248 ZELEDONIA. 
Mr. Ridgway in his original description compares it with Catharus (Turdide), Basileu- 
terus (Mniotiltide), Scytalopus (Pteroptochide), and Xenicus (Xenicide of New 
Zealand); but he justly remarks that nothing but an examination of its internal 
anatomy can decide to which of these very different families it belongs. In a footnote 
he adds that skeletons of Catharus and Zeledonia had been received at Washington, 
and had been submitted to Mr. Frederick A. Lucas, who was only prepared to say at 
the time that Zeledonia is not related to Catharus. <A glance at the posterior margin 
of the sternum would have thrown much light on its supposed affinity to 
Scytalopus. 
With the skin only before us we can merely make the following notes upon the 
external characters :— 
The resemblance to Bastleuterus is hardly more than a similarity in the colouring of 
the crown, for that genus has much longer, stronger vibrisse, wider, more depressed 
bill, longer tail and wings, shorter tarsi, and other differences. 
Compared with Xenicus the nostrils are operculated instead of open and lying next 
the culmen, with a membrane below, a very peculiar structure. 
So far as the Pteroptochide are concerned, in some respects Zeledonia comes nearer 
Liosceles rather than Scytalopus, the covering of the tarsi being somewhat similar; but 
the bill is more feeble, and the nasal operculum much less deveioped. It has too 
fairly defined rictal bristles, softer plumage, and a much shorter tail. 
For the present the position of this genus must remain in abeyance pending a full 
examination of its internal structure. 
1. Zeledonia coronata, 
Zeledonia coronata, Ridgw. Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. xi. p. 538°. 
Supra saturate oleagineo-brunnea, pileo medio aurantio-ochraceo utrinque nigro limbato; capite reliquo et 
corpore subtus schistaceis, hypochondriis dorso fere concoloribus, tectricibus subcaudalibus olivaceo-griseis : 
rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4-35, ale 2-4, caude 1°55, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 1-02, dig. med. 0°6. 
(Descr, femine exempl. typ. ex Laguna, Volcan de Poas, Costa Rica. U.S. Nat. Mus.) 
Hab. Costa Rica, Laguna del Volcan de Poas (A. Alfaro 1). 
The only specimen that we have seen of this curious bird is the type, which was 
obtained by Don Anastasio Alfaro in November 1888 on the Volcan de Poas, in a 
district of Costa Rica hitherto somewliat neglected. No notes of its habits have as 
yet been published, and we wait with interest particulars on them as well as a further 
examination of the structure of this singular form. 
