SYNALLAXIS. 149 



2. SynaUaxis pudica. (Tab. XLIV. fig. 2.) 



Synallascis pudica, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 191 ' ; Ibis, 1873, p. 373 ' j Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. 



p. 45^ Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 354 ^ 1879, p. 521 "; Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 110"; 



Boucard, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 59'; Nutting, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 404°; Ridgw. Pr. U. 



S. Nat. Mus. X. p. 590'. 

 SynaUaxis irunneicaudalis, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 319 (nee Scl.) '°. 

 SynaUaxis nigrifumosa, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 180", ix. p. 105"; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, 



p. 143 " ; Prantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 304 ^\ 

 SynaUaxis brachyurus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 290 " ; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 322 ". 



Supra murino-brunnea, vertice et tectricibus alarum cum remigibus in pogonio externo ad basin (duobus 

 externis exceptis) leete rufis ; fronte et corpore subtus saturate cinereis, abdomine medio paUidiore, gula 

 sericea albido indistinote variegata ; hypochondriis murinis, subalaribus cinnamomeis : rostro et pedibus 

 plumbeo-nigricantibus, mandibula medialiter albicante. Long, tota 6-5, alae 2-15, caudse rectr. med. 3'0, 

 rectr. lat. 1-0, rostri a rictu 0'7. (Descr. maris ex Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.) 

 2 mari similis. 



Av. juv. supra omnino murinus, vertice dorso concolore, subtus albicantior. 



Hah, Honduras, Segovia river [C. H. Townsend^); Nicaeagua, Chontales {Belt^), 

 Greytown [Holland i^), Los Sabalos {Nutting ^) ; Costa Rica ^'^, Peje, Pacuar ^^ [Car- 

 miol), Naranjo {Boucard''); Panama, Chiriqui (^rce), Lion HiW {McLeannan'^'^'^). 

 — Colombians. Ecuadoe^ 



This species was described from Colombian specimens, one in the British Museum 

 and one in Mr. Sclater's collection i. Others have since been sent from Western 

 Ecuador, the Cauca Valley ^, and Central America, as far north as the Segovia Eiver 

 in Honduras ^ and the district of Chontales in Nicaragua ^. The more northern birds 

 were separated by Mr. Lawrence as S. nigrifumosa n^, the chestnut colour of the crown 

 and wings being said to be a little darker than that of typical S. pudica, and the other 

 colours darker and of different shades. These supposed differences seem to be hardly 

 borne out when a large series is examined, and are not more than can be accounted 

 for by differences of sex and age of plumage. Thus an adult example from the Balzar 

 Mountains in Western Ecuador resembles one from Panama, being only very slightly 

 paler on the abdomen. 



There is a question as to the name this bird should bear ; for it is quite possible 

 S. brachyura, Lafr. ^s, is applicable to it. This title was founded upon three immature 

 birds with imperfect tails, now in the Collection of the Museum of Natural History at 

 Boston. When Salvin examined them in 1874 n^, he was inclined to believe them to be 

 of the same species as Mr. Sclater's S. pudica, but the types being young and defective 

 he thought the latter name had best be retained for the species, and this is still our 

 impression. 



Mr. Nutting, who observed S. pudica at Los Sabalos in Nicaragua, says * it is very 

 Wren-like in its habits, and is found hopping about thick bushes or brush heaps. 

 Kegarding its notes, he says that they resemble those of a Wren, being loud, varied, 



