220 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



CHRYSOPTILUS MELANOLAIMUS PERPLEXUS Cory 



Chrysoptilns inelanolaemus perplexus Cory, Cat. Birds Americas, pt. 2, 

 no. 2, December 31, 1919, p. 442. (Conchitas, Buenos Aires.) 



An adult male of this recently recognized form was secured at 

 the Estancia Los Yngleses, near Lavalle, Buenos Aires, on November 

 9, 1920. Study of a small series of specimens from northern Buenos 

 xlires shows that the subspecies rather doubtfully characterized as 

 ferplexus by the late Mr. Cory may be distinguished from birds 

 from Mendoza, taken as representing true melanolaimus^ by shorter 

 bill, somewhat smaller black markings on the ventral surface with 

 the abdomen more nearly immaculate, and more extensive light 

 markings on the inner Aveb of the second rectrix. The culmen in 

 two males of melanolaimus measures 33.7-37.2 mm. ; in two females, 

 37.1-37.5 mm. In three males of per plexus the culmen ranges from 

 30.7-31, in four females from 29.5-30 mm. The black area posterior 

 to the malar stripe is slightly more restricted than in the Mendozan 

 birds. The wing is slightly shorter in perplexus, but the distinction 

 here seems rather slight. In the bird from Lavalle the wing meas- 

 ures 141.5 mm., but I note that the primaries are somewhat worn. 



These birds were found in fair numbers in the grove at the 

 Estancia Los Yngleses on November 9. One was observed on No- 

 vember 13. 



When comparing woodpeckers of this species it must be borne 

 in mind that the bird is much brighter colored and has the light 

 markings much more yellow or orange, as the case may be, when 

 in fall or winter plumage than later in the year. The bright colors, 

 through wear and fading, become paler and less intense, so that 

 summer and winter specimens are frequently very different in ap- 

 pearance. 



CHRYSOPTILUS MELANOLAIMUS NIGROVIRIDIS C. H. B. Grant 



GhrysopUlus nigroviridis C. II. B. Gbant, Ibis, 1911, p. 321. (Fortiu 

 Nueve,°* Rio Pilcomayo, Paraguay, lat. 24° 53' S., long 58° 30' W.) 



The skin of a male secured at Las Palmas, Chaco, on July 16, 

 1920, is taken as representative of the present bird. A second male 

 preserved as a skeleton was secured on July 31. Grant in his 

 original description considered Chrysoptilus nigroviridis as a dis- 

 tinct species, somewhat intermediate between C. melanolai'mus and 

 C. melanoclilorus. He described it as " rather larger " than me- 

 lanolaimus^ but with the black behind the malar stripe more re- 

 stricted, the rump golden yellow, the ear coverts washed with 

 golden buff and somewhat more greenish below. The single skin 

 that I have from Las Palmas fits his description both in color 



»i From Kerr. Ibis, 1892, pp. 122, 135. 



