iSS6.] RiDGWAY 071 Nc-v Birds from Sout/ier/i Mexico. ^ ^ I 



Females (presumed and ascertained; two specimens) : Wing, 16.75-18.00 

 (17-37); tail, 7.40-S.40 (7.90); culmen, 2.30-2.35 (2.32); deptli of bill 

 through angle, .80; at base, .83-. 88 (.85) ; tarsus, 2.60-2.72 (2.66) ; middle toe 

 (with claw) 2.68-2.75 (2.71). 



There is apparently no difference in plnmage between the two 

 species in the immature plumages, of which the National Museum 

 collection possesses a good series. in all stages ; but they may be 

 very readily distinguished by the size and shape of the bill, as 

 pointed out above. 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF OYSTER- 

 CATCHER FROM THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. 



BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 



Haematopus galapagensis, sp. nov. 



Sp. Char. — Somewhat similar to H. palliatiis Temm., but differing as 

 follows : Back, scapulars, and wings sooty black (as in H. leucopiis Garn.), 

 instead of grayish brown ; shorter upper tail-coverts entirely black, and the 

 longer ones barred or spotted with black at ends; under primai-y-coverts 

 chiefly black; white of greater wing-coverts and secondaries much more 

 restricted. Wing, 10.00; tail, 3.80-3.90; culmen, 3.12-3.42; depth of bill 

 at thickest portion anterior to nostril, .50; tarsus, 2.12-2.20; middle toe, 

 1.65. (Type, No. 101,319, U. S. Nat. Mus.) 



Habitat. Chatham Island, Galapagos. (Three specimens, collected by 

 Dr. Wm. H. Jones, U. S. N., Surgeon U. S. S. 'Wachusett.') 



PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME NEW SPE- 

 CIES OF BIRDS FROM SOUTHERN MEXICO, 

 IN THE COLLECTION OF THE MEX- 

 ICAN GEOGRAPHICAL AND EX- 

 PLORING COMMISSION. 



BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 



Publication of the annotated catalogue* of the beautiful and 

 unique collection of birds made by the naturalists of the Mexican 



*To be published in Vol IX, 'Proceedings' of the U.S. National Museum, with full 

 descriptions and appropriate critical remarks. The author is indebted to the Director 

 of the National Museum, for his kind permission to publish in advance these 

 condensed diagnoses. 



