244 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 3 



Immature, crown and hindneck dull slate color lined with buff; 

 paler below with streaks broader ; wing coverts tipped more heavily 

 with tawny. This is one of the medium-sized species of its genus, 

 found widely mainly in Subtropical and upper Tropical Zone forests 

 from south-central Mexico through Central America to Peru and 

 northern Brazil, including the island of Trinidad. The bird has varied 

 considerably in its adaptation to change in environment, so that cur- 

 rently eight geographic races are recognized. Two of these are found 

 in Panama, one in the west, the other through the mountains east of 

 the central lowlands. 



Recent studies of the short-tailed, long-legged terrestrial ant-pittas 

 placed currently in the genus Grallaria indicate important differences 

 that appear to be of generic value. The findings have application in 

 the three species found in Panama, namely guatimalcnsis, fulviventris, 

 and perspicillata. The distinctions were noted early by Ridgway 

 (U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 50, pt. 5, 1911, pp. 17-18, 146-147, 152-153) 

 when he listed guatimalensis under the genus Grallaria from its 

 possession of rictal bristles, form of the nostril and other details, 

 and removed fulviventris (with dives) and perspicillata to a genus 

 Hylopezus, in which rictal bristles are lacking, the nostril form is 

 distinct and there is difference in other details. 



Recently Mary A. Heimerdinger and Peter Ames (Postilla, 

 Peabody Mus. no. 105, 1967, pp. 1^4) in a review of the form of 

 the posterior border of the sternum in these and other suboscine 

 birds, confirmed Ridgway's findings in the "Grallaria" group, with 

 additional characters. Thus the species guatimalensis has two notches, 

 one on either side, on the posterior border of the sternum while 

 fulviventris and perspicillata have four. The subject has been re- 

 viewed recently by George H. Lowery, Jr., and John P. O'Neill 

 (Auk, 1969, pp. 9-12) with agreement in these and other details. 

 While full information for all of the species involved is not yet avail- 

 able, what is definitely known is that under these findings the generic 

 designations for the forms that range in Panama are Grallaria 

 giiatimalensins with two races prince ps and chocoensis, Hylopezus 

 fulviventris with its forms dives and harhacoae, and Hylopezus 

 perspicillatus with three subspecies lisanoi, intermedius, and perspicil- 

 latiis. In these the genus name Hylopezus replaces Grallaria (as 

 found in other writings on these birds : Hellmayr, Cat. Birds Amer., 

 pt. 3, 1924, pp. 351-355; Peters, Check-list Birds World, vol. 7, 

 1951, pp. 271-273). 



