182 Zoological Society : — 



diverging extremities, which cover the edge of the occipitals ; tips of 

 hght-coloured scales black. On the sides of the body some irregular 

 black spots, which, on the posterior part of the body, form an un- 

 interrupted narrow line. 



The specimen described was sent to me from Caunavieras, which 

 is to the south of the city of Bahia. It is now in the British Mu- 

 seum. According to information received from Dr. Albert Giinther, 

 this is a new species, belonging to the genus Geophis of Wagler. I 

 propose to name it after him, in acknowledgment of his unremitting 

 kindness in aiding my endeavours to become acquainted with the 

 Brazilian Ophidians. 



Bahia, February 11th, 1861. 



Characters of some New Species of American Passeres. 

 By Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., Secretary to 

 THE Society. 



1. POLIOPTILA BUFFONI. 



Figuier h tete noire de Cayenne, Buff. PI. Enl. 704. — Motacilla 

 ccervlea, Gm. — Polioptila leucogastra, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 12 

 {partim) . 



Plumbea, subtus alba : pileo toto, alts et cauda nigris : tectricum 



alarum majorum marginibus externis, secundariorum pogoniis 



externis, caudcB rectricibus duabus extimis et tertia ex majore 



parte albis : rostro et pedibus nigris, illius tomiis pallidioribus. 



Long, tota 4*0, alae 1*9, caudse 1"8, rostri a rictu 0*6 poll, et dec. 



Hab. In Guiana et Nova Granada int. 



Mus. P. L. S. 



Obs. Similis P. leucogastree ex Brasilia, sed minor, et rostro lon- 

 giore, rectrice extima omnino alba, et harum secunda et tertia fere 

 usque ad basin albis dignoscenda. 



2. Troglodytes hypaedon. 



"Troglodytes aedonf.," Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 363, 372; 

 Sclater et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 9. 



Similis T. aedoni ex America boreali, sed colore corporis subtus 

 omnino brunnescenti-rufo ; lateribus corporis saturatioribus, rufis, 

 neque transfasciatis : crisso nigro transvittato. 



Hab. In Mexico ineridionali et Guatemala. 



Mus. P. L. S. 



This Wren, which I have heretofore not separated from T. aedon, 

 is certainly as distinct from that bird as T. Parkmanni and other 

 recognized species. It is in fact more nearly allied to T. furvus of 

 South America than to the northern form ; but differs also from the 

 T. furvus in the deeper colouring of the under surface, the throat 

 and belly of the latter species being medially of a nearly pure white. 



3. Basileuterus uropygialis. 



Olivaceus, capite cinerascente : superciliis, oculorum ciliis et cor- 



