134 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA PART 3 



This is the ant-shrike seen commonly in the central area of the 

 Republic, where it is widely distributed throughout the lowlands 

 wherever there are thickets, forest edge, or stream borders of low 

 growth that afford suitable cover. In these mainland areas, and in 

 the Archipielago de las Perlas, it does not venture far into the true 

 forest. It lives in pairs that range in company, often secretive, less 

 frequently rather tame. When seen, the raised crest, with the 

 barred pattern of the male, and the buffy brown hues of the female, 

 leave no doubt as to identification. Both sexes sing regularly through- 

 out the year, especially in early morning, a single note repeated 

 rapidly so that toward the end it becomes a rattle, and then terminates 

 abruptly in a nasal sound with rising inflection. The call note is a 

 low croaking sound. As they sing, they stand erect with body and tail 

 quivering with the force of the effort. When the two are per- 

 forming near one another the voice of the male is louder than that of 

 his mate. 



In settled areas they come regularly into ornamental shrubbery 

 planted about driveways and the bases of buildings. There, while 

 remaining usually under cover, they may become more confident and 

 tame. While the barred pattern of the back of the male is easily diag- 

 nostic under usual conditions, it is interesting to note that on dark, 

 overcast days, when the light is dim, the bird may appear wholly 

 dark. When not disturbed they may show curiosity at some unusual 

 circumstance. I have had one fly down to the ground to inspect a 

 small bird that after a shot had fallen in an open spot near a bush. 

 The food is mainly small insects and spiders. Occasionally I have 

 found them over ant swarms, usually when these pass through the 

 edge of thickets at the border of forest. The flight, across small 

 openings, is straight, direct, and rather slow, accomplished with 

 wings beating rather slowly. 



Distribution of the species T. doliatus through the offshore islands 

 along the Pacific coast is irregular. I did not note them on islas 

 Parida and Bolafios in Golfo de Chiriqui in February 1963, nor on 

 Brincanco in the Islas Contreras, or on Afuera and Afuerita in the 

 area between Isla Coiba and the mainland in March 1962. In January 

 1965 none were seen on Isla Gobernadora, nor in March 1962 and 

 January 1965 on Isla Cebaco in Golfo de Montijo. They were not 

 recorded on Isla Taboga and the adjacent islets during visits in 

 several years. In the Archipielago de las Perlas they have been re- 

 ported to date only on islas Pedro Gonzalez, Viveros, Rey, and Canas. 

 Absence on the large Isla San Jose is especially interesting. 



