me oe he Mg = ttn the dhe reenter erent Sew DBs Sa Ne nis Mint aly Ra es mV st Me . = rn mad, + asin: ~ <3 c 9 ~ ey AGERE Noe a Ra tg Pane ha a ata a at me ta tet i let MM ay My a a nh nt Ahad Pa BE Me A ARO: Be Me oN ht hs RM Se wa yp Peay Pal SS. Swe area or iow : a ee rearen cers Patarahy a foam ee nha aw” wa " ie ~ 3 0 a en an Mh AR aM tn 8 mM, - = ae ee . . 2 i Nut a We i a Z GULF OF MEXICO Sketch Map of oy TROPICAL AMERICA | Showing the Geographical Range of the | | Tanagrine Genus CALLISTE. e Engraved at Stanfords Geographical’ Establishment 6 Ghamng Cross London. MONOGRAPH OF THE BIRDS FORMING THE TANAGRINE GENUS CALLISTE; ILLUSTRATED BY By PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., FELLOW OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD ; FELLOW OF THE ZOOLOGICAL AND LINNEAN SOCIETIES OF LONDON ; CORRESPONDENT OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA ; HON. MEMBER OF THE GERMAN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY ; MEMBER OF THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE, ETC. INSTITUTION, LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLVII. PRINTED BY RICHARD TAYLOR AND WILLIAM FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. PREFACE. In every department of Zoology, I believe, pictorial representation, even though not of the most finished : character, is better qualified to give a good idea of the object imtended than the most accurate description. Such at least is the case in Ornithology; and the com- parative neglect shown to what would seem likely to be one of the most attractive branches of Natural History, may perhaps be partly attributed to the scarcity of works containing coloured illustrations of birds, and their usually excessive costliness. The present volume is the result of an attempt to contribute something towards meeting these deficiencies, by giving figures of an inter- esting group of this class of animals, sufficiently accurate for all scientific purposes, and at a price which, it is hoped, will render it not unattamable to many, who have hitherto been generally precluded from acquiring books of this sort. The work is not expected to be a profitable undertaking, but, should a number of copies be disposed of sufficient nearly to meet the expenses of publication, it is in contemplation to issue other volumes of a similar character. Jeo UES). 49 Pall Mall, Dec. 1, 1857. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page Calliste tatao, Pl. I. fig. 1.... 1 ceelicolor, Pl. I. fig. 2.... 3 = iy) Yee DR Aone 5 tricolor, Pl. III......... i fastuosa, P]. IV......... 9 festivay PliVie ad) ceri isue's 11 —— cyaneiventris, Pl. VI..... 13 — thoraciea, Pl]. VII....... 15 schranki, Pl. VIII....... 17 punctata, PJ. TX... ...... 19 mubtatasy blepNe aero -por ale: 21 xanthogastra, Pl. XI..... 23 graminea, Pl. XII....... 25 rufigularis, Pl. XIII. .... 27 aurulenta, Pl. XIV. fig.2.. 29 sclateri, Pl. XIV. fig. 1.. 31 ===> UG ES IDG. ee og edion 33 arthusi, Pl. XVI. icterocephala, Pl. XVII... 37 —— vitriolina, Pl. XVILT.. 2.2 39 ———— Ge) ig. D.C Dae 4] Gyanolzemay icici selves e'6 .< INTRODUCTION. Mniotiltine, making them form the transition between the Finches and that group. For it cannot be denied that it is extremely diffi- cult to draw a line and say exactly where the Tanagers end and the Wood-warblers begin. Take for instance the two forms Nemosia and Trichas : how difficult it is to say positively whether certain birds are more naturally to be placed in one of these genera or the other! Some of the Chlorospingi again are so much more like Mniotiltines than Tanagrines at first sight, that the most experienced ornitholo- gist, unless accurately acquainted with these forms, would be quite as likely to refer them to the former. But though we cannot have a perfectly natural arrangement, it is important to adopt the most natural, and I am decidedly of opinion that on the whole the most unobjectionable position for the Tanagers is to rank them simply as a distinct subdivision of the great family Pringillide. Commencing then the subfamily Tanagrine with the most Finch- like form—P2tylus—we find birds so closely allied to Goniaphea, Hedymeles, Cardinalis and other genera of the American Cocco- thraustines, as to make us hesitate at first sight as to which series they would most naturally fall into. The transition, however, from the section of the Pityli, which has obtaimed the subgeneric name Caryothraustes, to the next genus Orchesticus, and so on to the much more decided form Saltator, is easy, and assists to incline us to retain the Prtyli within the subfamily of Tanagrines.. Leading off from Orchesticus is perhaps as good a situation as any for the somewhat abnormal bird Diucopis fasciata, and a second so-called species of the genus, still more troublesome to arrange in a satisfac- tory way. The genus Sa/¢ator is numerous in species and strongly marked in characters, the members of this group being readily distinguishable from all other birds, as well by their structure as by the peculiar style of plumage which pervades them. This indeed is carried to such an extent that the Saltatores are very liable to be confounded together, and from the insufficient descriptions given by too many writers, it is a task of no small difficulty to recognize the species, which appear to exceed twenty in number. Near Saltator comes the remarkable parrot-green Psittospiza, an isolated type; and, leading on towards Cissopis, the elegant Lamprospiza, another genus of a single species. In Arremon, and its scarcely separable ally Buarremon, we have again a great development of specific INTRODUCTION. xi forms, and much resemblance in style of colouring among them. The San-Domingan bird, miscalled Phonicophilus, according to the weighty testimony of M. Sallé, is an Arremon with the bill elongated and tail shortened and squared ; and a second ally of this genus is the curious form which I have denominated Oreothraupis, peculiar to the Andes of Ecuador. Chlorospingus, a tenuirostral development of Arremon, and Pyrrhocoma, with its single species, lead on clearly to Nemosia, and serve to connect what may be called the Fringillacean Tanagers—allowed by nearly all writers to be Fringillide—with Ne- mosia and the true Tanagers, the more typical section of the group. ' Entering then the true Tanagers (que ad Mniotiltinas magis spectant) by Nemosia, we pass by an easy transition into Tachy- phonus, a well-defined group, of which the males are always clothed in black, and the females in a modest brown. Two abnormal de- velopments springing from Tanagra are Trichothraupis and Euco- metis on one side, both presenting some external similarities to birds belonging to a very different family—the Tyrannide—and Cyps- nagra, with its somewhat swallow-like appearance, on the other. More closely allied to Tachyphonus than either of these is Lanio, with its three species, where we have the same striking contrast be- tween males and females as in Tachyphonus, and the most strongly- toothed form of bill met with in the group, reminding us, as its name is intended to do, of the Laniide. Phenicothraupis is clearly intermediate in form between these birds and the Pyrange, though in its colouring rather more approaching the latter group. Lam- protes with its brilliant subgenus, Sericossypha, and Orthogonys seem to be best placed as adjuncts to Pyranga, presentng much resemblance to one another in some points of their structure. From the numerous Pyrange, where the males are red and the females yellow, we pass to Ramphocelus, where the corresponding colours are scarlet or dark purple and brown. This is also a genus of many species, but of habits very different from the former; the Ramphocelt, like the Tachyphoni, living in the Jow bushes, while the Pyrange resort to the higher trees of the forest. There is somewhat of an interval between Ramphocelus and Spindalis, a curious little group peculiar to the West India Islands; from which however we pass easily to Tanagra, and its closely allied forms, Dubusia, Compso- coma and Buthraupis. It is perhaps questionable indeed, whether xil INTRODUCTION. these three groups are really of more than subgeneric value. Ste- phanophorus is an isolated form, but Pecilothraupis and Iridornis, which follow next, are clearly intermediate between Tanagra and the Calliste. In brilliancy of colouring they rather resemble the latter, which are rightly named the ‘‘ most beautiful’? of Tanagers. From Calliste we approach Chlorophonia and Euphonia, through the sin- gular little bird which constitutes of itself the type Diva, and thus arrive at the end of the subfamily in that direction. In another direction, however, we pass by the brilliant grass-green birds forming the genus Chlorochrysa into Tanagrella, and here find a very different sort of form from Luphonia—being the most tenuirostral (as a Qui- narian would say) of the whole group. Pipridea seems also to spring from Calliste in another direction, and, as respects its second species, certainly shows some rapprochement towards Chlorospingus, while Glossiptila, the only remaining form of Tanagrine, if it mdeed be really retainable within the limits of the group, must be attached to Tanagrella. Having now traced the connexion between the different genera of the Tanagers in a manner which I hope the appended scheme of their arrangement will render more intelligible, I propose to consider more nearly the members of the genus Calliste, to which this Mono- graph particularly relates. The fifty-two species comprised in the genus Calliste form, in my opinion, one very natural genus, distinguished from other Tanagers by their form, size and style of colouring, and showing relations to one another so intimate, that there is not a single species amongst them which any Naturalist, at all well acquainted with the Tanagers, would hesitate about referring at once to this genus. The bill of these birds is straight, rather short, slender and somewhat com- pressed, the culmen being incurved, the gonys rather rising and the upper mandible pretty distinctly toothed near its termination ; the nostrils are oval in shape, placed quite at the base of the man- dible and somewhat concealed by the frontal plumes ; the wings are rather long, reaching to the middle of the tail; the quills being eighteen in number (as is the case in all the typical Fringillide and American Mniotiltine), consisting of nine primaries and nine se- condaries. The second, third and fourth primaries are nearly equal and longest, the first being rather shorter than these, but usually INTRODUCTION. xii longer than the fifth. The tail is generally moderate in length, com- posed of twelve rectrices (as is usual in the Insessores), more squared than in most genera of Tanagers. The feet are slenderly built, the tarsi being rather short, but longer than the middle toe, with three or four scutella faintly marked in front, but no indications of them be- hind ; the inner and outer toes are nearly equal in length, the outer being slightly longer ; the claws are short and much curved. Such are the characters of the genus Calliste, and, although its - members may easily be divided into a certam number of homo- chroous groups—that is, groups in which the species correspond im the general style of their colouring,—it would be difficult, and, in fact, has never been attempted, to assign structural characters to these,—although some writers have considered them as true genera. But these groups are by far the most simple way of arranging the species, and we can use the names which have been made for them as the titles of the different sections, without looking upon them at all in the light of genera. Such is the method employed in my “Synopsis Avium Tanagrinarum,” published in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for 1856, and I have followed the arrange- ment there given in the present volume. We commence then our series of Calliste with the group of ‘< Paradise Tanagers,’’ of which three species are known, the New Grenadian C. celicolor being scarcely separable from its representa- tive in Guiana. For this section Prince Bonaparte has used the ap- pellation Tatao; they may be recognized by their glossy velvet-black back, brilliant yellow or red rumps, and the curious bright scaly green feathers of the sides of the head. Next follow very naturally the true Callista, five in number, exhibiting much variety in plumage, and the last of them, Calliste schranki, obviously leading on to- wards the spotted group, which composes Prince Bonaparte’s sub- genus Izothraupis. These are again five in number, and are distri- buted, as is often the case, over different geographical areas, in which they seem to represent one another. They are succeeded by the golden Chrysothraupides, four of which are very closely allied in colouring, whilst the fifth, Calliste icterocephala, is somewhat more idiochroous. In all these four sections the sexes, when adult, are nearly alike, the females being only less brilliant and decided in their tints, but the young birds are occasionally slightly different. Inthe XIV INTRODUCTION. next section, however, the Euschemones, we find a very decided con- trast of plumage in the two sexes of certain species, and some differ- ences in all, the blue and black of the male birds being replaced by green and less decided tints in the females. The Gyrole, which seem naturally to follow, consist of three species only, each inhabiting its own peculiar geographical district, and appearing not to intrude on that of its neighbour. In this section, I believe, the adult males and females are alike, the young birds being without the red on the head, and the blue and golden tints which are characteristic of ma- turity. Four black and blue species, constituting the group Lupre- piste, seem best placed next after this. Here we have the sexes again alike. The same rule obtains in the seventh and last section, for which Cabanis’ term Procnopis is rightfully to be used, although he created it only for one member of the group, a bird which in some respects seems almost intermediate between the Procnopides and the Eupre- piste. 