Carriker : List of the Birds of Costa Rica. 847 



was late in August, when the birds were undergoing the postnuptial 

 moult. 



667. Tachyphonus axillaris (Lawrence). 



Tachyphonus luctuosus (not of Lafresnaye and D'Orbigny) Cassin, Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila., 1865, 171 (Angostura, March 10, 1864 [J. Carmiol]). — 

 Lawrence, Ann. Lye. N. Y., IX, 1868, 100 (Angostura and Tuis [J. Carmiol]). 

 — Frantzius, Jour, fur Orn., 1869, 299 (Costa Rica). — Boucard, P. Z. S., 

 1878, 55 (San Carlos). — Salvin and Godman, Biol. Centr.-Am., Aves, I, 

 1883, 310, part (Valsa [Carmiol]). — Ridgway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., VI, 

 1883, 412 (Talamanca, Dos Novillos, Tuis; critical). — Sclater, Cat. Birds 

 Brit. Mus., XI, 1886, 208, part (Angostura [Carmiol]). — Zeledon, An. Mus. 

 Nac. de C. R., I, 1887, no, part (Angostura). 



Tachyphonus nitidissimus (not of Salvin) Salvin and Godman, Biol. Centr.-Am., 

 Aves, I, 1883, 312, part (Costa Rican references: Valsa [Carmiol]). — Sclater, 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., XI, 1886, 214, part (Valsa [Carmiol]). 



Chlorospingus axillaris Lawrence, Ann. Lye. N. Y., X, 1874, 395 (Talamanca, 

 Costa Rica; coll. U. S. Nat. Mus.). — Salvin, Ibis, 1874, 395 (critical; refers 

 it to T. nitidissimus) . 



Tachyphonus axillaris Ridgway, Birds N. and Mid. Amer., II, 1902, 134 (south- 

 eastern Honduras to Costa Rica: Angostura, Valsa, Talamanca). 



U. S. Nat. Museum: Bonilla, Guayabo (Ridgway), La Concepcion de 



Jimenez (Cherrie). 

 Bangs Collection: Carrillo and La Vijagua (Underwood). 

 Carnegie Museum: Guapiles (Carriker & Crawford), Carrillo, El Hogar, 



Peralta (Carriker), -Juan Vinas and Carrillo (Underwood). Twelve 



skins. 



This bird was regarded as synonymous with T. nitidissimus until Mr. 

 Ridgway cleared up the tangle in which this group of species had been 

 involved. T. axillaris is the northern form of T. luctuosus, and has 

 nothing at all to do with T. nitidissimus, being easily distinguished from 

 that bird by the pale yellow color of its concealed crown-patch, T. niti- 

 dissimus possessing a partly concealed crown-patch of orange-red. The 

 geographical ranges of the two forms cannot be confused in Costa Rica, 

 T. axillaris being found only on the Caribbean lowlands and slopes, up 

 to not more than 2,500 feet, while nitidissimus is found only in the south- 

 western Pacific lowlands. 



This species is a woodland bird, being found as a rule rather low down 

 in the more open parts of the forest, where the trees are lower and covered 

 with vines. It is not common, and is met with only singly or in pairs. 



