BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 333 



Kilometer 110 on September 23, and a number at the base of the 

 Cerro Lorito, on the eastern bank of the Rio Para<^uay, September 

 30. The birds frequented heavy Avoods where tiiey sought sheltered 

 perches 6 to 10 meters from the ground. Though their streaked plum- 

 age made them conspicuous they were difficult to see, as they watched 

 intruders alertly, and at any suspicious movement flew to a safer 

 distance. 



The male taken had the base of the mandible pale olive buff; 

 remainder of bill black; iris bone brown; tarsus and toes slate gray; 

 claws black. 



MYIOPHOBUS FASCIATUS AURICEPS (Gould) 



MijiobiuH aurlccps Gould, Zool. Voy. Beagle, pt. 3, Birds, July, 1839, p. 47. 

 (Buenos Aires.) 



At Lazcano, Uruguay, an adult male was shot February 5, 1921, 

 and at Rio Negro, in the same country, a female (with two birds in 

 Juvenal plumage, one a female, the other with sex unknown) was 

 taken February 15, and another female on February IT. The crown 

 spot in the male is ochraceous orange, and in the females j^ellow 

 (nearly absent in some specimens). The young are more rufescent 

 brown above and on the wing bars than adults, washed more with 

 brownish below, and lack the coronal patch. Though Hellmayr -^ 

 and Dabbene '° state that Argentine specimens of this species are not 

 distinguishable from those of Brazil, the birds at hand substantiate 

 Ridgway's recognition -^ of auHceps as a race distinct from fasdatus 

 of Brazil and northern South America. The wing in five specimens 

 from Venezuela, with sex not marked, measures from 53 to 60 mm., 

 and in a male from Para, 56.5 mm. Three males from Buenos Aires 

 and eastern Uruguay have the wing from 64 to 64.2 mm., and three 

 females (two in much worn plumage) from the same region 58 to 

 62 mm. There seems to be a recognizable difference in size between 

 series from Argentina and Uruguay and elsewhere. 



These small flycatchers, with the habits of Empidonax, were found 

 in dense, lowland thickets near streams. They chose resting places 

 hidden among leaves, where they remained quietly on Avatch for 

 insects, at short intervals twitching the tail. When food appeared 

 it was pursued with snap and vigor, its capture announced by a click 

 of the bill. Occasionally one uttered a plaintive note that may be 

 rendered as tsi hur. 



^ Nov. Zool., vol. 15, June, 1908, p. 52. 



■^ A-a. Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires, vol. 18, July 16, 1910, p. 343. 



"Birds North Middle Amer., vol. 4, 1907, p. 543. 



