258 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the extreme base of the mandible in this specimen was olive buff; 

 rest of bill dull black; iris natal brown; tarsus and toes black. 



What I presume was this same form was recorded among low 

 bushes covering the dry hills above the city of Mendoza, on March 

 13, 1921. 



SCHOENIOPHYLAX PHRYGANOPHILA (Vieillot) 



Sylvia phryganophila Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 11, 1817, p. 207. 

 (Paraguay.) 



The present species was recorded only in the Chaco, where it was 

 noted near Las Palmas, Chaco, from July 16 to 31 (adult males 

 taken on July 16 and 23), at the Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, from 

 August 8 to 21 (an immature female, shot August 10), at Formosa, 

 Formosa, August 23 (an adult female secured) and 24, at Puerto 

 Pinasco, Paraguay, September 3, and at Kilometer 80, west of 

 Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay, from September 8 to 20 (an adult male, 

 shot September 15). The specimen from west of Puerto Pinasco 

 is somewhat more heavily streaked above than others. 



This species frequented saw-grass swamps, particularly w^here the 

 clumps of grass were interspersed with low bushes or where low 

 palms were scattered through the marshes, though occasionally 

 it was encountered in open savannas. The birds flushed to fly with 

 tilting flight and gracefully undulating tail to new cover from which 

 it was usually difficult to dislodge them. The manner in which 

 they were able to conceal themselves among the limbs of bushes, 

 bare of leaves, was little short of miraculous, so that all in all they 

 were difficult to secure, though fairly numerous. In heavy winds 

 their tails were troublesome as they were blown about, even when at 

 rest, unless in the densest of cover, while on the wing the long 

 feathers were a serious handicap to flight. 



During September they were quite noisy and evidently were pre- 

 paring to breed, as males were seen posing, fi'om perches below 

 the females, with shaking wings and raised tail, while they gave 

 their chuckling songs. The usual call is a low grating rattle. 



The Toba Indians called them to to likh. 



A male, taken July 16, had the maxilla dull black; mandible and 

 sides of maxilla at base plumbeous; tongue whitish, with two indis- 

 tinct blackish spots at base on either side; iris dragon's blood red; 

 tarsus light cinnamon drab; toes pale mouse gray. 



SYNALLAXIS CINNAMOMEA RUSSEOLA (Vieillot) 



Sylvia russeola Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 11, 1817, p. 217. 

 (Paraguay.) 



This yellow-throated, marsh-inhabiting Synallaxis was found at 

 Las Palmas, Chaco, on July 22 (adult male secured), 27 (specimen 

 preserved in alcohol) and 30; at the Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, August 

 9 (adult male taken) to 17; at Formosa, Formosa, on August 23; 



