MYRMOTHERULA. 209 
In general characters Myrmotherula is a diminutive Thammophilus, but with a much 
feebler structure in every way; but we can find no features to justify these forms being 
placed in distinct subfamilies. 
a. Rostrum debile, cauda brevis, ptilosis plus minusve striata. 
1. Myrmotherula surinamensis, 
Surinam Nuthatch, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. p. 654, t. 287. 
Sitta surinamensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 442°, 
Myrmotherula surinamensis, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 190°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 293%; 
Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 356°; 1879, p. 525°; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p..38117; Scl. Cat. 
Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 231°... . 
?Myrmotherula pygmea, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 190°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N, Y. vii. p. 325”; 
Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 311"; Tacz. Orn. Pér. ii. p. 37”. . 
Supra nigra, plumis omnibus lateraliter stricte albo marginatis, uropygio griseo, plaga dorsali celata alba: 
subtus alba, plumis omnibus stria rhachidali nigra in gutture fere obsoleta; alis nigris, remigibus stricte 
albido marginatis, tectricibus albo terminatis; cauda nigra, medialiter albo limbata et albo terminata: 
rostro et pedibus plumbeis, illius mandibula pallida. Long. tota 3°5, ale 1:9, caude 1:85, rostri a rictu 
0-72, tarsi 0°7. . . 
Q supra dorso striato et alis notatis sicut in mare, capite toto et nucha rufis plumis medialiter indistincte 
fuscis: subtus fulva, gula et abdomine medio albicantioribus, subalaribus albis. (Descr. maris et feminz 
ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Panama, Veraguas (Arcé), Lion Hill Station (‘Leannan**), San Pablo Station 
(0. S.), R. Truando®, Turbo ? (Wood).—Soutn America, from Colombia ® to Peru 12, 
Upper Amazons Valley § and Guiana ®. 
A bird of wide range over nearly the whole of the northern portion of the South- 
American continent, and occurring in the State of Panama, but not beyond its northern 
limits. 
Males vary to some extent as regards the black central stripe of the feathers of the 
under surface. M. multistriata, Scl., was based upon specimens in which these stripes 
are wide and spread more strongly over the throat, but it now appears that such birds 
are not specifically distinct, every gradation being found between them and the normal 
bird. Gmelin’s title for this species 2 was founded upon Latham’s Surinam Nuthatch !. 
With a Nuthatch (S7tta) it of course has nothing to. do, and it was placed in the Formi- 
carlidee by Cabanis in 1847 under the genus Formicivora, and thence in 1858 transferred 
to Myrmotherula by Mr. Sclater. 
Mr. W. 8. Wood, who accompanied Lieut. Michler’s Expedition to the Isthmus of 
Darien, obtained specimens of both sexes, though Cassin, who named his collection, did 
not recognize them as such. The bird is described as abundant on the “ Cremantina” 
trees, especially at Camp Toucey in January 1858, and as also frequently seen on the 
Bananas constantly searching for insects amongst the fruit and leaves. ‘The male was 
at first mistaken for the Black-and-White Creeper of the United States (Mniotilta 
BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. II., February 1892. | 27 
