240 FOEMICAEIID^. 



a. GrallaricB reges, majores. 



1. Grallaria guatemalensis. 



Grallaria guatemalensis, Pr^vost^ Voy. Venus, Zool. p. 199, Atl., Ois. t. 4 ^ ; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, 



p. 119'; Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 354'; Scl. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xv. p. 313*. 

 Grallaria guatemalensis?, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xiv. p. 470 °. 



Supra olivaceo-bnmnea, plumis omnibus nigpro limbatis, pileo postico et nucha cinereis ; alis et canda ferrugineo- 

 brunneis, hac rufesoentiore : subtus saturate fulva, guise et pectoris lateribus brunnescentioribus ; loris, 

 macula rictali utrinque et plaga mediana guttural! albicantibus ; pectore irregulariter nigro maculate ; 

 subalaribus et remigibus intus paUide castaneis : rostro comeo, pedibus paUide coryliuis. Long, tota 7'2, 

 alas 4-5, caudae 1'6, rostri a rictu 1-2, tarsi 2-0. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Puego, Guatemala. Mus. 

 nostr.) 



$ mari similis, sed minor, pectore toto brunnescentiore fulvo striato, macuHs pectoralibus nigris magis obviis. 

 Long, tota 6'0, alae 4*0, caudae 1-5, rostri a rictu 1-15, tarsi 1'85. (Descr. feminae ex Taxcamnal, 

 Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Juv. nigra, plumis omnibus fulvo medialiter guttatis, guttis capitis angustis, corporis latioribus, abdomine imo 

 fulvo. 



Hob. Guatemala (Prevost ^), Coban {Belattre ^), Forests of Northern Vera Paz ^, 

 Choctum, Yaxcamnal &c., Calderas, Savana Grande and Barranco Hondo between 

 the Volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, Pajal Grande (5000 feet) and Calderas (7000 

 feet), Volcan de Fuego (0. S. & F. D. G.) ; Honddeas, Santa Ana ( Wittkugel) ; 

 Nicaragua, Matagalpa (W. B. Richardson). 



This Grallaria is sparingly distributed in the heavily forested districts of Guate- 

 mala, but irrespective, vyithin certain limits, of altitude ; for it is found as high as 

 7000 or 8000 feet in the mountains and down as low as 1000 feet above the level of 

 the sea. It lives on the ground amongst the underwood overhung by the forest trees, 

 seeking its insect food amongst the leaves &c. 



Guatemalan birds seem to be darker and smaller than those found in Mexico, but 

 the difference is not great. Sumichrast thought that he found two species in Mexico, 

 one inhabiting the hot low-lying forests, the other the woods of the Alpine region ; 

 but we doubt if any such distinction can be made. Certainly none can be traced in 

 Guatemalan specimens from very different elevations, and it seems highly improbable 

 that a different rule prevails in Southern Mexico. 



Grallaria guatemalensis is no doubt resident in the places where it is found. We 

 have evidence of its breeding in the upland forests, as young birds in their first spotted 

 plumage have been shot in these districts in August. June and July would thus be 

 the time of laying, but we have no record of its nesting-habits or of the colour of its 

 eggs. 



Mr. Eidgway refers a young bird from Honduras with doubt to this species. We 

 have a similar one from Matagalpa in Nicaragua, which also cannot be satisfactorily 

 determined. 



