Plate LXXIX. 



ATTAGI8 CHIMB0RAZENSI8. 



(CHIMBORAZIAN ATTAGIS). 



Attagis cMmloraeensis . . , Scl. P.Z.S. 1860, p. 82. 



„ „ ... G. E. Gray, ListofGallinEeinMus. Brit. p. 95 (18G7). 



Supra niger, plumis omnibus lineis octracescenti-rufis duplicitfer marginatis et intus notatis: remigibus primariis 

 alarum nigricanti-cinereis, horum seapis albia : subtus ochracescenti-rufus, nigro, sicut in dorso, variegatus ; abdomine 

 medio pure cinnamomeo-rufo, lateribua et subcaudalibus nigro variegatis : rectricibus obscure cinereis, barum pogoniis 

 externis lineis pallide cinnamomeis frequenter transfasciatis : tectricibus subalaribua pallide cinnamomescenti-albidia : 

 rostro et pedibus obscure fuscis : long, tota 11-0, ala 7-3, cauda 3-0, tarsi 1-0. 



Hah. in monte Chimborazo, ad alt. 14,000 pedum. 



One of the most elevated localities yet visited by ornitliological explorers in any part of 

 the world's surface is Panza, a spot situated on the southern slope of Chimborazo, on the track 

 betweeii Guaranda and Ambato, at an elevation of about 14,000 feet above the sea-level. 

 Mr. Fraser passed several days at this station in January 1859, and obtained specimens of 

 seventeen species of birds in this dreary and inhospitable solitude. Amongst them were three 

 examples of the present Attagis, which, in one of his papers on Fraser's collections, Sclater has 

 named after the celebrated Volcano upon the slopes of which it was obtained. Mr. Fraser 

 tells us that the bird is found among the bare rocks, and has a note ' cliay-lac^ chay-lac^ cliay-lac' 

 The stomachs contained vegetable matter and grit. The Chimborazian Attagis is about the 

 same size as A. gayi and A. latreillii^ but is immediately distinguishable from these closely-allied 

 species by its darker coloiu-ing, the black markings being much more prominent in the present 

 bird. 



The genera Attagis and Thinocorus together constitute the family Thinocm-idce — one of the 

 most peculiar fomis of the Neotropical Ornis. With much of the external appearance of the 

 Ptarmigans of the Northern hemisphere, they combine the essential structure of the Plovers, 

 and must be placed in the natural series in the neighbourhood of Glareola and Hcemato'pus. 

 Like several other genera belonging to the Patagonian province, they are found at the sea-level 

 in high southern latitudes, but attain a greater elevation as they advance northwards, until 

 under the equator, as we have seen^ they frequent the highest localities capable of maintaining 

 bird life. 



Our figure of this Attagis is taken from a specimen m the British Museum, purchased of 

 M. Parzudaki of Paris. • 



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