ANTHUS. 109 
Supra fuscus, capitis et dorsi-plumis pallide fulvo marginatis, alis et cauda fuscis fulvido limbatis ; cauda fusco- 
nigra, rectricibus duabus utrinque externis gradatim fulvo-albidis; subtus cum superciliis sordide albus 
fulvo (preecipue in pectore) tinctus, pectore fusco-nigro distincte maculato; rostro corneo, mandibule basi 
albicantiore ; pedibus flavidis. Long. tota 45-5, alee 2°4, caudee 1°8, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi0°8. (Descr. 
' maris ex Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Panama, Santa Fé (Arcé"), line of railway (Galbraith? *)—South America 
generally to Peru ®® and Braziu°&. 
When endeavouring in 1867 to determine the proper name for a Veraguan specimen 
of this little Anthus", we were quite unable to detect any valid differences between it 
and Amazonian and Brazilian examples of a bird we believe to be the Anthus rufus (Gm.). 
Since then we have had opportunities of examining other specimens, which have tended 
to confirm our opinion that all belong to a single species. This, too, is Mr. Sclater’s 
verdict, who has recently carefully investigated the subject®. We believe, too, that 
Anthus rufus may be used as the name of the species; for though it does not extend 
its range to Buenos Ayres, as D’Aubenton’s name would imply, the figure can hardly 
have been drawn from a specimen of any other South-American Pipit. If, however, it 
can be shown that the name Anthus rufus is not strictly applicable to it, Mr. Lawrence’s 
title A. parvus may be used without doubt for the Central-American bird. 
Of the habits of this species little information has reached us. Mr. Galbraith 
found it on the savannas near Panama, where it builds its nest on the ground, the 
male ascending above the nest and remaining singing in the air for a long time. 
Mr. Wallace ® observed it in tolerable abundance on the open dry plains in the island 
of Mexiana at the mouth of the Amazons; and Natterer obtained ® specimens near Rio 
Janeiro at pools in the road and in the swamps. 
Fam. MNIOTILTIDE*. 
Subfam. MNIOTILTINA F. 
MNIOTILTA. 
Mniotilta, Vieillot, Anal. p. 45 (1816). (Type Motacilla varia, Linn.) 
Mniotilta, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 180. 
This genus contains but a single species, which differs from the other genera of this 
* In the arrangement of this family we have to a great extent followed the system elaborated by Prof: 
Baird in his ‘ Review of American Birds,’ and used again in the ‘ History of North-American Birds.’ Dr. Coues 
has also followed the same general plan in his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley,’ where, however, he has reduced 
Prof. Baird’s four subfamilies to three, introducing thereby greater simplicity of arrangement. The family 
itself is on all hands confessedly one of arbitrary rather than natural limits; but materials are not ripe for 
a satisfactory recasting of it and the obviously allied groups Coerebide, Taunagride, &e. . 
+ Cf. Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 203. 
