Plate XXV. 



MYIADESTES OBSCURUS. 



(DUSKY SOLITAIEE). 



Myiadestes obscurus . Lafr. Eev. Zool. 1839, p. 99. 



Sclater, P.Z.S. 1857, p. 213 ; 1859, pp. 364, 376 ; Cat. A. B. p. 47. 

 . Sclat. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 14. 

 „ . Baird, Eev. A. B. p. 430. 



Schistaceus ; ciliis oculorum albis, loris et striga rictali nigris : alis fuseo-nigris, extus rufo limbatis : inter- 

 scapulio pallidiore rufo ; dorso imo olivaceo perfuso ; subtus dilute schistaceus, gutture et ventre medio cum crisso 

 albicantibus : remigum macula magna interna ochraceo-alba : cauda nigricante, rectricibus duabus mediis cum unius 

 utrinque proxiinse pogonio externo griseis ; rectricibus lateralibus albo terminatis ; harum unius utrinque extimae 

 dimidio apicali pallide griseo : rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis : long, tota 7*5, ala3 4*0, caudge 4*1. — Fcem. mari similis. 



Sab. in Mexico Merid. et Guatemala. 







This Solitaire was first made known to science by the veteran French Ornithologist, the 

 late Baron de Lafresnaye, who has added so largely to our knowledge of the American Avifauna. 

 M. de Lafresnaye described the species from Mexican specimens, and recent collections have 

 contained examples of it from many localities in the Southern States of that country. Botteri 

 and Sumichrast have each met with it in the vicinity of Orizava, De Oca near Jalapa, and 

 Boucard in the mountainous districts of Oaxaca, where the eggs were likewise procured. 

 Professor Baird registers specimens as having been obtained by Xantus at Tonala in the 

 southern part of the State of Chiapas, and by Col. Grayson on the Tres Marias Islands, which 

 is the most northern locality for it we are acquainted with. Going southward this species is 

 very abundant in some parts of Guatemala, where it is generally known by the name of the 

 Guarda-barranca — or guard of the ravines. It is diffused throughout the high table-land, 

 of from 5000 to 7000 feet above the sea-level, which runs parallel with the Pacific Coast of 

 Guatemala, and constitutes the principal watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific. Hence 

 it follows the principal spur of the main chain, which extends towards the high-lands of Vera 

 Paz, as far as the village of Tactic, but a little further northwards is replaced by the allied 

 species — Myiadestes unicolor. 



In the ravines of the two Volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, Mr. Salvin found this bird to be 

 very abundant and constantly resident. Its clear, metallic, ringing song, which is uttered at 

 intervals throughout the day, at once attracts attention and makes its presence known. But it 

 sits concealed in the low thick bushes which clothe the gullies, and it is not very easy to get 



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