DACNIS. 245 
Colombia by Mr. Lawrence in 1864, on account of the blue of the male having an 
ultramarine rather than a purple-blue tint, D. cayana having a verditer-blue shade. 
D. ultramarina, therefore, is intermediate between the other species. 
We have several specimens which agree well with typical examples of Mr. Lawrence’s 
bird, but others are not so easily placed, and pass almost insensibly into the coloration 
of D. cayana. Mr. Lawrence in his description says that D. ultramarina has no black 
spot behind the eye; but this we find to be not invariably the case. He also adds that 
the black of the throat is not so pure nor so well defined as in D. cayana, a very slight 
character, though constant so far as we can see, but one which is hardly sufficient of 
itself to justify the separation of the whole of the Central-American birds from 
D. cayana. 
We have already spoken of the Chiriqui birds being inseparable in their blue tint 
from the true Guiana form. In Costa Rica, however, and in Nicaragua (the most 
northern limit of the range of the bird) all the specimens have a slight tint of ultra- 
marine, and for this reason we now place them under this title. At the same time we 
should not object to the name D. cayana being made to embrace D. ultramarina, for 
we believe that it is not improbable that this step will ultimately have to be taken. 
3. Dacnis venusta. 
Dacenis, sp., Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 819°. 
Dacnis venusta, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vil. p. 464°; ix. p. 97°; Scl. Ibis, 1863, p. 311, t. 7*; Sel. 
& Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 848°; 1879, p. 497°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 1857. 
Nigerrima ; capite postico, genis et cervicis lateribus, dorso medio, uropygio et scapularibus nitide ceruleis ; 
tibiis coccineis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2-5, caudee 1:6, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°6. 
(Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) ; 
Q sordide virescens, uropygio cerulescente, subtus gula cinerea, abdomine toto sordide ochraceo. (Deser. 
femine ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Costa Rica, Dota mountains (Carmiol *), Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama, Bugaba 
(Arcé"), line of Railway (M‘Leannan !245).—Cotomsta ®. 
This pretty species was one of M‘Leannan’s discoveries on the line of the Panama 
Railway. ‘The first specimen he obtained and sent to Mr. Lawrence was a female}, 
and it was not until the same collector secured the male that Mr. Lawrence described 
it under the above name. ‘These specimens were subsequently sent to Mr. Sclater, and 
inspired him to write one of those useful and practical little Monographs which have 
from time to time proceeded from the pen of our industrious colleague. Mr. Sclater 
took the opportunity of figuring this species on this occasion 4 
On the isthmus of Panama Daenis venusta would appear to be not uncommon, as we 
have received several specimens from thence. It also occurs within our territory as 
far as Costa Rica, where several collectors have met with it, and also in the intermediate 
district of Chiriqui. For our knowledge of the extension of Dacnis venusta into South 
America we are indebted to the late Mr. 'T. K. Salmon, who obtained a single male 
