Vol. XXI, pp. 163-164 July 27, 1908 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW TYRANT-BIRD FROM THE SANTA MARTA 

 REGION OF COLOMBIA. 



BY OUTRAM BANGS. 



Lately while identifying birds in a collection from Brazil, 

 which contained examples of true Rhynchocyclus sulphurescens 

 (Spix), I was much puzzled by the series from Santa Marta, 

 Colombia, which I had always referred to that form. On close 

 comparison the Santa Marta bird proves different from any form 

 of the genus I can find descriptions of* and I feel compelled to 

 give it a name. The Santa Marta series was kindly examined 

 and compared with all material in Washington, for me, by H. C. 

 Oberholser who agrees with me that it represents an undescribed 

 subspecies. 



Rhynchocyclus sulphurescens exortivus subsp. nov. 



Type from La Concepeion, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, 

 (altitude :5,000 feet) adult d\ No. (370:5, coll. of E. A. and 0. Bangs. Col- 

 lected March 10, 1899, by W. W. Brown, Jr. 



Characters. — Similar to true is", sulphurescens of Brazil but smaller and 

 much paler in color— gray of crown, olive-green of back and yellow of 

 under parts all much paler than in Brazilian skins. From R.flavo-oliva- 

 c.eus of Panama, the Santa Marta form differs very much in its grayer cap 

 and much less yellowish coloration throughout. 



Measurements. — Adult male: wing, i;4-C>7; tail, 55-59; tarsus, 16.5-18; 

 exposed culmen, 11.5-13 (five specimens from the Santa Marta Moun- 

 tains). Adult female: wing, 04-04.5; tail, 55-58; tarsus, 17.5-18; ex- 

 posed culmen, 12-13 (two specimens from the Santa Marta Mountains). 



* Count Von Berlepsch ( Proc. IVth Int. Orn. Cong. 1905, i>. 182 ) asserts that Rhyncho- 

 cyclus scotius Oberh. is Rhynchocyclus sulphurescens assimilis (I'elz.). 



'.!.">— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. XXI. 190S. (163) 



