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Show 70 MR. O. SALVIN ON NEW BIRDS FROM VERAGUA. [Jan. 23, affinis, sed dorso baud fasciato, gutture albido et corpore subtus non fuliginoso lavato, rostro quoque longiore differt. The collection contains two specimens of this Wren, both of which agree with Prof. Baird's description (/. c.) of Mr. Lawrence's bird from Panama. All of them seem to differ considerably from the Vera Paz bird I described as Cyphorhinus philomela. I have therefore thought it necessary to distinguish this Veraguan form under a new name. Through Dr. Sclater's kindness 1 have now before me his type specimens of M. albigularis (Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 67) (which certainly belongs here and not to Pheugopedius, as Prof. Baird asserts) and of M. marginatus (Sclater, P. Z. S. 1855, p. 145). I have also, besides the present bird, M. philomela aud two specimens of the Cayenne M. bambla (Bodd.), making five species, being all that I am acquainted with of this group of Wrens. Compared with M. albigularis the present bird presents great similarity of coloration; it wants, however, the black edges to the feathers of the upper plumage ; or, to speak more correctly, it has these in a less degree; for in the new species there are exceedingly faint indications of black margins to the feathers of the upper surface. It also wants the white wing-band, and differs in this respect from M. bambla. The throat of M. albigularis is rather purer white, the legs yellowish instead of dark brown, and it is smaller in all its dimensions. M. luscinia bears very much the relationship to M. albigularis that M. philomela does to M. bambla. Having examined five specimens of M. philomela, all of which agree in every respect, I can hardly concur in Prof. Baird's suggestion that the bird I now describe is the adult of M. philomela. The bars on the under plumage are subterminal, and not terminal margins, the indication of first feathers. These markings are quite similar to those we find in M. bambla. The nostrils of Microcerculus present peculiarities which seem to justify its generic separation certainly from Heterorhina, and also from Cyphorhinus. In Microcerculus the nostril is partially covered with a membrane, which, being convex along its unattached lower edge, meets the lower margin of the nasal cavity towards its anterior end, leaving the posterior end open and comma-shaped, the tail of the comma extending anteriorly. No septum or division is seen externally ; but by raising the valvular membrane it appears. This septum, however, is perfectly free and unattached to the membrane of the nostril, and does not adhere to it as Prof. Baird states (with doubt). The perfect nostril never appears double. In Scytalopus, with which genus these Wrens have been confounded, the nasal tegument is an oval thickened membrane, so attached as to leave only a slit for the nostril along the lower edge of the nasal fossa. In Cyphorhinus the nostril is circular and surrounded by a membrane. In Heterorhina and also Thryothorus the nostril is open, a longitudinal septum showing a division ; the nostril itself extends backwards from the anterior edge of the nasal fossa. Thus Microcerculus |