PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 497 



intervals. I was unable to asceitaiu whether the curious wattle-like 

 appendages were erectile or not. 

 No. 35. $ ad. March 1. 



24. Picolaptes affinis (Lafr.). 

 Common, especially in thick forests. 

 No. 70. $ ad. March 9. 



No. 83. March 11. 



25. Melanerpes formicivorus (Sw.). 



26. Selasphorus flammula Salv. 



Rather common on Irazii at about the same altitude in which Junco 

 imlcani is found. 

 Two specimens. 

 No. — . S . February 23. 

 No. — . 9 . February 23. 



27. Pharomacrus niocinno costaricensis (Cab.). 



Note.— In commenting upon Dr. Cabanis's proposed separation of 

 the Costa Rican "Quezal" from that of Guatemala, Mr. Salvin points 

 out (Rroc. Zool. Soc. Loud., 1870, pp. 202, 203) the apparent unstability 

 of the characters adduced. So far as my own experience goes, however, 

 it is usually, if not always, quite easy to distinguish between birds from 

 the two countries at first glance. I have just measured 19 adult males 

 of the Costa Rican form, and find that in none of them do the longest 

 upper tail-coverts exceed 30 iuches in length from their insertion, the 

 average being only 25^ inches, the minimum 19 inches. In none of them 

 are there more tbau two of tliese feathers greatly elongated. The Guate- 

 malan specimens which I have examined are unfortunately fewer in 

 number,* ]>ut they could all be very readily distinguished not only by 

 the very much longer and broader, but also more compact- webbed covert- 

 plumes, while the shade of green was also appreciably more golden. I 

 cannot at present give measurements of the Guatemalan bird, but am 

 quite satisfied that the differences alluded to will be found reasonably 

 constant.* 



* I have haadled altogether probably nearly 100 males of the Costa Eicau bird. 



* Since the above was written I bave had an opportunity of measuring three 

 specimens of the Guatemalan bird with the following result: Longest tail-coverts, 

 34-35.50 (average, 35.00); tail proper, 8-8.75 (average, 8.45); wing, 8.20-9 (average, 

 8.63). 



Proc. Nat. Mus. 82 32 Feb. 98, 18SS. 



