THAMNISTES. 205' 



THAMNISTES. 



Thamnistes, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 299 ; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 315. 



This genus contains two, perhaps three or even four, closely allied species, one of 

 which is widely spread in our country from Eastern Guatemala to the State of Panama ; 

 another is found in Eastern Ecuador, and a third, if distinct, in Peru ; the fourth is the, 

 bird described by Count Salvador! (Atti Soc. Ital. vii. p. 154) as T. affinis, a bird we do 

 not know, and not referred to in Mr. Sclater's Catalogue. There is little to separate 

 Thamnistes structurally from Thamnophilus ; the bill in the type is rather wider at the 

 base than is usual in Thamnophilus, but this character is hardly maintained in T. cequa- 

 torialis, and the fullness of the feathers of the lower back, upon which Mr. Sclater 

 divides the two genera, is not a very tangible character and does not distinguish 

 Thamnistes from all species of Thamnophilus. In coloration, however, the genus is 

 very peculiar, being destitute of marks either longitudinal or transverse, except an 

 indistinct superciliary streak. The concealed dorsal patch so frequently present in 

 male Formicariidse is found in Thamnistes, but instead of being white as is the case in 

 nearly every other instance, it is of a pale chestnut colour. On the whole we think it 

 best to keep Thamnistes distinct from Thamnophilus, especially in view of the probable 

 subdivision of the latter genus at some future date. It is, however, more nearly allied 

 to some sections of Thamnophilus than they are to one another. 



1. Thamnistes anabatinus. (Tab. L. fig. 1, s .) 



Thamnistes anabatinus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 299 ' ; Ibis, 1860, p. 399 ' ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. 

 N. Y. ix. p. 107'; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 194*; Zeledon, An. Mus. Nac. Costa Rica, 1887, 

 p. 114'; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 216 ^ 



Olivascenti-brunneus, subtus dilutior ; superciliis gula concoloribiis macula postociilari obscura ; alis extus 

 rufesceatibus, cauda dilute castanea unicolore ; plaga magna dorsali celata pallide castanea, hoc colore 

 extrorsum nigro marginato : rostro corneo, maxillsB tomia et mandibula pallida, pedibus nigrioantibus. 

 Long, tota 5'5, alas 2-6, caudoe rectr. med. 2*2, rectr. lat. 1-8, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0-8. 



5 mari similis, sed plaga dorsali nuUa. (Descr. maris et feminse exempl. tj'p. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. 

 nostr.) 



Hab. Guatemala, Choctum i, Cahabon, Teleman {0. S. & F. D. Q.) ; Costa Rica, 

 Angostura {CarmioP, Zeledon^), Tucurriqui (Arce, Zeledon ^ ^), Pacuare, Naranjo, 

 de Cartago [Zeledon ^) ; Panama, Bugaba, Calovevora [Arce *). 



The original specimens of this species were obtained in January 1860, in the forest 

 country of Vera Paz lying to the north of Coban, at an elevation of about 1200 feet 

 above the sea-level ^. Others were subsequently secured in the same district, and in 

 the valley of tlie Polochic and Cahabon rivers, these places being the only ones in 

 Guatemala where, so far as we know, the bird occurs. We have no record of its 

 presence in the country situated to the southward of Guatemala until we come to Costa 

 Rica, where it is found on the eastern side of the Cordillera up to an elevation of about 



