2. Pachyramphus minimus.
Pachyrhynchus minimus, Gould. MS.
Plate XV.
P. rufo brunneus; capite guttureque brunneo-nigris; plumarum basibus albis; alis caudâque brunneis, plumis flavescenti-albo marginatis; colli lateribus, fasciâ pectorali hypochondriisque fulvis; jugulo ventreque pallidè flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 3⁷⁄₁₂; alæ, 1¹⁰⁄₁₂; cauda, 1⁷⁄₁₂; tarsi, ⁶⁄₁₂; rost. ⁵⁄₁₂.
Crown of the head, sides of the face and throat blackish brown, each feather white at the base; back of the neck black, and upper tail coverts rufous brown; wings and tail dark brown, each feather margined with sandy white; sides of the neck, under surface of the shoulder, band across the chest and flanks reddish fawn colour; lower part of the throat, and centre of the abdomen very pale buff; bill and feet blackish brown.
Habitat, Monte Video, (November).
Sub-Fam.—FLUVICOLINÆ, Swain.
Alecturus guirayetupa. Vieill. Dict.
Muscicapa psalura, Temm., Pl. Col. t. 286 and 296.
—— risoria, Vieill., Gal. des Ois. Pl. 131.
Yetapa psalura, Less., Tr. d’Orn. i. p. 387.
Le Guirayetupa, Azara, No. 226.
This bird is not uncommon on the open grassy country near Maldonado on the banks of the Plata. It sits generally on the top of a thistle; from which it makes short flights and catches its prey in the air. The two long feathers in its tail appear quite useless to it. It sometimes feeds on the ground. In the stomach of one which I opened there was a spider (Lycosa), and some Coleoptera.
1. Lichenops perspicillatus. G. R. Gray.
Sylvia perspicillata, Gmel.
Œnanthe perspicillata, Vieill.
Ada Commersoni, Less.
Perspicilla leucoptera, Swains., Nat. Libr. x. Flyc. p. 105, Pl. 9.
Fluviola perspicillata, D’Orb. & Lafr., Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 59.
Le Clignot ou Lichenops, Comm., Sundev.
Le Bec d’argent, Azara, No. 228.
This bird belongs to the sub-genus, Perspicilla, of Mr. Swainson; but as Mr. G. R. Gray has pointed out that Commerson had previously considered it the type of his genus, Lichenops, we have been induced to prefer the latter as the oldest name. It is common in the neighbourhood of the Plata, and across the Pampas, as far as Mendoza on the eastern foot of the Andes; it has not, however, crossed those mountains and entered Chile. It usually sits on the top of a thistle, and like our common fly-catchers (Muscicapa grisola), takes short flights in pursuit of insects; but does not, like that bird, return to the same twig. It feeds, also, occasionally on the turf: in the stomach of some which I opened, I found Coleopterous insects, chiefly Curculionidæ. Beak, eye-lid, and iris, beautiful primrose yellow.
2. Lichenops erythropterus. Gould.
Plate IX.
L. suprà nigrescenti-brunneus, plumis rufo-marginatis; primariis secundariisque castaneis, apicibus pogoniæque externæ dimidio apicali brunneis; gutture corporeque subtus cervinis; pectore brunneo-marginato.
Long. tot. 6 unc.; alæ, 3; caudæ, 2⅜; tarsi, 1; rostri, ⁹⁄₁₂.
All the upper surface and tail blackish brown, each feather margined with rufous; primaries and secondaries reddish chesnut, their tips and their external webs for half their length from the tip, brown; tertiaries, greater and lesser wing-coverts dark brown, each feather margined with reddish buff; throat, and all the under surface, fawn colour; the chest spotted with brown; base of the bill, and chiefly of the lower mandible, as well as the iris, bright yellow; eye-lid, blackish yellow; feet, dark brown.
Habitat, Banks of the Plata.
This bird is not very common. It frequents damp ground, where rushes grow, on the borders of lakes. It feeds on the ground and walks. It is certainly allied in many respects with the foregoing species, but in its power of walking, and in feeding on the ground, there is a marked difference in habits. As it has lately been described (Swainson’s Nat. Libr. Ornith. x. p. 106.) as the female of the L. perspicillatus, I will here point out some of its chief distinguishing characters. Its beak is slightly more depressed, but with the ridge rather more plainly pronounced. In the L. perspicillatus, the upper mandible is entirely yellow, excepting the apex; in the L. erythropterus, it is entirely pale brown, excepting the base. The eye-lid in the former is bright primrose yellow, in the latter blackish yellow. The tail of L. erythropterus is squarer and contains only ten feathers instead of twelve: the wing is ⁴⁄₁₀ of an inch shorter, and the secondaries relatively to the primaries are also shorter. The red colour on the primaries represents, but does not correspond with, the white on the black feathers of L. perspicillatus; and the secondaries in the two birds are quite differently marked. In L. erythropterus, the third, fourth, and fifth primaries are the longest, and are equal to each other; the second is only a little shorter than the third. In L. perspicillatus the third is rather shorter than the fourth and fifth; and the second is proportionally shorter relatively to the third, so that the outer part of the wing in this species is more pointed than in L. erythropterus. The hinder claw in the latter is only in an extremely small degree straighter than in the former; and this, considering that the L. perspicillatus is generally perched, and when on the ground, can only hop; and that the L. erythropterus feeds there entirely, and walks, is very remarkable.
