Birds of Paraguay. 77 



Total length 8 - 3 inches; cnlmen 0"8; wing 57; toil 25. 



The species was only known previously by the type (with 

 which this specimen has been compared) described by 

 Dr. Bowdler Sharpe (cf. supra) as from Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

 Dr. Ihering, however, has written to say that the type 

 specimen came from S. Lourenzo, Rio Grande do Sul 

 ('Ibis/ 1900, p. 217). 



This bird is new to the avifauna of Paraguay. 



.34. Speotyto grallaria. 



Strix cunicularia (nee Linn.), Molina, Sagg. St. Nat. Chil. 

 p. 343 (1782). 



Urucured Azara, Apunt. i. p. 214, no. xlvii. (1802). 



Strix grallaria Temm. PI. Col. i. pi. 146 (1822). 



Athene cunicularia Hartl. Ind. Azara, p. 4 (1817). 



Speotyto cunicularia Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. ii. p. 142 ; 

 Berlepsch, J. f. O. 1887, p. 122 (Paraguay ; Ihering, 

 Revista Mus. Paulista, vi. p. 336. 



Speotyto cunicularia grallaria Hellmayr, Abhandl. Akad. 

 Munchen, xxii. p. 574 (1906). 



a. ? ad. Sapucay, May 25, 1903. 

 Bill and claws greenish yellow. 



This specimen has an admixture of rufous streaks on 

 the head and back of neck, and a rufous wash on the 

 abdomen. 



b. $ ad. Sapucay, June 5, 1904. 

 Iris yellow. 



This example is much paler both on the upper and under 

 surface, and shews no trace of rufous such as is observed 

 in the female. The feathers are much worn and abraded. 



[Resident and widely distributed throughout Paraguay, 

 but nowhere common. The favourite post of observation is 

 the top of one of the ant-hills which are to be met with 

 everywhere. I have never observed it in the forests ; and 

 in wooded districts it is only seen occasionally, the 

 conditions being very different when the ground is entirely 

 concealed from sight by the rank vegetation which forms 

 a curtain many feet thick. — W. F.~\ 



