Vol. 33, pp. 77-82 December 30, 1920 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THB 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



FIVE NEW SPECIES OF BIRDS FROM CAVE DEPOSITS 



IN PORTO RICO. 



BY ALEXANDER WETMORE. 



During identification of a considerable collection of bird 

 bones secured in Porto Rican Caves by H. E. Anthony of the 

 American Museum, several species new to science have come 

 to light. A complete report on the entire collection is in 

 course of preparation, but as it is not practicable to complete 

 it at the present time the new forms are presented in the follow- 

 ing diagnoses. It will be seen that the cave fauna of the island 

 offers avian species as remarkable as those that have been 

 described by Mr. Anthony among mammals. 1 



Polyborus latebrosus, sp. nov. 



Characters. — Metacarpus similar to that of Polyborus cheriway (Jacquin) 2 

 but slightly larger; first metacarpal proportionately higher, more massive 

 especially at the base (when viewed from behind), and with less inward 

 flexure at the tip; proximal end of third metacarpal with surface slightly 

 excavated to form a concavity; excavation anterior to pisiform process 

 more distinctly delimited; inner margin of condyle raised in a distinct 

 crest. 



Description. — Type, Cat. No. 4921, Dept. Vert. Pal., American Museum 

 Nat. Hist., proximal end of right metacarpus, from cave on the property 

 of Don Gervacio Toraflo, near Utuado, Porto Rico, collected July 2, 1916, 

 by H. E. Anthony. 



Metacarpus with first metacarpal strong and massive especially at 

 the base; head produced and slightly enlarged at extremity, showing a 

 very slight inward flexure; articular surface for pollex broadened, supported 

 by a basal buttress; a slight notch posteriorly at base marking junction 



1 The Indigenous Land Mammals of Porto Rico, Living and Extinct. Mem. Amer. 

 Mus. Nat. Hist., N. S., Vol. II, Oct. 12, 1918, pp. 333-435, 20 plates, 55 text figures. 



2 Skeletons of Polyborus cheriway used in the present studies come from Florida. 



15— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 33, 1920. (77) 



