DENDRbRNTS.— XIPHOCdLAPTES. I83 



The first specimen- obtained of this fin« species was probably that brought to 

 Washington by Lieut. Michler from the Isthmus of Darien i. To this bird Cassin did 

 not give a name, nor did Mr. Lavsrence to M'Leannan's first specimens from the Isthmus 

 of Panama 2; but the latter ornithologist subsequently ^ described M'Leannan's speci- 

 mens, and the bird has since been traced through the State of Panama and Costa Rica 

 to the Mosquito coast ^ and the Nicaraguan province of Chontales ^. 



The species is a very distinct one without near allies, the definite tear-shaped spots 

 of the anterior portion of the body forming a prominent feature in its coloration. We 

 figure one of M'Leannan's specimens. 



XIPHOCOLAPTES. 



Xiphocolaptes, Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 269 ; Ridgway, Pr. TJ.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 1 (5tli Feb., 

 1890) ; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 142. 



Xiphocolaptes is a large form of Dendrornis with similar structural characters, but 

 with a long strong bill, the gonys of which is slightly decurved as in Picolapfes. Its 

 range extends from Southern Mexico to the Argentine Republic. 



The number of species contained in it is very variously estimated. Mr. Sclater admits 

 five, whilst Mr. Ridgway recognized twelve species and subspecies. As we are now 

 treating, according to our views, with only one valid species, this great difference of 

 opinion must be tested by an examination of a large series of specimens from South 

 America — aground we must not trespass upon here. 



1. Xiphocolaptes emigrans. 



Xiphocolaptes albicoUis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 202 (nee Vieill.) ^. 



Xiphocolaptes emigrans, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 118''; Ex. Om. p. 69, t. 35 '; Cab. & Heine, 



Mus. Hein. ii. p. 36* j Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 554 ' ; La Nat. v. p. 248 ° ; 



Sanchez, An. Mus. Nac. Mex. i. p. 97^; Ridgway, Pr. U. S, Nat. Mus. xii. p. 7"; Scl. 



Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 145 '. 

 Xiphocolaptes sclateri, Ridgway, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 6 " j Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. 



p. 143 ". 

 Xiphocolaptes emigrans costaricensis, Ridgway, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 8 ". \ 



Supra brunneus, capite obscuriore et cum cervioe postica striis angustis rhachidalibus cervino-albidis notatis, 

 uropygio, secundariis extus et cauda ferrugineis ; subtas brunneus, gula albicante, capitis lateribus, cervice 

 et pectore striis rhachidalibus albidis, subcaudaHbus qnoque indistincte striatis ; alis subtus cinnamomeis 

 fusco terminatis, subalaribus cervinis nigro maculatis : rostro corneo, pedibus plumbeis. Long, tota 12'0, 

 alsB 5-5, caudse 4'4, rostri a rictu 2'3, tarsi 1'3. (Descr. exemp. typ. ex Guatemala. Mus. Brit.) 



$ mari similis. 



Av. juv. Striis capitis latioribus, pectore nigro maculato, abdomine et tibiis nigro transfasciatis. 



Hah. Mexico, Orizaba ^^ [Sumichrast % Vera Cruz {Sanchez ''), La Parada (Mebotich 9), 

 Omilteme in Guerrero (Mrs. E. H. Smith), Oaxaca [Fenechio ^), Tonaguia in 

 Oaxaca {M. Trujillo) ; Beitish Hokdueas {Blancaneaux ®) ; Guatemala, Pine-ridge 



