276 



I first observed specimens of this curious bird in the Derby Mu- 

 seum at Liverpool. They were procured in Honduras by Delattre, 

 and an excellent example from the same source is in the British 

 Museum. A single specimen in my own collection was obtained, 

 with other birds, by Mr. Joseph Leyland in the vicinity of Omoa at 

 the extremity of the Bay of Honduras. I know of no other Ame- 

 rican form which much resembles it in plumage or in structure, and 

 am rather puzzled as to its proper arrangement in the Natural 

 System. It must however, I think, come within the limits of the 

 family Turdidce, and for the present I am rather inclined to place it 

 along with the Mock-birds (Mimince), with the general structure of 

 some of which it seems most nearly to accord, except in the absolute 

 want of any signs of rictal bristles, whence I have called it glabri- 

 rostris, 



Mr. Leyland informs me, with regard to this bird at Omoa, that 

 he believes it is rare there, as he only saw one other individual du- 

 ring his stay. It frequents the low thick bushes. 



Further information concerning the difference of the sexes, habits 

 and internal structure of this interesting bird are requisite, before its 

 true position can be satisfactorily established. 



10. LlPAUGUS RUFESCENS. 



Rufescenti-brunneus, subtus clarior, capite et pectore subtilissime 

 nigro, vittas obsoletas formante, transfasciatis : pennarum 

 maculis apicalibus rotundis in pectore et ventre medio et in 

 crisso sparsis, nigris : remigibus nigricantibus intus et extus 

 rufo marginatis : alarum tectricibus superioribus rufs nigro 

 variegatis, inferioribus rufs, fascia axillari crocea : Cauda uni- 

 colore, rufescenti-brunnea : gula et crisso pure rufs : rostro 

 nigricante, pedibus fuscis . 

 Long, tota 5 - 7, alae 4"4, caudse 3 - 3. 



Hab. In rep. Guatimalensi prope urbem Coban {Delattre). 

 Mus. Britannico et Derbiano. 



I examined an example of this bird with much care during an in- 

 spection of some of the riches of the Derby Museum at Liverpool, 

 two years ago, and attached to it the MS. name which I now pub- 

 lish. Through the kindness of Mr. Thomas Moore I have lately 

 had the opportunity of studying it a second time. Mr. G. R. Gray 

 has obligingly pointed out to me a stuffed specimen in the British 

 Museum, which is evidently the adult of this species, that in the 

 Derby Museum being in an immature state ; and I have therefore 

 modified my original description, so as to render it applicable to the 

 more perfect bird. In the younger stage the marking on the wings 

 is not so decided, and the characteristic black spots on the breast, 

 belly and crissum, and the axillary tufts, are absent. The specimen 

 in the British Museum was procured from MM. Verreaux, and is 

 labeled with the MS. name " Lathriosoma typicum, Bp." It is not 

 however necessary to create a new generic name for this bird, as it 

 certainly cannot be separated from Lipaugns hypopyrrhus (Vieill.), 



