CATHAEFS. 7 



{Belattre^), Teleman {0. S. & F. D. G.«); Costa Eica, Tucurriqui (Arce''^); 

 Panama, Calovevora, Cordillera del Chucu (Arce^). 



This well-marked species is one of the older-known members of the genus, having 

 been discovered near Jalapa by M. Salld, whose specimens were described by Bona- 

 parte 1. Though of wide range, but few examples have come under our notice ; nor 

 did we ever actually meet with it ourselves in Guatemala, though one was secured for 

 us by a native collector sent by us to explore the valley of the Polochic river. At no 

 point of its range is it common, judging from the single specimens that have reached 

 us in collections from various points. C. mexicanus can at once be recognized by its 

 black head contrasting with the olive-brown back. In some specimens the cheeks and 

 chest are nearly pure grey and the head deep black ; in others these parts have an 

 olivaceous tinge : the former we take to be male specimens, the latter female, though 

 Arce's dissected skins are marked the reverse. 



9. Catharas dryas. (Tab. II. fig. 2.) 



MalacocicMa dryas, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 285, t. 75 S- Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 7\ 

 Catharus dryas, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 324 ' ; Salv. P. Z. S. 1866, p. 69 * ,• Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 10'. 

 MalacocicMa maculata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 64°. 

 Catharus maculatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 324"; Cat. Am. B. p. 1 '. 



Supra olivaoeo-fusous, pileo et capitis lateribus nigerrimis ; subtus oohraceus, pectore fcoto fusco maciilato ; rostro 

 et pedibus flavis. Long, tota 7'0, alse 3-9, oaudse 3-0, rostri a rictu 0-85, tarsi 1-35. (Descr. maris ex 

 V. de Agua, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Hob. Guatemala {Skinner'^), Teleman {O.S. & F. B. G.^), Volcan de Agua above San 

 Diego (0. S.). — Colombia ; Ecuadoe ^ ^ ; Bolivia. 



We have hitherto considered the species described by Mr. Sclater as C. maculatus to be 

 distinct from C. dryas ; but the acquisition of additional specimens both from South and 

 Central America has enabled us to make further comparison, with the result that we 

 can no longer discriminate two species. It is true that freshly-killed specimens are as 

 brightly coloured as Gould's plate ^ ; but experience has shown that the yeUow of the 

 under surface rapidly fades with exposure ; and this being the case, one of the chief dif- 

 ferences relied upon fails to differentiate the two species. The difference of the colour 

 of the back is sexual, females being more olivaceous than males. 



It is somewhat singular that in Central America this species has hitherto only been 

 observed in Guatemala. Its presence in other parts doubtless remains to be discovered. 

 For a long time we were accustomed to look upon C. dryas as one of the rarest of 

 Guatemalan birds; and until Salvin's last journey only three specimens had come under 

 our notice. Two of these were from Vera Paz, one of them having been shot in the 

 valley of the Eio Polochic near Teleman. The precise origin of the other, the type, 

 now in the British Museum, is not known. 



