from Central Nicaragua. 3.25 



us a series of skins from Matagalpaandits neighbourhood, in 

 the Republic of Nicaragua. As several species are repre- 

 sented in this collection which are of considerable interest 

 as regards their distribution, we lose no time in writing the 

 following notes concerning them, leaving a fuller account for 

 a future occasion. 



Matagalpa is situated at an elevation of about 4O0O feet 

 above the sea, at some distance to the north-eastward of the 

 Lake of Managua. The surrounding mountains attain a 

 considerably higher elevation, and this fact, as also the 

 presence at no great distance of dense forest spreading to 

 the lowlands, brings about an interesting state of affairs as 

 regards the ornithology of the district. The highlands, con- 

 nected as they are with the highlands of Guatemala, are 

 inhabited by a number of the upland birds of the countries 

 lying to the northward, while in sight of them, as it were, 

 are the lowland birds belonging to the southern fauna, and 

 found here at nearly their extreme northern limit, as the 

 upland species are at their extreme southern limit. Unfor- 

 tunately, as yet, we have no notes of the physiography of 

 this district, and none of the limits of the forests and open 

 country, l)ut we can see that it is a district that requires 

 closely mapping with regard to these points, and the result 

 would, we feel sure, explain the peculiarities of the orni- 

 thology as exhibited by the collection now before us. 



Fam, Certhiid.e. 



There is a single specimen of Certhia in the collection 

 which is rather whiter on the under surface than Guatemalan 

 examples attributed to (7, mexicana. \ The presence of Certhia 

 in Nicaragua shows a considerable extension of its southern 

 range. 



Fam. Mniotiltid.e. 



Of this family the following species are represented, all 

 of which have hitherto been recorded only from more 

 northern localities, viz.: — Detidrmca occidentalis, D. chry- 

 soparia, D. toivnsendi, and Peucedramus olivaceus. All of 

 these agree accurately with northern examples. There is 



