NONNULA FRONTALIS. 



THE BROWN-CAPPED NUNLET. 



Malacoptila frontalis, Scl. Ann. N. H. ser. 2, xiii. p. 479 (1854). 



Malacoptila frontalis, Scl. Syn. Bucc. p. 20 (1854). 



Malacoptila frontalis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 136. 



Nonnula frontalis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 196. 



Nonnula frontalis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 60. 



Malacoptila frontalis, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 318 (1861). 



Nonnula frontalis, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 274 (1862). 



Nonnula frontalis. Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. p. 129 (1863). 



Nonnula frontalis, Scl. et Salv. Nomen. p. 106 (1873). 



Supra brunneaj pileo rufescente in dorsi colorem transeunte ; loris et regione oculari cinereis ; subtus ferru- 

 gineo-rufaj ventre dilutiore, crisso albo ; remigibus et rectricibus nigricantibuSj harum extimis utrinque 

 cinereo marginatis; subalaribus et remigum marginibus internis cinnamomeis : long, tota 'a'7 , alse 2"3j 

 caudse 2"4, rostri a rictu I'O. 



Hab. in Columbia interiore et in isthmo Panamensi. 



This bird seems to be a northern form of Nonnula ruficapilla ; and I have lately even had some 

 doubts as to the propriety of continuing to regard it as a distinct species. But upon the whole 

 I have decided for the present to maintain its independent existence, although I have not 

 thought it necessary to give a figure of it. Before the question can be finally settled a better 

 series of specimens must be examined than that which I have had before me. 



Nonnula frontalis was first described in 1855 in my ' Synopsis of the Bucconidse,' and based 

 upon " Bogota " skins in the British Museum. The only other locality in which I am aware of 

 its occurrence is the Isthmus of Panama. Mr. Lawrence recorded its existence in this district 

 in 1861 from examples procured by Mr. M'^Cleannan on the Panama Railway. The collection 

 of Messrs. Salvin and Godman also contains a single skin received from the same zealous 

 collector. 



As is also noticed under the head of N hrunnea, two of the specimens referred to the 

 present species in my ' Catalogue of American Birds ' properly belong to the following member 

 of the genus. 



Comparing N. frontalis with N ruficapilla we may note the following differences. The 

 cap, instead of being of a bright chestnut, well defined, is of a brownish colour. There is no 



