BIRDS FROM COSTA RICA—-WETMORE 77 
STURNELLA MAGNA ALTICOLA Nelson 
Sturnella magna alticola Netson, Auk, 1900, p. 266 (Ocuilapa, Chiapas, México). 
On the grassy slopes below the forest on the Hacienda Santa Maria 
meadowlarks were fairly common from November 4 to 16. The 
pastures had not been grazed for several years so that the grass was 
high. In consequence most of the meadowlarks seen flushed before 
animals as we rode across these open areas. Flight and other manner- 
isms were typical of meadowlarks everywhere, and the song and call 
notes are like those of the bird of the eastern United States. An 
adult male taken on November 11 is in full fall plumage. 
Family THRAUPIDAE 
TANAGRA AFFINIS AFFINIS Lesson 
Tanagra (Euphonia) affinis Lesson, Rev. Zool., ser. 2, vol. 4, 1842, p. 175 
(Realejo, Nicaragua). 
Near Liberia this tanager was a common bird, so that between 
October 23 and November 2 I collected seven specimens. They 
were found among groves in the pastures and in the trees bordering 
streams, and were observed often resting in the sun in the tops of 
dead trees in early morning when the air was cool. As they flew 
overhead I noted a flash of color from the partly concealed white 
in the wing feathers. The note seemed higher pitched and less 
clearly whistled than in related species. All taken had eaten mistletoe 
berries. A male shot on October 28 was definitely immature judged 
from the stage of ossification in the skull, yet it was in full color and 
had the testes one-half developed. 
Brodkorb has described a race” of this tanager from Chiapas 
that I have not seen. 
PIRANGA RUBRA RUBRA (Linnaeus): Summer Tanager 
Fringilla rubra Linnarus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 181 (South 
Carolina). 
Near Liberia on October 24 I shot a beautiful male in full plumage 
as 1t fed on drupes with a little group of Tyrannus melancholicus 
chloronotus in brush bordering the airport, and on November 17 I 
took an adult female at the Rio Colorado. Others were noted on 
October 28 and 31, and at the Hacienda Santa Maria on November 
8. I saw one near Cartago on November 23. The birds give the 
familiar call note regularly, making their identification easy. 
HABIA RUBICA ALFAROANA (Ridgway) 
Phoenicothraupis alfaroana Ripe@way, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, vol. 18, Oct. 
17, 1905, p. 212 (Miravalles, Guanacaste, Costa Rica). 
*7 Tanagra affinis esperanzae Brodkorb, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 369, Apr. 11, 1938, 
p. 5 (Finca Esperanza, Chiapas). 