'This is the most numerous in species of all the sections of the genus, no less than seventeen of them being already known; and it is somewhat singular that not one of them is found in the eastern portion of the 8. American continent. With the exception of Calliste larvata and francesce, which two nearly allied species are distributed to the north of the Isthmus of Panama, the Procnopides appear to be met with only in the slopes of the Andean ranges, and to be particularly abundant in the mountain vallevs of New Grenada. It isin this section of Calliste that we may hope, as the tide of discovery progresses through the still imperfectly known ranges of the great American chain, for the discovery of rare and brilliant species yet unknown to the Naturalist. But it will be interesting to review the general geographical distribu- tion of the genus Calliste. The whole area occupied by the different species of this form is nearly coequal with that tenanted by several others of the characteristic groups of Tropical America, such as Gal- bula, Cotinga and Pipra. Its limits will be seen at a glance by re- ferring to the map which forms the frontispiece to the present volume. It is, however, less extended northwards than that of others, such as Momotus, Trogon and Tityra, which pass farther up the low coast- lands constituting the “ tierra caliente”’ of Mexico. - As far as our present knowledge goes, but one species of Calliste has yet been met with within the limits of the Mexican States, namely, Calliste larvata, INTRODUCTION. ( XV which, however, appears to be more plentiful in Honduras and Central America. Just above the Isthmus of Panama two others occur, one (C. francesce) only doubtfully distinct from C. larvata, the other (C. gyroloides) having a much wider range than is usual m this group. In the mountain valleys of New Grenada, which is our next locality southwards, we seem to have passed at once to the metropolis of the genus, no less than seventeen species, as may be seen by reference to theTable of geographical distribution hereafter given, occurring in this country. Nowhere else do these birds seem to be so abundant. In the province of Quixos, on the eastern slope of the Heuadorian Andes, we find only eight,—on the opposite or western side only six species ; but there is little doubt that these districts, when properly worked out, will supply us with others. From the eastern wood-region of Peru we are already acquainted with twelve Calliste, and more, it is likely, re- main to be discovered. The same is probably the case in Cisandean Bolivia, where we know at present of seven species. On the western slope of the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes, not a single one has been found. In Paraguay we seem to have arrived nearly at the southern limit of the genus in that direction, for only two Calliste are met with here. Both of these also occur in Southern Brazil, together with six others, making a total of eight species resident in the latter country. From the more northern portion of the Brazilian empire, by which I mean the maritime provinces to the south of the Amazon, we are at present only acquainted with one peculiar species, and one other common to Cayenne; but there are doubtless several others which could be added to the list, if the zoology of this country were properly known. Higher up the Amazon, in the Brazilian province of Rio Negro, we have at least three species, two of which are common to Guiana and Cayenne, where the total amounts to five or six in number. Lastly, in Venezuela no less than eight Calliste are found, most of which have been brought from the elevations of the Venezuelan Andes, which run parallel to the northern coast, and one only from the vast fiat plains which are traversed by the Orinoco. Two of the Venezuelan species eppear to extend along the coast-range into the island of Trinidad, and there is a single species or well- marked local variety, which seems to be confined to that island. Such is a summary account of our present knowledge of the geogra- phical distribution of the Tanagers of the genus Calliste. There are Xvi INTRODUCTION. many wide gaps to be filled up before our information on this subject can be considered in any degree complete. Still less perfect is our knowledge on many other points connected with the history of this genus of birds. We are at present utterly ignorant of all that regards their propagation, nidification and internal structure, and in reality we know merely such facts concerning them as can be deduced from the examination of their dried skins. I cannot conclude this prefatory statement better than by calling attention to these deficiencies in our knowledge, and by reminding those, who have opportunities of ob- serving these and other animals in their native wilds, how much it is in their power, by observations on these and similar points, to in- crease our knowledge of the wonderful and varied productions of Nature. XVU SCHEMA GENERUM TANAGRINORUM. Pitylus. Orchesticus—Diucopis. Psittospiza—Saltator.—Lamprospiza.—Cissopis. Pheenicophilus—Arremon—Oreothraupis. Buarremon. Ghlerospin ear yerecore Nemosia. Cypsnagra—Tachyphonus—Trichothraupis—Eucometis. Lanio. Pheenicothraupis. Pyranga—Orthogonys-—Lamprotes. Ramphocelus. Spindalis. ee Dubusia. Compsocoma. Butliiaipid estdunadontonus Peecilothraupis. Tridornis. Pipieae? cals Uchovoritves Diva. Tanagrella. tard shanty Glossiptila. | Euphonia. CALLISTARUM g é jJeleo(o | S4| 2 ea|F | a —_—_ Seeeeemaeneet a ee ple aiataonet ctr cesesecenlee iat eal 2, QUAD YP soncspsox000)\ibes * 300 Gn OaWooncos Repeeaestines * A UTICOLOT Neleserancisictes| (lane 500s||.0 ee D. FASTUOSA .....0000e+-| 00. Os HCH Bo onandocdosbacs| ade see 7. cyaneiventris ......|... Sy WAT RUGTAD: - sancoscoc : odo She OS RACRUOG dod0ceb5oa04)| (000 add | E3 * 10. punctata ......++.... Aoi 00 11. guttata .......0+... 900 |! bos Sc0 12. xanthogastra ...... gE Sn brooo|)t3 13. gramined......- sees abo ||\008 14. rufigularis ....... d4|)as0||;650 * 15. aurulenta ......++- hoa: * | eee VGMRSCIACET A awesscieclacle: 506 |e boo 000 WEN DULCHTG eee socciisce ae * * 18. arthusi ...... a00 5061/00 066 19. icterocephala ...... seal ec call eed tak 20. vitriolina..... aoeobo8 306)|.3: ood . | 21. CAYANA ..s0000.0000] 00. see 22. cyanolema .......+- 2 De CUCHILAET tsaeiecicscia. 05d |) '660!|}00 DA LODE naceesssiensceeas| (sie 606 25. pretiosa .........« ZAll ooo 26. melanonota .........| ... 27. cyanoptera ....06.--| oe. 5 28. GYTOIA .....0..0000s0s SSAA liceay eae ast 29. gyroloides «........ x | oe | x * 30. desmaresti ......... ae 0 31. brasiliensis ......... . ae 32. flaviventris ......... lmtd AAC ZEZILOL Bel recietctscieceieae eaiiess 4156 |) 65 (ANE O Sossoceossc Aa lie * | 35. atricerulea......... we 565 |) 3 36. ruficervix ......... eeilb ia * 37. atricapilla ......... * ee 33. Argented ......000... dail] cae pyors) || Eo | 39. nigriviridis ......00.|...| * * 40. cyanescens .......+.| ... WAN arnata i. ocsees =. 22s Eda (ine AD. FTANCESCE 2... .-202-| see S3hi Go ee 43. nigricincta ......... * | Ok * 44. cyaneicollis ......... * | x * | 45. labradorides ...... * | 46. rufigenis .......... 56 206'|) aoc | 47. parzudakii ......... ey (Ee || et ees | 48. lunigera ....... wenies a3 || £2 |l ode | 49. chrysotis .........+ o5 * 50. xanthocephala rhe * OIG VeEnUstA) Vee. e.-0e 6a x | x [RO 2 su CLOTNAL G0 -le wero a> * weeeee 2|17| 8 | 6 |12 Cisandean Bolivia. * i= iS} ao ] | j=] a | § a| yV B| 8 A | wa * * -| * * * | % * | oK * oo | * | | 2/8 SCHEMA GEOGRAPHICUM. | Northern Brazil x | Proy. Rio Negro + x | cayenne. x | Brit. Guiana. 3\4 g|s cs R 5 5 a) |) fe ~ oO in * * . * * * + * * A * Boot %2 oe : : sales Z del F Lith Breguet Lf Lars As, FaMAD ISS, pn hari, 5 cS S sy ; eae Pane Co Birger: ok. we ee teres "7 onde eh RORROR Sa: poe guenste het» deatnies' Hy 24 Fy hep. Sm ee teckricites lanier sedis 2 meahebint _ Pein ier wabet testa peepee esab ie muds CRS bir: oulahe: ah Lua me a baat Hi watt, Biinle® eocnree arte oranda eonrntntts ot du narighee unre: Leliquinin: cpa HON serine ek capone Wabitiiy asi adLlY caelcia : guitare Hep S yg te: pnt Bibs inva tone : Sc pn one veel ond te Bek ose Asti, fog pati pert nets ae ae CALLISTE TATAO. THE PARADISE TANAGER. PLATE I. Fig. 1. - Tangara du Brésil .... Buff. Pl. Enl. 127. fig. 1. Mancaraye eos Buff. Pl. Enl. 7. fig. 1 (fig. pess.). Briss. Orn. ii. p. 3. Le Septicolor. --..... Buff. H. N. iv. 278. Tanagra tatao........ Linn. 8. N. 1. 315—Gm. 8. N. i. 893. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 428. Kittl. Kiipf. d. Vog. pl. 31. fig. 3. Viewll. Enc. Méth. p. 778. Hayes, Osterly Park, p. 32. d@ Orb. Voy. p. 2702 Aglaia tatao ........ ae ee @’ Orb. Syn. Av. in Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 32? Aglaia paradisea...... Sw. Class. Birds, 1. p. 286. Callispiza tatao ...... Schomb. Reise, 11. p. 669. Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 26. Tatao paradisea...... Bp. Note s. 1. Tang. p. 15; Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 141. Calliste tatao........ Gray, Gen. B. p. 366. sp. 13. Bp. Consp. p. 234. sp. 13. Selater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.50; Tan. Cat. Sp. joy tbh sp. 1. Tangara septicolor.... Desm. Tan. pl. 1. The Paradise Tanager, Lath. G. H. vi. p. 27. Titmouse of Paradise, Edwards, Glean. t. 349. Mas adultus. Supra velutino-ater: dorsi postici parte superiore coccinea, inferiore aurea: pilei summi et capitis laterum pennis coarctatis et squamatis, colore leetissimé viridibus : fronte et oculorum ambitu angusté nigris: tectricibus alarum summis et corpore subtus splendidé ceeruleis ; gutture et pec- tore summo cum tectricibus alarum mediis et marginibus remigum externarum purpureis: ventre medio crissoque atris: long. tota 4°7, alee 2°7, caudee 2°0 poll. Angl. Mas jumor et feemina. Mari similis, sed coloribus minus vividis; dorso postico omnind aureo. The “ Paradise Tanager” was well known to Brisson and Buffon, like many other of the birds of Cayenne, some of which have not B 2 been again recognized since their day. In the present case, however, we are more fortunate, this beautiful species bemg very common-in collections from that country, and to be found in almost every museum. But we have gained very little additional imformation concerning its habits during the last century. Buffon tells us that it arrives in flights from the interior in the inhabited districts of Cayenne for the purpose of feeding on the fruit of certain trees, and does not make a long stay. Schomburgk, who is the sole modern observer who speaks of it, found it only in the Roraima mountains in the interior of British Guiana, on the highest trees, passing in flights from one tree to another. Mr. Wallace collected specimens of this bird on the upper Rio Negro; so it doubtless extends throughout the mountain-range of Guiana to the banks of that river. M. d’Orbigny speaks of having observed this Tanager near Rio in Brazil, but I have no doubt he has made some error in the species, as I have never seen or heard of its occurrence in the very numerous collections brought from that quarter, or indeed anywhere except in the countries already indicated as its habitat. The specific name ‘¢atao’ applied to this bird by Linneeus was adopted from Seba’s ‘ Avicula de tatao,’ Thesaur. i. p. 96. pl. 60. fig. 6. But Seba’s figure certainly does not represent this species, and is more probably referable to Calliste punctata. The “‘Planches Enluminées”’ contain two representations intended for this Tanager. One of them (Pl. Enl. 127. fig. 1) is not worse than the generality of these figures, but the other (Pl. Enl. 7. fig. 1) has the tail altogether wrongly coloured. ’V CALLISTE CdsLICOLOR. THE NEW GRENADIAN PARADISE TANAGER. > PLATE I. Fig. 2 Calliste ccelicolor .... Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.51; Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 11. sp.3; P. Z.S. 1855, p. 157; List of Bog. B. p. 29. Mas adultus. Supra velutino-ater : dorsi postici parte superiore coccinea, inferiore aurea: pilei usque ad nucham et capitis laterum pennis coarctatis et squamatis, colore leetissimé viri- dibus: fronte angustissima et oculorum ambitu nigris : tec- tricibus alaram summis et corpore subtts splendidé ceeruleis: gutture cum tectricum alarum mediarum et remigum exter- narum marginibus purpureis: ventre medio et crisso atris : long. tota 5:0, alee 3°1, caudze 2°1 poll. Angl. Mas junior et foemina. Mari similis, sed coloribus obscurioribus et dorso postico omnino flavo. Quite a new country was opened to European naturalists when collections began to be made in the mountain valleys of New Grenada. It is now nearly twenty years since birdskins were first transmitted to Paris from Bogota, the capital of that republic. Since then frequent importations of objects of natural history as arti- cles of merchandize have been made both into England and France from the same quarter. : The zoology of this country, thus revealed to us, was found, as might naturally have been expected, to be wholly distinct from that of the eastern coasts of South America, with which we were so fami- liar, and a large number of new Mammals, Birds, Insects and other animals were thus added to our catalogues. The Bird-fauna of these regions appears to be particularly prolific, not only abounding in new species, but also embracing novel forms not met with in other parts of the South American continent. Last year I enumerated in a paper read before the Zoological Society of London no less than 435 species of birds which occur in collections of what are commonly called ‘ Bogota’ skins. Since that time many others have come under my notice, and I have little doubt that their meats will eventually be very materially increased. 