INTRODUCTION. 



which, however, appears to be more plentiful in Honduras and Central 

 America. Just above the Isthmus of Panama two others occur, one 

 {C.francesccB) only doubtfully distinct from C larvata, the other (C. 

 gyroloides) having a much wider range than is usual in this group. 

 In the mountain valleys of New Grenada, which is our next locality 

 southwards, we seem to have passed at once to the metropolis of the 

 genus, no less than seventeen species, as may be seen by reference to 

 the Table of geographical distribution hereafter given, occurring in this 

 country. Nowhere else do these birds seem to be so abundant. In 

 the province of Quixos, on the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes, 

 we find only eight, — on the opposite or western side only six species ; 

 but there is little doubt that these districts, when properly worked out, 

 will supply us with others. From the eastern wood-region of Peru we 

 are already acquainted with twelve Callistce, and more, it is likely, re- 

 main to be discovered. The same is probably the case in Cisandean 

 Bolivia, where we know at present of seven species. On the western 

 slope of the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes, not a single one has 

 been found. In Paraguay we seem to have arrived nearly at the 

 southern limit of the genus in that direction, for only two Callistce 

 are met with here. Both of these also occur in Southern Brazil, 

 together with six others, making a total of eight species resident in 

 the latter country. From the more northern portion of the Brazilian 

 empire, by which I mean the maritime provinces to the south of the 

 Amazon, we are at present only acquainted with one peculiar species, 

 and one other common to Cayenne ; but there are doubtless several 

 others which could be added to the list, if the zoology of this country 

 were properly known. Higher up the Amazon, in the Brazilian 

 province of Bio Negro, we have at least three species, two of which 

 are common to Guiana and Cayenne, where the total amounts to five 

 or six in number. Lastly, in Venezuela no less than eight Callista; 

 are found, most of which have been brought from the elevations of 

 the Venezuelan Andes, vrhich run parallel to the northern coast, and 

 one only from the vast flat plains which are traversed by the Orinoco. 

 Two of the Venezuelan species appear to extend along the coast-range 

 into the island of Trinidad, and there is a single species or well- 

 marked local variety, which seems to be confined to that island. 



Such is a summary accoiint of our present knowledge of the geogra- 

 phical distribution of the Tanagers of the genus CalUste. There are 



