CATHARUS. 3 
traceable to any special locality, and appear to be simply individual peculiarities. 
Catharus melpomene does not seem to be at all migratory in its habits: we observed its 
presence the whole year in Guatemala; and specimens were obtained in every month 
between July? and November. M. Boucard found it at Totontepec in January*. Its 
nest is an open structure composed chiefly of moss; the eggs are white, thickly marked 
with rufous-red. Prof. Sumichrast says !! that it nests in the gardens of Orizaba ; and. 
we found it breeding close to Duefias in Guatemala. Its habits in Costa Rica seem to 
resemble those it has in Guatemala. Dr. .v. Frantzius says” that its monotonous but 
sweet song may be heard everywhere in the tableland of San José between April and 
June wherever green hedges line the roads in the neighbourhood of towns. The bird 
glides quickly through the shrubs, and flies close to the ground across the roads. It is 
not shy, and allows one to watch it closely. 
The eyes, bill, and eyelids of this species are rich orange in the male bird. The 
maxilla of the female is light horn-colour ’. 
Prof. Baird has suggested? that the Costa-Rica bird might be the true C. aurantit- 
rostris of Hartlaub: but this is not the case; for on comparing it with a Venezuelan 
example-in our collection, the absence in the latter of the rufous margins to the wing- 
feathers, as well as the olivaceous tone of the plumage above, is very apparent. ‘The 
_ previous comparison of Mexican specimens with the Venezuelan type by Dr. Hartlaub, 
as recorded by Mr. Sclater 2, seems to have been overlooked by subsequent writers. 
2. Catharus alticola, sp. n. 
Catharus frantzii, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190’ (nec Cab.). 
Supra oleagineo-brunneus ; uropygio, alis et cauda concoloribus, pileo paulo rufescentiore ; subtus grisescens, 
ventre imo et crisso albis ; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula flava ; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 
6°75, alee 3:5, caudee 3-0, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1-4. Fem. mari similis. 
Similis C. melpomene, sed alis extus et corpore supra minus cinnamomeis et rostri et pedum coloribus distin- 
guendus. A C. frantzit uropygio et cauda oleagineis nec cinnamomeis notatus. 
Hab. Guatemata, forests of the Volcan de Fuego, from 6000 to 10,000 feet (0. S. & 
F. D. G.). 
We obtained a single specimen only of this species during our stay at Duefas in 
November 1861; and this example was subsequently! referred to the Costa-Rican C. 
frantzi. During Salvin’s last visit to Guatemala, he obtained several more specimens, 
and found the bird not uncommon in the ravines of the Volcan de Fuego and through- 
out the forests on that mountain almost to the commencement of the growth of pines, 
at an elevation of 10,200 feet. It was observed usually on the ground, searching 
amongst leaves for food in the deepest shade of the forest. When standing in a wood- 
cutter’s track, one of these birds would occasionally perch on a log at the side of the 
path with all the gesture of a Robin (Erithacus). 
1* 
