Auk 
Oct. 
370 PHELPS, Bzrds observed in Venezuela. 
This species is apparently most nearly related to Svttasomus griseus Jard. 
of Tobago. The latter is doubtless an insular form of the Venezuelan 
bird, from which it differs in having both upper and under parts ‘‘ grayish 
oil-green” and the scapulars [=inner secondaries?], rump and tail 
“brownish orange.” ! : 
Sittasomus oltvaceus (= 8S. erithacus Licht.), as described by Dr. 
Sclater,* closely agrees with the bird here distinguished as Szttasomus 
phelpst. As pointed out by Mr. Ridgway,? however, the Szttasomus 
olivaceus of Sclater includes four distinct species, vz: S. griseus Jard., 
already mentioned, S. amazonus Latr. (Borba, Barra, and Theotonio, 
Brazil), S. chapadensts Ridgw. (Matto Grosso, Brazil), and S. sylvzoides 
Lafr. (Mexico). The list of specimens in the British Museum Catalogue 
shows that Dr. Sclater had examples of most if not all of these species, 
though his description applies to none of them, but to the previously 
unnamed bird, which I have here called Szttasomus phelpsi. Sittasomus 
chapadensis has the back mixed with the rufous of the rump, the wings 
are largely rufous externally, the under parts are tinged with yellowish, 
the under wing-coverts and basal wing-bands are butty. S. amazonus is 
‘‘much grayer” than S. chapadensts, and differs in other respects, while 
S. sylvto¢des has a “uniform brown back,” leaving S. phelps7 as the only 
species in the genus having a clear olive-green back and lower parts, and, 
with the exception of S. griseus, the only one having the basal wing- 
band pale yellowish white instead of butty yellow.—F. M. C. ] 
This species was taken in a high forested valley within a very short 
distance of the Guacharo cave of Humboldt. The following notes were 
taken in the flesh: Length, 7.25; bill, brownish-black with some gray in 
the middle of lower mandible; legs, olivaceous-slate. 
Thamnophilus major albicrissus (Azdgw.). This subspecies was 
described by Mr. Ridgway* from askin presumably from Trinidad. Mr. 
Chapman? says, concerning this form, “A male from El] Pilar, Ven., 
and also one from British Guiana, agree with Trinidad specimens, and 
it is probable that all birds from north of the Amazon should stand as 
Thamnophilus major albicrissus.” Two males and two females in my 
collection agree closely with the Trinidad specimens in the American 
Museum, thus confirming the above statement of the non-insularity of 
this subspecies. 
Thamnophilus cirrhatus (Gm.). Mr. Ridgway* has described Tham- 
nophilus trinitatis from Trinidad. Mr. Chapman® considers this a syn- 
1 Jardine, Ann. & Mag. N. H., XIX, 1847, p. 82. 
? Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XV, 1890, p. I19. 
3 Notes on the genus Sz¢tasomus of Swainson. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, 
1891, pp. 507-510. 
4 Description of Two Supposed New Forms of Zhammnophilus. Proc. U.S. 
Nat. Mus., 1891, XIV, p. 481. 
° Further Notes on Trinidad Birds, with a Description of a New Species of 
Synallaxis. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1895, VII, pp. 321-326. 
