Vol. 5, p. 287-292. June 14, 1930. 



Occasional Papers 



OF THE 



Boston Society of Natural History. 



REVISIONS OF TWO CENTRAL AMERICAN BIRDS. 

 BY LUDLOW GRISCOM. 



The present paper contains two more cases where the proper 

 identification of a certain species in the Dwight Collection has 

 involved an extended revision of other extralimital forms, 

 based on material primarily in the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology, which institution also possesses the types of most of 

 the new races diagnosed. 



The Races of Claravis mondetoura (Bonaparte). 



One of the rarest and most beautiful of New World Doves is 

 Claravis mondetoura (Bonaparte). The very few Central Ameri- 

 can records all come from the cloud forest in the subtropical 

 zone, but the species is as yet unrecorded between Guatemala 

 and Costa Rica, and in eastern Panama, though it will undoubt- 

 edly be found in time. It follows, however, that like many 

 other species of the same life-zone, it is broken up into isolated 

 colonies, and when specimens from these various colonies are 

 compared, trenchant differences are disclosed, even with very 

 limited material. 



Years ago Salvadori and Salvin & Godman commented on 

 certain differences between Mexican and Guatemalan specimens 

 and others from South America. They were not interested in 

 racial variation, and preferred to wait for Costa Rica and 

 Panama material, before describing a second 'species.' Ridgway 

 confirmed these differences, and recorded still others, but took 

 no action, as his material was also faulty. Additional specimens 

 merely serve to indorse these various racial characters. Thanks 

 to the authorities of the Museums in New York and Cambridge, 

 I have before me the largest and the most representative series 

 geographically ever assembled. It is far from satisfactory, 



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