MALACOPTILA SUBSTRIATA. 



THE SUBSTRIATED SOFT-WINQ. 

 PLATE XLIII. 



Malacoptila sithstriata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1853, p. 123, t. li. 

 Malacoptila substriata, Scl. Ann. N. H. ser. 2, xiii. p. 476 (1854). 

 Malacoptila substriata, Scl. Syn. Bucc. p. 17 (1854). 

 Malacoptila substriata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 136 et p. 196. 

 Malacoptila substriata, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 273 (1862). 

 Malaco'ptila substriata. Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein, iv. p. 134 (1863). 

 Malacojptila substriata, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 106 (1873). 



Suprk fusca, colore pallidiore variegata; pileo antico et capitis lateribus obscurioribus, striis angustis elon- 

 gatis, plumarum scapos occupantibus, fulvescenti-albidis occupatis; loris et plumis rietalibus albo 

 variegatis; mento et gutture toto falvis; pectore et lateribus sicut in. capita sed latius albo striatis ; 

 ventre medio et crisso albido et falvo mixtis ; subalaribus et remigum marginibus interioribus pallide 

 cinnamomeis ; cauda rufescenti-fusca imicolori, subtiis paulo dilutiore": long, tota 7'0, alse 3'6, caudse 

 rectr. med. 3"8, ext. 3*5^ rostri I'l. 



Hab. in Columbia int. 



I DESCEIBED and figured this Soft-wing in 1853 from a single " Bogota" skin in my own collection, 

 which I had purchased of xlrgent, the well-known dealer, formerly of Bishopsgate Street. In 

 the following year, when I issued my ' Synopsis of the Bucconidse,' this was the only example I 

 had seen of it ; but a few years later I secured a second specimen out of a large series of Bogota 

 skins which came into the hands of Mr. Jamrach for disposal. These two examples, of both of 

 which I am still the fortunate owner, are the only individuals I have yet met "with of this 

 scarce species. 



Now that I have had the opportunity of comparing these two skins with an example of 

 M. fulvigularis, I must acknowledge that the two forms are not separated by differences of a 

 very decided character, and that it is even possible that they may be identical. Yet I am 

 unwilling to unite them without the evidence of a more extended series, as there are many 

 parallel instances of Bolivian and Peruvian forms being replaced in the north by representative 

 species. 



Comparing the specimens now before me together, the following differences may be noted. 

 The shaft-stripes on the head of M. fulvigularis are whiter and better-defined, and extend down 

 to the middle of the back ; in M. substriata they cease at, the nape in one specimen, and hardly 

 reach so far in the other. The same variation, as is well shown by the Plate, is still more 

 noticeable on the lower surface of the two allies. In M. fulvigularis the pectoral flammulations 



