PHAINOPEPLA.—PHAINOPTILA. 221 
observers; and the fullest summary of their notes is given by Dr. Coues in his ‘ Birds 
the Colorado Valley.’ 
Its food consists of insects and fruits, chiefly the berries of different species of 
mistletoe. 
The nest is described as a shallow structure, placed on a horizontal branch in a low 
tree; it measures about four inches across, and is composed of fine sticks, fibres of 
plants, and lined with a little cottonwood down and a stray feather. The number of 
eges in a nest does not exceed two. These are of a ground-colour varying from greenish 
white to lavender and greyish white, and are spotted all over with different shades of 
brown. The spots are small, and most thickly scattered about the larger end of 
the egg. 
Lichtenstein’s unpublished title, Ptilogonys aterrima, belongs to this species, as the 
specimens in the Berlin Museum testify. These latter were obtained by Deppe at 
Cimapan, and are probably the first examples sent to Europe. According to Bonaparte, 
Lesson gave it the name of Lepturus galeatus in 1838; but we have been unable to 
find any reference to it in Lesson’s writings. 
PHAINOPTILA. 
Phainoptila, Salvin, P. Z. 8. 1877, p. 367. 
The wings in the single species of this genus are rounded, the proportional lengths 
of the primaries being much as in Ptilogonys; there is a long first primary, the second 
being about twice its length; the fourth and fifth are about equal and the longest in the 
wing; the bill is weak and narrow at the gape, and considerably depressed ; the nostrils 
are open, and the rictal bristles short; the tarsi are longer and stouter than in any of 
the preceding genera, and in having a single shield in front resemble the tarsi of a 
normal Thrush. 
On the whole, this genus seems best placed here in the family Ampelidee, at least for 
the present, and until an examination of more of its structure than is represented by a 
skin has been undertaken. 
Phainoptila is a monotypic genus, its single species being found in the mountains of 
Costa Rica. 
1. Phainoptila melanoxantha. (Tab. XIV.) 
Phainoptila melanoxantha, Salv. P. Z. S. 1877, p. 867°; Rowley, Orn. Misc. i. p. 439, t. 79°; 
Boucard, P. Z. 8S. 1878, p. 53°. 
Nitens nigra, pectore et abdominis lateribus cum crisso olivaceis, ventre medio ardesiaco; hypochondriis et 
dorso postico luteis ; rostro et pedibus nigerrimis. Long. tota 9:0, ale 4:0, caudee 3°5, rostri a rictu 0-9, 
tarsi 1:0. (Descr. maris ex San Francisco, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.) 
Femina obscure olivacea, capite summo nigro, gutture et abdomine medio ardesiacis, pectore et abdominis 
lateribus olivaceis, hypochondriis luteis, rostro et pedibus nigris. (Descr. femine ex Irazu, Costa Rica. 
Mus. nostr.) 
