^CALLISTE CYANESCENS. 



THE VENEZUELAN BLUE-AND-BLACK TANAGER. 



PLATE XXXV. 



Calliste cyanescens. . . . Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 41 ; Syn. Av. Tan. p, 86, 



Mas adultus. Niger : pileo, cervice et dorso postico cum corpore 

 subtus argentescenti-cyaneis : plumis subtus nigris argentes- 

 centi-cyaneo terminatis : fronte, loris, regione oculari et mento 

 summo nigris : abdomine medio crissoque albis : alis caudaque 

 nigris cyanescente marginatis, campteriis intensius cyanescen- 

 tibus : rostro nigro, mandibulse inferioris basi albicante : 

 pedibus fusco-nigris : long. tota5"0, alee 3*0, caudse 1*9 poll. 

 Angl. 



Foemina. Vix a mari diver sa. 



From the time when I first saw specimens of this bird, I have always 

 remarked the differences between it and the last species — Calliste ni- 

 griviridis — which is so abundant in collections imported from Bogota, 

 but its distinctive characters are perhaps more apparent when they 

 strike the eye at the first glance, than they seem to be when a more 

 minute comparison is made between the two birds. The late Mr. 

 Dyson procured specimens of this Tanager when he was collecting in 

 the province of Caraccas in Venezuela. He informed me that he 

 found it in company with Calliste guttata and atiicapilla in the 

 vicinity of La Colonia de Tovar, which is situated at an elevation 

 of about 8000 feet in the Venezuelan coast range. It was a skin of 

 his preparation that first came into my possession, and attracted my 

 notice. Since then I have frequently seen examples from Caraccas, 

 particularly in the collection recently transmitted by M. Levraud to 

 the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, of which I have already made mention, 

 and amongst the birds collected by M. Salle between La Guayra and 

 the city of Caraccas. 



An accurate comparison of this Tanager with the preceding species 

 exhibits the following differences. The Venezuelan bird is rather 

 larger in all its dimensions, and brighter in its colouring. Above, the 