Birds. Pl. 9.
Lichenops erythropterus.
Birds. Pl. 10.
Fluvicola Azaræ.
1. Fluvicola icterophrys. D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 59.
Muscicapa icterophrys, Vieill. Encyc. Meth. p. 832.
Le Suiriri noirâtre et jaune, Azara, No. 183.
Specimens were found by me both at Monte Video and at Maldonado, on the banks of the Plata. I found Coleoptera in their stomachs.
2. Fluvicola Irupero. G. R. Gray.
Tyrannus Irupero, Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 856.
Muscicapa mœsta, Licht. Cat. p. 54.
Muscicapa nivea, Spix, Av. pl. 29. f. 1.
Pepoaza nivea, D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 62.
Irupero, Azara, No. 204.
This elegant bird, which is conspicuous amongst most land species by the whiteness of its plumage, is found, though not commonly, (in November) in Banda Oriental; whilst near Santa Fé, three degrees of latitude northward, it was common during the same time of year. It is rather shy, generally perches on the branches of bushes and low trees.
3. Fluvicola Azaræ. Gould.
Plate X.
F. albâ; alis, caudâ caudæque tectricibus atris, his albo-marginatis; primariis flavescenti-albis, basibus apicibusque nigris; rostro pedibusque atris.
Long. tot. 8³⁄₁₂ unc.; alæ, 4⁹⁄₁₂; caudæ, 4³⁄₁₂; tarsi, 1; rost. 1.
Head, all the upper and under surface white; wings and tail black; tail coverts black margined with white; primaries broad and crossed near their extremity with sulphur white, and tipped with brown; bill and legs black.
Habitat, banks of the Plata.
This bird is very common in the neighbourhood of Maldonado, where it frequents the open grassy plains. It sits on the top of a thistle, or on a twig, and catches the greater part of its food on the wing. It is generally quiet in its movements and silent. Mr. Gould remarks, that he finds “nearly all the species of this peculiar group to differ remarkably in the structure of their wings and tail, while in all other respects they closely resemble each other both in form and habit; I have, therefore, hesitated to separate them into so many genera. I have assigned the present species to Mr. Swainson’s sub-genus Fluvicola, considering that differences in the form of one organ alone would not be sufficient grounds for the institution of a new genus among such closely allied species; the present bird evidently leads off to Tænioptera, a genus proposed many years since, by the Prince of Musignano for the Pepoazas of Azara.
“This species is closely allied to, if not identical with the Pepoaza Dominicana of Azara, but as there is a degree of obscurity in his description, which causes some doubt on this point, I have considered it better to pay a just tribute of respect to that zealous labourer in the field of natural science, by assigning his name to this very elegant bird.”
1. Xolmis coronata. G. R. Gray.
Tyranuus coronatus, Vieill. Eucy. Meth. p. 885.
Muscicapa vittiger, Licht. Cat. p. 54.
My specimen was obtained on the wooded banks of the Parana, near Santa Fé, in Lat. 31° S.
Boie’s name of Xolmis is adopted by Mr. G. R. Gray, as it was proposed some five years anteriorly to that of the Prince of Musignano’s.
2. Xolmis nengeta. G. R. Gray.
Lanius nengeta, Linné, 1. p. 135. 7.
Tyrannus nengeta, Swains. Journ. Sci. xx. p. 279.
Fluvicola nengeta, Swains. Nat. Libr. Fly-catchers, p. 102. pl. 8.
Tyrannus pepoaza, Vieill. Ency. Meth. p. 855.
Muscicapa polyglotta, Licht. Spix. II. pl. 24.
Tyrannus polyglottus, Cuv.
Le Pepoaza proprement dit, Azara, No. 201.
My specimen was procured at Maldonado, north bank of La Plata, where it is not common. Its habits in many respects are like those of the Fluvicola Azaræ; it appears to catch its prey on the wing. Iris bright red.
Birds. Pl. 11.
Tænioptera variegata.
3. Xolmis variegata. G. R. Gray.
Plate XI.
Pepoaza variegata. D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63. Voy. dans l’Amer. Mèr. Orn. pl. 39. f. 2.
Tænioptera variegata. On plate.
This bird feeds in small flocks, often mingled with the icteri, plovers, and other birds on the ground. Its manner of flight and general appearance never failed to call to my recollection our common fieldfares (Turdus pilaris, Linn.) and I may observe that its plumage (in accordance with these habits) is different from that of the rest of the genus. I opened the stomachs of some specimens killed at Maldonado, and found in them seeds and ants. At Bahia Blanca I saw these birds catching on the wing large stercovorous Coleoptera; in this respect it follows the habits, although in most others it differs from those of the rest of its tribe. Iris rich brown.
