340 BUI^LETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



light eye was prominent at a considerable distance. The birds passed 

 from perch to perch, with an undulating flight not far above the 

 ground, and as they checked their momentum in order to alight 

 spread the tail, displaying its prominent white markings. At times 

 they hopped down among the branches to conceal themselves among 

 dense leaves. 



In the vicinity of Victorica, Pampa, from December 23 to 29, 

 Phytotonia 7^tila was encountered in abundance on its breeding 

 grounds, and six preserved as skins include three adult males, an 

 adult and an immature female, and a fledgling. At this season the 

 species ranged in wooded areas of low, heavy-trunked calden, algar- 

 roba, and similar trees where there was abundant dense undergrowth 

 of chaiiar, piquillin, and a variety of fow shrubs, many with thorn- 

 protected branches. On entering these tracts for the first time my 

 attention was drawn at once by one of the most bizarre bird notes 

 that has as yet come to my ears, and, hastening to trace it, I found 

 to my astonishment that it was the song of this plant cutter. Adult 

 males in full, handsome plumage rested on open limbs, often at the 

 tops of low trees, and with great earnestness gave a succession of 

 low notes that may be likened only to the drawn-out squeaking pro- 

 duced when two tree limbs, moved by winds, rub slowly across one 

 another. Occasionally a more strenuous effort produced a sound 

 like the squeaking of leather, that might terminate in a froglike 

 croak. The whole, while ranking as a musical performance of the 

 highest rank in the opinion of the one responsible for it, and without 

 doubt the sweetest of music to his mate, was to human understanding 

 ridiculous to an extreme. At intervals they flew from perch to perch 

 with slow affected flight, performed with rapid beats of the wings, 

 different entirely from their usual method of progression. 



It is possible that two broods are raised, as one fledgling and one 

 fully grown immature bird were taken, while adult males were in 

 full breeding condition. The fledgling, though as yet unable to fly, 

 retreated precipitately among the thorny limbs of a i:)iquillin, where 

 it was secured only with difficulty. The birds were feeding on green 

 drupes of various sorts, and all those taken, here and elsewhere, had 

 the sides of the bill covered with gum from plant juices. 



At Potrerillos, Mendoza, an immature female was shot March 19, 

 1921, at an elevation of 1,800 meters. 



In the specimens from the areas listed, there are no differences 

 apparent other than those that may be considered individual. The 

 fledgling taken, a young male, suggests the female in color pattern, 

 save that the coloration is softer and darker, and the streaks on 

 both dorsal and ventral surfaces more obscure. The under tail 

 coverts are tawny olive, with obscure shaft streaks of black. Im- 

 mature females in full ju venal plumage have the streaking nar- 



