Mr. 0. Salvia un the Bi/ds of Nicaragua. 



313 



to be the case now) the northern forests of Guatemala did not 

 extend continuously to its margin. On the land commencing to 

 assume its present contour the southern forest might have spread 

 with the gradual upheaval of the earth, and can'ied its forest- 

 forms with it. 



It is only a small portion of a fauna that gives us a clue to 

 form such hj^otheses as the present ; and the more limited the 

 area investigated the fewer such test-species become. Species of 

 wide range do not help us ; and we are left to form conclusions 

 from the range of such species as stand quite distinct in one 

 district only, and also from such as are represented in both by 

 allied races. The following summary will show how Chontales 

 is connected as regards its bird-fauup,. 



Of southern species which here find the northern limit of 

 their range, we have 32 species, which are : — 



Basileuterus lU'opygialis. 

 Dacnis cayana. 

 Calliste laviniae. 

 Phoenicothraupis fiiscicauda. 

 Lanio leucothorax. 

 Tachvphonus luctuosus. 

 Pitylus grossus. 

 Embernagra striaticeps. 

 Cacicus microrliynclius. 

 SjTiallaxis pudica. 

 Dendrornis lacrymosa. 

 Phlogopsis macleaunaui. 

 Grallaria dives. 

 Copui'us leuconotu*. 

 Myiozetetes granadensi.'?. 

 Myiarchus nigricapillus. 



Pipra leucon-hoa. 

 Cai-podectes nitidus. 

 Chalybura melanorrhoa. 

 Thalurania venusta. 

 Microchera parvirostris. 

 Clais meritti. 

 Momotiis martii. 

 Prionirhynclius platyrhynchus. 

 Trogon atricollis. 

 Monasa grandior. 

 Neomorphus salvini. 

 Ramphastus tocard. 

 Selenidera spectabilis. 

 Odontophorus melanotis. 

 Botaurus pinnatus. 

 Porzana albigularis. 



Of northern species ranging no further southwards only seven 

 can be enumerated, viz. : — 



Prionirb-sTichus carinatus. 



Tyrannuliis semiflavus. 

 Camptostoma imberbe. 

 Heliomaster pallidiceps. 

 Thaiimantias candidus. 



Trogon elegans. 

 Conurus astec. 



Thus we see that the connexion with Costa Rica and the 

 south is much closer than that with Guatemala and the north. 

 The following: Tabic shows that a similar state of things exists 