4. Xolmis pyrope. G. R. Gray.
Muscicapa pyrope, Kitlitz. Mem. l’Acad. Imp. des Sci. St. Peters. 1831. p. 191. pl. 10. Vögel von Chili, pl. 10. p. 19.
Pepoaza pyrope, D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 63.
This bird is not uncommon near Port Famine in Tierra del Fuego, and along the whole western coast (at Chiloe specimens were obtained) even as far north as the desert valley of Copiapó. In the thickly wooded countries of Tierra del Fuego and Chiloe, where it is more common than further northward, it generally takes its station on the branch of a tree, on the outskirts of the forest. When thus perched, usually at some height above the ground, it sharply looks out for insects passing by, which it takes on the wing. Iris scarlet. It builds a coarse nest in bushes. Egg perfectly white, pointed oval; length one inch, breadth ·76 of an inch.
Genus.—AGRIORNIS. Gould.
Tyrannus, Eyd. & Gerv.
Pepoaza, D’Orb. & Lafr.
Rostrum longitudine capitis, rectum, forte, compressum, abruptè deflexum, emarginatum; tomiis rectis integris; naribus basalibus, lateralibus, rotundis, patulis; rictu pilis rigidiusculis obsesso. Alæ mediocres, remige primâ longâ, tertiâ, quartâque æqualibus, longissimis. Cauda mediocris, quadrata. Tarsi longi, fortes, squamis crassis annulati; digito ungueque postico mediano breviore, lateralibus æqualibus, liberis.
Mr. Gould observes that the members of this genus are remarkable for their robust form and for their strength and magnitude of their bills; and their habits strictly accord with their structure, as they are fierce and courageous.
The species are closely allied to those of the preceding genus.[[10]]
1. Agriornis gutturalis. Gould.
Tyrannus gutturalis, Eyd. & Gerv. Voyage de la Fav. Ois. dans Mag. de Zool. 1836. pl. 11.
Pepoaza gutturalis, D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. de Zool. 1837. p. 64.
My specimens were obtained near Valparaiso in Chile. I saw it as far north as the valley of Copiapó. I was assured by the inhabitants that it is a very fierce bird, and that it will attack and kill the young of other birds.
2. Agriornis striatus. Gould.
A. Fæm. intensè olivaceo-brunnea; alis caudâque fuscis, utriusque plumis marginibus apiceque pallidè brunneis; rectricum externarum pogoniâ externâ albâ; gutture facieque lateribus albis, his nigrostriatis; pectore hypochondriisque olivaceo-brunneis; ventre crissoque flavescentibus.
Long. tot. 10 unc.; alæ, 4⁹⁄₁₂; caudæ, 4³⁄₁₂; tarsi, 1³⁄₁₂; rostri, 1²⁄₁₂.
Head, and all the upper surface dark olive brown; wings and tail dark brown, each feather margined and tipped with pale brown, and the outer web of the external tail-feather, white; throat, and sides of the face, white, striated with black; breast and flanks olive brown; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts, buff; bill, horn colour; feet, black.
Birds. Pl. 12.
Agriornis micropterus.
Birds. Pl. 13.
Agriornis leucurus.
Habitat, Santa Cruz, Patagonia. (April.)
I am not aware of any difference in habits between this species, and the following (A. micropterus); and the country inhabited by it is similar. From these circumstances I am induced to suspect, that it is the same species in an immature state.
3. Agriornis micropterus. Gould.
Plate XII.
M. pallidè brunneus, subtus flavescenti-albus; alarum caudæque plumis griseo-marginatis; gutturis albis, brunneo-marginatis.
Long. tot. 9³⁄₁₂ unc.; alæ, 4⅓; caudæ, 2⅞; tarsi, 1³⁄₁₂; rostri, 1⅜.
Head, all the upper surface, wings and tail, pale brown, each feather of the wings and tail margined with greyish brown; throat, white, striated with dark brown; the remainder of the under surface, buffy white; bill, dark horn colour; feet brown.
Habitat, Port Desire, and St. Julian, Patagonia. (January).
These birds frequent the wild valleys in which a few thickets grow. They generally take their stand on the upper twigs. They are shy, solitary, and not numerous. Mr. G. R. Gray considers the two specimens which were obtained to be immature, and that one is a full-fledged young, and the other a nestling of the Agr. striatus.
4. Agriornis maritimus. G. R. Gray.
Plate XIII.
Pepoaza maritima, D’Orb. & Lafr., Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 65.
Agriornis leucurus. Gould’s MSS., and on Pl. xiii.
Inhabits the coast of Patagonia. It is a scarce, shy, solitary bird, frequenting the valleys in which thickets grow, but often feeding on the ground. In the interior plains of Patagonia, on the banks of the Santa Cruz, I several times saw it chasing beetles on the wing, in a peculiar manner, half hopping and half flying; when thus employed, it spreads its tail, and the white feathers in it are displayed in a very conspicuous manner. I also met with this species in the lofty and arid valleys on the eastern side of the Cordillera of Central Chile, and likewise at Copiapó.