(DARK GUAN.)
+Penelope obscura+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 136; _iid. P. Z. S._
1870, p. 525; _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 275 (Entrerios). +Penelope
boliviana+, _Burm. P. Z. S._ 1871, p. 701 (Tucuman)? +Penelope
pileata+, _White, P. Z. S._ 1882, p. 627 (Catamarca)?
_Description._--Dark bronzy green; lower back and abdomen
chocolate-brown; feathers of upper back, wing-coverts, and body
beneath down to the middle of the belly margined with white;
feathers of front part of head edged with silvery white: whole
length 25·0 inches, wing 11·5, tail 12·0. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ Paraguay, Northern Argentina, and Bolivia.
This Guan was first made known to us as an inhabitant of Paraguay by
Azara, who described it in his 'Apuntamientos'[9] under the name of
"El Yacúhú" or "_Pavo del Monte_" (Wood-Turkey) of the Spaniards. The
examination of skins of it obtained by Capt. J. T. Page, of the U.S.
Navy, during his expedition up the Rio Paraguay and Rio Vermejo, enabled
Messrs. Salvin and Sclater to make this identification.
[9] Vol. iii. p. 72, no. 335.
In Entrerios, Mr. Barrows tells us, this species is limited to the
borders and islands of the River Uruguay, where in heavy growths of
timber it is not uncommon, though rarely seen. Here it builds a large
nest in the trees and lays white eggs.
It is probable that the Guan of Tucuman called by Dr. Burmeister
_Penelope boliviana_ and that of Catamarca referred by White to _P.
pileata_ likewise belong to this species.