350 FRINGILLID A. 
the forehead. The tomia of the maxilla is gradually curved and not abruptly angular 
as in Guiraca, Oryzoborus, &c.; there is a distinct notch near the end; the nostrils 
are at the extremity of the nasal fossa, open, round, and surrounded above and behind 
by membrane; the rictal bristles are long and strong. The tarsi are slender, and so 
also are the toes and claws. ‘The wings are short and rounded; the first primary 
=the secondaries, third and fourth longest, second=fifth. The tail is rather long and 
slightly rounded. 
Prof. Cabanis considers the position of Amaurospiza to be near Volatinia and 
Cyanospiza. 
1. Amaurospiza concolor. 
Amaurospiza concolor, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p.3*; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p.301?; Salv. Ibis, 1869, 
p. 313°. . 
Cerulescenti-nigra unicolor ; loris, alis caudaque nigris; rostro nigricante plumbeo, mandibula vix pallidiore. 
Long. tota 4-0, ale 2-3, caude 2-1, tarsi 0-65 = dig. med. cum ungue. (Descr. exempl. (4?) ex 
Paraiso Station, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius!*®); Panama, Chiriqui (Arcé), Paraiso Station 
(Hughes *), 
We know very little of this peculiar bird, which was first described by Prof. Cabanis 
from a specimen obtained by v. Frantzius in Costa Rica, whence, however, we have 
never seen an example. The two in our possession are:—one from Chiriqui and the 
other from the Panama Railway. 
SPERMOPHILA. 
Spermophila, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 848 (1827) ; Scl. Ibis, 1871, p. 1; Coues, Key N. Am. 
B. ed. 2, p. 392. 
Twenty-four species were known to Mr. Sclater when compiling his Monograph of 
this genus, and to them he added a list of eleven others which have been described, 
but which he was not able to identify. If, therefore, we put the number of species in 
Spermophila at thirty, we shall more probably be under than over the mark. Of these, 
seven or eight occur within our region ; three of these are from Mexico and Guatemala, 
the rest from Costa Rica and Panama. Four species are peculiar to our region, and 
three just enter it in the State of Panama and have a wide southern range. 
The bill in Spermophila (8. moreleti) is short and stout, though less so than in 
- Oryzoborus; the culmen is rounded, and follows the same curve as the top of the head ; 
the nostrils are exposed, and at the distal end of the nasal fossa; the tomia of the 
maxilla is abruptly bent towards the commissure, the outer portion slightly curved 
towards the tip. The legsare feeble, and the toes short. The wings are much rounded, 
the second primary slightly shorter than the third, fourth, and fifth, which are nearly 
equal. The tail is rather long, and slightly rounded at the end. 
