268 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Enl. 578, fig. 2, 682, fig. 1. Merrem. Icon. Av., pi. 5. Aud. & Vieill. Ois. dor. 

 ii. pi. 47, 48, 49. Reich. Voeg., fig. 3746, 3747. 



Eighteen mounted specimens in Acad. Mus. Of this apparently abundant 

 and widely diffused species, there are four varieties in the specimens before me, 

 which, though I cannot at present regard them as species, appear to be well 

 marked, and may be sufficiently constant and perhaps local, to be entitled to 

 specific distinction. On this view of specific identity, the names above are 

 given as synonymes, the first name being that of Linnaeus, in the tenth edi- 

 tion of Systema Naturae, in which the species is founded on Edwards' plate 

 25, fig. 1, and no other authority cited, except fig. 2 of the same plate, which 

 is given as a variety. In the twelfth edition, the name Spiza is continued, and 

 the tenth edition cited, Brisson being cited only as an additional synomyme. 

 This species is in nowise founded on either Brisson's description nor on 

 Seba's figure, and consequently the remarks of several distinguished orni- 

 thologists, and the adoption bj* them of Vieillot's name atricapillas are not 

 correct. I distinguish the following varieties : 



a. C. Spiza, (Linnaeus.) Edwards' Birds i., pi. 25. 



Very nearly of the size given by Edwards in the plate cited, and smaller 

 than C. guatemalensis, Sclater. The black of the head extending to the occi- 

 put, wings and tail brownish black, the feathers of the latter and quills edged 

 externally with green. All other parts of the plumage fine lustrous yellowish 

 green, occasionally with a bluish gloss in some lights. Total length, about 

 5% inches. "Cayenne," "Trinidad." 



b. C. guatemalensis, Sclater. 



Larger than the preceding, and with the black of the head extending more 

 fully upon the occiput. The green of the plumage of a lighter shade. Total 

 length, about 5| inches. Guatemala, " Nicaragua," Mexico. 



c. C. CvErolescens, nobis.' Aud. & Vieill. Ois. Dor. pi. 47 ? 



Quite as large as C. guatemalensis, and with the black of the head having 

 about the same extent. All the plumage (except the black parts) bluish 

 green, especially to be observed on the under parts of the body. In all other 

 varieties the fine lustrous green of the plumage changes to blue in a limited 

 degree, but in this variety the blue color appears to be constant, and changes 

 to green in some exposures to the light. Total length about 5J inches. 

 Specimens in the Acad. Mus. are from M. D'Orbigny's collection, and are la- 

 belled, in the handwriting of M. Victor Massena, " C. Spiza? No. 149, D'Or- 

 bigny, Juracares, Bolivia." 



d. C. melanops, nobis. 



Smaller than either of the two varieties immediately preceding, and about 

 the size, or rather smaller than the first variety here given (C. Spiza). Black 

 of the head much restricted, and extending about halfway only between the 

 front and occiput, or but little beyond the eyes. Green feathers of the occiput 

 and back of the neck having a strongly defined or scale-like character. Green 

 parts of the plumage much as in the variety C. Spiza, but with the green edges 

 of the quills and tail feathers wider and more clearly defined. Total length 

 about five inches. Two specimens,^ and $,in Acad. Mus., labelled in 

 Europe, in a handwriting that I do not recognize: " 2873, 3045, Certhia Spi- 

 za? Rio Negro, Ameriq. M^rid." 



3. Genus DACNIS, Cuvier, Reg. An., i. p. 395 (1817). 

 Of this genus I have seen the following species : 



A. Cyanodacnis. 



i 

 1. Dacnis cayan'a, (Linnaeus). 



Motacilla cayana, Linn., Syst. Nat., i. p. 336 (1766). 



[Nov. 



