Species of the Genus Sycalis. 45 



I have skins of this Sycalis in my collection from Bogota, 

 Lima (Nation) ; Cuenca, in Ecuador [Fraser) ; Arequipa, Peru 

 [Whitely) ; Santiago [Lnndbeck) ; Buenos Ayres (Hudson) ; 

 Matto Grosso (Natterer), and Mexiana, Lower Amazon (Wal- 

 lace). Upon comparing them together, I am of opinion that 

 it is not possible to differentiate the various local forms satisfac- 

 torily, and that it is better to refer them all to one widely 

 diffused species. Guianan specimens are certainly smaller in size 

 and duller in colouring ; Chilian skins are rather largest ; whilst 

 those from Peru and Columbia are brightest, especially on the 

 lower plumage. 



I believe this to be a bird of the campos, or grassy plains, not 

 of the forests. Burmeister met with " Sycalis hilarii " in the 

 campos of Inner Brazil, and tells us that " S. luteiventris " is 

 one of the commonest birds of La Plata. The species is pro- 

 bably found throughout its range in similar tracts of country. 

 . I may remark that Bonaparte, the original author of the 

 name hilarii, characterizes it (very correctly) as " similis (Crith.) 

 luteiventri " *, and that Burmeister has already united Sycalis 

 minor to S. hilarii f. 



5. Sycalis chrysops. (Plate H. fig. 1.) 

 Sycalis chrysops, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 376; Salvin, Ibis, 

 1866, p. 194. 



Similis S. luteola, sed minor, facie magis flava et colore dorsi 

 fusco rufescentiore. 



Hob. Mexico et Guatemala. 



I based this species in 1861 on a specimen in a Mexican col- 

 lection received from M. Parzudaki, which is still in my posses- 

 sion, and is the subject of the accompanying Plate. I was sub- 

 sequently rather inclined to think there might have been some 

 mistake in the locality, and that the specimen in question might 

 be only a dwarfed Bogota skin of S. luteola. But Mr. Salvin 

 has an example of what is obviously the same bird, though in 

 immature plumage, shot near Dueiias in Guatemala, in Sep- 

 tember 1862. It is therefore certain that there does exist a 

 Central-American species of Sycalis, which may be called S. 

 chrysops until its identity with S, luteola has been demonstrated. 

 • Consp. i. p. 521. t Syst. Uebers. ii, p. 254. 



