404 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



tiated by careful examination of a large series that includes the ma- 

 jority of the species and subspecies. At first glance it appears that 

 Pseudosicalis might be maintained as distinct from the fact that it 

 has a much longer wing tip (one and one-half to two times as long 

 as culmen), while in the species of true Sicali^ the wing tip is much 

 shorter (equal to or shorter than culmen). In Sicalis arvensis, how- 

 ever, both conditions hold, since in fresh fall plumage the wing tip 

 may be no longer than the culmen, while in birds shot in the breed- 

 ing season it may be twice as long. The two groups may be main- 

 tained merely as subgenera. 



Under these circumstances Pseudochloris Sharpe may prove ten- 

 able as a subgeneric name and take precedence over Pseudosicalis 

 Chubb '^ proposed to replace it on the grounds that the type of 

 Pseudochloris^ Orospina jJfaiensis Cabanis, is considered a species of 

 Sicalis. If the illustration given by Cabanis "^ is correct, however, in 

 depicting the form of the wing tip pratensis would be subgenerically 

 distinct from Sicalis. The species in question is not available at 

 present for examination. 



Near Potrerillos, Mendoza, /Sicalis lutea was common from March 

 18 to 21, 1921. The birds were found in little flocks, family parties 

 in most cases, that frequented dry, rock-strewn slopes or flats often 

 liigh among the hills. Here they hopped about over the rough sur- 

 face in search of grass seeds that had fallen to the ground or flut- 

 tered up to pull off achenes that still clung to the seed heads. Occa- 

 sionally one rested for a short time on top of some bowlder. Atten- 

 tion was usually attracted to them by their musical call note, a 

 pleasant tiveep tweep that suggested familiar notes of other flocking 

 finches of the Carpodacus or Astragalinus type. The birds, like 

 many other finches that inhabit open mountain slopes, were shy and 

 difficult to approach. Their flight was undulating and not strong. 

 On the brushy flats near the foothills 15 miles west of Tunuyan, 

 Mendoza, a dozen were seen March 24, A heavy storm in the moun- 

 tains at the time may have driven them out on the plains. 



Two adult males taken at Potrerillos, March 18 and 21, are in 

 molt. Tavo other birds secured at the same time are in juvenal 

 dress. The latter are plain brown, faintly streaked on the head, 

 with only a hint of yellow on lower breast, abdomen, tail edgings, 

 «nd under tail coverts. In this species there is a distinct knob that 

 protrudes on the palate and apparently serves to aid in cracking 

 seeds. 



5 Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 41, Feb. 24, 1921, p. 78. 

 8.Tourn. fiir Oruith., 1883, pi. 1, flg. 1. 



