206 MR. O. SALVIN ON THE BIRDS OF VERAGUA. [Mar. 24, 
reicauda is found only in the mountainous district round Cartago in 
Costa Rica, while O. calolema embraces the range of both these 
species, and extends beyond into the district of Calobre in Veragua. 
Thus, if the females of these species closely resemble one another, 
we ought to find two varieties both around Cartago and Chiriqui, but 
only one in the vicinity of Calobre ; and such to some extent appears to 
be the case. How far the females of O. leucaspis and O. cinereicauda 
differ, I have no means of showing; but I think that the differences 
pointed out above define the females of O. leucaspis and O. calolema. 
On this view the birds which have been called castaneiventris must 
be assigned as follows : — 
O. teucaspis, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 312; Mon. Troch. iv. 
t. 264, Intr. p. 141. Trochilus castanewventris, Gould, P. Z. 8. 
1850, p. 163. Anthocephala castaneiventris, Gould, Mon. Troch. 
iii. t. 203, Intr. p. 115. Metallura castaneiventris, Reich. 
V. de Chiriqui. 
According to the strict law of priority this bird should bear the 
name O. castaneiventris ; but as this title applies only to the female, 
about which so much uncertainty exists, the more recent appellation 
leucaspis is much preferable. 
The different stages of plumage of young males of O. leucaspis 
are very interesting. In some the white throat is only partially 
developed, the rest of the gorget being dark bronzy black. In others 
a few blue feathers are scattered over the white, but are more fre- 
quently seen, even in more adult birds, round the edge of the throat. 
Others, again, have green feathers rather thickly dispersed over the 
white, while the feathers of the crown show every shade from dull 
green to the brilliant coronet of the adult bird. According to Arcé’s 
dissections, not one of these birds is a female; and I believe he is 
right, and that the young males, just as in Hustephanus stokesi, never 
assume, not even in the earliest dress, the female garb. 
O. crneR4EIcAuDA, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 485, et ix. p.125. 
O. castaneiventris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 124 (? partim). 
Mountains of Costa Rica (Carmiol). 
The female of this species probably resembles that of O. Jeucaspis 
very closely. I have not seen any specimens of it as yet. Without 
examining all the Costa-Rica skins which have been called O. cas- 
taneiventris, it would be impossible to say whether females of the two 
Costa-Rica species have been confounded to constitute a third species ; 
but I think it is not improbable. This point can only be settled by 
a reexamination of the skins in question. 
O. cALoLaMaA, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 584, 1867, p. 153; Lawr. 
Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 125. 0. venusta, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. 
vill. p. 484. O. castaneiventris, Salv. P. Z. 8.1867, p.153; Lawr. 
Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 125 (? partim). 
V. de Cartago, Candelaria, Costa Rica; V. de Chiriqui, Cordillera 
de Tolé, Calovevora, Cordillera del Chucu, Veragua. 
