1917.] Chapman, Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia. 235 



The material at hand, however, leaves no doubt of their specific distinct- 

 ness, although nationi appears to be a Pacific coast representative of ery- 

 thropthalma. Although the pattern of coloration is the same in both species, 

 the male of nationi is so much darker than the male of erythropthalma that 

 less contrast exists between the colors of adjacent areas, notably the sides 

 of the head, the crown and nape, and the pattern is therefore less marked. 



In nationi the crown and liape are rich, purplish black and this color 

 spreads over the sides of the head and throat where, however, close inspec- 

 tion reveals a rvifous shade on the region which, in erythropthalma, is strongly 

 rufous-chestnut with but a slight purplish tinge chiefly along the line of 

 junction with the clearly defined glossy seal-brown crown and nape. The 

 male of nationi further differs conspicuously from the corresponding sex of 

 erythropthalma in having the breast and neck all around glossy black, the 

 back much darker, though similarly A'ermiculated, the belly dull grayish 

 black, and the flanks deeper chestnut. 



The females of the two species, as might be expected, present less strik- 

 ing differences than those exhibited by the males, although they are of much 

 the same nature, being occasioned by the darker color throughout of nationi. 

 This greater intensity of color is most apparent in the increased richness of 

 the rufous markings which in nationi approach a chestnut rather than fer- 

 ruginous color, as in erythropthalma. The two species, however, are sur- 

 prisingly alike and it is conceivable that in certain conditions of plumage it 

 might be impossible to distinguish between them. 



Call marshes, 14. 



(533a) Marila affinis (Eyton). 

 Fuligula affinis Eyton, Monog. Anat., 1838, p. 157 (North America). 



A female taken by Allen in the Cali marshes January 29, 1912, and said 

 by him to be "the only one seen" appears to be the first recorded specimen 

 of this duck south of Panama. 



Cali marshes, 1. 



(535) Nomonyx dominicuS {Linn.). 

 Anus dominica Linn., Syst. Nat., 1766, p. 201 (Santo Domingo). 



"Not common in the Cali marshes, generally in small flocks" (Allen). 

 Cali (Jan. 25-31), 9, all in winter plumage. 



