Hab. Eastern Argentina and Patagonia.
This species, originally discovered by Darwin in Patagonia, is also found in Eastern Argentina. White obtained it in Catamarca, Durnford in Tucuman, and Burmeister on the Rio Quarto, in Cordova.
[110.] AGRIORNIS MARITIMA (d’Orb. et Lafr.).
(WHITE-TAILED TYRANT.)
Agriornis maritima, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 41; Durnford, Ibis, 1878, p. 394 (Chupat); Barrows, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Cl. vol. viii. p. 137 (Sierra de la Ventana). Agriornis leucurus, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 459 (Mendoza).
Description.—Above cinereous; secondaries edged externally and tipped with white; tail dark cinereous, the four external rectrices with the whole outer webs and about the one-third apical part of the inner webs white, the median rectrices tipped with white; below paler cinereous; throat greyish white, slightly striated with dark cinereous; lower belly, crissum, flanks, and under wing-coverts while, more or less tinged with cinnamomeous; bill and feet black: whole length 9·0 inches, wing 5·3, tail 4·0. Female similar.
Hab. Argentina, Patagonia, Chili, and Bolivia.
This Agriornis was obtained by Durnford at Tombo Point in Central Patagonia, by Burmeister in the Sierra de Uspallata, near Mendoza, and by Barrows in the rocky gorges of the Sierra de la Ventana.
Darwin tells us of this species that 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 the species in the lofty and arid valleys on the eastern side of the Cordillera of Central Chili, and likewise at Copiapo.” (Zool. Voy. ‘Beagle,’ iii. p. 57.)