2'6 Mfi.1907 



NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE. 



Vol. XIV. MARCH, 1907. No. 1. 



ANOTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOG-Y 

 OF THE LOWER AMAZONS. 



By C. E. HELLMAYR. 



IN the last volume of this periodical, 011 pp. 353 — 385, I reported apon a collection 

 of birds from the vicinity of Para, brought together by Mr. W. Hoffmanns. 

 Since that time the Tring Museum received two further consignments from the 

 same indefatigable collector, containing several new forms and others of considerable 

 interest. 



After leaving Para, Mr. Hoffmanns went to Santarem, on the left bank of the 

 Rio Tapajoz, and collected for several weeks at two small villages in the neigh- 

 bourhood of that town, called Itaituba and Vrucurituba. According to one of 

 his letters, the first of these places is situated in dense primeval forest, while 

 Urncurituba is partly surrounded by " campos." 



In March and April Mr. Hoffmanns made another stay at Obidos, on the north 

 side of the Amazons. Although the number of birds sent is very small, amounting 

 to only about a hundred skins, this little collection is of great interest, proving as 

 it does that the fauna of Obidos is to a certain extent different from that of 

 Santarem. Even from the few species obtained on this occasion, it becomes evident 

 that the broad sheet of waters of the Lower Amazons separates the ranges of 

 several representative species. As already stated by Bates,* many typical Guianan 

 forms are found near Obidos which apparently do not occur on the sonth bank of 

 the great river ; while in the avifauna of Santarem we meet with a good many 

 Upper Amazonian elements, among them being also such species as inhabit the banks 

 of the lower Rio Madeira. The difference is illustrated in the present collections 

 by the following instances : — 



Santarem. Obidos. 



Cercomacra nigrescens approximans. Cercomacra tyrannina. 



flypocnemis cantator peruvianas. Hypocnemis cantator cantator. 



Momottis momota nattereri. Momotus momota momota. 



The material at our command is, of course, far too incomplete to justify any 

 attempt at drawing definite conclusions. A thorough exploration of the Lower 

 Amazonian valley is one of the greatest desiderata of neotropical Ornithology, and 

 would certainly yield a rich harvest to the naturalist interested in the problems 

 of geographical distribution. It, must be remembered, however, that nowhere is 

 travelling more expensive and more difficult than on the Brazilian Amazons ; 

 and under due consideration of these circumstances, Mr. Hoffmanns is to be con- 

 gratulated on having so successfully performed his laborious task. 



* * The Xaturalid on the Amazon, new edition, 1S02, p. 131. 



