FAMILY TYRANNIDAE 559 



Code, and Canal Zone), wing 76.0-80.4 (78.1), tail 66.2-74.1 (70.9), 

 culmen from base 12.8-13.7 (13.1), tarsus 19.0-20.6 (19.5) mm. 



Females (10 from Chiriqui, Veraguas, Code, and Canal Zone), 

 wing 73.6-78.0 (75.1), tail 64.0-71.2 (68.3), culmen from base 

 12.3-13.9 (12.9), tarsus 19.1-20.3 (19.3) mm. 



Resident. Locally common, in the Tropical Zone ; on the Pacific 

 slope from western Chiriqui, east through Veraguas and the Azuero 

 Peninsula to the lower Bayano Valley (Chepo, El Llano), Chiman 

 in the eastern sector of the Province of Panama, and Punta Sabana, 

 at the mouth of the Rio Tuira, western Darien; on the Caribbean 

 slope from the Rio Indio (at Chilar and Rio Indio, western Colon, 

 and El Uracillo, northern Code), east to the lower Chagres Valley, 

 and Mandinga, western Comarca de San Bias ; in Chiriqui to 1900 

 meters above Cerro Punta, and 1615 meters above Boquete. Isla 

 Parida, Golfo de Chiriqui. In Veraguas, on Isla Afuerita, off Bahia 

 Honda, and Islas Gobernadora and Cebaco, Golfo de Montijo. Islas 

 Taboga, Taboguilla, and Urava. Archipielago de las Perlas (Islas 

 San Jose, Pedro Gonzalez, Rey, and Saboga). 



On the mainland they are common along the Pacific side to near the 

 Rio Bayano, and then become less abundant. In 1950 several lived 

 near Chiman in the upper edge of the village. The most eastern 

 record, for Punta Sabana, Darien, is a male collected by Festa, June 

 24, 1895 (recorded by Salvadori and Festa, Bol. Mus. Zool. Anat. 

 Comp. Roy. Univ. Torino, vol. 14, 1899, p. 5). On the Caribbean 

 side, in 1952 I found them common along the Rio Indio in western 

 Colon, and also inland at El Uracillo in the foothills in northern 

 Code. 



This is the most conspicuous of the species of its genus in Panama, 

 both from its size and from its wheezy calls. It is found mainly 

 around open areas in the border of tree growth, especially where there 

 are clearings. Often it comes into villages, near farms, and to the 

 suburban areas of larger towns. They are especially conspicuous in 

 the nesting season from the end of January through June, when 

 males call regularly, and appear constantly with pointed crests fully 

 raised so that the white feathers in the center show clearly. 



In addition to the loud wheezy notes heard through the day, Skutch 

 (Pac. Coast Avif. 34, 1960, p. 289) describes a dawn song, given only 

 in early morning, a steady repetition of two notes, we do, we do, 

 occasionally more loudly accented, but with no other variation. These 

 calls begin at the first hint of daylight and continue steadily until the 

 sun appears, when they change to the harsher, more varied sounds in 



