88 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA — PART 4 



When I visited the island, this wren, most common of the resident 

 land birds, lived in pairs scattered through the undergrowth. In this 

 island home, with no human neighbors, the birds were tame and easily 

 observed. Though most often encountered in low tangles where vines 

 were matted and cover was dense, they ranged also into open areas 

 through the thickets, occasionally even overhead into the higher 

 branches of the forest trees. The song, heard constantly, resembled 

 that of the mainland race, but was slightly higher in tone and somewhat 

 less varied in repertoire. Regularly the birds came fearlessly near at 

 hand, even within a distance of 2 m. 



A nest nearly ready for occupancy, with both male and female bring- 

 ing material to it, was a rounded ball placed at the end of a slender leafy 

 branch, suspended 2 m above the ground. It was 200 mm or so in 

 diameter, made of palm leaves and other fibers, all slender, that pro- 

 jected as a rough fringe over the surface. The entrance was low down 

 on one side. 



C. O. Handley, Jr., who recorded the wren as abundant, March 20- 

 24, 1962, preserved 2 specimens in alcohol. 



It should be emphasized that this wren is distinctly and obviously 

 larger than its relative on the mainland, as are the Gould's Manakin and 

 the hummingbird Amazilia handleyi resident on Escudo de Veraguas. 



THRYOTHORUS NIGRICAPILLUS CASTANEUS Lawrence 



Thryothorus castaneus Lawrence, Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. New York, vol. 7, June 

 1861, p. 321. (Atlantic slope near the Panama Railroad == Lion Hill, Canal 

 Zone.) 



Characters. — Similar to T. n. costaricensis, but paler brown above 

 and below; white of the throat usually more extensive, in some reach- 

 ing the upper breast; often more heavily barred with black on sides, 

 with the barring extending across the lower breast and abdomen. 



A female from the Caribbean slope at the head of Rio Guabal, Code, 

 taken February 26, 1962, had the iris light mouse brown; maxilla black 

 (except the cutting edge) ; base of mandibular rami dull buffy brown; 

 cutting edge of maxilla and rest of mandible greenish neutral gray; 

 tarsus and toes fuscous-black. 



A fully grown immature male collected at Gamboa, January 13, 

 1960, had the iris light brown; maxilla and a streak on the side of the 

 mandible near the tip dull black, the latter changing distally to neutral 

 gray, with the base of the mandible and the gape dull honey yellow; 

 tarsus and toes dull neutral gray. 



