500 BIRDS FROM NICARAGUA AND COSTA RICA RICHMOND. 



101. Thamnophilus melaiiocrissus Scl. 



Very common. This species is fouiMl in thickets bordering the forest, 

 in i)atches of bushes in clearings, in chimps otl)aniboo ;dong the banks 

 of streams, and in simihu- phices. It is often seen on the ground in 

 these situations, searching for insect food. The song of this bird is 

 lieard at freciuent intervals during the greater part of the day. The 

 performance is a repetition of notes, rapidly uttered, in one key, with 

 a slight pause after the first and second syllal)les. " Took, took, tu-tu- 

 tu-tu-tu-tu-took, Avah," resembles it about as closely as it is possible to 

 give it in print. The last syllable, '• wall" is very harsh and guttural, 

 and is heard only when one is very close to the bird. When singing, 

 the bird usually seeks a perch above its surronndings, a bamboo, or 

 the toj) of a bush, where it often remains for a considerable length of 

 time, uttering its monotonous notes in answer to those of other indi- 

 viduals of the same species within hearing. It is rather shy under 

 these circumstances, and on being ai^proached drops into the bushes, 

 where it remains perfectly quiet until all danger is over. On other 

 occasions, when in the bushes, although in plain sight, the bird may 

 be approached very closely without its showing any uneasiness. 



The majority of males collected by me on the Escondido have white 

 edgings to the feathers of the under tail coverts, some of them fully as 

 much so as in T. frcoismidcanvs. Si)eciinens in the National Museum 

 from the north coast of Honduras have these feathers plainly edged with 

 white, in one specimen to such an extent as to give it the aj)pearance 

 of T. mclannnis. The wing coverts in all of these specimens are con- 

 spicuously ti])ped with white. 



Iris geranium red ; bill black ; feet and tarsi light plumbeous. 



102. Thamnophilus atrinucha Salv. aud (iodm. 



Three specimens secured on the Escondido. They were all found in 

 the tbrest some distance up in the trees; one of them was at least 80 

 feet from the ground when shot. Sometimes seen with Formicirora 

 honcanJi inspecting the palm leaves, and searching in the masses of 

 rubbish which accumulate in such places. 



Iris brown. 



103. Thamnophilus doliatus(l >i II II.). 



Common. This species inhabits tlie same situations, and its song and 

 habits are very similar to T. mclanocrissus. When anything ha|)])ens 

 to arouse its curiosity or startle it the crest is raised. 



Mr. Cherrie states (Auk, ix, 189li, 250) that this species occurs only 

 on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. It is quite i)robable, however, that 

 the species will be found on the Atlantic coast also, as the bird is com- 

 uum at (Jreytown. 



Irisnoti^d in ditferentsi)e('imens asyellowisli white and greyisli white; 

 feet bluish i)lumbeous. 



