66 



BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA PART 4 



American tropics. It is common for several, usually a family group, to 

 live in company in forest. They feed actively in company through the 

 day, and at evening take shelter also in company in a covered nest, 

 specially built for such use near the tips of slender branches in forest 

 trees. In the breeding season other nests are constructed, perhaps by 

 the male alone, or by both members of the pair, the structure being 

 generally similar to that used for sleeping. The eggs, three to five in 

 number, vary from plain white to a pattern of faint markings of brown, 

 which may form a wreath about the larger end. Measurements range 

 from 20.6-23.8 by 15.1-16.2 mm. 



When grown, the family may continue to sleep in company. The 

 companionship continues when the parents prepare a second nesting, as 

 the grown young of the first brood may assist in care and feeding the 

 second family. 



In Panama this species has been known mainly in the Chiriqui La- 

 goon area, ranging inland, as indicated by a female taken by Galindo, 

 prepared by Hinds, to over 700 m above the upper Rio Changuena in 

 Bocas del Toro. While in Panama mainly a bird of the Caribbean slope, 

 it crosses the Divide in the humid forested area still found above and 

 north of Santa Fe, Veraguas. The species occurs in humid country 

 northward to Mexico, and, with an interrupted range, is credited to 

 northern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. 



Griscom described a race based on slightly smaller size in 5 male 

 specimens collected by Benson, March 4 and 6, 1925, at 670 m eleva- 

 tion, near Santa Fe, Veraguas. The measurements are as follows (aver- 

 age in parentheses): wing 65.7-72.2 (69.7), tail 66.9-73 (70.0), oil- 

 men from base 20.9-25.5 (22.6), tarsus 23.1-24.5 (23.6) mm. A 

 slight difference is noted, but so small that it has been considered of 

 doubtful significance and has not been recognized as sufficient basis to 

 warrant a separate race (see Hellmayr, Cat. Birds Amer., pt. 7, 1934, 

 p. 140). 



CISTOTHORUS PLATENSIS LUCIDUS Ridgway: Sedge Wren, 

 Saltapared de Cienaga 



Cistothorus polyglottus lucidus Ridgway, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 16, 

 November 30, 1903, p. 169. (Boquete, Chiriqui.) 



Very small; streak in front of eye; throat, foreneck, and breast 

 mainly white; back, wings, and tail light brown with dull black barring. 

 Description. — Length 95-105 mm. Adult male, crown and hindneck 



