiay, on February 19. The ordinary call of this species is a 

 sharp click ch'ck given as the tail is twitched and the anterior por- 

 tion of the body is raised. This species has an air sac in the lower 

 eyelid similar to that described in C amazona. 



Family BUCCONIDAE 



NYSTALUS MACULATUS STRIATIPECTUS (Sclater) 



Biicco strkiiipcctus Sctj^-Tek, Anu. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 13, ser. 2, May, 

 1854, p. 3G4. (Bolivia.) 



Thongh Dr. P. L. Sclater read a description of Bucco sfoiafipectus 

 before a meeting of the Zoological Societ}' of Ijondon on December 



13, 1853, this was not published in the Proceedings until November 



14. 1854, so that the reference to the first published description must 

 be cited from the Annals and INIagazine of Natural History for 

 May, 1854, where it is included in a synopsis of the Bucconidae. 



This species was observed only near Tapia, Tucuman, from April 

 7 to 11. 1921, save for several .seen near Rio Colorado. Tucuman, 

 on April 1, from a train. Buccos were found at rest on low perches 

 in the trees, often in rather brushy localities, in regions cut by 

 steep-w^alled barrancas. During clear weather that followed rains 

 they occasionall}^ came out to more open perches or even rested in 

 the sun on telegraph and telephone wires. They perched with head 

 drawn in. bill held level or pointed slightly upward and tail 

 elevated, the latter from its slender form appearing as if stuck into 

 the body. The birds were stolid and allowed close approach, though 

 at times they turned toAvard an intruder with a half -threatening 

 air that was ludicrous. When startled they flew for short distances 

 with a loud rattling flutter made by their small, rounded wings. 

 They were wholly silent. Local!}' the species was known as durmi- 

 dxirmi or dunyiili-durmili. 



Five specimens collected on April 7, 8, 9, and 11 include adults 

 and young of both sexes. A male when first killed had the bill, in 

 general, dull black; sides of maxilla, and mandible at cutting edge, 

 etruscan red; iris straw yellow, becoming neutral gray at outer 

 margin ; tarsus and toes grayish olive ; claws dull black. 



The small size of the brain with slight development of the cere- 

 bellum in this species is particularly noticeable, while in the skele- 

 ton the huge skull in contrast to the tiny plate of the low-keeled 

 sternum is even more striking. 



There are two specimens in the United States National Museum 

 collections marked as secured by Capt. T. J. Page on the Bermejo 

 River in Februaiy, 1860. a region from which the bird does not 

 appear to have been reported previously. 



