SCYTALOPUS.—ZELEDONIA. 247 
Lafresnaye from a specimen supposed to have come from Paraguay or Chili, but which 
is now recognized as a bird of Colombia and Ecuador. From 8. analis the Costa 
Rican bird differs in being smaller, in having a less robust bill and more slender feet. 
In colour the two birds are very much alike, but the legs appear to be darker. 
A specimen in the British Museum from Bogota has a whitish patch on the centre 
of the crown, but it is not so silvery grey as in S. argentifrons, nor does it extend so 
near to the base of the culmen. 
Regarding this silvery patch on the crown of certain species of Scytalopus some 
difference of opinion prevails. In S. magellanicus, as-understood by Mr. Sclater, this 
feature is only shown in some individuals from Chili and Patagonia, others being 
destitute of this mark, in which respect they agree with more northern birds, which 
do not appear to possess it. Chilian birds with the silvery mark were described by 
Landbeck as Pteroptochus albifrons. The specific limits of several of the species are 
not well defined, and as yet sufficient materials have not been collected to justify.a 
decided opinion on several points connected with the genus. 
Of the breeding-habits of Scytalopus magellanicus the following note of Salmon’s is 
of interest. He says (P. Z.S8. 1879, p. 528) :— | 
“The nest is placed in a mass of moss on a bank; it is also composed entirely of 
moss. The female lays two eggs, large for the size of the bird, and white. I 
was first attracted to this bird by a harsh cry continually repeated near me, and imme- 
diately looked round to discover what animal it could be, expecting something of 
considerable size, but, after carefully searching, saw what appeared a small black 
mouse creeping along the ground. Upon killing it I found it to be a specimen of 
this bird.” 
Darwin also (Voy. ‘ Beagle,’ iii. p. 74) speaks of the peculiar cries and skulking 
habits of the same species in Tierra del Fuego. He adds that it carries its tail erect, 
as do most other species of Pteroptochide. 
Genus et Species inserte sedis. 
ZELEDONIA. 
Zeledonia, Ridgway, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. xi. p. 537 (1888). 
Mr. Ridgway has kindly lent us the type of this genus from the treasures of the 
United States National Museum. It is a very peculiar bird, and its position in the 
system cannot satisfactorily be decided from an examination of the skin alone. 
