Mr. A. D. Bartlett on the Affinities of Balfeniceps. 185 



ceived by M. Verreaux from the Upper Amazon, is only distinguished 

 from R. brasilius by its back between the wings being black, with the 

 margins of the feathers only scarlet. In this respect it is further 

 removed from R. brasilius than R. dorsalis, which is exactly inter- 

 mediate between the two. M. Jules Verreaux informs me that all 

 the specimens received from this locality were similarly marked ; so 

 that the variation, though small, seems to be constant. 



10. Saltator isthmicus. 



Olivaeeus, uropygio grisescente ; alls fusco-nigris, extus olivaceo 

 limbatis : cauda fusco-grisescente, rectricum apicibus albican- 

 tibus : subtus sordide afbus olivaceo flammulatus, gula imma- 

 culata et cum ventre imo et crisso albicantibus ; tectricibus sub- 

 alaribus futvescenti-albis, campterio Jiavido : rostro nigro, 

 pedibus corylinis. 

 Long, tota 7*0, alee 3*5, caudse 3*6. 

 Hab. In Isthmo Panama. 



I have two specimens of this Saltator in my collection. I obtained 

 them from Mr. John Bell, of New York, in 1856, who informed me 

 that he shot them on his passage across the Isthmus of Panama on his 

 return from California. The species is very closely allied to two 

 others in my collection, — one from Trinidad, which I take to be the 

 Saltator maculipecius ; and the other from Bogota, which I consider 

 to be probably $. striatipectus of Lafresnaye. The three species, 

 however, are so closely allied, that it is possible that one of M. de 

 Lafresnaye's descriptions may be intended for the present bird. 



The Saltator isthmicus may be distinguished from the Trinidad 

 bird by the less-pure white on the throat and belly, the more-regular 

 flammulations of the lower surface, and its uniform black bill. The 

 Bogotan (S. striatipectus) is much darker on the breast and head, 

 and has much less olivaceous in its coloration. The point of the 

 bill is, likewise, pale in the latter bird. 



On the Affinities of Bal^eniceps. 

 By A. D. Bartlett. 



On appearing before you this evening with new evidence of the 

 affinities of this bird, and in endeavouring to aid in settling a subject 

 so long disputed and frequently discussed, I beg to refer, first, to 

 the elaborate and carefully written paper by Mr. Parker, in which 

 this bird, after the most careful examination and comparison of its 

 bones, is considered to be an Ardeine. 



I have, then, to observe that, from an entirely different course of 

 examination, and by the consideration of its other structures, I have 

 arrived at the same conclusion ; and I hope, with the assistance of 

 my friend Mr. Stewart, to prove to the satisfaction of our ornitho- 

 logical friends, that there is no longer any doubt in the matter. 



The death of the survivor of the two birds brought home by 

 Mr. Consul Petherick has afforded me the opportunity of making a 

 more accurate examination of its structure; and this has led me to 



