(281 ) 



The figure of Levaillant is not a very good one, but cannot be referred to any 

 otlier species, J>. J'uUyiiiom being tiie only one found in (Jayenne. 1). phu'ochrfla 

 diifers in lacking the buff postocular stripe, and in having the lower surface ranch 

 more suffused with rusty without any trace of the pale markings on the lower 

 tiiroat and fore-neck, so conspicuous in Z>. rufo-oliracea. 



31. * Dendrocincla merula (Lieht.). 



Demh-oculaptes Merula Lichtenstein, Al,l„iiidl. Akail. Hn-lhi a. d. J. 1818-1'.! (puljl. IS201 p. ilH 



[Cayenne : Mus. Berlin]. 

 Dfii'/rofhirht eastanopiern Ridgway, Pror, f'.S. yat. Mii^i. .\. 1887 ( 1888) p. 494 [Diamantina, near 



Santarem, Lower Amazon], 



One (J, not quite adult, January 21, 19(J4. 



Like the type of Z*. merula from Cayenne which I have examined, it has the 

 hill entirely black. One ¥ juv. from Corba (batterer coll.) aud the female type 

 of D. castanoptera Ridgw., kindly lent by the authorities of the United Shites 

 National Museum, have the bill also wholly black. One adult c? from Borba, 

 two S S from Mnnduapo, Orinoco, one S Marabitanas, oue ? Rio Icanna, one ? 

 Barra do Rio Negro, and four specimens from the Oaura, have the lower mandihh' 

 dirty yellowish. As regards colour, Robert's specimen agrees very closely with 

 one c? from Mundnapo, but has the back rather brighter., On the other hand, 

 the specimen from Santarem is perfectly identical with the type from Cayenne. 



There is considerable variation to be observed in the series before me. The 

 S from Hio Icanna is mnch the darkest of all, having the whole nnder-surface 

 almost chestnut-brown. The ? from Borba aud the <S from Marabitanas are a 

 little paler, the latter with a strong rufons tinge underneath. The other skins 

 before me are less deeply coloured, those from the Caura being the palest of all. 

 The differences in colour do not depend on localities, since I have a pale and a 

 dark specimen both from the Orinoco and from Borba on the River Madeira; neither 

 does the colour of the bill, as one of two specimens from the latter place has the 

 bill entirely black, whereas in the other the lower mandible is yellowish white. 

 At any rate, there is no doubt that the birds from Pani and Santarem represent 

 the true l>. merula, because they agree with the type. 



The following measurements may not lie out of place : 



* Topoty|)p of 7). onstanoittrra Ttirlew. 



