Todd-Carriker: Birds of Santa Marta Region, Colombia. 131 



in which they were visited by the collector. The category of " Addi- 

 tional Records" refers to specimens in other collections, for which 

 there are no other records for the localities specified. Measurements, 

 where given, are all in millimeters, and unless otherwise stated the 

 length of the bill is that of the exposed culmen. Free use has been 

 made of Mr. Ridgway's Color Standards and Color Nomenclature in 

 discussing color variations and in preparing descriptions. 



Much time and thought have been given, in preparing the present 

 list, to a technical treatment of the various species, with the object 

 in view not only of determining the proper names to be used, but also 

 of reaching correct conclusions as to status and relationships in many 

 doubtful cases. Often this has involved extended research and much 

 detailed work, but it is believed that the results attained have well 

 been worth the trouble, since thereby the actual affinities of many 

 obscurely known forms have been made known and their faunal posi- 

 tion indicated. In a limited number of cases the taxonomic history of 

 certain species has been given at some length, and it is hoped that this 

 feature of the list will not be the least useful to other workers in this 

 field. In matters of nomenclature the authors frankly admit the lack 

 of uniformity in dealing with such disputed questions as the treatment 

 of genera, the relative value of subspecies, and the form of certain 

 names used in a specific sense. With regard to the first question at 

 issue we have as a rule followed Mr. Ridgway so far as he has gone 

 in his great work, although not fully assured that a more conservative 

 course may eventually be found desirable. The aim has been to fol- 

 low the International Code so far as we are able to interpret it, but 

 there seem to be some cases which it does not cover. Vernacular 

 names have been omitted, except under the families. The subject mat- 

 ter under most of the species is arranged in two headings, one of the 

 authors being responsible for each respectively. 



Family ANHINGID^. Darters. 



i. Anhinga anhinga (Linnaeus). 



One specimen : Palenque. 



This bird is entered on the list on the strength of a single specimen 

 sent in by Mr. Smith, and collected at Palenque, between Bonda and 

 Mamatoco, March 5, 1899. It has been seen near the mouth of the 



