VIREOLANIUS. 209 



VIEEOLANIUS. 



Vireolanius, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 330 (1850) (ex Du Bus) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 395. 



This genus, with the next, form a distinct section of the Vireonidse, by reason of their 

 stout beaks and their more robust build. They approach the Shrikes (Laniidse) ; and, 

 indeed, we think it not at all improbable that their more immediate relationship with the 

 African genus Laniarius, which they strongly resemble in many points of coloration, will 

 some day have to be reconsidered ; but to do so here would lead us into a discussion 

 far beyond the limits of the present work. We may remark, however, that Swainson 

 placed the species he described in the genus Malaconotus, calling it M. leucotis, and in 

 the same genus he placed several species now considered to belong to Laniarius. 



From Cyclorhis Vireolanius is hardly to be distinguished structurally; but, as 

 Prof. Baird remarks, the beak is not quite so strongly curved and not so deep at the 

 base. 



Cyclorhis, however, is very homogeneous as now restricted, and to include Vireolanius 

 in it would be to introduce an aberrant element. Moreover we feel sure that the 

 alliance is not so close as appears at first sight, though the differences are not to be 

 satisfactorily stated at present. 



Vireolanius contains four species, one of which, V. melitophrys, is restricted to the 

 highlands of Mexico and Guatemala. V. pulchellus, V. eximius, and V. leucotis are 

 probably all lowland species, and are distributed, the first throughout Central America, 

 the second in Colombia, and the last in Guiana and Upper Amazonia. 



a. Subtus alius torque pectorali castaneo. 

 1. Vireolanius melitophrys. 



Vireolanius melitophrys, DuBus, Esq. Om. t. 26 ' ; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 330' ; Sol. P. Z. S. 1857, 

 p. 213' J 1859, p. 363* j 1862, p. 19 S- Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 31'; Ex. Orn. p. 13, 

 t.T" ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1. p. 396'; Sumiclirast, Mem. Bost. Soe. N. H. i. p. 548'. 



Lanius chrysophrys, Licht. Mus. Berol." (fide Bonaparte"). 



Supra olivaceus, capite summo et cervice postiea plmnbeis, superoiliis laete flavis, atria per oculos a rictu ad 

 nucham extensa, altera angusta rictali nigris ; subtus albus, pectore laete castaneo, hypooliondriis eodem 

 colore lavatis ; iride (ave viva) viridescente albo, pedibus carneis. Long, tota 6-0, alae 8-0, candae 2-6, 

 rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0-95. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



$ capite summo ochraceo tincto, striis capitis lateralibus fusco-nigris, subtus pectore castaneo dilutiore, 

 abdomine toto ochraceo lavato a mare differt. (Descr. feminae ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. 

 nostr.) 



Eab. Mexico 12 10^ Orizaba (£otteri% Jalapa (de Oca% Capulalpam [Boucard^), 

 temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ^), valley of Mexico (le Strange) ; 

 Guatemala «, Volcan de Fuego (0. S. & F. D. G.'' «)• 



This species, which has no near ally in the genus Vireolanius, is restricted in its 

 range to the highlands of Mexico and Guatemala. In the former country it has been 

 BIOL. CBNTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., March 1883. 27 



