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Show 1870.] MESSTIS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON THE CRACID.E. 541 OREOPHASIS DERBIANUS. Oreophasis derbianus, G. R. Gray, Gen. of B. iii. p. 485, pl. 121; Reichenb. Tauben, p. 155; Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 224; Salv. Ibis, 1860, pp. 43, 248. Penelope fronticornis, Van der Hoev. Naturg. der Wirbelth. ii. p. 435. Supra niger chalybeo-nitens : caudee medice fascia lata alba : subtus albus, nigro anguste striatus: gula et ventre imo cum lateribus et tibiis nigris: rostro flavo: cornu verticali et pedibus rubris: long, tota 36, alee 16, caudee 15, tarsi 3*5. Fem. Mari similis, sed paulo minor, et cornu verticali minore. Hab. Guatemala, woods of the Volcan de Fuego, alt. 10,000 feet (Salvin). Mus. Brit., Vindob., S.-G. Sect. IV. Geographical Distribution of the Cracidee. The Cracidee are strictly confined to the forests of the N e w World, aud extend from the Rio Grande of Texas on the north to the wood-region of Paraguay on the south. They do not occur in the Antilles, with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, and on the western side of the Andes do not pass southward of the Gulf of Guayaquil. Throughout the whole of this vast area the species are thinly distributed, not more than one member of the leading divisions (Crax, Penelope, and Ortalida) being usually found in the same locality. This fact of distribution is more strictly true than would appear from a cursory examination of the subjoined table. For instance, in Guatemala we find recorded the existence of two species of Ortalida. But one of these inhabits the western forests, and one the eastern; they are never found together. The same is, we believe, the case with the three Mexican Ortalida?; and this fact is still more noticeable in the case of the true Graces, where each species appears to be confined to its own isolated area. In the following table, which has been drawn up to show the distribution of the Cracidae, we have divided the whole area occupied by the family into nine districts. W e shall say a few words about each of them. 1. Mexico and Central America, from the Rio Grande of Texas down to the Isthmus of Panama. In the whole of America north of Panama we find but one species of Crax occurring, viz. C. globicera. Of Penelope there are two species, P. cristata replacing P. purpurascens of Mexico and Guatemala in Costa Rica and Panama. The isolated Penelopina nigra is only met with in the elevated forests of Guatemala. In the same way Chamapetes unicolor is peculiar to Costa Rica and Veragua. Fiv*e species of Ortalida are found northwards of Panama; but, as we have already explained, only one species occurs in each particular district. Lastly, the Oreophasis offers one of the most extraordinary instances of limited geographical distribution hitherto known, being absolutely restricted to the forest surrounding a single volcano. PROC ZOOL. SOC-1870, No. XXXVI. |