BIRDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY. AND CHILE 425 



These finches were found associated with chingolos {Brachyspiza) 

 in growths of more or less open brush and weeds. Three seen rested 

 quietly on low perches, easily distinguished from Brachys'piza by 

 their larger size and grayer coloration. In color and bearing they 

 are strikingly similar to North American song sparrows. Those 

 taken uttered a sharp, chipping note. They were breeding at this 

 season. 



EMBERNAGRA PLATENSIS (Gmelin) 



Emberiza platensu Gmelin, Syst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1789, p. 886. (Buenos 

 Aires. ) 



In a review of the genus ETnbemagra, Chubb ^* has recognized 

 three forms of E. platensis, the typical subspecies from "eastern 

 Argentina," E. p. poliocephala Gray from southern Uruguay, and 

 E. p. paraguayensis described as new from Paraguay, Rio Parana, 

 and northeastern Argentina. Of the latter no type is cited, but 

 from the context it appears that the type specimen may have been 

 one taken by Foster at Sapucay. E. p. poliocephala is said to dif- 

 fer from platensis in possessing a whitish abdomen which contrasts 

 with the bufFy flanks. In material at hand, which includes skins 

 from San Vicente, Uruguay, and Taquara do Mundo Novo and 

 Quinta, Rio Grande do Sul, I can see no distinction between birds 

 from southern Uruguay and those from the opposite shore of the 

 Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires. 



E. p. paraguayensis is said to have the upper surface darker 

 green and the abdomen whiter than platensis. A skin from Sapucay, 

 Paraguay, and one from Resistencia, Chaco, should represent this 

 race but offer no evident differences from a fair series from Conchitas 

 and Lavalle, Buenos Aires. 



E. platensis was recorded as follows : Resistencia, Chaco, July 9 

 (male taken) to JuW 10, 1920; Las Palmas, Chaco, July 15 to July 

 31; Riacho Pilaga, Formosa, August 7 to 21; Formosa, Formosa, 

 August 23 and 24; Kilometer 25, west of Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay, 

 September 1; Dolores, Buenos Aires, October 21; Lavalle, Buenos 

 Aires, October 23 to November 15 (one male and two females taken) ; 

 General Roca, Rio Negro ( ? ) , December 3 ; Carhue, December 15 

 to 18 ; Carrasco, Uruguay, January 16, 1921 ; San Vicente, Uruguay, 

 January 26 and 27 (male taken) ; Lazcano, Uruguay, February 5 to 

 9 ; Rio Negro, Uruguay, February 15 ; Guamini, Buenos Aires, March 

 3 and 4 (two taken). 



A bird of this genus seen near the Rio Negro, below General Roca, 

 is placed here tentatively, as it was not collected. It is possible that 

 it was E. 0. gossei. 



The present sjoecies inhabited marshy localities, where it ranged 

 in saw grass or low bushes, or on the pampas at times frequented 



2* Ibis, 1918, pp. 1-10, 1 pi. 



