136 



Western Cordillera of Ecuador in the tierra caliente. The branch 

 of the Rio Chimbo, which flows through the ravine on which this 

 place is situated, joins the main stream below, and enters the gulf 

 of Guayaquil. The place is marked in Dr. Villvicencio's Map of 

 Ecuador, and described in his £ Geografia,' p. 326. The following list 

 gives the species contained in Mr. Fraser's first collection from this 

 locality, a second and larger collection not having been received by 

 reason of the blockade of Guayaquil by the forces of the neighbouring 

 republic of Peru. This is by far the best locality for birds that Mr, 

 Fraser has yet visited. The collection contains 290 skins, represent- 

 ing 102 species, among which are several interesting novelties. In 

 the first rank of these must be placed the new Umbrella-bird, Cepha- 

 lopterus penduliger, which I have already exhibited to the Society. 

 Other apparently new species are Vireo josephce, Nemosia ornata, 

 Anahates subalaris and A. temporalis, Dysithamnus wiicolor, For- 

 micivora caloptera, and Pachyrhamphus homochrous, all of which I 

 have described below; and Odontophorus ery thr ops, which Mr. Gould 

 has already described in these ' Proceedings.' Besides these, we have 

 some scarce Humming-birds — Panoplites mathewsii, Heliotrypha 

 viola, and Bourcieria fulgidigula, — and some rare and beautiful Tou- 

 cans — Andigena laminirostris and Aulacorhamphus erythropygius. 

 I forbear making remarks upon the general character of the orni- 

 thology of this locality until the arrival of Mr. Fraser's second col- 

 lection, formed on the same spot, shall give us a further insight into 

 its peculiarities. 



I. Passeres. 



1. Turdus gigas, Fraser. 



Irides hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, orange. 1 ex. $ , Sept. 



2. Turdus atrosericeus (Lafr.). — Merula atrosericea, Lafr. 

 R. Z. 1848, p. 3. 



"Bill, rim round the eyes, legs, and feet orange." 1 ex. J , 



3. Turdus albiventris, Spix. 



" 6 , irides light brown ; bill greenish-yellow." 



4. Catharus fuscater (Lafr.). — Myioturdus fuscater, Lafr. 

 R. Z. 1845, p. 341 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 64. 



Several specimens, S and $ . Sexes alike. Merlo. " Bill and 

 rim round the eyes red ; legs and feet orange. Frequents swampy 

 places. Contents of stomach — fruit, seeds, and insects." 



Comparing these specimens with examples of Catharus melpomene 

 I can see no ground for generic separation, and therefore propose to 

 unite the genus Malacocichla to Catharus, of which the six species 

 will then stand as follows : — 



1. C. melpomene, ex Mexico (Cf. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 971). 



2. C. aurantiirostris, ex Venezuela. 



3. C. mexicanus, Bp., ex Mexico. 



