248 ZELEDONIA. 



Mr, Ridgway in his original description compares it with Catharus (Turdidae), Basileur 

 terus (Mniotiltidse), Scytalopus (Pteroptochidse), and Xenicus (Xenicidse of New 

 Zealand); but he justly remarks that nothing but an examination of its internal 

 anatomy can decide to which of these very diflFereut families it belongs. In a footnote 

 he adds that skeletons of Catharus and Zeledonia had been received at Washington, 

 and had been submitted to Mr. Frederick A. Lucas, who was only prepared to say at 

 the time that Zeledonia is not related to Catharus. A glance at the posterior margin 

 of the sternum would have thrown much light on its supposed affinity to 

 Scytalopus. 



With the skin only before us we can merely make the following notes upon the 

 external characters : — 



The resemblance to Basileuterus is hardly more than a similarity in the colouring of 

 the crown, for that genus has much longer, stronger vibrissse, wider, more depressed 

 bill, longer tail and wings, shorter tarsi, and other differences. 



Compared with Xenicus the nostrils are operculated instead of open and lying next 

 the culmen, with a membrane below, a very peculiar structure. 



So far as the Pteiroptochidse are concerned, in some respects Zeledonia comes nearer 

 Liosceles rather than Scytalopus, the covering of the tarsi being somewhat similar ; but 

 the bill is more feeble, and the nasal operculum much less developed. It has too 

 fairly defined rictal bristles, softer plumage, and a much shorter tail. 



For the present the position of this genus must remain in abeyance pending a full 

 examination of its internal structure. 



1. Zeledonia coronata, 



Zeledonia coronata, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xi. p. 538 \ 



Supra saturate oleagineo-brunnea, pileo medio aurantio-ochraceo utrinque nigro Kmbato ; capite reliquo et 

 corpore subtus schistaceis, hypocbondriis dorso fere concoloribus, tectricibus subcaudalibus oHvaceo-griseis : 

 rostro et pedibus nigris. Long, tota 4-35, ate 2-4, caudae 1-55, rostri a rietu 0-6, tarsi 1-02, dig. med. 0-6. 

 (Descr. feminsB exempl. typ. ex Laguna, Volcan de Peas, Costa Eica. U. S. Nat. Mus.) 



Edb. Costa Eica, Laguna del Volcan de Poas {A. Alfaro ^). 



The only specimen that we have seen of this curious bird is the type, which was 

 obtained by Don Anastasio Alfaro in November 1888 on the Volcan de Poas in a 

 district of Costa Rica hitherto somewhat neglected. No notes of its habits have as 

 yet been published, and we wait with interest particulars on them as well as a further 

 examination of the structure of this singular form. 



