Hab. Andes of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.
Prof. Burmeister obtained examples of this species near Mendoza. In my revision of the genus published in 1872, I referred the specimens (upon some of which Prof. Burmeister based his species S. chloropis) to S. uropygialis. I now find that this was an error, and that they really belong to S. lutea.—P. L. S.
[91.] SYCALIS LUTEOLA (Sparrm.).
(MISTO SEED-FINCH.)
Sycalis luteola, Scl. Ibis, 1872, p. 44; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 85; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 172 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 394 (Centr. Pat.); Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. viii. p. 132 (Entrerios). Sycalis luteiventris, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 489.
Description.—Above light olive-green, marked with dusky stripes; wing-feathers blackish, with pale brownish edges; tail-feathers the same; beneath, throat and chest dusky buff, lower breast and belly yellow; bill and feet horn-colour; total length 5·0 inches, wing 2·6, tail 2·0. Female similar, but not so bright.
Hab. S. America, from Colombia to Chili.
This is a slender, graceful bird, less than the Canary in size, the whole upper plumage yellowish olive, with dun markings, the lower surface of a dull yellow. The female is a little smaller than the male, and her colours are somewhat dimmer.
This species is resident and gregarious in the Argentine Republic, and in autumn frequently congregates in flocks of several thousands. They are not so universally distributed as the Chingolo, and are not wood-birds, but frequent open plains abounding in thistles and other coarse herbage, which affords them shelter. In cultivated districts, where their food is most abundant, they are excessively numerous, and, after the harvest has been gathered, frequent the fields in immense flocks. While feeding, the flocks scatter over a large area of ground, being broken up into small companies of a dozen or more birds, and at such times are so intent on their food that a person can walk about amongst them without disturbing them. They take flight very suddenly, bursting into a thousand chirping, scolding notes, pursue each other through the air, and, after wheeling about the field for a minute or two, suddenly drop down into the grass again and are silent as before.
In August they begin to sing, here and there an individual being heard in the fields; but when the weather grows warmer they repair to the plantations in vast numbers, and, sitting on the branches, sing in a concert of innumerable voices, which produces a great volume of confused sound, and which often continues for hours at a time without intermission.