OCR Text |
Show 1878.] MR. A. B O U C A R D O N BIRDS F R O M COSTA RICA. 65 215. MlLVULUS FORFICATUS, Gm. Native name " Tijerillo." Several specimens from San Jose, January to May. Very common in the Savana, a beautiful plain about one mile and a half from the town. They are usually perched on the small shrubs in the plain. Family COTINGIDEE. 216. TITYRA PERSONATA, Jard. & Selby. Several specimens from Orozi. Always seen perched on the highest trees, where they remain sometimes for hours, as if they were on the watch. They are easily mistaken for Carpodectes nitidus, which they resemble very much when seen at a long distance. 217. PACHYRHAMPHUS VERSICOLOR, Hartl. Only one specimen, from Candelaria, May. Very rare. 218. PACHYRHAMPHUS CINEREIVENTRIS, Sclat. One specimen, from San Mateo, May. 219. LIPAUGUS HOLERYTHRUS, Sclat. & Salv. Several specimens from San Carlos, February; and Naranjo, April. 220. CARPODECTES NITIDUS, Salv. One adult female, from San Carlos, February. This sex, being quite new to science, I give a description of it. Head and back of a dark bluish grey, rather lighter on the forehead ; the upper feathers of the tail nearly black, the underside ashy grey; wing-coverts of the same colour as the back ; primaries black ; the secondaries and tertiaries have a white border on their inner webs ; cheeks, throat, and round the eyes white ; breast and abdomen pale bluish grey ; under wing- and under tail-coverts white; the lower part of the abdomen white ; thighs white ; toes black ; bill blue. Total length 8-| inches, wing 5-f, tail 2-f. I procured this bird quite accidentally. During our stay at San Carlos we used to bathe every afternoon in a stream close by the rancho, and I always carried my gun with me. The third day after our arrival at San Carlos we were quietly enjoying our bath when my friend Meil saw this bird alighting on a tree close by. Immediately he told me I came out of the water and took my gun ; but the bird was perched so high that I could not make out with certainty what species it was. I was struck by its colour, and I thought immediately of Carpodectes, of which I had seen a figure in the ' Proceedings.' I had a shot at the bird ; and it fell down, but far away in the forest amongst Agave plants growing near the stream. My friends saw the direction where it fell; and although I was quite naked, I went into the forest, and, after twenty minutes of the most active search, I had the pleasure of finding it quite dead. Several times I was near giving up the search ; but now I feel very happy PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1878, No. V. 5 |