( 339 ) 



The type of T. triatia agrees iu every respect with the adult S of Pelzeln's 

 7'. polionotm, except in having the lower parts a shade paler schistaceons. Both 

 have the forehead and crown blackish, the bend of the wing white, and small bnt 

 very distinct white apical sjiots on all the nppcr wing-coverts. 



No. 5 differs in having the crown less mi.xed with Ijlackish, and by its 

 shorter bill. 



No. 2, being slightly iinmatnre, has still the brownisli rpiills of the juvenile 

 ]iliimage, and some of the apical spots on the greater wing-coverts are tinged 

 with bnffy, hut otherwise it agrees with the adults. 



The nearest ally of T. jwlionotiig is undoubtedly T. incertiis Pelz.* The male 

 of this species differs, however, at a glance by lacking the black cap and the white 

 apical spots on the median and greater wing-coverts, only the bend of the wing 

 being freckled or edged with white. The general colour, too, is of a much jialer 

 slaty-grey. The female of T. incertiis has the back distinctly paler rufous brown, 

 and the ferrnginous colour below is confined to the throat and chest, while the 

 abdomen is of a uinch paler tint, varying from oeiiraceous to fulvous. 



Another very near ally is T. jurtiaiiKs Ihering. f This form has the black cap 

 of T. polionotus, bnt the uniform black wing-coverts of T. incertus. 



T. aethiops Scl. belongs also to this group. The male differs from those of the 

 foregoing species in the deep ])lack (instead of schistaceons grey) coloration. The 

 wing-coverts are uniform black without white a])ical spots. The female is readily 

 distinguishable by its blackish tail. Moreover, the general colour above and below 

 is much darker, chestnut rnfons. 



The range of these four forms is as follows : 



T. (iPthiojis Scl. Eastern Ecuador. 



T. juruanus Ihering. Rio Jnrua, W. Brazil. 



T. polionotus Pelz. North Brazil : Marabitanas and Barcellos on the Rio 

 Negro ; E. Vcneznela : Nicare and La Pricion, tiaura R., a tributary of the Orinoco; 

 Cayenne : Oyapoc. 



T. incertus Pelz. V^icinity of PanL 



38. Thamnophilus punctuliger Pelz. 



T. piiiicliiUfifv Pelzeln, Ziir (h-ii lijnxiL ii. (I8G8), p. 14C [Borlia : Uio Madeira]. 



Mus. Vindob. Type of species : cj ad. " Borba, December." — Natferer coll. — 

 Wing 77; tail 00; bill lOi mm. 



This is a close ally of T. po/ionoli/s, having, like that species, the top of the 

 head black, and small white apical spots on the upper wing-coverts. It differs, 

 however, by the presence of a distinct white interscapular patch. The general 

 colour of the plumage, too, is even paler and purer schistaceons than in T. jtn-uanus. 

 So far as I know, Pelzeln's type is the only specimen in existence. Most probably 

 7'. poliniiotiiA, T. jiirKiinns, T. punctuli(jer, etc., are geographical representatives, 

 luid would [icrhaps, more properly, be designated by trinomials. 



* Tn Nnr. y.iml. xii. (llin'j),p. 2S|,T placed this liirrl in Iho {;c)ius 7A/.«;//i ;7«hiw. ncai- D. xchidaopvii,'b»*- 

 after a careful study of the wliulc group I came to the conehisinn that there is only a supiTlicial resemblance 

 lictwecn the males of tlic two species, anil tliat the real affinities of T. incertus lie wil h T. potioHotiit. This 

 opinion is strengthencil by the coloration of the females, which are almost iilcutical. 



t llerMa Mm. Paulut. vi. ^May 1905) p. 439 [Rio Junta, W. Brazil]. Types examined by nie. 



