Hab. Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Chili, Bolivia, and Northern Argentina.
[70.] PHRYGILUS FRUTICETI (Kittl.).
(MOURNING FINCH.)
Phrygilus fruticeti, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii, p. 487 (Cordillera of Mendoza); Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 31; Hudson, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 537 (Rio Negro); Durnford, Ibis, 1878, p. 393 (Chupat); Döring, Exp. al Rio Negro, Zool. p. 39 (R. Colorado, R. Negro). Emberiza luctuosa, Eyd. et Gerv. Mag. de Zool., 1836, Ois, pl. 72.
Description.—Grey, with minute black markings on the head and neck, and broader stripes on the back; greater coverts and wings black, the feathers edged with grey, and a band of white spots across the coverts; tail black; beneath, throat, and upper part of breast black, many feathers tipped with grey, giving the chest a mottled appearance; lower part of breast and belly grey, mottled below the chest with a few black spots; centre of abdomen and under tail-coverts white; beak yellow; feet flesh-colour: total length 7·3 inches, wing 4·0, tail 3·2. Female obscure grey and without the black colour on the throat and chest.
Hab. Peru, Bolivia, Chili, and Argentine Republic.
This Finch is common on the western slopes of the Andes as far north as Peru; it is also found in the Mendoza district and throughout Patagonia. It is very abundant on the Rio Negro, especially in the immediate neighbourhood of the Carmen settlements, for, like the Chingolo and other fringilline species, it is beneficially affected by cultivation. Though not possessing any bright tints, it is a very charming bird, tuneful, elegant in form, graceful and buoyant in its motions. When approached it utters a series of low ticking sounds, and at intervals a peculiar long squealing note. The song of the male is very agreeable, and curiously resembles that of the Cachila Pipit (Anthus correndera). It usually sits on a twig near the ground, and at intervals soars up to a height of ten or twenty yards, and utters its song while gliding slowly downwards with depressed wings and outspread tail. It sings throughout the year; in bright weather its notes are heard all day long, but on cold, cloudy, or wet days only after sunset. In the warm season they live in pairs, and in the autumn unite in flocks of as many as two or three hundred individuals, and have a strong undulating flight.
[71.] PHRYGILUS CARBONARIUS (d’Orb. et Lafr.).
(BLACKISH FINCH.)
Phrygilus carbonarius, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 487; Döring, Expl. al Rio Negro, Zool. p. 38.