( 308 ) 

 3. Haplospiza uniformis Scl. & Salv. should be Spodiornis uniformis (Scl. & Salv.) 



Haploxpiza imiformh Sclater & Salvia, Nomencl. Av. Neotr. 1873. p. 157 [Near Jalapa, Vera Cruz, 

 S.E. Mexico], 



Mr. Kidgway was much puzzled about the systematic position of this bird, 

 and suggested that it might prove to be identical vi\th.Acantkidopsbairdili\Agw. 

 This, however, is not the case, as I satisfied myself by careful examination of the 

 tyjie specimen, but Mr. Ridgway was quite right in sujiposing that the species 

 had been placed in a; wrong genus. Messrs. Sclater and Salvin were deceived by 

 the superficial resemblance between H. unifofmis and H. unicolor, and cannot have 

 examined the structure of the wing, otherwise they would have been led to recognise 

 that the two species were qnite distinct, and that the nearest ally of H. unifonnis 

 was in reality Spodiornis jardinei. Both species agree not only in the wing- 

 formula, but also the bill is almost of the same form. H. unicolor, on the other 

 hand, has a qnite differently shaped wing, as will be seen from the following lines. 



Haplospiza unicolor I'ab.* : 5 > 1 > 6 ; 3rd and 4th primaries longest, 1st 

 about 5 mm. < 4th. 



" Haplospiza " uniformis Scl. k Salv. : 4 > 1 > 5 ; 2nd and 3rd longest, 

 4th scarcely shorter ; 1st about 5 mm. > 5th, and only about 1 — 2 mm. < 4th. 



Spodiornis jardinei Scl.f : 4 > 1 > 5 ; 2nd and 3rd longest, 4th scarcely 

 shorter ; 1st about 4—5 mm. > 5th, and bat 1 — 2 mm. < 4th. 



The bill in H. uniformis resembles very much that of S. jardinei, being 

 perhaps a little longer and less curved at the tip, and it also seems that the 

 tomiae at the base of the upper mandible are less turned in. These differences, 

 however, are very trifling. In B. unicolor the bill, although of the same general 

 shape, is distinctly stouter and broader at the base. 



In coloration there is no difference whatever between the type of //. uniformis 

 and a series of S ads. of 5. jardinei. The Tring Museum possesses an adult S 

 from Carrillo, Costa Rica (Underwood coll.), which differs from the type in being 

 slightly smaller, and of a jialer, more bluish slate-grey colour everywhere. 



The bill is entirely phimbeous, while the type from Xalapa has the lower 

 mandible whitish grey. Whether these are more than individual variations I cannot 

 say with certainty without series from both localities. 



Additional specimens from Central America may perhaps prove //. uniformis 

 to be not properly separable from S. jardinei, but for the present they must 

 be regarded as distinct. There can be, however, not the slightest doubt that 

 H. uniformis has to be transferred from Haplospiza to Spodiornis. Its synonymy 

 is as follows : 



Spodiornis uniformis (Scl. & Salv.). 



Jlajilospha vnlfiirmix Sclater & Salvin, Nomem-I. Ai\ Nrntnp. 1873. p. 157 (Jalapa, Vera Cniz) ; 



Salvin & Godman, Biol. Centr. Americ. i. (1881')) p. 360, pi. 27, fig. 1 (Jalapa) ; Sharpe, Cat. 



Birds Bril. Mux. xii. (1888) p. 627 (Jalapa) ; llidgway, Birds Xorth and .Middle America, i. 



(1901), p. 521 (Jalapa). 



Hab. S.E. Mexico : Jalapa (De Oca) ; Costa Rica : Carrillo (Underwood coll.). 



1. Mus. Brit., (? ad., Jalapa, S. Mexico (De Oca coll.) 1872. Type of the 

 species. Wings 75 ; tail 50 ; bill 14 mm. 



2. Mus. Tring, J ad., "Carrillo, Costa Rica, December 4, 1898." C. V. 

 Underwood coll. Wing 71 ; tail 46 ; bill 14 mm. 



• 20 specimens. The l.st primary is either equal to or a little longer tliaii the Gth. 

 t 14 specimens examined. 



