8 



REVIEW OF AMERICAN BIRDS. 



[part I. 



Note. — Additional specimens received from Costa Rica — none in 

 very perfect plumage — agree in being all rather grayer, with less con- 

 trast of back and tail coverts than Mexican and Guatemalan. They, 

 however, vary considerably among themselves — some being quite 

 decidedly olivaceous on the back. The most olivaceous specimens 

 have the most brightly orange-colored bills. In some of the others 

 the bill above is light horn color. No. 3.8,259 has an unusually 

 large first primary — more than half the longest. 



List op Specimens. 



16,841. TTpper mand, black ; rufous of wings very intense. — 29,201. Bill orange red, iu skin 

 yellowish.— 33,259. 1st primary very large. 



Catbarus occidentalis. 



Catharus occidentalis, Sclatee, P. Z. S. 1859, 323, 370. — Is. Cat. Am. 

 Birds, 1861, 1 (No. 2). 



Sab. Mexico (Oaxaca and Totontepeo iSclaier') ; Orizaba). 



This species may readily be distinguished from C. melpomene by 

 several characters. The general color above is much the same ; but 

 while the rump, tail and wings are little, if at all more rufous than 

 the back, the head above and nape are decidedly so. There is an 

 indication of streaks on the jugulum and throat, the feathers being 

 pale buff at base, broadly streaked centrally, and tipped with plum- 

 beous ; while in melpomene there is no indication of the buff, nor of 

 streaks, the feathers being pure plumbeous, except where the whitish 

 basal portion shows on the chin and throat. The legs are darker 

 and more olivaceous. The bill is dark brown, almost black, except 

 the yellowish basal portion of lower jaw. The wings are longer and 

 more pointed, the longest primary exceeding the 10th by .65 of an 

 inch, instead of .35 to .40. The spurious primary is smaller and 

 narrower, its exposed portion reaching over scarcely more than one- 



