LEPTOPTILA, 263 



L. cassini and its allies constitute the short-tailed group of the genus Leptoptila 

 with a vinous-grey breast. This species was first described from the Eio Truando, and 

 has been since found in the State of Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. M. Boucard '' 

 procured specimens in the valley of San Carlos at an altitude of 5000 feet, and found 

 the bird nesting there in small trees, the male performing the duties of incubation. On 

 the Volcano of Miravalles it was observed in numbers by Mr. U nderwood, and is described 

 as a ground- and forest-loving bird. The eggs are white and two in number. 



8. Leptoptila vinaceiventris. 



Engyptila vinaceiventris, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. p. 583'; Richmond, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mu*. 



xvi. p. 523 \ 

 Leptoptila vinaceiventris, Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 561 '. 



L. cassini simillima, sed paullo pallidior, olivaceo-'brunnea, vix lilacino lavata; collo postioo pallide cineieoj 

 pileo pallide rufescenti-brunneo, fronte dilute vinaceo-cinerea ; prsepectore dilute cinereo ; pectore et 

 abdomine summo pallide vinaceis, einereo lavatis : rostro nigro ; loris et regione orbitali nudis rubris ;• 

 pedibus saturate rubris ; iride fiava. Long, tota circa lO'O, alse 5-3, caudae 3-1, culm. 0*95, tarsi 1-3. 

 (Descr. maris ex La Libertad, Chontales. Mus. Brit.) 



Hab. HoNDUEAS, Truxillo [Townsend ^) ; Nicaragua, La Libertad, Chontales ^, Rio Coco 

 [Ricliardson], Rio Escondido [Richmond ^). 



This form, as Count Salvador! has pointed out, is intermediate between L. cassini 

 and L. cermniventris. The chest is of a lighter grey, and the vinaceous colour of 

 the breast is paler and tinged with grey. One of Mr. Richardson's birds from 

 Chontales was compared by Count Salvadori with the type, and we have another since 

 received from the Rio Coco ; the latter is darker and closely resembles a Miravallea 

 specimen of L. cassini. 



The habits of this species are doubtless similar to those of other members of the 

 genus Leptoptila. 



9. Leptoptila cerviniventris. (Tab. LXVll. fig. 2.) 



Leptoptila sp. ?, Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 355 '. 



Leptoptila cerviniventris, Sol. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 59 ^ Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. xxi. 



p. 561 '. 

 Leptoptila cassini, Schl. (nee Lawr.), Mus. P.-B., Columbje, p. 159 '. 

 L. cassini similis, sed prffipectoris colore cinereo magis restricto, pectore toto et abdomine summo vinaceo- 



cervinis distinguenda. Long, tota circa 8-6, alee 5-3, caudae 3-0, culm. 0-8, tarsi 1-25. (Descr. spec. 



typ. ex Choctum. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. British Honduras, Cayo {Blancaneaux 3) ; Guatemala, Vera Paz {Owen i "-), 

 Choctum {0. S.). 



This is merely a race of X, eassini, very difficult to distinguish from that species and 

 L. vinaceiventris, as the latter is intermediate. The grey on the hind part of the neck, 

 so distinct in L. cassini, is here almost wanting, the grey shade on. the throat and front 



