508 iNFr. P. K. l-nnvc — 0/)servatio)is 



CCEREBA LUTEOLA MAJOR. (PI. VIIJ. fig. 2.) 



Certhiola lutcola Cab. Mas. llciu. i. 1850, p. 90 (Puerto 

 Cabcllo and Ciimana, Venezuela; Cartagena, Columbia; 

 Coll. Berlin Mus.). 



Certhiola major Cab. jNIus. Ilein. i. 1830, p. 90. 



Hab. Caribbean coast district of Columbia and Venezuela; 

 Margarita Island; Penins\;la of Cariaco ; Central Venezuela 

 {e.g. Altagracias, Ciudad Bolivar), and S. Esteban, Vene- 

 zuela. 



Specimens examined. Sixteen adults in (x)ll. Brit. Mus. ; 

 six in Coll. P. P. L. ; ten adults in Coll. Tring. 



It may be pointed out tbat tins species was first described 

 from Cnmana and Puerto Cabello, tbat is from very dry 

 and arid coast districts overgrown willi cactus and mimosa 

 scrub. Birds from ^Margarita Island and tbe deserts of tlie 

 Cariaco Pcui\isnla agree with typical birds in their pale 

 coloration as compared with birds taken in the monntainons 

 interior of Veneznela, which are deci)er in colour and also 

 have larger measurements. 



C. luteola major (Cab. j\Ius. Ilein. i. 1850, p. 9G). — Owing 

 to the kindness of Dr. Reichenow I liave been enabled to 

 examine the type specimen (ad. ($ 8164', Guiana, Coll. 

 Schombiirgk, Coll. j\lus. Berlin) of this very doubtful 

 species. 



At the present time the black coloration of the pileum, 

 mantle, and scapulars is tinged Avitli brown ; but it must 

 be noted that the bird has been mounted and exposed to 

 the light. The rump-patch is also more olive-yellow and 

 extends further up the back than in typical C. luteola. and 

 the yellow of the under parts is richer with a tinge of olive 

 as in Trinidad examples of that species. On the other 

 liaud, the specimen might equally be regarded as cue of 

 C. ffuianensis. but with a wing-spot, or as an intermediate 

 or mongrel example on the boundary-line of the two 

 species. 



It is interesting, as bearing on this last statemeut, to 

 note that Sclater aud Salvin (P. Z. S. 1867, p. 570) called 

 attention to a bird from Cobati, Rio Negro, Mhich ''shows 



