2 TUEDIDiE. 



and C. dryas) are found in the forest-clad slopes of the mountains at moderate height ; 

 others (as C. melpomene, C. occidentalis, and C. grisdceps) frequent the woods of the 

 tablelands of 4000 to 5000 feet elevation; whilst the upland, forests of the volcanoes, 

 to a height of 10,000 feet, are the abode of C. alticola, C. frantzii, and perhaps of 

 C. gracilirostris. The species are generally observed on the ground, searching amongst 

 dead leaves for their food. G. melpomene has a pleasing song, not unlike that of a 

 Eobin (Erithacus), a bird which its gait and actions also call to mind. 



The genus was originally founded on a Venezuelan species described as C. aurantii- 

 rostris by Dr. Hartlaub, and subsequently as C. immaculatus by Bonaparte. Mr. 

 Gould's genus Malacodchla (based upon Catharus dryas), though somewhat aberrant as 

 regards coloration, is structurally identical with Catharus. Mr. Gould considered his 

 species to be closely allied to ChamcBza and Grallaria (Formicariidee) ; but this view 

 cannot be maintained, Catharus being a typical member of the Turdidae. The figure 

 of C. dryas * shows the front tarsal plate to be divided into three scutella. This is 

 not so in any specimen we have examined, the tarsi of all of which have a single 

 undivided plate running down the front. 



1. Catharus melpomene. 



Turdus melpomene, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 5 (1850') ; Liclit. Nomencl. p. 25. 



Catharus melpomene, Scl. P. Z. S, 1858, p. 97', 1859, pp. 323=', 362*, 370'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, 



p. 6", 1860, p. 29' ; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 322 '; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 7' ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. 



N. Y. ix. p. 90 "; Sumiehrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 542"; Prantz. J. f . Orn. 1869, p. 289 ". 

 Catharus aurantiirostris, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 294" (nee Hartl.). 



Supra cirmamomeo-bTunneus, alis extus Isete saturatioribus, pileo dorso fere eoncolori ; subtus griseo-albidus, 

 pectore grisesoentiore, gula baud striata ; rostro etpedibus aurantiaco-flaTis. Long, tota 6-5, alae 3, caudae 2-5, 

 tarsi 1-25, rostri a rilstu 0'8. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. Mexico, Cordova {SalW^^), Jalapa^ {de Oca*), Totontepec (Boucard^), Orizaba 

 (Sumiehrast ^ ^^) ; Guatemala, Dueiias '^, Cohan (0. S. & F. D. G.) ; Costa Rica ^, 

 Quebrada Honda (v. Frantzius ^*^), San Jose and Grecia {Carmiol i''}, Volcan de 

 Cartago (Arce). 



Catharus melpomene was originally described from a Mexican specimen (Jalapa), 

 where the species would appear to be not uncommon. In Guatemala we found it in 

 brushwood, both in the tablelands and also in Alta Vera Paz. In the highlands of 

 Costa Rica it seems to be equally abundant. Though the range of the species is pro- 

 bably broken by low-lying land at several points, no important variation has ensued 

 and we are unable to trace any tangible differences between specimens from most dis- 

 tant localities. There is some variation in the intensity of the colouring of the back 

 and also in the depth of the cinereous of the underparts ; but these variations are not 



* P. Z. S. 1854, p. 285, t. Ixxv. 