4 The brilliant group of Tanagers play an important rd/e in this peculiar ornithology, as many as ninety species occurring in Bogota collections : and no genus among them seems better developed here than Calliste, of which sixteen or seventeen different species are fre- quently to be met with in the importations of birdskins from this quarter. As is the case with the large majority of the Passeres of these regions, not one of these Calliste is specifically identical with the corresponding bird of the same genus found on the eastern coast of the continent ; although the present species, it must be allowed, is very closely allied to the Calliste tatao of Cayenne, and by some naturalists, perhaps, would be treated only as a local variety of that bird. But, as it may always be distinguished from the true tatao by seemingly invariable differences, although these are minute, I think that it has a fair claim to a distinct specific title, many other birds now generally recognized as valid species resting on characters not of greater importance. The Calliste celicolor is always rather larger in size and longer in the wing than the tatao, and is, if possible, still brighter in its colouring. The curious scaly green feathers of the head extend far- ther forwards over the front (leaving merely a very narrow edging of black close to the-bill), aud farther backwards towards the nape than in the older species, and the purple below is confined to the throat, not passing over the upper breast, as in that bird. In the present species also the smaller wing-coverts are nearly wholly tha- lassie blue, like the belly, having only a narrow lower margin of purple. In the other bird the purple colouring occupies more space, and the thalassine blue covers merely the bend of the wing. I first pomted out these differences, indicating them as likely to form grounds for the specific separation of the New Grenadian bird, and in such case proposing for it the name ‘celicolor,’ in a Synopsis of the genus Calliste, written in Sir William Jardine’s ‘ Contributions to Ornithology’ for 1851. Prince Bonaparte, in his “ Note sur les Tangaras,”’ published about the same time in the Revue Zoologique, also notices this bird as a variety of the ‘tatao.’ Since that period I have seen a considerable number of examples of it, and am further convinced of its claims to be considered as an independent species. Lith Becgust tr: Levis : - Gel = ial dit liste. ven CALLISTE YENI’ THE RED-BACKED PARADISE TANAGER. PLATE II. Aglaia chilensis...... Vig. P. Z.8. 1832, p. 3. Jard. et Selb. Il. Orn. n. s. pl. 25. PAST AIARV NIMs (0) 010.51) se) 04 Lafr. et @ Orb. Syn. Av. i Mag. de Zool. 1837, p- 31. Tanagra yeni ....5.... d’Orb. Voy. p. 270. pl. 24. fig. 2. Callospiza yeni ...... Tsch. Wiegm. Arch. 1844, p. 286. Tsch. F. P. p. 201. Calliste chilensis .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 14. @allisteyeni).). 2. .j.0h Bp. Consp. p. 234. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.51; Tan. Cat. Sp. p.11. sp. 2. IUAENO Wager ooneor Bp. R.Z. 1851, p. 141; Note s.1. Tang. p. 15. Mas adultus. Supra velutino-ater : dorso postico toto ruberrimo : pilei et capitis laterum pennis coarctatis et squamatis, colore leetissimé viridibus : oculorum ambitu angusté nigro : tectri- cibus alarum summis et corpore subtus splendidé ceruleis ; gutture et tectricum alarum mediarum et remigum externa- rum marginibus purpureis: ventre medio et crisso nigris : long. tota 5-2, alee 2°9, caudee 2:2 poll. Angl. The well-known ornithologist, Mr. Vigors, first described the Red- backed Paradise Tanager before the Zoological Society in 1832, and called it ‘ chilensis,’ supposing it to be a native of the republic of Chili. But, now that we have become better acquainted with the ornithology of South America, we are well aware that the true tana- grine form is not found on the western slope of the Andean range nearly so far south as that country ; and we cannot therefore use the name ‘ chilensis’ for a bird, which, as M. d’Orbigny remarks, does not occur within 100 leagues of that republic, and only on the oppo- site side of the Andes. M. d’Orbigny met with this species in the hot humid forests of the Yungas and Yuracarés Indians in Bolivia. He says that, like all the true Tanagers, it keeps to the summit of the large trees and 6 palms in flights, composed of members of its own species, or mixed up with individuals of Calliste schranki, Calliste cyaneicollis, and other birds of this genus. The Yuracarés Indians call it “ yeni yen,’ from its peculiar call-cry; whence MM. Lafresnaye and d’Orbigny gave its present scientific name. Von Tschudi found this Tanager in the hot wood-region of Eastern Peru, and the collections formed by Mr. Hawxwell on the Ucayali in 1852 likewise contain examples of it; so that we may assume that it ranges over the whole of the vast wood-regions of Peru and Bolivia, representing in these parts the Calliste tatao of Guiana, and the Calliste ccelicolor of New Grenada. It may be easily distinguished from both these species, which in general colourimg it closely resembles, by its pure brilliant red lower back. Q I am not acquainted with the female of this Tanager, but believe it will be found to differ very little from the male. Lith Becquet fr farts. led WE MM A. L V¥ CALLISTE TRICOLOR. THE GREEN-HEADED TANAGER. PLATE III. Tang. cayanensis varia chlorocephalos, Briss, Orn. vi. App. p. 09. Tang. varié 4 téte verte, Buff. Pl. Enl. 32. fig.1(¢). Ievtricolor ii) 8.0.5.. Buff. H.N. iv. 276 (partim). Tanagyra tricolor...... Gm. S.N.1. 891. Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. 428. Vieill. Ene. Méth. p. 779. Temm. Pl. Col. 215. fig. 1 (¢ ). Tanagra tatae........ Maz. Beitr. i. 459. Calliste tricolor ...... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 1. Bp. Consp. p. 234. Selater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.51; Tan. Cat. Sp. p.11. sp. 4. Callispiza tricolor .... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 26. Tatao tricolor........ Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 141; Note s.1. Tang. p. 16. Tangara tricolor male. Desm. Tan. pl. 3. Green-headed Tanager, Lath. G. H. vi. p. 24. Mas adultus. Leete viridis: rostri ambitu et collo antico inter- scapulioque nigris: capite undique et vittaé gulam summam transeunte leté czerulescenti-viridibus: pectore ceruleo: dorsi postici parte superiore flammea: tectricibus alarum su- perioribus purpureis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5°2, alee 2°7, caudee 2°1. Femina et mas junior. Mari adulto similis, sed coloribus omnibus obscurioribus ; dorso postico flavo. The Calliste tricolor is one of the best known of the present group of Tanagers, being imported in great numbers to this country from Rio and Bahia. I have frequently seen large drawers full of bird- skins in the shops of the London dealers composed solely of indi- viduals of this species and of Calliste festiva and Calliste thoracica. Though confounded by the older authors with Calliste festiva, and by others with the fatao, it is, I need hardly observe, quite distinct from both of them, and indeed from every other member of this genus. 8 That most accurate observer, Maximilian, Prinz zu Wied, who gives an excellent description of this bird under the latter name, met with it very commonly in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro and Cabo Frio in South-east Brazil, but not farther northwards. He says it has no song, but only a short weak call-cry. ‘In the neigh- bourhood of the Fazenda of Guirapina, and in the environs of the Lagoa of Ponta Negra, also near Marica and by Campos in the vicinity of the river Parahyba,” observes this writer, ‘these beau- tiful birds are excessively common. They are by no means shy, and, like other Tanagers out of the breeding-season, are united in small flights, passing from one fruit-tree to another, and paying par- ticular attention to the orange-trees.”’ The Prince did not acquire any information concerning the nesting of this bird. We are told that it is often kept in cages by the Bra- zilians on account of its beautiful plumage. There are no generally accessible published figures of this Tanager except the somewhat insufficient representations of Buffon and Desmarest. Temminck, however, gives a tolerable plate of the female in his “ Planches Coloriées.”’ Oudart del Lith Becguet ferris. YCALLISTE FASTUOSA. THE SUPERB TANAGER. PLATE IV. Tanagra fastuosa .... Jess. Cent. Zool, pl. 58. p. 184, Calliste fastuosa...... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 20, - 2 Bp. Consp. p. 235. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p. 52; Tan. Cat. Sp. p. Ll. sp. 6. Tatao fastuosus ......Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 142; Notes. 1. Tang. p. 16. Mas adultus. Fronte, mento, gutture medio et interscapulio velutino-nigris : dorso postico aurantiaco: capite et cervice tota cum vitta gulam transeunte leetissimé ceeruleo-viridibus: alis caudaque nigris, purpureo marginatis: tectricibus alarum minoribus leetissime ceeruleis: secondariarum trium ultimarum marginibus externis pallidé aureis: abdomine toto purpureo, pectore lilacescente : long. tota 5°5, alee 2°8, caudee 2:0. Femina. Mari similis, nisi capite viridescentiore czeruleo. There is very little information, I regret to say, to communicate concerning this Tanager, which is certainly one of the most brilliantly coloured of the group. It is not very common in collections. The British and Paris Museums have long contained examples, but the bird was otherwise not generally well known until M. Parzudaki, of Paris, a short time since received several examples from Pernambuco. We conclude, therefore, that this part of Brazil is its native country, and that it does not range much farther south, as it is never met with among the birdskins so largely imported now-a-days from Bahia and Rie di Janeire. Lesson, who first described and figured this Tanager in his «‘Centurie Zoologique,’’ merely mentions Brazil as its habitat, and gives us no further intelligence concerning it. The curious golden spots on the extremities of the outer secondaries serve to distinguish this Calliste from every other member of the genus. > oe ‘ AA, Lith Beeguet tr Faris. Calliste festiva. ——— ’ CALLISTE FESTIVA. THE RED-NECKED TANAGER. PLATE V. Tang. cayanensis varia cyanocephalos, Briss. Orn. vi. App. p. 62. Tang. a téte bleue de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 33. fig. 2 (2). Merticolori.. 5.55 3. Buff. H. N. iv. p. 276 (partim). Tanagratricolor, var. 8, Gm. S. N. 892. Don. Nat. Rep. pl. 23. Tanagra festiva...... Shaw, Nat. Mise. pl. 537. Tanagra cyanocephala, Vieill. N. D. dH. N. xxxu. p.425; Ene. Meth. p- 780 Temm. Pl. Col. 215. fig. 2 (2). Tanagra trichroa .... Licht. Verz. d. Doubl. p. 30. Kittl. Kipf. d. Vog. pl. 31. fig. 1. “ Tanagra rubricollis., Temm.” Max. Beit. iti. 456. Aglaia cyanocephala .. Sw. Orn. Dr. pl. 5. Calliste festiva ...... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 2. Bp. Consp. p. 234. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p. 51; Tan. Cat. Sp, p. 11. sp. 6. Callispiza festiva ....Cab. Mus. Hem. p. 26. Tatao festiva ........ Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 142; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 16. Tangara tricolor, femelle, Desm. Tan. pl. 4. Green-headed Tanager, var. A. Lath. G. H. vi. p. 25. Mas adultus. Leeté viridis: rostri ambitu et interscapulio nigris: pileo toto nuchaque cum gutture ceeruleis: oculorum ambitu et pilei ceerulei margine antica thalassinis: regione auriculari cum collo laterali et postico laté rubris: alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis ; tectricibus alarum minoribus nigris aurantio terminatis: alis caudaque nigris: long. tota 5:0, alee 2:3, caudee 1°9 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis, sed coloribus dilutioribus; dorso viridi nigro variegato. Although Brisson clearly distinguished this bird from the Calliste tricolor, and described it under a different name, it was carelessly referred by several subsequent authors to a variety of that species ; 12 a fate, from which its conspicuously different plumage ought to have saved it. The consequence was that this unfortunate Tanager received no less than four specific appellations from different writers, who all thought themselves first in discovering that it was really distinct from Calliste tricolor. Our countryman, Shaw, was the earliest of these authors, having called this bird ‘fes¢iva’ in his ‘“‘ Naturalist’s Miscellany’? in 1804, and we consequently employ his name for the species. As I have already mentioned, in speaking of Calliste tricolor, it is very commonly imported into England in collections of Brazilian skins, and examples of it are contained in almost every cabinet of Natural History. Prince Maximilian of Neuwied, who describes this bird in his ‘ Beitrige zur Naturgeschichte von Brasilien” under the name of Tanagra rubricollis, found it near Cabo Frio in the vicinity of the Fazenda of Guirapina in South-east Brazil, but did not consider it common in those parts, since his hunters only procured one example during his whole journey. This, he says, was passing from branch to branch in a deep wood, and seemed to have the usual habits of the true Tanager. This Calliste is recognizable at first glance from among all other members of the group by its broad red collar, which begins on each side of the throat and passes all round the back of the neck. flats. LL he / 1th Beg = LL ‘CALLISTE CYANEIVENTRIS. THE BLUE-BREASTED TANAGER. PLATE VI. Tanagra cyanoventris. . Vieill. N. D. dH. N. xxxii. p.426; Ene. Méth. p: 781. Tanagra elegans...... Maz. Reise n. Bras. i. p. 187. Tanagra citrinella .... Temm. Pl. Col. 42. fig. 2. Maz. Beitr. ii. p. 464. Aglaia citrinella...... Sw. Orn. Dr. pl. 6. Calliste citrinella .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 3. Bp. Consp. p. 234. Callispiza citrinella.... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 26. Chrysothraupis citrinella, Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 142; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 17. Calliste cyanoventris .. