■ 



h^^bhh^h^^^hbi 



Plate XXXV. 



XIPHOCOLAPTES EMIGRAN8. 



(NOETHERN WOOD-HEWER). 



XipJiocdlaptes emigrans 



XipTiocolaptes albicollis 



Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 118. 

 Scl. Cat. Am. Birds, p. 163. 

 Cab. et Hein. Mus. Iiein. ii. p. 36. 

 Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 202.- (err.) . 



Olivaceo-brunneus, dorso inferiore alis extus et cauda tota rubiginoso-rufis : capitis et colli superioris plumarurci 

 rachidibus lineis albis notatis : subtus olivaceo-brunneus, gutture medio albicante ; gutturis lateribus et pectore albo 

 strigatis ; hypochondriis rubiginoso perfusis : rostro albicante, basi obscuriore ; pedibus obscure corneis : long, 

 tota 12-5, ala3 5*5, caudse 46, rostri a rictu lin. dir. 2*3. 



Hab. Mexico merid. Jalapa, (Salle): Guatemala, Vera Paz, (Salvin). 



Obs. Similis X. albicolli, sed rostro majore albo, et ventre non transfasciato dignoscendus. 



The first specimens of this fine species transmitted to Europe, were, as far as we know, 

 those collected by M. Salle in the vicinity of Jalapa, as recorded by Sclater, in one of his 

 papers on Mexican Birds, published in the Zoological Society's "Proceedings" for 1857, as 

 above quoted. Although recognizing its apparent distinctness from its southern ally, Sclater 

 hesitated to describe it at that period, and it was only upon receipt of further specimens from 

 Guatemala that he became convinced of the necessity of giving it a specific designation. This 

 was done in our joint article upon the Ornithology of Central America, in the "Ibis" for 1859. 

 There can, indeed, be no question, upon comparing a series of skins of this bird and of 

 X. albicollis, of their essential differences. A third species — X procerus, of Venezuela, is inter- 

 mediate in character as in locality, but appears likewise different from either of its congeners. 



During Salvin's later visits to Guatemala this bird was personally observed, and specimens of 

 it obtained on two occasions. The first was in December 1859, in the mountain-forest above the 

 village of San Geronimo, Vera Paz ; the second in March 1862, in the pine-ridges of Poctun, 

 a village on the track leading from Vera Paz to Peten. On each occasion the bird was observed 

 on the trunks of the larger trees, to which it clings just like a Woodpecker and ascends 

 rapidly to the summit. When pursued, it takes short flights of about one hundred yards or so 

 to another tree, alighting on it near its base and again ascending to the top of its stem, whence 

 another flight is taken. The species does not appear to be common, as none of Salvin's collectors 

 succeeded in obtaining specimens of it. 



Our figure of this bird is taken from a Guatemalan skin in Sclater's collection, — received 

 through the late Mr. G. U. Skinner. 





Decembee, 1867. 



[69] 



