Plate VIII. 



VIREOLANIUS PULCHELLUS. 



(BEAUTEOUS SHEIKELET). 



Vireolanius pulchellus . . . Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12, 



. Salvin, Ibis, 1861, p. 147. 



. Lawrence, Ann K Y. Lye. vii. p. 468. 



. Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 45. 



. Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 397. 



Nitide viridis, pileo et cervice cyaneis : subtus flavicantius viridis, gnla pureflava: rostro et pedibus plnmbeis: 

 long. tota 5-5, alae 2-9, caudsB 20. Mm. mari similis, sed minus clara et striga rictali flavicante. 

 Sab. in Guatemala, reg. sylvatica orientali (Salvin): Panama (McCleannan). 



This is one of the many interesting novelties in Ornithology that Guatemala has lately 

 divulged to us, and as in other instances was first obtained by Mr. George Ure Skinner— the 

 enterprising pioneer of zoological and botanical discovery in that previously little known region. 

 The authors of the present work founded their original description of this bird upon an example 

 of this species in the British Museum, received through the agency of the last-named gentleman. 

 Since that description was published one of them has had the pleasure of making the personal 

 acquaintance of this ornamental bird in its native wilds. Mr. Salvin met with a single speci- 

 men of this Shrikelet when shooting Quesals at Bashke in the mountains above Lanquin in 

 Vera Paz, as he has already recorded in the pages of " The Ibis." In his subsequent expedi- 

 tion to Guatemala in company with Mr. F. Godman this species was found to be very abun- 

 dant near Choctum, a small Indian village in the low wooded region of Vera Paz, about a day's 

 journey north of Coban. The figures represent two of the specimens obtained on this occasion, 

 now in the collection of Messrs. Salvin and Godman. 



The collectors employed at this latter locality have obtained from time to time a considerable 

 number of skins of this bird, from which nearly all the Museums of Europe and America have 

 been supplied with specimens. 



Mr. Salvin generally found the present species roving amongst the outer branches of the 

 forest-trees in quest of insect food, much according to the fashion of other Vireonidee. The 

 sexes, as characterized above, are described from specimens dissected by Mr. Salvin himself, and 

 are, we are inclined to think, correctly distinguished, although it remains to be proved whether 

 there is always this difference between them. 



Southwards of Guatemala this Vireolanius is said to have been met with at Panama, 

 examples having been transmitted by Mr. McCleannan— the well known investigator of the Orni- 

 thology of that rich district— both to Mr. Salvin and Mr. Lawrence. We have, however some 



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