CATHAETJ8. 3 



traceable to any special locality, and appear to be simply individual peculiarities. 

 Catharus melpomene does not seem to be at all migratory in its habits : we observed its 

 presence the whole year in Guatemala ; and specimens were obtained in every month 

 between July '^ and November. M. Boucard found it at Totontepec in January *. Its 

 nest is an open structure composed chiefly of moss ; the eggs are white, thickly marked 

 with rufous-red. Prof. Sumichrast says ^^ that it nests in the gardens of Orizaba ; and 

 we found it breeding close to Duerias in Guatemala. Its habits in Costa Eica seem to 

 resemble those it has in Guatemala. Dr. v. Frantzius says ^^ that its monotonous but 

 sweet song may be heard everywhere in the tableland of San Jose between April and 

 June wherever green hedges line the roads in the neighbourhood of towns. The bird 

 glides quickly through the shrubs,; and flies close to the ground across the roads. It is 

 not shy, and allows one to watch it closely. 



The eyes, bill, and eyelids of this species are rich orange in the male bird. The 

 maxilla of the female is light horn-colour ''. 



Prof. Baird has suggested ^ that the Costa-Eica bird might be the true C. aurantii- 

 rostris of Hartlaub : but this is not the case ; for on comparing it with a Venezuelan 

 example in our collection, the absence in the latter of the rufous margins to the wing- 

 feathers, as well as the olivaceous tone of the plumage above, is very apparent. The 

 previous comparison of Mexican specimens with the Venezuelan type by Dr. Hartlaub, 

 as recorded by Mr. Sclater ^, seems to have been overlooked by subsequent writers. 



2. Catharus alticola, sp. n. 



Catharus frantzii, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190^ (nee Cab.). 



Supra oleagineo-brunneus ; uiopygio, alls et cauda concoloribus, pileo paulo rufescentiare ; subtus grisescens, 

 ventre imo et crisso albis ; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula flava ; pedibus palMe corylinis. Long, tota 

 6*75, alse 3'5, caudse 3"0, rostri a rictu 0'9, tarsi 1'4. Fern, mari similis. 



Similis G. melpomence, sed alis extus et corpora supra minus cinnamomeis et rostri et pedum coloribus distin- 

 guendus. A C. frantzii uropygio et cauda oleagineis nee cinnamomeis notatus. 



Hub. Guatemala, forests of the Volcan de Fuego, from 6000 to 10,000 feet (0. S. & 

 F. B. G.). 



We obtained a single specimen only of this species during our stay at Duenas in 

 November 1861 ; and this example was subsequently ^ referred to the Costa-Eican C. 

 frantzii. During Salvin's last visit to Guatemala, he obtained several more specimens, 

 and found the bird not uncommon in the ravines of the Volcan de Fuego and through- 

 out the forests on that mountain almost to the commencement of the growth of pines, 

 at an elevation of 10,200 feet. It was observed usually on the ground, searching 

 amongst leaves for food in the deepest shade of the forest. When standing in a wood- 

 cutter's track, one of these birds would occasionally perch on a log at the side of the 

 path with all the gesture of a Eobin (Urithacus). 



1* 



