114 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA PART 3 



Several were taken by Hasso von Wedel at Perme, Ranchon, and 

 Puerto Obaldia, eastern San Bias, in 1931. 



In my own field studies we found these strange birds in the far 

 eastern Province of Panama in the dense coverts along the Quebrada 

 Cauchero, on the lower slopes of Cerro Chucanti. Here they skulked 

 about, wrenlike, on or near the ground, seen only in brief glimpses 

 in the dark shadows. E. A. Goldman noted that his specimen taken 

 near Lion Hill had a peculiar, rather high pitched note. 



Dr. Eisenmann notes that in sight records care is necessary not 

 to confuse them with the Song Wren, a species similar in its skulking 

 mannerisms. 



Beyond Panama this race ranges through northern Colombia east 

 of the western Andes (except in the Santa Marta region) and 

 Venezuela to the highlands of western Guyana (Kurupung River). 



SCLERURUS MEXICANUS OBSCURIOR Hartert 



Sclerurus mexicamis obsctirior Hartert, Nov. Zool., vol. 8, October 5, 1901, 

 p. 370. (Lita, Esmeralda, Ecuador.) 



Characters. — Darker, more dusky ; duller, less reddish brown above 

 and below than 5^. ;;;. pull its, with rump and upper tail coverts duller, 

 averaging less chestnut, more dusky. 



A female, taken on Cerro Mali, Darien, February 24, 1964, had 

 the iris dark brown; maxilla and tip of mandible fuscous-black ; base 

 of mandible very pale dull brownish white ; front of tarsus and toes 

 fuscous-black ; back of tarsus very pale dull brownish white ; claws 

 fuscous. 



Measurements. — Males (7 from Darien and Choco, Colombia), 

 wing 73.5-80.0 (76.7), tail 51.5-59.3 (54.7), culmen from base 20.8- 

 23.7 (22.7), tarsus 21.5-22.3 (21.9) mm. 



Females (10 from Darien, western Colombia, and western Ecua- 

 dor), wing 73.2-77.3 (75.6), tail 49.5-52.2 (52.1, average of 8), 

 culmen from base 21.0-25.7 (23.7), tarsus 20.3-23.8 (21.8) mm. 



Resident. Uncommon, found in the upper Tropical and Sub- 

 tropical zones on Cerro Pirre and Cerro Tacarcuna, mainly in cloud 

 forest in the subtropical levels. 



On Cerro Pirre these birds ranged from 1000 to 1580 meters; in 

 the Tacarcuna area they were recorded at La Laguna at 900 meters, 

 and on Cerro Mali and Cerro Tacarcuna from 1350 to 1460 meters. 

 The specimens available from the two mountain areas agree with 

 those from western Colombia and western Ecuador. 



When the first specimens from the Darien mountains came to 

 hand their dull hues immediately suggested the darker birds of the 



