NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 269 



Motacilla cyanocephala, Gm., Syst. Nat., i. p. 990 (1788). 

 Dacnis cyanater, Less., Tr. d'Orn., i. p. 458 (1831). Puch., Rev. et Mag. 

 Zool., 1854, p. 70. 



Briss. Orn., iii. pi. 28, fig. 1, 4. Buff., PI. Enl., 578, fig. 1. Sw., Zool. 111., 

 ii. pi. 117. 



Under this name I place numerous specimens of a common Brazilian spe- 

 cies, the males of which are clearly the bird figured by Swainson, as above 

 cited. It is not so clear to me, however, that they are precisely that figured 

 and described by either Erisson or Buffon. The former is the authority for 

 the species Motacilla cay ana, Linn. (Briss. Orn., iii. p. 534), and I am not with- 

 out a suspicion that either a smaller species, next following in this paper, 

 or that D. coerebico/or, Sclater, is entitled to this name. The description by 

 Lesson is short, and applicable to both species, but relying on the locality 

 given by him, " Bresil," it is possible that his name, D. cyanater, is the proper 

 designation for the present bird. 



This species is larger than that immediately following, and has the black 

 space on the back larger. It is well represented in Swainson's plate, cited 

 above, and is commonly brought in collections from Bahia and other localities 

 in Southern Brazil. 



2. Dacnis nigripes, Pelzeln? 



Dacnis nigripes, Pelzeln, Sitzungb. Akad. Vienna, 1856, p. 155? 

 Nectarinia bicolor, Becklemichew, Acta Akad. Moscow, vii. p. 378 (1828)? 



Edwards' Birds, vi. pi. 263. Beckl., Nouv. Mem. Acad. Moscow, vii.pl. 23 ? 

 Pelz. Sitzungb. Akad. Vienna, 1856, pi. 1, fig. 1.? 



This is, in my opinion, a species distinct from the preceding, though re- 

 sembling it in colors. It is smaller, and has the black space on the back 

 smaller and more strictly defined. It is figured by Edwards, as above cited, 

 and also seems to be the bird given by Becklemichew, whose name I should 

 be inclined to adopt, were it not anticipated by Vieillot, for the species of this 

 genus usually given as Dacnis pi 'umbea. (Latham). It may also be the species 

 described and figured by that excellent ornithologist, St. Pelzeln, as above 

 cited, but the legs in dried specimens are not black. Ten specimens in the 

 Academy Museum I regard as this species. They are labelled as from Cay- 

 enne and Northern Brazil. 



3. Dacnis ultramarina, Lawrence. 



Dacnis ultramarina, Lawr., Proc. Acad., Phila., 1864, p. 106. 

 From the Isthmus of Panama. This is another species of the same group 

 as the two preceding, and resembling them in colors. It is, however, of a 

 different and deeper blue color, and has the black of the throat distinctly 

 tinged with green. It is described, and its peculiar specific characters are 

 stated with his usual precision and judgment by Air. Lawrence, as cited 

 above. 



B. Polidacnis. 



3. Dacnis melanotis, Strickland. 



Dacnis melanotis, Strickl., Jard. Contr. Orn., 1851, p. 16. 

 "Dacnis angelica, De Filippi," Bonap., Comp. Av., i. p. 400 ? Sclater, 

 Ibis, 1863, p. 315? 

 Buff., PL Enl., 669, fig. 2. Vieill., Gal., i. pi. 165. Buff., PL Enl., 669, fig. 

 1? Reich., Voeg., fig. 3740. 



Ten specimens, labelled " Cayenne" and " Rio Negro." 



5. Dacnis venusta, Lawrence. 



Dacnis venusta, Lawr., Ann. Lye, N. Y.. 1862, p. 464. 



Sclater's Ibis, 1863, pi. 7. 



A beautiful species, of which the only specimens that I have seen are the 

 types (male and female) in the collection of Mr. Lawrence, kindly lent to me 



1864.] 



