BIEDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, QRUGUAY, AND CHILE 301 



TAENIOPTERA PYROPE PYROPE (Kittlitz) 



Muscicapa Pyrope Kittlitz, Mem. Acad. Imp. S'ci. St.-Petersbourg, Div. 

 Sav., vol. 1, 1831, p. 191. (Tome, Concepcion, Chile.) 



A sufficient series from central Chile indicates that the bird of 

 that region is decidedly paler than that from the wooded region of 

 the southern Andes, or from the vicinity of the Straits of Magellan. 

 From April 24 to 28, 1921, these birds were recorded at Concon, 

 Chile, where five skins were preserved, two males on April 25 and 

 28, and three females on April 24, 26, and 27. In this species the 

 females have the two external primaries narrowed at the tip, but 

 lack the marked incision and attenuation found in the males. The 

 bill, tarsus, and toes are shining black in both sexes. The iris in 

 general is maize yellow, clouded with xanthine yellow or English 

 red about the pupil. In some specimens the extent of the clouding 

 of red varies in the right and left eyes so that one eye may be much 

 brighter than the other. 



Though, when at rest this species in attitude suggests a Myiarchus 

 or a Sayornis^ its flight, characterized by alert dash with sudden 

 turns and w^hirls, is like that of others of the genus. The birds were 

 found among openings in brush over rolling hillsides or along hedge 

 rows and small streams, where they rested on commanding perches. 

 In flight they are graceful and active as they swing out after some 

 passing insect and then with an abrupt loop drop to another perch. 

 Their call was a low tick tick given infrequently and barely audible 

 at 80 yards. 



On the morning of April 27 there was a pronounced migration 

 among them and the number present was greatly increased. 



TAENIOPTERA MURINA (d'Orbigny and Lafresnaye) 



Pepoaza Murina (I'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, Mag. Zool., 1837, CI. 2, p. 63. 

 (Rio Negro, Argentina.) 



An adult male was shot November 23, 1920, near General Roca, 

 Rio Negro, from three that were encountered among bushes. The 

 birds ran rapidly on the ground or flew up to perch on the bushes. 

 Others were noted November 30. The birds pursued one another 

 with sharp squeaky notes through the bushes. On December 13 sev- 

 eral were noted among greasewood bushes near Ingeniero White, 

 Buenos Aires. The tail in flight appears dead black. 



TAENIOPTERA RUBETRA Burmeister 



Taenioptera Rubetra Bubmeistek, Journ, fiir Ornith., 1860, p. 247. (Sierra 

 de Mendoza.) 



The present species was encountered first near General Roca, 

 where from November 23 to December 2 it was recorded as fairly 



