DACNIS. 245 



Colombia by Mr. Lawrence in 1864, on account of the blue of the male having an 

 ultramarine rather than a purple-blue tint, B. cayana having a verditer-blue shade. 

 I), ultramarina, therefore, is intermediate between the other species. 



We have several specimens which agree well with typical examples of Mr. Lawrence's 

 bird, but others are not so easily placed, and pass almost insensibly into the coloration 

 of J), cayana. Mr. Lawrence in his description says that D. ultramarina has no black 

 spot behind the eye ; but this we find to be not invariably the case. He also adds that 

 the black of the throat is not so pure nor so well defined as in B. cayana, a very slight 

 character, though constant so far as we can see, but one which is hardly sufficient of 

 itself to justify the separation of the whole of the Central-American birds from 

 B. cayana. 



We have already spoken of the Chiriqui birds being inseparable in their blue tint 

 from the true Guiana form. In Costa Rica, however, and in Nicaragua (the most 

 northern limit of the range of the bird) all the specimens have a slight tint of ultra- 

 marine, and for this reason we now place them under this title. At the same time we 

 should not object to the name B. cayana being made to embrace B. ultramarina, for 

 we believe that it is not improbable that this step will ultimately have to be taken. 



3. Dacnis venusta. 



Dacnis, sp.j Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 319 \ 



Dacnis venusta, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 464 " ; ix. p. 97 ' ; Sel. Ibis, 1863, p. 311, t. 7 * ; Sel. 

 & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 348 = j 1879, p. 497"; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 185'. 



Nigerrima; capite postico, genis et cervicis lateribus, dorso medio, uropygio et soapularibus nitide caeruleis; 



tibiis coccineis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long, tota 4-5, alse 2-5, caudse 1-6, rostri a rictu 0"6, tarsi 0-6. 



(Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) 

 g sordide virescens, uropygio oeeruleseente, subtus gula cinerea, abdomine toto sordide oebraoeo. (Desor. 



femiaae ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



Eab. Costa Eica, Dota mountains (Carmiol ^), Tucurriqui (Arce) ; Panama, Bugaba 

 (Arcs ''), line of Eailway {M'Leannan ^ ^ 4 s j. —Colombia ". 



This pretty species was one of M'Leannan's discoveries on the line of the Panama 

 Eailway. The first specimen he obtained and sent to Mr. Lawrence was a female i, 

 and it was not until the same collector secured the male that Mr. Lawrence described 

 it under the above name. These specimens were subsequently sent to Mr. Sclater, and 

 inspired him to write one of those useful and practical little Monographs which have 

 from time to time proceeded from the pen of our industrious colleague. Mr. Sclater 

 took the opportunity of figuring this species on this occasion ^ 



On the isthmus of Panama Bacnis venusta would appear to be not uncommon, as we 

 have received several specimens from thence. It also occurs within our territory as 

 far as Costa Eica, where several collectors have met with it, and also in the intermediate 

 district of Chiriqui. For our knowledge of the extension of Bacnis venusta into South 

 America we are indebted to the late Mr. T. K. Salmon, who obtained a single male 



