MALACOPTILA. 517 
Bugaba, Mina de Chorcha (Arcé®), Lion Hill (IfLeannan °7 1°), Truando R. 
(C. J. Wood*).—Cotompia? 48; Vunezveta? 4; Ecuapor? +; Peru ®*. 
This species was described by Lafresnaye in 1847, from skins obtained at Panama 
by Delattre1; and from this district we have seen many specimens of both sexes, 
the description of the type being evidently taken from a male. Many names have 
subsequently been proposed for nearly every local form, and not unfrequently the 
sexes have been described as distinct species—the difference of the coloration of the 
plumage not having been recognized before 1864, when M‘Leannan’s dissected 
specimens from Panama showed the relationship between the two forms 1°, 
The gradual accumulation of a large series of specimens has demonstrated that the 
close subdivision made cannot be maintained in view of the amount of variation which 
evidently exists both locally and individually. Mr. Sclater has fully discussed this 
question, both in his Monograph and in the Catalogue of Birds, and unites the Costa 
Rican WV. costaricensis, Cab.12, the Colombian and Venezuelan IM. mystacalis, Lafr., 
the Ecuadorian M. equatorialis, together with the birds called M. aspersa, Scl., 
M. poliopsis, Scl., and M. blacica, Cab., all under Lafresnaye’s title I. panamensis. 
The range of M. panamensis extends from Costa Rica throughout the Isthmus of 
Panama, and thence spreads southwards to Colombia, Western Ecuador, and Peru, and 
eastwards to Venezuela. Beyond these countries other definite species take its place. 
Northwards of Costa Rica the Malacoptila of Nicaragua has been called M. panamensis ; 
but specimens recently received from Mr. Richardson, as well as others from Mr. Rich- 
mond, show that if MZ. inornata is to be kept distinct they belong to it rather than to 
the more southern bird. 
Of the habits of IZ. panamensis little has been recorded. Like the other members 
of the genus it is a forest bird, keeping to the lower branches of the trees and the 
bushes of the undergrowth. Mr. Wood says® that it is a very quiet inactive bird, 
starting out occasionally from its perch to capture an insect and then returning. 
2. Malacoptila inornata. 
Monasa inornata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 107 (1847) °. 
Malacoptila inornata, Scl. Ann. & Mag. N. 1. 1854, xiii. p. 478°; Mon. Jacamars and Puff-birds, 
p. 125, t. 41°; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 197*; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 40°; Cab. & 
Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. Heft 1, p. 187°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 201". 
Malacoptila verepacis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 40°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 184’. 
Malacoptila panamensis, Richmond, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 512”. 
? Malacoptila fuliginosa, Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 512". 
M. panamensi persimilis et vix certe distincta, abdomine toto ferrugineo nec pectore imo neque hypochondriis 
fusco striolatis; corpore subtus fere unicolore, abdomine paullo pallidiore. 
2? afemina M. panamensis vix differt. (Descr. maris, M. verepacis typ. et femine ex Vera Paz, Guatemala. 
Mus. nostr.) 
