BIRDS OP ARGENTINA, PARA.GUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 297 



rested in usual flycatcher fashion on the top of a bush, but frequently 

 dropped down to run raj^idly about on the ground. They were wary 

 and when approached flew away barely above the ground, many times 

 traveling for long distances before a pause, passing so low among 

 the bushes that it was difficult to follow their course. Others were 

 seen Dec mber 7 and 9 in similar territory near Zapala, Neuquen, 

 four being observed together on one occasion, when they pursued 

 one another with high-pitched, petulant calls. On March 27, 1921, 

 several were seen in brush-grown areas east of the Rio Tunuyan, 

 near Tunuyan, Mendoza, where they sought the tops of bushes that 

 offered a commanding outlook over the surrounding ground. At 

 rest their erect position, large head, and long bill are marked char- 

 acters, while when flying their clay brown coloration and long wings 

 are displayed. 



A male, taken NoA^ember 29, had the maxilla dull black ; mandible 

 pale drab gray ; iris natal brown ; tarsus and toes black. 



AGRIORNIS MONTANA (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye) 



Pepoaza montana (I'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, ]\Iag. Zool., 1837, CI. 2, 

 p. 64. (Chuquisaca, Bolivia.) 



A male was shot at an altitude of 1,500 meters above Potrerillos, 

 Mendoza, on March 17, 1921, and another (preserved in alcohol) 

 was secured March 19, near El Salto, at 1,800 meters. The skin 

 secured is of a bird in molt into first-winter plumage that lias the 

 primaries normal as in females. In the fully adult male the ninth 

 and tenth primaries are slender and are narrowed for a distance 

 of 14 or 15 mm. at the tip. Berlepsch ''^ has found that Agr'i&rnis 

 maritima''^ (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye) is based on an adult male 

 of A. montana of the same authors. As the name TnontaTia occurs 

 on the page preceding the one where maritima is found, it has 

 priority and must be used for the species. 



Though it is probable that the bird from western and southern 

 Argentina should be distinguished as the subspecies leucura Gould," 

 material at hand does not include specimens from Bolivia, so that 

 adequate comparisons may not be made. 



The two examples of Agriornis montana observed were found on 

 the ground or on low bushes near streams. They did not differ in 

 actions from striata or livida, but were readily distinguished by 

 the white in the tail. 



The male taken had the bill dull black; iris natal brown; tarsus 

 and toes black. 



™ Proc. Fourth Int. Ornith. Congr., February, 1907, p. 464-465. 



""^Pepoaza maritima d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, Mag. Zool., CI. 2, 1837, p. 65. (Cobija, 

 BoUvia.) 



''''Agriornis leucurua Gould, Zool. Voy. Beagle, pt. 3, Birds, 1839, pi. 13. (Patagonia.) 



