XXX 



from beloTV brownish black. Bill and feet black. Wing 

 67 mm., tail (rather abraded) about 46, tarsus 26. 



Cachabi, North Ecuador, 500 feet. 



The two skins before me are both marked " ? /* which 

 may possibly be correct, as in T. punctatus, the nearest 

 known ally to T. cachabiensis, though widely different, the 

 sexes are both black and very much alike. 



AUTOMOLUS NIGRICAUDA, Sp. U. 



(^ . Above dark brown, somewhat more rufous brown on 

 the crown of the head. AYings deep brown, inner webs with 

 rufous edges. Behind the eyes a clearly indicated rufous 

 superciliary line. Ear-coverts dark brown. Throat rufous, 

 lighter on the chin. Rest of under surface brown; flanks 

 and under tail-coverts deeper brown. Under wing-coverts 

 dark rufous. Tail from above black, with a slaty tinge, 

 blackish brown below, this latter character distinguishing 

 this species from all its allies, which have a reddish tail. 

 Wing 90 mm., tail 72, bill 24, tarsus 28. 



Cachabi, North Ecuador, 500 feet. 



POLIOPTILA SCHISTACEIGULA, Sp. U. 



^ . Above slaty grey ; crown of head a little darker. 

 Wings slaty black. Tail black ; some of the outer rectrices 

 with narrow white tips, the extent of which cannot be exactly 

 seen, as the tail-feathers are a little abraded. Chin-feathers 

 white, with slate-coloured bases ; entire throat and fore-neck 

 slate-colour. Under wing-coverts white, slate-colour near 

 the bend ; inner webs of quills with a white margin towards 

 the base. Breast, abdomen, and under tail-coverts white. 

 Wing 50 mm., tail 43, tarsus 16, bill 12. 



Cachabi, North Ecuador, 500 feet. 



Mr. "W. P. Pi'CRAFT exhibited the skulls of the principal 

 forms of the Ster/aaopodes, and pointed out the characters by 

 " which these birds could be distinguished, not only by a com- 

 parison of the skulls, but also of the pelvis, the shoulder- 

 girdle, and other portions of the skeleton. Phaeton appeared 



