MALACOPTILA. 517 



Bugaba, Mina de Chorcha {Arc^ ^), Lion Hill (M'Leannan ^ "^ ^% Truando K. 

 {C.J. Wood^). — CoLOMBiA^^^; Venezuela^*; Ecuadoe^^; Peru 3*. 



This species was described by Lafresnaye in 1847, from skins obtained at Panama 

 by Delattre ^ : and from this district we have seen many specimens of both sexes, 

 the description of the type being evidently taken from a male. Many names have 

 subsequently been proposed for nearly every local form, and not unfrequently the 

 sexes have been described as distinct species — the difference of the coloration of the 

 plumage not having been recognized before 1864, when M'Leannan's dissected 

 specimens from Panama showed the relationship between the two forms ^^. 



The gradual accumulation of a large series of specimens has demonstrated that the 

 close subdivision made cannot be maintained in view of the amount of variation which 

 evidently exists both locally and individually. Mr. Sclater has fully discussed this 

 question, both in his Monograpb and in the Catalogue of Birds, and unites the Costa 

 Rican M. costancensis, Cab.^^^ tj^e Colombian and Venezuelan M. mystacalis, Lafr., 

 the Ecuadorian M. cequatorialis, together with the birds called M. aspersa, Sol., 

 M. poliopsis, Scl., and M. bladca. Cab., all under Lafresnaye's title M. panamensis. 



The range of M. panamensis extends from Costa Rica throughout the Isthmus of 

 Panama, and thence spreads southwards to Colombia, Western Ecuador, and Peru, and 

 eastwards to Venezuela. Beyond these countries other definite species take its place. 

 Northwards of Costa Rica the Malacoptila of Nicaragua has been called M. panamensis ; 

 but specimens recently received from Mr. Richardson, as well as others from Mr, Rich- 

 mond, show that if M. inornata is to be kept distinct they belong to it rather than to 

 the more southern bird. 



Of the habits of M. panamensis little has been recorded. Like the other members 

 of the genus it is a forest bird, keeping to the lower branches of the trees and the 

 bushes of the undergrowth. Mr. Wood says ^ that it is a very quiet inactive bird, 

 starting out occasionally from its perch to capture an insect and then returning. 



2. Malacoptila inornata. 



Monasa inornata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 107 (1847) \ 



Malacoptila inornata, Scl. Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1854, xiii. p. 478 '; Mon. Jacamars and Puff-birds, 

 p. 125, t. 41 ' ; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 197'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 40'; Cab. & 

 Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. Heft 1, p. 137 ' ; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 201 \ 



Malacoptila vertppacis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 40 ' ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 184'. 



Malacoptila panamensis, Richmond, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 512". 



? Malacoptila fuliginosa, Ridgw. Pr, U. S. Nat. Mus. xvi. p. 512". 



M. panamensi persimiHs et vix certe distmcta, abdomine toto ferrugineo nee pectore imo neque hypochondriis 



fusco striolatis ; corpore subtus fere unicolore, abdomine paullo paUidiore. 

 $ a femina M. panamensis vix differt. (Descr. maris, M. verapads typ. et feminse ex Vera Paz, Guatemala. 



Mus. nostr.) 



