88 Four New Species of Birds from Costa Rica. 



IX. — Descriptions of Four New Species of Birds from 



Costa Rica. 



Bt GEO. N. LAWRENCE. 

 Read December 21, 1874. 



A third instalment of about six hundred specimens of 

 birds was received quite recently at the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, from Prof. W. M. Gabb, in charge of the Talamanca 

 Exploring Expedition, Costa Rica, and forwarded to me for 

 examination. This collection was made by Mr. Juan Cooper, 

 acting zoologist, Mr. Zeledon having retired from that posi- 

 tion on account of failing health. 



The species described below I consider new to science ; 

 they all seem to be rare, as the collection contains but a 

 single example of each. 



1. Cyanocitta argentigula. 



Female The feathers of the front, lores, with those above and below 

 the eye and of the chin are rigid, and of an intense black; crown, hind 

 neck, upper part of back, sides of the neck and the breast black, lower 

 part of back and rump of a dull deep blackish-blue ; the abdomen, sides 

 and under tail coverts are also dull deep blue, but brighter than the back, 

 especially on the sides and under tail coverts ; on the front part of the 

 crown is a cresceutic mark of bluish-white, which becomes narrower 

 along each side of the crown, and extends over the ear coverts as far as 

 the occiput; the feathers of the crown are elongated forming a short 

 crest ; the throat is marked with a sharply defined patch of silvery gray- 

 ish-white, with just a tinge of blue, and is in strong contrast with the 

 black that surrounds it ; this patch widens out a little at its lower extrem- 

 ity, which is on the upper part of the breast; the wings and exposed por- 

 tions of the quill feathers, are of a rich dark cobalt-blue, the inner webs 

 and under surface of the quill feathers are glossy black ; the tail above is 

 colored like the wings, underneath it is glossy black; bill and feet black. 

 Length 103 in-; wing 4| ; tail 5£; bill 1; tarsus 1 5-16. 



Habitat. Costa Rica, Talamanca. Type in National 

 Museum. 



Remarks. This does not much resemble any other species ; 

 in general coloring it is somewhat like C. omata, but the 



