MIONECTES. 23 



Mionectes assimilis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 46 '\ 366 " ; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 134 " ; P. Z. S. 

 1870, p. 837"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 328", ix. p. Ill"; Sumiclirast, Mem. 

 Bost. Soe. N. H. i. p. 556 ". 



Olivaceus ; alis et eauda fuseo-nigricantibus, pallida fulvesoenti-viridi extrorstim limbatis : abdomiue et 

 subalaribus fulvis : subtus guttiire et peotore cinerascenti-olivaceis : rostro nigro, mandibulae basi rafe- 

 Bcente; pedibus corylinis. Long, tota 4-8, ate 2-7, oaud[e 2'0, rostri a riotu 0-65, tarsi 0-6. (Desor. 

 maris ex Voloan de Agua, Guatemala. Mua. nostr.) 



$ mari similis. 



Hah. Mexico, Cordova {SalU% Jalapa {de Oca^^, M. Trujillo), hot region of the 

 State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast^'^), Hacienda de los Atlixcos (F. D. G.), Teapa 

 {H. H. Smith) ; British Honduras, Vicinity of Belize {Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala 

 {Skinner ^^), Choctum, Coban, Lanquin, Volcan de Agua above San Diego, Eetal- 

 huleu {0. S. & F. D. G.); Honduras, San Pedro {G. M. Whitely^^); Nicaragua, 

 Los Sabalos {Nutting^); Costa Rica, Angostura, Guaitil, Pacuar {Carmiol^^}, 

 Turrialba {Arce) ; Panama, Chiriqui, Bugaba^jBoquete de Chitra^, Calovevora 8, 

 Santa Fe'^ {Arce), Lion Hill {M'Leannan^ ^^). — 'South America, from Colombia^ 

 to Bolivia \ Amazons valley *, Eastern Brazil ^, and Guiana ^. 



Mr. Sclater separated the Mexican and Guatemalan form of this species under the 

 name of M. assimilis, defining it as of larger size, as having a longer bill, and with the 

 throat and neck more tinged with ash-colour. The difference of dimensions between 

 the northern and southern forms is slight and not more than can be found in a series 

 of either of them. The difference in the colour of the throat is not very pronounced, 

 and though more apparent in northern examples seems to be less evident in those from 

 Costa Rica and the State of Panama, so that the two forms blend so gradually the one 

 into the other that we think they should both pass under the title M. oleagineus. In 

 South America M. oleagineus enjoys a wide range over nearly the whole of the tropical 

 portion of the continent, for it is not until we come to Southern Brazil that we find a 

 race that is perhaps distinct, having a dark grey head and darker fulvous abdomen ; 

 this is the M. rujiventris of Cabanis. 



Little has been recorded of this species. In Guatemala we found it only in the 

 heavily forested country of Vera Paz, where it occurs from near the sea-level to an 

 elevation of upwards of 4000 feet, and on the mountain-slopes stretching towards the 

 Pacific Ocean. In Mexico its range does not extend beyond the forests of the hotter 

 portions of the State of Vera Cruz, and it has not been noticed on the Isthmus of 

 Tehuantepec, though a little further south it occurs at Retalhuleu. 



In British Guiana Mr. H Whitely obtained specimens near the sea-level at Bartica 

 Grove and at an altitude of 3500 feet in the mountains of Roraima. 



