Nov. 1907. BIRDS FROM GUATEMALA DEARBORN. 



93 



95. Centurus santa=cruzi Bonaparte. 



The type of Centurus santa-cruzi was described* from a collection 

 made "during a fortnight's scientific tour in Guatemala." In the 

 same lot of skins with the type of C. santa-cruzi, were Cyanocitta 

 stelleri coronata, a bird of the highlands, above 4,000 feet, and Ortalis 

 leucogaster, which is peculiar to the tierra caliente of the Pacific slope. 

 The presumption is, that the type, which was evidently a female 

 judging from the description "capite et cor pore subtus griseo- 

 olivaceis" came from the interior or from the south coast, as a 

 two weeks' visit in those days would scarcely be sufficient for crossing 

 the continent while collecting 39 species of birds. The original 

 description does not well apply to the Pacific coast form, which is 

 Nelson's fumosus. 



Of this interior form, eight specimens were secured: four from 

 El Rancho, two from Lake Atitlan, one from Lake Amatitlan, and 

 one from Patulul. Those from El Rancho are decidedly larger than 

 any of the others, as may be seen from the appended measurements. 



There is considerable color variation on the under parts, some 

 being darker than others, but excepting this they are quite uniform. 

 This species was found most abundant about El Rancho, where it 

 frequents, almost exclusively, the tree cactus, Cereus. They are 

 noisy birds, both vocally and mechanically, spending most of their 

 time either drumming or uttering their harsh cries. Iris of male 

 crimson, of female brown; bill black; feet horn color. 



96. Centurus santa=cruzi pauper Ridgway. 



Two topotypes of this subspecies from Truxillo, Honduras, were 

 kindly loaned by the authorities at the Smithsonian Institution for 

 comparison with specimens in this Museum. One specimen collected 

 at Los Amates evidently belongs to this form. We also possess two 

 skins from Belize that are typical. The range of this form, then, 

 appears to be the low country adjacent to the Caribbean Sea and 

 extending through Belize, Guatemala, and, at least, a large part of 

 Honduras. It is not a very well defined variety, judging from the 



*Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 116. 



