tSgi-] Stoxil oh the Sfecics of Molof/irns. ?47 



This species is exactly like J\I. boHui'ieusis in plumage, but inav be 

 easily distinguished by its large size. Wing, 5.15 to 5.25 in., tail 4.85 

 in., culmen .So in., depth of bill through the nostril .38 in. 



Cassia's description of this species is perfectly clear, but the 

 fact of its being placed in the genus Lampropsar has probably 

 accounted for its not having been recognized. 



Habitat. Colombia and Venezuela. 



Molothrus purpurascens Hahn. 



Xauthornus purpiirasccns IIahn& KiJSTER, Vog. aus Asien.Lief. V, t. 4. 

 Molot/ints purpiirascois Cassin, Proc. A. N. S. Phila. 1866, p. 20. — Scla- 

 TER, P. Z. S. 1869. p. 148; Ibis, 1884, p. 7.— Tacz. Orn. Pcruv. II, 

 p. 422. — ScLATER, Catal. Birds Brit. Mus. XI, p. 337. 

 Adult male, plumage as in M. bonariensis, bill much heavier. Female, 

 uniformly lighter than that of the eastern species. Wing, 4.35 to 4.45 

 in. tail 3.40 in., culmen .82 in., depth of bill through nostril, .40 in. 

 Habitat. Western Peru. 



Molothrus venezuelensis, sp. nov. 



Molothrus discolor Cassin, Proc. A. N. S. Phila, 1866, p. 20; noti Passer- 

 ina discolor ViEiLL. Nouv. Diet. d'H. N. XXXIV, p. 552 ; nou ScL. 

 & Salv. p. Z. S. 1879, p. 509, etc. 



About the sizj and general appearance oi M. bonariensis'bwt \w\\iox\x\ 

 steel blue above with scarcely a trace of purple, beneath dark purple. 

 Bill longer and more slender than in M. boiiariensis and tail longer. Wing 

 4.40 in., tail 3.20 in., culmen, .80 in., depth of bill through nostril .35 

 in. 



Though the distinctly blue shade of the plumage serves to dis- 

 tinguish this species from AT. boiiariensis (or any other species 

 of the group) in the majority of cases, nevertheless, Mr. Ridg- 

 way informs me that some specimens of the latter species approach 

 j\I. venezuelensis very closely in tins respect. The shape of the 

 bill, however, is constantly ditferent. I have seen but two speci- 

 mens of this species, a young male in the Philadelphia Academy 

 collection (No. 3652) labelled (probably erroneously) from Cuba, 

 which is one of the types of Cassin's AI. discolor., and an 

 adidt male in the collection of the U. S. National Museum, "No. 

 SS423, Venezuela. A. Goering. Museum von Berlepsch." 

 The latter may be considered the type specimen. 



