Plate XXXIX. 



GEOTRYGON CHIRIQUENSIS. 



(WHITE-FACED GEOUND-PIGEON). 



Geotrygon cMriquensis 



i> >> 



Peristera mexicana . 

 Feristera alhifacies 

 Oeotrygon alhifacies . 



Sclater, P.Z.S. 1856, p. 143 ; 1857, p. 206. 



Bp. C. E. xliii. p. 943, (1856). 



Q. E. G-ray, List of Spec, in B. M. iii. p. 15, (1844). 



G. E. Gray, List of Spec, of Columbae, in B. M. p. 55, (1856). 



Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 401. 



Supra castaneo-brunneus, interscapnlio purpurascente ; pUeo summo ccerulescenti-griseo, facie tota albicante : 

 subtus grisescenti-cinnamomeus, gula et ventre medio lactescenti-albis : gutturis plumis angustatis, colorem plumarum 

 inferiorem obscurum ostendentibus ; remigibus alarum subtus obscure schistaceis ; tectricibus subalaribus cinnamomeis 

 castaneo tinctis ; cauda supra dorso fere concolore, subtiis plumbescente tincta, apice brunnescentiore : rostro nigro 

 pedibus rubellis: long, tota 1V5, alsB 6'2, caudse 3'7, tarsi 1'6. — FcB?n. mari similis, sed paulo minor. 



Hah. Chiriqui (Bridges): G-uatemala (Sahin): Mexico, merid. Jalapa (Salle). 



In the year 1856 Mr. Sclater described a species of Geotrygon.^ which formed part of a 

 small collection of bu'ds made by the late Mr. Bridges, in the vicinity of the town of David, 

 in Chiriqui, and subsequently recognized the same bird in one of M. SalM's collections from 

 S. Mexico. 



Both of these specimens were unfortunately lost sight of, and when the bird was afterwards 

 obtained in Guatemala by Mr. Salvin, the name alhifacies.^ taken from Mr. G. E. Gray's MS. 

 in the British Museum, was applied to it. Other elements of confusion were introduced into 

 the nomenclature of this species by Mr. Sclater having described in the " Proceedings" of the 

 Zoological Society for 1858, Leptoptila alhifrons^ under the name Geotrygon alhij'acies., and by 

 Prince Bonaparte having, in one of his fugitive papers, published in the " Comptes Eendus," 

 miswritten Mr. Gray's manuscript name of the present bird " alhifrons." 



' ■^- We trust that the accompanying figure of this well-marked species will prevent further 

 errors on the subject. 



Geotrygon cMriquensis appears to be widely distributed throughout Central America, 

 from Chiriqui to Jalapa in Mexico. We have already mentioned the authorities for its 

 occurrence at these extreme limits of its range, as at present known to us. In Guatemala, Messrs. 

 Salvin and Godman met with it abundantly in the forests of the eastern slope of the Volcan 

 de Fuego, at an elevation of from 6000 to 7000 feet, though it is also occasionally met with 



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