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p. 54; Tan. Cat. Sp. p- 11. sp. 7. Mas adultus. Supra aureo-flavus; dorso superiore et medio nigro variegatis: alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis: infra nitidé cyaneus, mento summo et collo antico nigris: vitté gulam summam transeunte aurea, capite concolore: ventre medio crissoque ochracescenti-flavis viridi perfusis: rostro nigro: pedibus fuscis : long. tota 5:25, alee 2°7, caudze 2°1 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis, sed coloribus dilutioribus. Vieillot’s description of this Tanager given in the ‘‘ Nouveau Dic- tionnaire d’ Histoire Naturelle,” and subsequently in his continuation of the “ Encyclopédie Méthodique,” has been, until lately, very gene- rally overlooked, and Temminck’s designation—the most recent of all in point of date—is the one usually employed for this species. The bird, although occasionally met with in collections of Brazilian skins, is not nearly so abundant as Calliste tricolor, festiva and thoracica. Prince Maximilian of Neuwied, who mentions it in his “‘ Reise nach Brasilien” under the name Tanagra elegans, but afterwards rejected his own appellation in favour of Temminck’s, tells us that he met with it first in the deep forests on the river Juct, which flows into the 14 sea a little to the south of the mouth of the Rio do Espiritu Santo in the province of the same name. ‘Temminck’s figure, which is tolerably exact, was taken from Prince Maximilian’s specimens. Examples of this species in the fine series of South American birds in the Imperial Cabinet of Natural History at Vienna were collected by the celebrated traveller and naturalist Natterer at Ipanema in the province of S. Paolo. . The plumage of this Tanager is rather peculiar, and renders it easily recognizable among its congeners. The upper surface, from the black front to the tail-coverts, is of a golden-yellow, the whole space between the wings being variegated with black, caused by the feathers being medially black and edged on each side with golden- yellow. ‘This prevalence of yellow is what I suppose has led Prince Bonaparte to arrange it in the section of the genus which he deno- minates Chrysothraupis, which includes C. aurulenta, arthusi and their affines; but I consider that the bird is certainly much more nearly allied to Calliste tricolor and others of the preceding species. Lith. Becguet Lr: Lars. Calliste thoracica. LIC ’ CALLISTE THORACICA. THE YELLOW-BREASTED TANAGER. PLATE VII. Tanagra thoracica .... Temm. Pl. Col. 42. fig. 1. Calliste thoracica .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 4. . Bp. Consp. p. 234. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 185), p. 54; Tan. Cat. Sp. pe Ulsps lil: Callispiza thoracica .. Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 26. Chrysothraupis thoracica, Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 142; Notes s. 1. Tang. p. 17. Mas adultus. Supra nitidé viridis nigro variegatus: fronte nigra: regione oculari et vittaé pileum anticum transeunte thalassino-cyaneis: gutture et pectore toto aurantio-flavis, plagé in gutture medio cum mento summo nigris: alis cau- daque nigris viridi limbatis: tectricibus alarum summis nigris aurantio terminatis: abdomine nitidé viridi, hypochondriis cyaneo tinctis: ventre medio et crisso flavicantibus: rostro nigro: pedibus pallidis: long. tota 5:5, alee 2°8, caudz 2°4 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis sed paulo minor; coloribus dilutioribus ; hypochondriis viridibus. This well-known species of Tanager was first described and figured by Temminck in his “ Planches Coloriées,”’ from specimens collected in South-east Brazil by Natterer. It is now very common in col-~ lections imported from that country ; but I regret to say we have no information whatever concerning its habits, or any other particulars of it excepting what we can gather from examination of the dried skins. Dr. Pucheran, in one of his admirable articles upon the types of the Paris Museum, states, that he thinks Vieillot’s ‘ Tanagra des- maresti’” (Nouv. Dict. xxxii. p. 410; Enc. Méth. p.774) is intended for the present species. I agree with Dr. Pucheran that this is very possible, but I hardly like even to quote as a synonym, much less to adopt as the first-given appellation of this species, a name depending 16 on a description so exceedingly inaccurate as that given by Vieillot, if it was meant for this bird; especially as the type itself is not forth- coming, so that we cannot be sure that he was referring to this species. wth fecgiel Jreres. L CALLISTE SCHRANKI. SCHRANK’S TANAGER. PLATE VIII. Tanagra schranki .... Spiv, Av. Bras. i. p. 38. pl. 51 { 3) et (9). d’ Orb. Voy. p. 270. pl. 24. fig. 1. Aglaia schrankil...... Lafr. et @ Orb. Syn. Av. in Mag. de Zool. 1837, p.31. Bp. P. Z.S. 1837, p. 122. Aglaia melanotis...... Sw. An. in Men. p. 355 (? ). Calliste schrankii .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 17. Bp. Consp. p.235. sp. 18. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p. 54; Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 11. sp.12; P.Z.S. 1854, p. 115. Callospiza schranku .. Tsch. Wiegm. Arch. 1844, p. 286, et F. P. p. 201. Chrysothraupis schranku, Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 143; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 17. Mas adultus: Leeteé viridis: interscapulii et secundariarum ulti- marum pennis nigris, viridi marginatis : alis cauddque nigris ceerulescenti-viridi limbatis: fronte lata et capitis lateribus nigris: pileo postico aureo: dorso imo cum pectore et ventre summo medialitér flavis : rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 4:6, alee 2°7, caude 1°7 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis, sed coloribus minus vividis : capite viridi : uropygio flavicante. Spix and Martius, to whom we owe so much for their discoveries in South American ornithology, extended their Brazilian travels high up into the regions of the Upper Amazon. There are consequently many species of animals, described in Spix’s great works on Brazilian Zoology, which are more properly East-Peruvian forms, and which, if met with at all within the boundaries of Brazil, are only to be found near to the extreme western limits of the empire. Among such is the present Tanager, which appears to have a tolerably extensive range along the vast wood-region traversed by the head-waters of the numerous confluents of the Amazon. Beginning at the north, it occurs on the upper Rio Napo in the province of Quixos in Ecuador. Next we find it in all collections made im Eastern Peru, where Von c 18 Tschudi noticed it with other Calliste in the hot wood-region, from which country also Mr. Hawxwell has lately transmitted some beautifully-prepared specimens. Hence it passes to the south as far as Bolivia, where d’Orbigny aud Bridges obtained examples which are now in the National Collections of England and France. M. d’Orbigny informs us, in his “ Voyage dans l Amérique Méri- dionale,”’ that he found this Tanager in the hot and damp forests of the country of the Yuracares Indians, at the foot of the Bolivian Andes, in large flights in company with Calliste yeni, and has given us an accurate representation of the male bird in the same work. Oudart dl Lith Beequet frires. —_— v CALLISTE PUNCTATA. THE SPOTTED TANAGER. PLATE IX. Tangara viridis indica punctata, Briss. Orn. iii. 19. Tang. verd tacheté des Indes, Buff. Pl. Enl. 133, fig. 1. keSyaeou.3-... 2... Buff. H. N. iv. p. 288. Tanagra punctata ... Linn. S. N. i. 316. Gm. 8. N. 1. 8977 Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 425. Viewll. Ene. Méth. p.779. Calliste punctata...... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 12. Bp. Consp. p. 234. sp. 8. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.55; Tan. Cat. Sp. p- 11. sp. 14. Callispiza punctata.... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 26. Txothraupis punctata .. Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 143; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 18. ‘Spotted Green Titmouse, Edwards, Glean. vi. pl. 262. “Tangara syacou ...... Desm. Tan. pl.8 et 9. Mas adultus. Supra lete viridis: capitis et dorsi superioris pennis medialitér nigris viridi marginatis: alis cauddque nigris viridi limbatis: loris nigris: fronte angusta et ciliis oculorum al- bescentibus: subtus albus, viridi tinctus et nigro guttatus, lateraliter paulum flavescens : ventre medio albo: hypochon- driis viridibus: crisso flavicante: rostro et pedibus nigris : long. tota 4°6, alee 2°5, caudee 1°6 poll. Angl. Femina. Minor et obscurior: guttis corporis inferi peené obsoletis. All the examples of this Tanager that have come under my notice have been Cayenne skins, which are always easily recognizable among other South American bird-skins by the peculiarity of their pre- paration. This is, in fact, one of the many species of birds described and figured nearly a century ago by Brisson and Buffon as inhabitants of that country, regarding which we have obtained very little additional knowledge up to the present day. Buffon gives us no information concerning this Tanager except Gi2 20 that it is rather rare in Cayenne, and in his “ Histoire Naturelle” unites to it under the common title of ‘Ze Syacou’ another closely- allied species, the Calliste graminea, of which he has given a sepa- rate figure in the “ Planches Enluminées”’ under a different name. Nor does this bird appear to have been noticed by any other writer on natural history as being found in any of the neighbouring countries,—Schomburgk’s Callospiza punctata from British Guiana, where we might have reasonably expected this Tanager to occur, being, as we shall hereafter see, referable to the-following species. This bird may be readily distinguished from Calliste guttata, which is its closest ally, by its rather smaller size and the absence of the golden-yellow colour about the front and eye-region. It is also recognizable among all the members of the group, from having the. edgings of the wings plain green, not tinged with blue. 7 tth Becquet freres. Vf /CALLISTE GUTTATA. THE SPOTTED EMERALD TANAGER. PLATE EX. * Spotted Emerald Tanager, Lath. G. H. vi. 19. Callospiza punctata ... Cab. m Schomb. Reise, i. p. 669. Callispiza guttata .... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 26. Calliste guttulata .... Bp. Compt. Rend. Ac. Sc. Par. xxxii. p. 76. Sclater, Tan. Cat. Sp. p.11. sp. 13; P. Z. 8. 1855, p- 157; List of Bog. B. p. 29. Calliste chrysophrys .. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p. 24. pl. 69. fig. 2. et p. 54. Ixothraupis guttulata. Bp. R.Z. 1851, p. 144; Notes. 1. Tang. p. 18. Mas adultus. Supra aurescenti-viridis, capitis totius et dorsi supe- rioris pennis medialiter nigris, viridi marginatis: fronte et regione oculari aureis: alis caudaque nigris, hac viridi, illis autem ceerulescenti-viridi latits marginatis: loris nigris: subtus albus, ceerulescente tinctus et guttis rotundis preecipuc in pectore perfusus ; his maculis in gula mmoribus: ventre medio albescente: lateribus et crisso flavo-virescentibus : rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5:5, alee 2°8, caudze 2:0 poll. Angl. Femina. Pauld minor et coloribus minis claris. Dr. Latham gives a very accurate description of this beautiful species of Calliste in his ‘‘ General History of Birds,’ under the name of the ‘‘ Spotted Emeraid Tanager,” which I have accordingly adopted for its English designation. His specimens were from the island of Trinidad, whence I have also seen a considerable number of examples. About the priority of the English appellation of this Tanager, therefore, there can be no question ; but as to what was its first-given Latin title, there is some difficulty in coming to a satis- factory decision. Prince Bonaparte, Dr. Cabanis and myself all re- cognized its distinctness from the true ‘punctata’ of Cayenne about the same time, and each provided it with a distinct scientific name. I have hitherto generally awarded the preference to Prince Bonaparte, 22 supposing his name to have been first published. But I have lately ascertained that the sheets of Dr. Cabanis’ “ Museum Heineanum,”’ comprising the Tanagers, were in the hands of many of his friends as early as October 1850, although the first part of that work was not issued to the public until the following year. I now therefore think it fair that his names for this and other species should take prece- dence over those published by Prince Bonaparte and myself in the beginning of the year 1851, and accordingly use the specific term guttata for this bird, This Tanager is the most extensively distributed species of the little group to which it belongs. Schomburgk’s examples were ob- tained in the Roraima mountains in British Guiana. I have already mentioned its occurrence in Trinidad; and the neighbouring land of Venezuela is also tenanted by it, Mr. Dyson having procured it near Caraccas, and M. Levraud, the French consul in that city, having also lately transmitted fine specimens of it to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. In Bogota collections it is pretty abundant, and, although the examples from this quarter are not quite so brightly coloured as those from the low lands, I cannot but regard the bird as essentially the same. And, finally, M. Bourcier brought with him on his re- turn from Ecuador a single example of this species, obtained in the tropical valley of Mindos to the north-west of Quito. This specimen, now in the Paris Museum, is the type of Prince Bonaparte’s Calliste guttulata, and seems in every way to agree with ordinary examples, although, before I had examined it, the inaccuracy of Prince Bona- parte’s description had occasioned me some doubts on this point. ecouet Lr: [aris é Dp. Lith astra . Calliste xanthog v CALLISTE XANTHOGASTRA. THE YELLOW-BELLIED SPOTTED TANAGER. PLATE Xt1. Calliste xanthogastra.. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.23 et 55; Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 11. sp. 16; P. Z.S. 1854, p. 115, et 1855, p. 157; List of Bog. B. p.29. Ixothraupis chrysogaster, Bp. Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 144; Notes. 1. Tang. p. 18 Mas adultus. Leete viridis: capitis et corporis inferi ad medium pectus pennis medialitér nigris, viridi laté circumcinctis : in- terscapulii, alarum et caudee plumis nigris, czerulescenti-viridi laté marginatis: ventre medio flavo: lateribus viridibus : tectricibus subalaribus albis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 4°2, alee 2°5, caudze 1°5 poll. Angl. This Tanager seems to be the representative of the homochroous group to which it belongs on the southern and eastern slope of the Andes of New Grenada, Ecuador and Peru. Although specimens have lately been transmitted in collections from Bogota, I think it probable that these were obtained on the south side of the watershed which divides the Magdalena from the upper branches of the Amazon, while the Calliste guttata represents it in the valleys on the northern side. I distinguished this species from its affines and described it under its present name in the first number of Sir William Jardine’s Con- tributions to Ornithology for 1851, published in the beginning of that year. Prince Bonaparte called the bird chrysogastra nearly about the same time, but I believe my name has a slight precedence in point of publication. Besides its occurrence in Bogota collections, as already noticed, examples of this Tanager formed a part of the small but interesting series of birds received by Mr. Gould from the province of Quixos in Ecuador, of which I gave a list in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1854. I may mention, that I have since found reason to 24 believe that this collection of birds, of which we were then unac- quainted with the exact history, was formed by Don Villavicencio, a physician and naturalist, for some time resident at Porto del Napo, where the navigation of the Napo commences, of whom honour- able mention is made in Osculati’s ‘“Esplorazione delle regione Equatoriali.”’ Examples of this Tanager are amongst the birds in the Leipsic Museum obtained by Poppig in the province of Maynas in Peru; and Tschudi’s Peruvian collection at Neufchatel also contains a single specimen, which, however, he does not appear to have distinguished from ‘ Calliste schranki,’ pk: a, Se. eet ee eee Cae ne tees os Este Tots 2) Gus. Gate) Cte Ie, De pe aad 8. te? Be si tine Crist Dew, 1861, p28. yi © fy, ae ee Pei Bibi ery ‘Bet wal: he Vea Mou i: Pe S 1%; eg seme ag Seri ae inh ag; gers fig: cee etd « foot er eo : rials) eis poorminecttte RRS Ltn ues temekd were ect Leone Pde = nate ils paises ae ty ee agente ue : , fee he ft bee ae ace wate. > eopaiasnt fg? a be iat. ‘ition 5 Jone ihe Mansi sf | ini 2 yes Ler er ches eases bined Sie eat, Eto spt eh by Miers eaenaee te eis /CALLISTE GRAMINEA. THE SMALL SPOTTED TANAGER. PLATE XI. Tang. tacheté de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 301. fig. 1. ILE EEN solbiocoeo be Buff. H.N. iv. p. 288 (partim). Tangara petit Syacou.. Less. Trait. d’Orn. p. 462. Tanagra graminea .... Spix, Av. Bras. ii. p. 40. pl. 53. fig. 2 (¢ ). Calliste virescens .... Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.22. pl. 69. fig. 1, et p. 56. Ixothraupis pusilla.... Bp. Rev. Zool. 1851, p.144; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 18. Calliste graminea .... Sclater, Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 11. sp. 17. Mas adultus. Viridis: alis caudaque nigris; harum marginibus externis cum interscapulio toto czerulescentibus : ventre me- dio vix flavescente: long. tota 3°9, alee 2°3, caudze 1°5 poll. Angl. Femina. Viridis feré unicolor: alis caudique fusco-nigris, viridi limbatis; ventre flavescente. Buffon’s “ Tang. tacheté de Cayenne,” figured in Pl. Enl. 301. fig. 1, is, I think, clearly intended for the present bird, although he himself, in his ‘‘ Histoire Naturelle,” and nearly all subsequent au- thors, have referred that illustration to the C. punctata. I also con- sider Spix’s Tanagra graminea to be referable to the female of this species, and therefore adopt that name as its first-given specific title. I had once hoped to have settled this question satisfactorily by examining the type of Spix’s figure, which was supposed to be in the Museum at Munich ; but though I had the pleasure of seeing several of the types of the more obscure species figured in Spix’s work, when on a visit to that capital in 1852, I was unsuccessful in finding the Tanagra graminea. The greater part of the specimens of this Tanager which have come under my notice have been from Cayenne, although I possess one example, received from MM. Verreaux of Paris, marked “ Brazil ;”’ and it probably extends down to the banks of the Amazon, where I 26 suppose Spix’s bird was obtained. In the Museum at Brussels I have observed this bird marked “‘ Tanagra herbacea,” and at Neufchatel are some individuals from Surinam labelled “‘ Calospiza viridis,” hut both these names are, I believe, unpublished. Prince Bonaparte’s term ‘pusilla’ is one of the most appropriate appellations for this bird, as it is the smallest of all the members of this genus at present known, although not much inferior in size to Calliste xanthogastra. Folate Ales. arate, S Callhiste rufigula VY CALLISTE RUFIGULARIS. THE RUFOUS-THROATED TANAGER. PLATE XIII. Tanagrella rufigula.... Bp. Compt. Rend. Ac. Se. Par. xxxii. p. 77; Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 1380; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 4. Calliste rufigula...... Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.55; Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 11. Mas adultus. Supra niger, interscapulii, alarum et caudze pennis angusté viridi marginatis: dorso imo purée pallidé viridi : subtis virescenti-albidus: ‘pectoris et laterum pennis nigro guttatis: gulaé cuprescenti-rufa: abdomine medio albido ; crisso ochracescente: tectricibus subalaribus albis: rostro nigro, basi plumbescenti-albida: pedibus nigris: long. tota 4°5, alee 2°7, caudze 1°7 poll. Angl. M. Jules Bourcier of Paris, the well-known Trochilidist, on his re- turn from Quito in 1850, brought with him specimens of six or seven beautiful little species of Tanagers, which he had collected during his excursions into the tropical valleys of the Andes near that city. Several of these were new to science, and were described as such by Prince Bonaparte before the Academy of Natural Sciences of Paris in January 1851. The types of these species were deposited in the French National Collection, but a nearly complete set of duplicates passed into the hands of Mr. Edward Wilson, and are now, along with a large number of other specimens of Tanagers, the property of that gentleman, in my possession, having been most liberally entrusted to my care for the purpose of enabling me to work out this group with greater facility. The Calliste rufigularis, one of M. Bourcier’s new discoveries, but placed by Prince Bonaparte in the genus Tanagrella, seems to me to belong very naturally to the present section of the genus Calliste. Except for its dark-coloured head and coppery-brown throat, in which respect it differs from every other bird of the genus, it bears a very close similarity to Calliste punctata, and isin form, to my mind, quite a typical member of this group, and nowise related to the 28 birds with which Prince Bonaparte has arranged it. M. Bourcier only brought with him two examples of it, which he obtained in the hot tropical forests of Calacali to the north of Quito. One of these is in the Paris Museum, and the other, belonging to Mr. Wilson, and now in my hands, is ultimately, I believe, destined for the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia. The only other specimens of this bird in Europe I believe to be those in Sir William Jardine’s collection. They were received by him from Professor Jameson of Quito, who has done so much to increase our knowledge of the natural history of that wonderful region, and first transmitted the Tetragonops ramphastinus, Eugenia imperatriz, and many other striking novelties in Ornithology, to this country. Becquet tr Faris. uth. N aurubenta. a) ( allist C ) ACTEM | SC Le { allis C 41 / CALLISTE AURULENTA. THE GOLDEN TANAGER. PLATE XIV. Fig. 1. T. (Aglaia) aurulenta.. Lafr. R. Z. 1843, p. 290, et 1854, p. 207. Calliste aurulenta .... Gray, Gen. App. p. 17. Bp. Consp. p. 235. Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p.52 (partim); Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 11. sp.8; P.Z. 8. 1855, p.157; List of Bog. B. p. 29. Chrysothraupis aurulenta, Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 142; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 16. Mas et foemina. Aureus, pileo aurantio tincto: interscapulio nigro variegato: loris et regione auriculari nigerrimis : alis cauda- que nigris: alarum tectricibus omnibus et secundariis virides- cente aureo limbatis ; rectricum marginibus externis eodem colore vix tinctis: subtts aureo-flavus: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5:0, alee 2°8, caudze 1°9 poll. Angl. This beautiful golden-yellow Tanager was one of the many new species of Bogota birds described by Baron de Lafresnaye in the “Revue Zoologique,”’ soon after the transmission of the first collec- tions from the interior of New Grenada to Europe. Judging from the considerable number of examples which I have observed of it in such collections, the bird would seem not to be rare in that country ; but, as is unfortunately the case with nearly all the animals which are found there, we have no information concerning its habits, nor do we even know the exact spot where it is found. The only other locality from which I have seen this bird is the vicinity of Quito, whence Professor Jameson has transmitted some examples, which are in Sir William Jardine’s collection. I should mention, that I have never made an accurate comparison between these and the New Grenadian bird; but they appeared to me to be the same, except that the Quito specimens seemed rather inferior in size. ' In my Synopsis of this genus contained in Sir William Jardine’s 30 Contributions to Ornithology for 1851, I confounded with this bird Tschudi’s Callospiza pulchra and the following species, which has since been separated from the present by M.de Lafresnaye under the name of Calliste sclaterz. _CALLISTE SCLATERT. SCLATER’S GOLDEN TANAGER. 7 PLATE XIV. Fig. p 7 Calliste aurulenta .... Sclater, Cont. Orn. 1851, p. 52. SOE SCLALED NG io.s3. 4) Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1854, p. 207. Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 157; List of Bog. B. p-29. Mas et feemina. Supra letissime aureus, regione oculari citrino- flava: loris et regione auriculari nigerrimis: dorso nigro variegato: alis cauddque nigris: alarum tectricibus omnibus et secundariis viridescente aureo limbatis: rectricum medi- arum marginibus externis eodem colore vix tinctis: subtus saturaté brunnescenti-aureus: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5°5, alee 3-1, caudee 2°1 poll. Angl. Although I give a separate figure and description of this Tanager, which the Baron de Lafresnaye has done me the honour to call after my name, I must confess I am not perfectly confident of the justice of its claims to be considered specifically distinct from the preceding bird. They are certainly very nearly allied to one another, and I have thought it convenient to place their figures both in one plate, in order that such differences as there are between them may be the more easily apparent. It is quite true, as M. de Lafresnaye has conjectured in his article in the “ Revue et Magasin de Zoologie,”’ in which he first indicated this species, that the individual bird from which I took the short characters for Calliste aurulenta, given in my Synopsis of this genus published in 1851, was not a true aurulenta, but of this species, which I at that time regarded merely as a more fully coloured and probably adult bird. The most striking difference between these two close allies is the dark chestnut or brown tinge of the whole lower surface in the present bird, which in the former species is golden-yellow. Also the Calliste sclateri is rather larger, and has the head of a brighter, clearer tinge, with no shade of orange colour, and the ocular region 32 of a lemon-yellow ; while in the other species all these parts are of an orange-coloured yellow. I have seen but comparatively few examples of this bird, and all these in collections received from S. Fé de Bogota. / CALLISTE PULCHRA. TSCHUDVS GOLDEN TANAGER. PLATE XV. Calospiza pulchra .... Tschudi, in Wiegm. Arch.x. pt. 1. p.285; Faun. Per. p- 200. pl. 18. fig. 2. Calliste pulchra...... Gray, Gen. App. p. 17. Bp. Consp. p. 235. sp. 32. Lafr. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 206. Sclater, P. Z.S. 1856, p. 251. Mas adultus. Aureo-flavus, interscapulio limonaceo-flavo et nigro variegato: fronte angustaé, mento summo, loris et regione auriculari cum alis caudaque nigerrimis: alarum tectricibus et secundariis viridescenti-aureo angusté limbatis: gutture et — cervice antica castaneo-aureis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5°75, alee 3°3, caudee 2°4 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis. Dr. J. J. Von Tschudi, the well-known traveller and naturalist, was the discoverer of this beautiful species of the present section of Golden Tanagers. Its specific characters are given along with those of the other birds met with by him in Peru in the “ Conspectus Avium,” which appeared in Wiegmann’s Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte in 1844, and some further details and a figure are published in the ‘ Fauna Peruana.’ It is to be regretted that Von Tschudi was not a little more precise as to the exact localities in which he obtained the va- rious birds which he collected. Of all the species of Cadlliste which he met with, including the present, we are only told that they occur in the eastern wood-region of Peru, in the provinces bordering on Brazil, and are to be found on the highest trees. It was not until I had seen the type-specimens of this Tanager, which, along with the other animals collected by Von Tschudi, are now in the collection of the Gymnasium at Neufchatel, that I dis- covered its entire distinctness from Calliste aurulenta. In my Synopsis of Calliste given in the ‘Contributions to Ornithology,’ D 34 I had considered these two birds as identical. M. de Lafresnaye, however, has clearly pointed out the differences between them in his article in the ‘ Revue et Magasin de Zoologie’ for 1854. The Calliste pulchra may be distinguished from both the pre- ceding species by its superior size, and by the golden-chestnut colouring of the throat and upper breast. Mr. Gould has lately acquired examples of this bird from the Rio Napo, from one of which, by his kind permission, the accompanying illustration has been made. The presence of the bird in this locality seems to show that. it ranges some distance north of Peru along the upper confluents of the Amazon which traverse the eastern slope of the Andes of Ecuador. és ae oe yes Pane Calliste arthusi. Lith Beeguet freres CALLISTE ARTHUSI. THE VENEZUELAN GOLDEN TANAGER. Vv ¥ PLATE XVI. Tanagra arthus ...... Less. Ill. Zool. pl. 9. Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 21. Calliste arthus ...... Bp. Consp. p. 235. sp. 36. Calliste arthusi ...... Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 53; P. Z.S. 1856, p- 251. Chrysothraupis arthus, Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 442; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 16. Mas adultus. Supra letissime aureus, rostri ambitu et regione auriculari nigris: interscapulio nigro variegato: alarum tec- tricibus et secundariis nigris virescenti-aureo limbatis : subtts castaneus, gutture aureo: ventre medio pallidé flavo ; rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5:7, ale 3°0, caudz 2°3 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis. M. Lesson first made known this Tanager to science as long ago as 1831, giving a sufficiently accurate figure of it in his work entitled ‘Illustrations de Zoologie.’ He indicates Mexico as its “ habitat,” which I have no doubt is quite erroneous. It is, in fact, a native of the wood-region of Venezuela, and does not appear to occur in any other part of the American continent, but seems to be the represen- tative in that country of C. aurulenta and sclateri of New Grenada, and C. pulchra of Peru, to which it shows so much general resem- blance in colouring. The first examples which came under my notice were procured by that enterprising traveller and collector, the late Mr. Dyson, on the estate of Curiana, near Cariaco, about 5000 feet above the sea-level. I have since seen occasional specimens «among birds brought from Caraccas, but they are not of very common occurrence. A very fine collection of birds lately transmitted by M. Levraud, the French consul at Caraccas, to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, comprised several of this species, and also examples of D2 36 Calliste desmaresti, guttulata, cyanoptera and cyanescens, which may be taken to be the principal representatives of this genus in the circumjacent region. The Venezuelan Golden Tanager may be distinguished from its allies by the dark chestnut colouring of the body below, varied by the pale yellow blotch in the middle of the belly, and golden throat. I believe that in this and the other Calliste belonging to the present section, the sexes are coloured very nearly alike. } I | H i t t Lith Bugueth Lvs. oy Gudart del -_CALLISTE ICTEROCEPHALA. THE SILVER-THROATED TANAGER. PLATE XVII. Calliste icterocephala.. Bp. Compt. Rend. Ac. Se. Par. xxxii. p. 76. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 53. pl. 70. fig. 1; P. Z.S. 1856, p. 251. Chrysothraupis icterocephala, Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 449; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 17. Mas adultus. Flavus, interscapulio et tectricibus alarum superi- oribus nigro variegatis : alis caudAque nigris aurescenti-viridi limbatis : gutture et torque cervicali postica pallidé virescenti- argenteis : rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5:0, alee 2°8, caudze 1-9 poll. Angl. Although the ornithic Fauna of the Quitian Andes shows consider- able resemblance to that of the interior of New Grenada, many birds being common to both these regions, there are a considerable number of species which are, as far as we know at present, peculiar to the former district, and seem to have a very limited distribution. For instances I might mention the curious Capitonid lately discovered by Professor Jameson, Tetragonops rhamphastinus,—the beautiful shining-green Tanager, Chlorochrysa phenicotis,—and the lovely Humming-bird figured by Mr. Gould in the tenth number of his Mo- nograph of that family under the name Hugenia imperatrix. In the genus Calliste there are at least three species which as yet are only known to occur in the mountain-valleys in the vicinity of Quito, —the Calliste rufigularis, of which a figure has been already given, the present bird, and Calliste lunigera, which was described and figured in the Synopsis of Calliste given in ‘ Contributions to Ornithology ’ for 1851. Like the Calliste rufigularis, the present bird was dis- covered by M. Bourcier during one of his excursions in search of Humming-birds, made in the neighbourhood of Quito, in the valley of Punta Playa. Only two examples, I believe, were brought by him to this country. One of these is in the French National Col- 38 lection, the other, at present under my care and the original of the accompanying illustration, is the property of Mr. Edward Wilson. The Silver-throated Tanager is not likely to be confounded with any other member of the genus at present known to science. The peculiar bluish silver-like colourmg of the throat, which extends in the shape of a narrow collar round the back of the neck, renders it easily distinguishable among its confréres. zh Oudart ded. Lith Buguet freres. Calliste vitriolimal , CALLISTE VITRIOLINA. THE NEW-GRENADIAN RUFOUS-HEADED TANAGER. PLATE XVIII. Callispiza vitriolina.... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 28. Calliste ruficapilla .... Selater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 61; P.Z.S. 1855, p- 158; List of Bogota B. p. 30; P. Z.'S. 1856, p. 252. Mas adultus. Ex griseo nitenti-viridescens: pileo rufo: capitis lateribus nigris: alis caudaque nigris ceerulescenti-viridi lim- batis : subtus dilutior et ceeruleo tinctus ; ventre albescentiore, erisso pallidé rufescente: rostri nigri mandibulé inferiore plumbea: pedibus nigricantibus: long. tota 5°3, alee 3-0, caudee 2°2 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis sed coloribus dilutioribus et marginibus alarum viridescentibus. When I first became acquainted with this Tanager some years ago, I considered it to be the true Tanagra eayana of Linneeus. And indeed the figures and descriptions of that bird given by the older authors are quite as applicable to the present species as to the true cayana. But the fact, of which I was then ignorant, of the next following bird being quite common in Cayenne, while the present is confined to the interior of New Grenada,—a country, of which the natural productions have only of late years become familiar to Euro- peans,—is quite sufficient, were there no other grounds to go upon, te convince us that that species is the true ““Rufous-headed Tanager” of the older authors, and this its distinct although closely-allied re- presentative in the different zoological region of the New-Grenadian Andes. Accordingly in my Synopsis of the genus Calliste, published in the beginning of the year 1851, I gave the specific title rufieapilla to this Tanager. Dr. Cabanis, in his catalogue of Heine’s collection called ‘Museum Heineanum,”’ has conferred the designation vitriolina on this same bird. And, since the sheets of that work containing 40 the Tanagers were, as I am informed, issued in the latter part of the year 1850, I think Dr. Cabanis’ name is more properly applicable to this species, and ought to take precedence over my own. This bird is common in Bogota collections, and is doubtless of frequent occurrence in the mountain-valleys of New Grenada, where those collections are formed. I have never seen it from any other locality. The New-Grenadian Rufous-headed Tanager may be distinguished from Calliste cayana by the greenish colouring of the back and under-plumage. It is also of slightly larger dimensions, and has a well-defined red cap, while in C. cayana this colour passes gradually into the yellow of the nape. Oudart gel Lith Buguet frizes. Calliste cayana. / CALLISTE CAYANA. THE LESSER RUFOUS-HEADED TANAGER. PLATE XIX. Tangara cayanensis viridis, Briss. Orn. ui. p. 21. Moineau a téte rousse de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 201. fig. 1 (fig. pess.). Tangara a téte rousse de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 290. fig. 1. Ie Passevert .......... Buff. H.N. iv. 273. Desm. H. N. de Tang. pl. 10 & 11. Tanagra cayana ...... Linn. 8. N. 1. p. 315. Gm. S. N. 1. p. 892. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 427. Vieill. Enc. Méth. p. 777. Fringilla autumnalis .. Linn. S. N.i. p.320? Calliste cayana ...... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 7. Bp. Consp. p. 234. sp. 1; Rey. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p.340; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 14. Sclater, P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 252. Calospiza cayana .... Schomb. Reise, i. p. 670. Callispiza cayana .... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 27. Calliste chrysonota. . .. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1850, p.50. pl.51, et 1851, p.62. Rufous-headed Tanager, Lath. G. H. vi. p. 30. Mas adultus. Flavescenti-ochraceus, pileo cuprescenti-rufo : capi- tis lateribus nigris: alis nigris czerulescenti-viridi limbatis: gutture nigricanti-ceeruleo perfuso : rostro pedibusque nigris : long. tota 4°8, alee 2°7, caudze 1°5 poll. Angl. Femina. Coleribus obscurioribus et virescente mixtis: margini- bus alarum viridescentibus. As I have already stated in my account of the previous species, I formerly considered that to be the true Tanagra cayana of the older authors, and accordingly fell into the error of considering the present bird as undescribed, and applied to it the new appellation chrysonota. But I was afterwards fully convinced of my mistake. This Tanager appears to be very common in British and French Guiana. In the latter country Buffon says that they live in the 42 open spots and in the vicinity of dwellings, and feed on the bananas and other fruits. He also accuses them of doing much harm in the rice-fields. Schomburgk tells us that this is one of the commonest birds all over British Guiana, and, as is the case with Calliste flavi- ventris, particularly affects the Trumpet-tree (Cecropia peltata), which blossoms the whole year through. The Macusis call it ‘ Schumai.’ There are examples of this bird to be found in most Museums that have collections of any extent. The skins of it that have come under my examination are mostly from Cayenne, and are recog- nizable at once by their peculiar preparation. I have, however, one example from Trinidad, and have seen others. These are slightly larger in their dimensions than the Cayenne bird, but do not other- wise differ. M. Levraud’s collection from Caraccas, which I have already alluded to, contained examples of a Tanager, which I believe to have been of this species, but I have had no opportunity of making an accurate examination of it. A young bird of this species in my possession has all the colours much more obscure and mixed with greenish, and hardly shows any traces of the rufous head. CALLISTE CYANOLAEMA. THE GREATER RUFOUS-HEADED TANAGER. Calliste cyanolaima.... Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 140; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 14. Calliste cyanolema.... Sclater, Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 12. sp. 21; P. Z. S. 1856, p. 252. Mas adultus. Nitentissimé flavescenti-ochraceus: pileo cupres- centi-rufo: capitis lateribus nigris : alis caudaque nigris viri- descenti-czeruleo limbatis: gutture toto nigricantiore et cyaneo relucente : rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5:5, alee 2°8, caudze 2°1 poll. Angl. Femina. Opscurior ; marginibus alarum et caudze viridescentibus. This Tanager bears so great aresemblance to the previous species, that I have not thought it necessary to give a separate figure of it ; and indeed I have some doubts of the validity of its claim to specific distinction from Calliste cayana. The most apparent differences are its slightly larger dimensions and greater brilliancy of colouring, par- ticularly in the amount of grey-blue upon the throat, which has led Prince Bonaparte to apply to it the term cyanolaima. This word I have altered, in accordance with the rules given in the Report adopted by the British Association on the subject of Zoological No- menclature, into cyanolema. My collection contains several exam- ples of this bird, received from M. Parzudaki of Paris, who likewise, I believe, supplied the specimens whence Prince Bonaparte’s original description was taken. They are all labelled “Rio Negro;” but I do not know upon what part of the territory called by that name they were collected, nor have I met with specimens elsewhere. ROSA. (Bek) b Pa ae Picea ghey) Lith Lemercer, bans lata U llata U CUC V CALLISTE CUCULLATA. THE CHESTNUT-CAPPED TANAGER. PLATE XX. Aglaia cucullata........ Swains. Orn. Dr. pl. 7. Calliste cucullata ...... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 9. Bp. Consp. p. 234; Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p- 140; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 14. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 63; P.Z.S. 1856, p- 253. Burmeister, Syst. Ueb. d. Th. Bras. pt. i. p. 183. Mas adultus. Supra flavescenti-ochraceus viridescente mixtus : pileo nigricante cinnamomeo-brunneo: infra rufescente tinctus, pectore czerulescente: alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis: crisso rufescenti-brunneo : rostro validiusculo plumbeo ;_ pedi- bus nigricantibus: long. tota 5:0, alee 2:9, caudze 1°7 poll. Angl. . Femina. Mari similis sed coloribus obscurioribus et viridescen- tioribus. While many travellers and naturalists have visited the Amazon of late years and penetrated far up into the interior provinces of Peru and Ecuador, no one, as far as I am aware, since the times of Hum- boldt and Bonpland, has attempted to explore the Orinoco. And yet this mighty stream, with its mouths just opposite to the flourish- ing British island of Trinidad, would appear to form a highway sin- gularly convenient for any one who wished to find ready access to one of the most interesting parts of the interior of the South Ame- rican continent. For the natural history of the region adjacent to this great river is by no means well explored, and there are doubtless many discoveries to be made among the plants and animals of this interesting district. The present rare species of Tanager, first figured by Swainson as a bird of Brazil, is, I have good reason to believe, an inhabitant of this country, the examples in the Paris and Leyden Museums being marked “Santo Thomas,” the old name for 46 Angostura, which town is situated on the Orinoco some 300 miles from its outlet. Besides the last-mentioned specimens, and one contained in the late Mr. Strickland’s collection, I have scarcely if ever met with examples. The Chestnut-capped Tanager may be distinguished from the allied species by the peculiar dark cinnamomeous colouring of the head. Professor Burmeister, misled by the locality “«S. Thomas” affixed to this bird in my ‘‘ Tanagrarum Catalogus Specificus,” has stated in his ‘Systematische Uebersicht der Thiere Brasiliens’ that I have given the West India Islands as the true habitat for this bird—a region, as far as my present information goes, quite outside of the generic area of the genus Calliste. He is also in error, I believe, in saying that Swainson met with this Tanager near Pernambuco in Brazil. VCALLISTE FLAVA. THE YELLOW TANAGER. PLATE XXI. Fig. 1d, 29. Tangara Brasiliensis flava, Briss. Orn. ui. p. 39. Tanagra flava .......... Gm. S. N. 1. p. 896. Lath, Ind. Orn. 1. p. 431. Max. Beitr. ii. p. 467. Jin Letelltey Bo oges becuse Azara, Pax. i. p. 387. Tanagra formosa........ Viel. N. D. @H.N. xxxii. p. 407; Enc. Méth. p: 7/3. Tanagra chloroptera...... Vieill. N. D. @H.N. xxxii. p. 407. EXE ETE EN EM oc Bases spb oD Swans. Zool. ll. n.s. pl. 31. Calliste flava...... Seaess Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 15. Bp. Consp. p. 234; Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p- 140; Notes. 1. Tang. p. 14. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 61; Tan. Cat. Sp. p- 11; P. Z.S. 1856, p. 253. Burm. Syst. Ueb. d. Th. Bras. i. p. 181. Callispiza flava.......... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 27. Yellow Tanager ........ Lath. G. H. p. 22. Mas adultus. Claré ochraceo-flavus: alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis; corpore subtis a mento ad ventrem medialiter nigro: rostro pedibusque nigris: long. tota 5°8, ale 2:9, caudze 2°0 poll. Angl. Femina et avis junior. Ochraceo-flava, supra viridi mixta: alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis: subtus medialiter albidior, ventris lateribus et crisso ochracescentibus. Prince Maximilian of Neuwied, who gives excellent descriptions of both sexes of this Tanager in his ‘ Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte von Brasilien,’ first met with it on the river Mucuri in the province of Porto Seguro. There, he says, it was not uncommon in the sandy bush bordering the sea-shore, and he also noticed its occurrence in many other places. Like most of the other Tanagers it has no song, but only a short call-cry. Azara inserts it in his “ Apuntamientos”’ under the name of “ Tindo bello,’ but never met with it himself alive in Paraguay, the specimen described having been purchased dead. 48 Professor Burmeister, our most recent authority on the birds of Brazil, mentions its occurrence near New Freiburg. Swainson obtained specimens of this Tanager in the vicinity of Pernambuco, where, he says, it is not uncommon, frequenting the gardens and feeding on the smaller-sized fruits, and it is abundant in collections of skins imported from Rio and Bahia. It probably extends all through eastern Brazil, though I do not believe it reaches . so far north as the Amazon, which seems to be the line of separation between many of the Brazilian and Guiana species. ¢ Me, Shears,’ Oudart ded. C alliste pretiosa. Lith Be ecguet Freres. ’ CALLISTE PRETIOSA. THE CHESTNUT-BACKED TANAGER. PLATE XXII. Lindo precioso ...... Azar. Pax. Par. 1. p. 381 (2). Aglaia cayana........ Lafr. et d’Orb. Syn. Av. in Mag. de Zool. 1837, p- 32. Tanagra cayana ...... d’ Orb. Voy. p. 272. Calliste cayana ...... Hartl. Ind. Azar. p. 6 (2). Tanagra gvrola, mas _.. Maz. Beitr. ui. p. 471. Dubois, Orn. Gal. pl. 87 (3). Callispiza preciosa .... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 27. Calliste castanonota.... Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 63; Tan. Cat. Sp. p. 12. Calliste pretiosa ...... Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p.159; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 14. Sclater, P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 254. Calliste preciosa ...... Burm. Syst. Ueb. d. Th. Bras. ii. pt. 1. p. 182. Mas adultus. Capite toto cum cervice postica et dorso medio cuprescenti-rufis : loris nigris: tectricibus alarum et dorso postico nitenti-flavescenti-ochraceis: remigibus rectricibusque nigris, ceeruleo limbatis: subtis viridescens : abdomine medio ceerulescente: ventre imo crisso et tibtis pallidé rufis: rostro et pedibus fusco-nigris : long. toté 6°3, alee 3°3, caude 2°3 poll. Angl. Femina. Viridescens, plumarum marginibus obscurioribus: _ alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis: pileo et cervice cuprescenti- rufo perfusis: subtus dilutior, crisso rufescente. Whether this Tanager is really the “‘ Lindo precioso”’ of Azara, is not, J think, quite certam. I cannot reconcile it very satisfactorily with his description. It would appear, however, to be the bird called “‘ Tanagra cayana” by @ Orbigny, and identified by him with Azara’s species, as far as we can judge by the characters given in the ‘Voyage dans PAmérique Méridionale. The author there says that he met with this bird in the month of July in the gardens of the city of Corrientes on the orange-trees. Prince Maximilian of Wied includes this Calliste among the birds E 50 met with by him in the south-eastern provinces of Brazil, and gives a description of the male bird im his usual excellent style, which leaves no doubt as to the species intended, although he unfortunately confounds it with the Calliste gyrola. He mentions its occurrence in particular in the province of Rio Grande do Sul, from which locality likewise specimens were transmitted to England by Mr. Plant. The female described by the Prince is the male of the following species, which may be at once distinguished from the present by its black back. Dr. Cabanis gave the name preciosa to this bird in his catalogue of Herr Heine’s collection, and clearly pointed out its distinctive characters. About the same time I designated it as new under the specific title castanonota, but I believe Dr. Cabanis’ name was proposed rather before my.own, and is entitled to precedence. I have observed examples of this Tanager in the Derby Museum at Liverpool, Herr Heine’s collection at Halberstadt, and in the Museums of Vienna, Berlin and Brussels. Gros. Paris | ith G Qudart del Jeny \CALLISTE MELANONOTA. THE BLACK-BACKED TANAGER. PLATE XXIII. Fig.1 3,29. Tanagra peruviana.... Desm. Tan. pl. 11. see Vieill. Ene. Méth. p. 778. » Tanagra gyrola, foem... Max. Beitr. i. p. 417. Dubois, Orn. Gal. pl. 87 (3). Aglaia melanota...... Swains. Orn. Dr. pl. 31 (¢), 43 (2). Calliste peruviana .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 8. fs Bp. Consp. p. 234; Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p- 140; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 14. } Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 64; Tan. Cat. Sp. p: 12. Calliste melanota...... Burm. Syst. Ueb. ui. pt. ii. p. 182. Calliste melanonota.... Sclater, P. Z.S. 1856, p. 254. Mas aduitus. Capite toto et cervice postica saturate cupreo-rufis : dorso postico et tectricibus alarum nitenti-flavescenti-ochra- ceis : interscapulio nigerrimo : loris nigris: remigibus rectrici- busque nigris czerulescente limbatis: subtis claré viridis, ventre medio cerulescente, imo cum crisso et tibiis pallidé rufis: rostro et pedibus fusco-nigris: long. tota 5:8, ale 3-0, caudze 2-0 poll. Angl. Femina. Supra viridis, interscapulio obscuriore: pileo et cervice postica cuprescentibus: loris nigris: subtus viridescens : ventre medio flavescenti-albido, imo cum crisso paululim ru- fescente. In the year 1805, Desmarest published his work entitled ‘ Histoire Naturelle des Tangaras, des Manakins et des Todiers,’ containing an account of all the birds of those families which were then known to science. ‘Twenty-seven species of Tanagers and seven of Manakins were treated of by this author. It may serve to give some idea of the advances which have been made during the last half century towards a knowledge of species in Zoology, to remark that there are now not less than 270 Tanagrine and more than 50 Piprine enrolled in our catalogues ; and it is probable that further E 2 52 additions will be made to both groups, as the great continent of South America becomes more fully explored. To Desmarest, however, belongs the credit of first makmg known the present species of Calliste, and of giving a sufficiently accurate figure of the black-backed male bird, which he has done in the eleventh plate of his volume. He there states that it was brought by Dombey from Peru, and applies to it the epithet perwviana. Now whether ideas about geography were somewhat unsettled in those days, or whether Dombey was not accurate in recording his localities, I do not know, but certain it is that this Tanager does not come from Peru, but from the southern portion of Eastern Brazil—a very different zoological province, and one which, as far as I am aware, is not tenanted by a single species of Calliste which likewise occurs in Peru. I have therefore thought it necessary to reject Desmarest’s appellation for this bird, and to use for it the name employed by Swainson, who gives excellent figures of both sexes in his ‘ Ornitholo- gical Drawings.’ Prince Maximilian of Neuwied has likewise, as I have had already occasion to remark, fallen into some error as regards this species. He describes it as the female of the preceding, Calliste pretiosa, and applies to them both Linnzeus’ name gyrola. Du Bois follows Prince Maximilian in his nomenclature, and in the ‘ Ornithologische Galerie’ represents the male of this bird as the female of Tanagra gyrola. ‘The males of these two allied species are very easily di- stinguishable, the present having a glossy black back, while in the former bird this part is chestnut-red like the head. But in the females the differences are not so obvious, for their plumages very closely resemble each other, though in the present bird there is rather more rufous colouring on the head and neck, and a slightly darker shade on the back. Luh bi CC qULE: pers. | Sey AGS Lalliste Cyanoptera. v 2b Vv CALLISTE CYANOPTERA. THE BLUE-WINGED TANAGER. PLATE XXIV. Aglaia cyanoptera .... Sw. Orn, Dr. pl. 8. Tanagra argentea ,... Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 69. Calliste cyanoptera.... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 10. Bp. Consp. p. 234; Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p- 140; Note s. i. Tang. p. 15. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 64; Tan. Cat. Sp. p- 12; P.Z.S. 1856, p. 254. Mas adultus. Argentescenti-ochraceus, viridi micans : capite un- dique cum gutture alis et caudaé nigris: harum marginibus angustis claré ceeruleis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 55, alee 3°0, caudee 2°0 poll. Angl. Femina aut avis junior. Viridescens : uropygio et ventre flaves- centioribus, capite obscuriore, gutture albidiore: alis caudaque nigris viridi limbatis. Mr. Swainson’s beautiful ‘ Ornithological Drawings,’ sometimes cited as his ‘ Birds of Brazil,’ first made us acquainted with this Tanager, which is certainly one of the most finely coloured birds of the whole group. It is not, however, I believe, an inhabitant of any part of the large Brazilian Empire, but of the Republic of Venezuela. All the specimens of it which have come under my notice have been received from Caraccas ; that is to say, such has been the case in every instance in which I have been able to trace the locality. M. Levraud’s collection from Caraccas, transmitted to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, of which I have already made mention, con- tained examples of it, and, if I mistake not, Mr. Dyson also pro- cured specimens in the same neighbourhood. The Baron de Lafresnaye described this Tanager under the name of 7’. argentea in the ‘ Revue Zoologique’ for 1843, along with other species from Bogota, but I have never noticed its occurrence in col- lections from New Grenada. 54 I am not quite sure whether the green-coloured bird described above is to be considered as the female or immature bird of this species. In nearly all the members of this group the females pretty closely resemble the male, except in brilliancy of colouring, and it is surprising to find such a difference as is above indicated. Otherwise, judging merely from the appearance of the feathers, I should be rather inclined to regard the green-coloured bird as the female. The Blue-winged Tanager is not very similar to other birds of this genus, or likely to be confounded with any of them. A pretty species of Dacnis, however,—Dacnis pulcherrima,—which I first described im the ‘ Revue et Magasin de Zoologie’ for 1853, rather remarkably resembles it in general colouring. But these birds belong to two quite different, although, m my opinion, nearly-allied families. Such instances of the recurrence of similar plumage in different groups are not very uncommon. ‘The African Anthines of the genus Macronyx are clothed in nearly the same dress as the American Sturnelle, and that singular Mexican bird Ptilogonys nitens (see Cassin’s ‘ Illus- trations of the Birds of California’) so closely resembles some of the South American Fluvicoline, that it is really difficult to di- stinguish it from them at first sight. sie yyrola \ CALLISTE GYROLA. BUFFON’S GREEN TANAGER. PLATE XXvV. Tangara peruviana viridis, Briss. Orn. i. p. 23. Tangara du Perou .... Buff. Pl. Enl. 133. fig. 2. Le Rouverdin ........ Buff. H. N. iv. 286. Tangara rouverdin,male, Desm. Tan. pl. 6. Tanagra gyrola ...... Linn. 8. N. i. p. 315. Gm. 8. N.i. p. 891. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 427. Vieill. Enc. Méth. p. 778. Aglaia chrysoptera.... Swaims. An. in Men. p, 356. Calliste gyrola........ Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 5. Bp. Consp. p. 234. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 67; Tan. Cat. Sp. pe l2 5) PY ZS. 1856;\p) 200; Callospiza gyrola .... Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 670. Callispiza gyrola...... Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 28. Gyrola chrysoptera.... Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 139; Note s.1. Tang. p. 13. Red-headed Greenfinch, Edwards, Glean. pl. 23. Red-headed Tanager .. Lath. G. H. vi. 15. Mas adultus. Claré viridis: capite et mento summo castaneis : campterio aurescente: abdomine medio ceerulescente: tibiis pallidé rufis: rostro et pedibus fuscis: long. toté 4°5, alee 2°7, caudze 1°8 poll. Angl. Fomina. Mari similis sed mints splendens et yentre mints ceeru- lescente. The older writers on Natural History were well acquainted with this Tanager, which is not uncommon in Cayenne and British Guiana. In the former region they tell us that it appears two or three times in the year and frequents certain trees, upon the fruit of which it feeds. Richard Schomburgk informs us in his ‘ Versuch emer Flora und Fauna von Britisch-Guiana,’ that in that country it 56 is more common on the coast than in the interior, and is met with in the outskirts of the woods and plantations singly and in pairs. Except from these localities I have never met with specimens of this bird. In Venezuela it is replaced by the Calliste desmarestt, and along the line of the Andes by the next following species. Mr. Swainson, having first figured the Venezuelan bird as the true gyrola, proposed in the second part of ‘ Animals in Menageries,’ to call this Calliste by another name, but, as there is no doubt about this being the true gyrola of the older authors, I do not think we ought to consent to this, although to Mr. Swainson is due the credit of first pointing out the distinction between these three closely-allied species. Li ith Becguet G: Laris. =) 8 > 7 Calliste Syroloides ‘CALLISTE GYROLOIDES. THE BLUE-BACKED GREEN TANAGER. PLATE XXVI. Aglaia gyrola......... Lafr. et d’Orb. Syn. Av. in Mag. de Zool. 1837, p. 32. Tanagra gyrola ...... d’Orb. Voy. p. 272. Aglaia peruviana...... Swains. An. in Men. p. 356. Callospiza gyrola .... Tsch. in Wiegm. Arch. 1844, p. 286; Faun. Per. p- 202. Calliste cyanoventris .. Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 19. Aglaia gyroloides .... Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 277. Calliste gyroloides .... Gray, Gen. App. p. 17. Bp. Consp. p. 234. sp. 5. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 67; P. Z.5S. 1854, p- 115; 1855, p.158; et 1856, pp. 142 et 255. Cassin, Rep. U. S. Astr. Exp. ii. p. 182. pl. 19. Agel. Gyrola cyanoventris ..Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 139; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 13. _ Mas adultus. Claré viridis: capite et mento summo ‘castaneis : torque nuchali et campteriis aurescentibus : dorso postico et abdomine toto ceruleis: tibiis pallidé rufis : rostro et pedibus nigro-fuscis: long. tota 5:0, alee 2:9, caudee 1:8 poll. Angl. Foemina. Mari similis sed minus splendens et minus czerulescens. Neither Lafresnaye and d’Orbigny nor Tschudi in their several works upon the Zoology of Bolivia and Peru recognized the distinct- ness of this Tanager from the corresponding species of Cayenne and Guiana—the true gyrola of the older authors. Mr. Swainson was, however, as I have already stated, well acquainted with all the three species of this section, and conferred on the present bird the specific title peruviana. And this name would be properly employed for it, were not confusion thereby likely to be caused ; another species (Calliste melanonota) having been previously called peruviana by Desmarest in 1808. Under these circumstances, therefore, we are 08 compelled to adopt for this bird the somewhat unpleasing appellation gyroloides, given to it by M. de Lafresnaye in the ‘ Revue Zoolo- gique’ for 1847, Mr. Gray’s name cyanoventris, published a year in advance of the former, being likewise preoccupied. In a group of which the species as a general rule have a limited range, this Tanager is remarkable for its diffusion over a very extended geographic area reaching from 10° N. Lat. to nearly 20° S. Lat. Beginning at the north, it was one of the twe members of this genus met with by Mr. Bridges in the vicinity of David, in the province of Chiriqui, as recorded in the List of Mammals and Birds which he collected there, given in the Proceedings of the Zoologital Society for 1856. It is of constant occurrence in Bogota collections. Next we find it in Cisandean Ecuador, on the head- waters of the Rio Napo, whence specimens have been transmitted by M. Villa-vicencio: see P. Z. 8. 1854, p.115. Von Tschudi includes it among the Calliste of the wood-region of Eastern Peru, and d’Orbigny found it in the country of the Yuracares Indians, at the eastern foot of the Bolivian Andes. Here, he says, it is as common as the other species of the genus which occur there (Calliste boli- viana, cyanicollis, schranki, and yeni), and has the same habits, keeping in movement among the branches of the highest trees. Its native name is “ Chachindala.” Mr. Bridges’ notes on this bird, as observed by him near David in Veragua, were,.that it was found on the high trees near the town, and fed on the fruit of a small-fruited species of Ficus. The adult male of the present Calliste is readily distinguishable from that of the preceding species by its blue rump. This is less visible in younger birds, and in some quite immature individuals in my collection even the red cap is scarcely apparent, and the whole plumage is of a nearly uniform dull green. dart dei Lith Becquetfreres. Calliste Desmaresti. ¥CALLISTE DESMARESTI. DESMAREST’S GREEN TANAGER. PLATE XXVII. Tangara rouverdin, femelle, Desm. Tan. pl. 7 (2). Tanagra gyrola ...... Swains. Zool. i. n. s. pl. 28. Calliste desmaresti.... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 6. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 67; P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 256. Cassin, Rep. U. 8. Astr. Exp. i. p. 182. pl. 19. fig. 2. Aglaia viridissima .... Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 277. Gyrola viridissima .... Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 139; Note s. 1, Tang. p. 13. Calliste viridissima.... Bp. Consp. p. 234. Mas adultus. Claré viridis: capite toto et mento summo casta- neis: tibiis pallidé rufis: rostro nigro-tusco: pedibus nigri- cantibus: long. tcta 5:0, alee 2°9, caudze 1°8 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis sed minus splendens. While the last preceding bird is the representative of the Calliste gyrola in the lengthened region lying to the eastward of the great Andean range, the present species seems to supply its place’in that branch of the Andes which extends through the north of Venezuela, and terminates in the island of Trinidad. From the latter locality and from Caraccas many specimens of this Calliste have been sent to Europe. It is probably the bird given by Desmarest as the sup- posed female of the yyrola. It is certainly the species figured under that name by Mr. Swainson in the second series of his beautiful ‘Zoological Lilustrations,’ aud a very accurate representative of it has likewise been lately published in the ‘ Report of the United States Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere.’ As was the case with Calliste gyroloides, Mr. Gray and M. de Lafresnaye gave separate names to the present bird about the same 60 time. But in the present instance we are glad to be able to employ Mr. Gray’s appellation ; for it has both the claim of priority by a short period, and the merit of perpetuating the name of an author who wrote a Monograph of the beautiful family of birds to which the present genus belongs at an early date, and gave to the world an accurate account of all that was known about them at that time. Desmarest’s Tanager may be at once distinguished from its close allies, the two lastly represented species of this genus, by the want of any tinge of blue colouring on the rump or belly. The whole bird is of a nearly uniform bright green with the chin and cap chestnut-red, and the imner webs of the wing- and tail-feathers blackish. /CALLISTE BRASILIENSIS. THE BRAZILIAN TURQUOISE TANAGER. PLATE XXVIII. Tangara brasiliensis czerulea, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 9. Tangara bleu de Brésil, Buff. Pl. Enl. 179. fig. 1. ‘Tanagra brasiliensis .. Linn. 8. N. i. p. 316. Gm. 8. N.1. p. 895. Lath. Ind. Orn. 1. p. 424. Vieill. Enc. Méth. 780. Max. Beitr. iu. p. 477. Tangara barbadensis czrulea, Briss. Orn. i. 8? Tangara bleu de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 155. fig. 1; H. N. iv. 282? Tanagra mexicana, var. 8, Gm. 8. N.1. p. 893? Tanagra barbadensis .. Kuhl, Ind. Pl. Enl. p. 3? ' Temm. Ind. Pl. Col. p. 31? Calliste albiventris .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 22? Calliste brasiliensis.... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 11. Bp. Consp. p. 234. Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851], p. 68; P. Z. S. 1856, p- 256. Burm. Syst. Ueb. d. Th. Bras. ii. pt. u. p. 180. Callospiza barbadensis, Bp. Compt. Rend. Ac. Se. Par. xxxii. p. 80. Callospiza brasiliensis... Bp. R. Z. 1851, p. 468; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 19. Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 27. Turquoise Tanager.... Lath. G. H. vi. p. 29. Mas adultus. Niger: capite antico et laterali cum gutture, pectore et lateribus necnon dorso postico et alarum tectricibus remi- gumque marginibus externis ceruleis: rostri ambitu, torque gutturali interrupto et maculis in lateribus pectoris et ventris nigris: abdomine medio et tectricibus subalaribus albis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 6:0, alee 3°3, caudee 2°2 poll. Angl. Femina. A mari vix diversa, sed coloribus paulé dilutioribus. The Turquoise Tanager is one of the commonest birds in the col- lections which are now-a-days so frequently imported from the ports 62 on the eastern coast of Brazil, and is well known to every student of exotic ornithology. Prince Maximilian of Neuwied informs us that he met with it in numbers in several provinces of Eastern Brazil, but less often in the forests than the more open country which was varied with wood, and particularly at the edges of the plantations. Here it goes commonly in pairs, perching generally upon the top of shrubs, and feeding on fruits. In the month of November the Prince found a nest of this Tanager placed in a thick bush in a fork formed by the separation of four branches, and built after the fashion of that of our Chaffinch (Fringilla celebs). It was constructed very neatly of wool, nearly all white, only varied with a few rootlets and moss and bark inter- woven, and lined within with broad threads of bark. The two eggs which it contained were rather long in shape, marbled with pale reddish violet upon a white ground, and varied with a few irregular black specks and blotches. Prof. Burmeister notices the occurrence of this bird in the vicinity of New Freiburg. I am not quite sure whether Buffon’s ‘Tangara bleu de Cayenne’ and its attendant synonyms are more correctly applicable to this species or to Calliste flaviventris, but the balance of authorities on this point seems to be in favour of the present bird. I have a young individual of this Calliste, evidently of the first year. It is coloured very much like the parent birds, except that the black is much less intense, and the blue colouring on the breast and wing-coverts has as yet only partially appeared, and these parts have more white about them. imp: Geny Gros F aViv enters —— ieauiisiaeual CALLISTE FLAVIVENTRIS. THE GUIANAN TURQUOISE TANAGER. PLATE XXIX. Tangara cayennensis cerulea, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 6. Tangara tacheté de Cayenne, Buff. Pl. Enl. 290. fig. 2. Tangara diable-enrhumé, Buff. H. N. iv. 27. Desm. H. N. d. Tang. pl. 5. Tanagra mexicana .... Linn. S. N.i. p. 315. Gm. 8. N.1. p. 893. Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 426. Tanagra flaviventris .. Vieill. N. D. @H. N. xxxii. p. 411; Enc. Méth. p- 77/4. Calliste mexicana .... Gray, Gen. p. 366. sp. 21. Bp. Consp. p. 235. Callospiza mexicana .. Schomb. Guian. ii. p. 670. Calliste flaviventris.... Sclater, Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 69; P. Z.S. 1856, p- 257. Callispiza flaviventris .. Cab. Mus. Hei. p. 27. Callospiza cayennensis, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxii. p. 80; Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 169; Note s. 1. Tang. p. 20. Black and Blue Tanager, Edwards, Glean. pl. 350. Lath. G. H. vi. p. 35. Mas adultus. Niger: capite antico et laterali cum gutture, pectore et lateribus necnon dorso postico et tectricum alarium majo- rum marginibus externis ceruleis: rostri ambitu, torque gutturaii interrupto et maculis in lateribus pectoris et ventris nigris: tectricibus alarum minoribus turcoso-ceeruleis: remi- gum externarum margine angusta cyanea: abdomine medio cum crisso et tectricibus subalaribus albis, sulphureo-flavo tinctis: rostro et pedibus nigris: long. tota 5:4, ale 2°7, caudee 1°8 poll. Angl. Femina. Mari similis sed minis splendens. The upper portion of South America lying under the equator is the true home of the Tanagers of the genus Calliste. Northwards of the Isthmus of Panama but few occur, and in Mexico a single one 64 only, and that in Tabasco, one of the most southern states of the confederacy. M. Salle’s large collection, formed a few degrees to the north of this, did not contain a single individual of the genus. Such being the case, it would be obviously wrong to continue to employ for this species (which is not the Mexican one) the appellation mezi- cana, and I therefore follow several recent authorities in using for it the second-given name flaviventris. Although Linneeus called it mexicana (apparently confounding it with some bird called by Her- nandez by the ineuphonious name Touauhtolotl!), Buffon and Brisson were well aware that it is really an inhabitant of Cayenne and Guiana, where the Creoles are said to have bestowed upon it the peculiar appellation of ‘ Le diable enrhumé,” but for what reason we are not informed. Schomburgk says it is one of the commonest birds in British Guiana, and resorts particularly to the Cecropia trees, like Calliste cayana. The Warraus call it Mohebera. It seems to extend pretty far into the interior, for Mr. Wallace transmitted spe- cimens to Europe from the Upper Rio Negro. The Turquoise Tanager of Cayenne is distinguishable at once from that of Brazil by its inferior size and by the yellowish tinge on the belly. To the next following bird, Calliste vieilloti, as hereafter shown, it is certainly very closely allied, and many Ornithologists would be inclined to consider these two birds merely as local races of the same species. ’ CALLISTE VIEILLOTI. VIEILLOT’S TURQUOISE TANAGER. Tanagra flaviventris .. Vieil/. Enc. Méth. p. 774 (partim). Callospiza mexicana .. Bp. Compt. Rend. Ae. Se. Par. xxx. p. 80; Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1851, p. 169; Note s.1. Tang. p. 20. Calliste vieilloti ...... Sclater, P.Z. 8. 1856, p. 257 ; Syn. Av. Tan. p. 83. Mas adultus. Niger, capite antico et laterali cum gutture, pec- tore et lateribus necnon dorso postico et tectricum alarium majorum marginibus externis czeruleis : rostri ambitu, torque gutturali interrupto et maculis in lateribus pectoris et ventris nigris: tectricibus alarum minoribus turcoso-ceruleis : remi- gum externarum margine angusta cyanea: abdomine medio cum crisso et tectricibus subalaribus flavis: rostro et pedibus nigerrimis : long. toté 5:4, alee 2°7, caudee 1°8 poll. Angl. Femina.