•40 MR. A. BOUCARD ON BIRDS FROM COSTA RICA. [Jan. 15, 



the forest is more dense, and the animal life is very abundant. This 

 is the chief locality for Pharomacrus costaricensis, Panterpe in- 

 signia, Dorycha bryantce, and Turdus nigrescens. 



At the altitude of 8000 feet the forest ceases altogether, and you 

 walk on scoriae and ashes sent from the volcano of Irazu a long time 

 ago. Many small trees and aromatic plants grow in the soil up to 

 the summit of the mountain. 



This is the locality for Selasphorus flammula and & scintilla, which 

 are seen sucking the flowers of mistletoes and heaths. Here also I 

 met with my new species Zonotrichia vulcani. I reached the summit 

 of the volcano, and slept there. On the other side, looking north- 

 west, is the crater, which I have thoroughly explored. 



Rancho redondo is a farm situated on the western slope of the 

 Volcano of Irazu. It is also a good locality for Phainoptila melano- 

 xantha, Eugenes spectabilis, Chasmorhynchus tricarunculatus, and 

 other rare species. 



Atenas is about thirty miles west from San Jose, on the road to 

 Puntarenas. 



San Mateo is on the Pacific slope, at the foot of the Aguacate moun- 

 tain (rich in gold-mines), about thirty-eight miles from the port. The 

 climate is quite tropical. Some of the species found at San Carlos 

 are also met with here. It is also a rich locality for reptiles and 

 insects. 



Barranca is only about half a mile from the sea, and ten miles 

 from Puntarenas. The village is built near the river of the same 

 name. 



Puntarenas is the port. Its name is very appropriate, as it stands 

 on a sandy peninsula extending for about six miles. On one side is 

 the sea, on the other a river ; sometimes the width of this isthmus 

 between the river and the sea is only fifty yards, and never more 

 than one mile. It is excessively hot and unhealthy for a new comer. 

 The vegetation is poor ; but four miles from the town is a fine forest, 

 where animal life is plentiful. 



Altogether Costa Rica has been well explored by MM. Warzewicz 

 Frantzius, Hoffmann, Ellendorf, Carmiol, father and son, Endres, 

 Arce*, Zeledon, Cooper, and others. 



Up to this day 520 species of birds (some doubtful) are recorded 

 as having been collected in that country ; and I feel well satisfied 

 when I think that in a country so well worked up I have been able 

 to obtain several new species and some great rarities — such as both 

 sexes of Phainoptila melanoxantha, a new genus and new species just 

 described by Mr. Osbert Salvin, Carpodectes nitidus ( $ ), Catharus 

 frantzii, Catharus gracilirostris, Turdus nigrescens, Turdus obso- 

 letus, Parula gutturalis, Pezopetes capita/is, Melozone leucotis, 

 Eugenes spectabilis, Selasphorus scintilla, Selasphorus Jlammula, 

 Oreopyra hemileuca, Oreopyra cinereicauda, Panterpe insignis, 

 Conurus hoffmanni, Geotrygon costaricensis, Dendrortyx leucophrys, 

 Ciypturus boucardi, &c. &c. 



The total number of species which I collected is about 250 ; but 

 I worked very hard to obtain this result, and until the time of my 



