412 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



on the feathers of the entire dorsal surface. The sides and flanks 

 are deeper in color and the winf^ and tail feathers blacker. Three 

 juvenile birds, all fully grown (secured February 15, 17, and 19), 

 compared with specimens of argentina in similar stage, have the 

 dark markings blacker and average slightly more rufescent on the 

 dorsal surface. The adult male has tlie follow^ing measurements : 

 Wing, 73.3; tail, 62.5; culmen, 13.4; tarsus, 23.6 mm. Comparative 

 material at hand representing capensls is slight, so that the speci- 

 mens under discussion are allocated under that name because of 

 their dark coloration, in spite of the fact that they seem a trifle 

 large. They may be representatives of a distinct race not at present 

 recognized. 



From February 14 to 19 these birds were common in thickets near 

 the Rio Negro, where they were found in little parties in which 

 adults, young in molt, and those that had just attained juvenal 

 plumage fed together in amity. The breeding season was about 

 completed and adults and young were in many cases in ragged 

 molting plumage. 



BRACHYSPIZA CAPENSIS ARGENTINA Todd 



Brachyspisa capensis argentina Todd, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 33, 

 Dec. 30, 1920, p. 71. (Rio Santiago, near Buenos Aires, Argentina.) 



Specimens assigned to this form were taken as follows : Buenos 

 Aires (Province) — Berazategui (near Buenos Aires), June 29, 1920; 

 Lavalle (formerly known as Ajo), October 23, 30, and November 

 1 (5 specimens) ; Carhue, December 15 and 17 (3 sj^ecimens) ; 

 Guamini, March 4 and 7, 1921 ; Ingeniero White (the port of Bahia 

 Blanca), December 13, 1920. Pampa — Victorica, December 23 and 

 27. Chaco — Resistencia, July 8 and 9; Las Palmas, July 16. Uru- 

 guay — San Vicente, January 25, 29, and 31 (4 specimens). 



The series from the Province of Buenos Aires is uniform, with 

 allowance for the changes due to seasonal wear. A single specimen 

 from Berazategui in winter is from within a few miles of the type 

 locality, while others from Lavalle are not far distant. Other 

 specimens from Bahia Blanca, in the extreme south, are not notice- 

 ably diiferent from those mentioned from near the type-locality. 

 A breeding female from Victorica, Pampa, in appearance is also 

 typical of this subspecies. Birds shot in winter near Resistencia 

 and Las Palmas, Chaco, not far from the Paraguay River, have the 

 measurements of ai^gentina^ but average somewhat darker, one fe- 

 male especially having an olive wash that deepens considerably the 

 color of the dorsal surface. These seem to represent an approach to 

 what is now considered capensis, but lack the distinctly rufescent 

 markings of that bird. A small series of skins from San Vicente, 



