TERENUEA. 213 



TERENUEA. 



Teremra, Cabanis & Heine, Mns. Hein. ii. p. 11 (1859) ; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 257. 



Terenura is a peculiar genus of doubtful affinities, but remarkable for the bright 

 colours of its members. These colours (black, bright yelloW, chestnut, and olive), it is 

 true, are all to be found in different species of Formicariidse, but in Terenura alone are 

 they associated in a single bird. 



Cabanis and Heine, who founded the genus, placed it between Jiamphoccenus and 

 Ellipura {^Formicivora), and in this position it was left by Mr. Sclater. We cannot 

 see that it has much in common with either of these forms, which, diflFereut as they are, 

 both possess well-defined rictal bristles, not a trace of which can we see in Terenura. 

 Mr. Sclater speaks of the presence in the latter genus of a slightly membranous nasal 

 operculum such as is found in Ehamphoccerjbus, but the specimens of Terenura callinota 

 before us have open nostrils without any overhanging membrane. 



On the whole, and in the absence of any information as to the habits of any species of 

 Terenura, we are inclined to place the genus near Myrmoilierula, notwithstanding the 

 difference of coloration and the much longer tail. 



The bill is longer than that of Myrmotlierula surinamensis, but is otherwise very^ 

 similar. The wings are decidedly longer and less rounded. The tarsi are covered 

 behind with large scutella, the sutures of which are, however, rather indefinite. 



Four or five species constitute the genus Terenura, all more or less rare birds. These 

 are distributed over a wide area of Tropical America — one or two in South-eastern 

 Brazil, one in Guiana, one in Eastern Ecuador, and T. callinota, a western and north- 

 western bird the range of which is given below. 



1. Terenura callinota. 



Formicivora callinota, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 89, t. 96\ 



Terenura callinota, Tacz. Orn. Per. ii. p. 52 ^ ;, Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 237 ^ 



Supra viridi-olivacea, pileo et nucha nigris, loris et supsrciliis cinereo-albicantibus, dorso postico laete castaneo 

 plumis quibusdam nigris superne marginato ; alls et cauda nigrioantibus olivaoeo limbatis ; teotricibus 

 alarum nigris flavo-albido terminatis,.campterio, humeris et subalaribus flavissimis : subtus a mento usque 

 ad pectus cinerea, abdomine flavicante : rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigricantibus, mandibula pallida. 

 Long, tota 4-0, alse ■2'0, caudse 1'63, rostri a rictu 0'5, tarsi 0-57. (Descr. maris ex Veraguas, Panama. 

 Mus. nostr.) 



5 supra viridi-olivacea ; subtus flava, pileo fusoo-olivaceo, urppygio Isetissime rufo, gula albida, pectore cinera- 

 scente. (Taezanowski, I. s. c.^) 



Bab. Panama, Veraguas (Arce^). — Colombia ^ ; Ecuadoe ^ ; Peeu^.^ , 



This pretty species was described and figured in 1855 by Mr. Sclater from a specimen 

 (a -trade skin from Bogota) in the British Museum i- We have since seen other 

 examples from the same country. Buckley obtained a bird of the same species near 

 Nanegal in Ecuador, and one was sent us from the State of Panama by our collector 

 Arce after the second list of his birds, published in 1870, was issued. All these birds 



