FAMILY PSITTACIDAE 8l 



The Panamanian range of this little parakeet is along the middle 

 elevations of the great Chiriqui volcano, including Cerro Pando and 

 the westward spurs to the Quebrada Santa Clara. I have found it 

 especially on the slopes and level lands through which the Rio Chiriqui 

 Viejo meanders, from Barriles and Palo Santo to above Cerro Punta, 

 and the higher elevations on Cerro Pando. It is recorded also from 

 the higher ridges above Boquete, and down to 500 meters elevation 

 along the trail that leads to the Laguna de Chiriqui. The only lowland 

 record is one secured by Hasso von Wedel for the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology near Cricamola, February 15, 1928. At higher eleva- 

 tions the most eastern records are of one from Cerro Horqueta taken 

 by Mrs. Davidson, February 10, 1934, and a series from Ouiel secured 

 by R. R. Benson in November 1931. The basis for reports from 

 farther east to Veraguas dates from an early mention by Salvin (Ibis, 

 1871, p. 93) of specimens sent by Arce from the "Highlands of Vera- 

 gua," which in this instance certainly means the Boquete area. On 

 that early date the western region across to Costa Rica was included 

 in the general term of Veragua, the modern designations of Chiriqui 

 and Veraguas coming later. 



Monniche recorded them from 1,550 to nearly 2,000 meters. Above 

 Cerro Punta I found them ranging equally high, and on Pando to 

 2,430 meters. This seems to be about their normal limit though they 

 have been reported to 3,000 meters. It is common to see them in pairs 

 or small flocks in swift flight through open tree growth. They call with 

 a rapid high-pitched chatter that resembles that of the perico piqui- 

 blanco but is louder. As they pass they often show a flash of color 

 from the red cheeks, or if directly overhead the light wing band may 

 appear as a translucent bar. Usually they are rather wild, but occa- 

 sionally, when feeding in fruit-bearing trees, they are quite heedless 

 of disturbance. At such times I have shot smaller birds within a few 

 meters of them without causing them to stop eating. 



The race gaudens differs only slightly from the typical form of Hoff- 

 man's parakeet, found in the Candelaria and Dota mountains of central 

 Costa Rica. In the bird of Panama the greenish yellow markings on 

 the crown and hindneck are more abundant, and are mixed with a 

 varying amount of dull red to orange-red. In a few individuals these 

 markings are more extensive and may appear as edgings on the feath- 

 ers of the back, foreneck, and chest. The series of specimens now at 

 hand show that size is similar in both forms. Some juvenile birds in 

 the two do not differ. 



The specific name hoffmanni was given in honor of Dr. A. Hoff- 



