Descriptions of New Species of American Birds. 4S1 



" Pyrgisoma kieneri Bp. Conspectus, 486, differs in being 

 larger than biarcuatum, with stouter bill, instead of being of 

 ranch the same form, the cheeks are said to be immaculate 

 rufous, not olive ; and having a black pectoral spot. 



"This bird appears strictly congeneric with Pyrgisoma hiar- 

 cuatum and little if any different from Pipilo chlorura ; 

 Atlapetes is also very similar in general appearance ; I am not 

 at present prepared, however, to attempt any critical investi- 

 gation of the true generic character of these species." 



Remarks. — Since Prof. Baird's notes were written many 

 specimens of P. kieneri have been received at the Smith- 

 Inst. ; these are not larger than biarcuatum, as described by 

 Bon. but smaller, as stated by Mr. Cassin, Proc. Phil. Acad. 

 1S65, p. 169, who considers it " clearly distinct from P. 

 Ilia i citatum" not identical with that species as given by Mr. 

 Oabanis, J, f. O., I860, p. 412. Unfortunately I have no 

 specimen of biarcuatum with which to compare, but Prof. 

 Baird says Xantusi and that species are similar in size, viz. 

 7j in., whereas kieneri measures fresh but (U in., the ear 

 coverts differ in all, being white in biarcuatum, rufous in 

 kieneri, and olive gray in xantusi; biarcuatum is said to have 

 the breast spotless, while kieneri has a broad lunate black 

 band across the breast, and xantusi has only a small partly 

 concealed pectoral spot. 



Several specimens of Melozone leucotis, Cab., are before me; 

 these are so different in markings that no comparison with 

 that species is necessary ; this Mr. Cabanis considers congeneric 

 with biarcuatum, putting both in Mdozone, but Mr. Cassin 

 says, in his opinion, it is not of the same genus as biarcuatum 

 and kieneri. 



19. Dendi'orB&is mentalis, Baird, MS. 



"This species has a very close resemblance to P. eburneirostris 

 in the reddish brown wings, tail and rump, the central brownish 

 yellow shaft streaks of the feathers of back and belly becoming 



