The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 3 of 5] : $b BirdsGould, John
Science
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle [vol. 3 of 5] : $b Birds
Gould, John
Beagle Expedition (1831-1836); Birds; Zoology
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.
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