FOEMICAEITJS. 233 



a. Macula loralis alba, tectrices auriculares parte distali rufa. 

 1. Formicarius moniliger. 



Formicarius moniliger, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 294 ^ ; 1859, p. 383 ' ; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 303 ' ; 



Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 353*; P. Z. S. 1866, p. 75 ' ; Sumiclirast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. 



p. 556 ' ; La Nat. v. p. 248 \ 



Fumarius* pallidus, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sc. ii. p. 288 ^ Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 450'. 



Supra brunneus, pileo obscuriore, cervice postica et tectricibus supraeaudalibus rafescentioribus, loris mgris 

 macula subtriangulari alba notatis ; capitis laterum parte postica (dimidio distali tectricum auricularium 

 ineludente), eervicis lateribus et torque gutturali saturate rufis, area infra oculos (auricularium parte 

 proxima ineludente') et gula nigris : corpore subtus reliquo cinerescenti-brunneo medialiter pallidiore ad 

 ventrem imum albicante, tectricibus subcaudalibus rufo-brunneis ; cauda rufo-brunnea nigro terminata, 

 subalaribus minoribus cervinis nigro terminatis, majoribus fere omnino nigris, remigibus ad basin ia 

 pogonio intemo cervinis: rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long, tota-7-0, ate 3-3, cauds 2-0, rostri a 

 rictu 1-05, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. exempl. ex E. de la Pasion, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 5 mari simiUs. 



Eah. Mexico, Cordova [SalW^), Cerro de la Defensa near Potrero {Sumichrast^''), 

 Atoyac {Mrs. H. H. Smith), Playa Vicente (Boucard % Tizimin in Northern 

 Yucatan [Gaumer^); British Honduras, Cayo [Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala, 

 Forests of Vera Paz, Chisec*. Kampamac, Choctum, &c. {0. S. & F. D. G.}, 

 Tactic {Sarg). 



Formicarius moniliger was discovered by M. Salle near Cordova, in the Mexican 

 State of Vera Cruz, and was described by Mr. Sclater in 1856 ^ Sumichrast says that 

 it inhabits the interior of the great woods of the hot region of that State, being common 

 at Cerro de la Defensa near Potrero, reaching an altitude of 2600 feet and upwards 

 above the level of the sea^. M. Boucard also found it at Playa Vicente in the same 

 State, and Mr. Herbert Smith at Atoyac, near the foot of the mountains between Vera 

 Cruz and the .plateau. 



The Yucatan bird was separated by Mr. Lawrence as F. pallidus ^, birds from that 

 country, as the name implies, being unusually pale in general colour, a very common 

 feature in many forms of the birds of Yucatan. This contrast of colour is quite apparent 

 when specimens from that country are placed side by side with the typical form ; but 

 the difference seems to be of much less value when Guatemalan and British Honduras 

 examples are mingled in the series, and it is undesirable to make any separation. 



Sumichrast says ^ that F. moniliger is a shy bird. Its cry as heard at a distance is a 

 series of ascending notes, not unlike, though more sonorous than, those of Catherpes 

 mexicanus. It is almost always to be seen on the ground, turning over with its beak 

 the dry leaves or the moss in search of insects. 



* Corrected to Formicarius in the Index to the Volume. 



BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. II., March 1892. 30 



