148 DENDROCOLAPTID. 
Supra murino-brunnea, fronte et cauda vix saturatioribus, vertice postico et nucha cum tectricibus alarum 
minoribus et mediis rufis; capitis et cervicis lateribus et pectore griseo-murinis ; loris et abdomine medio 
albis; hypochondriis rufescenti-murinis, gula alba plumis singulis ad basin nigris ; subalaribus albis cinna- 
momeo lavatis: rostro corneo, mandibuls basi albida; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6:0, ale 2:1, caude 
rect. med. 3:1, rectr. lat. 1*1, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Medellin, Columbia. Mus. 
nostr.). 
@ mari similis, sed forsan rufescentior. 
Av. juv. supra et subtus omnino rufescentior, vertice et fronte dorso concoloribus, 
Hab. Panama, Santa Fé (Arcé?5)—Sourn America, from Colombia *, Ecuador °, and 
Venezuela ® to Guiana ®, Brazil 1, and the Argentine Republic. 
The evidence of the occurrence of this species within our limits rests upon a single 
female specimen sent us by Arcé from Santa Fé in the State of Panama in 1866 2. 
This specimen is perhaps hardly adult, and is rather lighter and more rufescent on 
the upper surface than the male from Medellin described above, which again is in 
older, more abraded plumage. ‘There can, however, be little doubt that both birds 
belong to the same species. 
Synallaazis albescens has a wide range in Tropical America, and a long series of 
specimens in the British Museum, from various points of the southern continent, as 
far south as Buenos Ayres, confirm Mr. Sclater’s view that the species, though variable, 
is not capable of subdivision, and that the bird described by him as S. albigularis® from 
an imperfect skin, from the valley of the Napo, is not really separable from the rest. 
Salmon, who met with this species at Medellin in the Cauca Valley of Colombia, 
gives the following interesting account of its eggs and nest 9. The former are described 
as of a very pale greenish-blue, almost white, colour, and measure ‘88 by ‘65. The 
nest, he says, is placed in a tree or high bush, 6 or 8 feet from the ground, and is 
made of sticks and twigs, the eggs being placed on a few small green leaves. In shape 
it resembles a pear lying horizontally, with an extended tunnel at the smaller end. 
“‘T have seen,” he says, “the nest as large as that of an English Magpie, and as 
firmly made, though the bird is not larger than a Sparrow. The body of the nest is 
composed of sticks, many of them from four to six inches in length and a quarter of 
an inch in diameter; the tunnel entrance, which is often of considerable length, is 
composed of fine twigs beautifully interlaced, the entrance only just admitting the 
body of the bird ; it is sometimes straight, sometimes winding. The top of the nest 
is roofed with a mass of large leaves, a protection against the heavy rains. Altogether 
it is a remarkable construction, and it would be interesting to know how so small a 
bird can carry and fix such large sticks; but the bird at this time is exceedingly shy, 
always keeping at a distance from its nest when anyone is near, even if carefully 
hidden from view. | 
“The nest is difficult of approach, being placed where the underwood is very thick ; 
and the eggs can only be obtained by making an opening on one side, which is not an 
easy operation.” 
