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Show 560 DR. O. FINSCH ON THE BIRDS OF TRINIDAD. [June 23, I append a remark on Trogon atricoUis,N\e\l\. (Enc. Me'th. p. 1361; Gal. Ois. i. p. 17, t. 31), with which Dr. Cabanis (Mus. Hein. iv. p. 181) unites T. chrysochlorus, Natt. (Pelz. Sitzungsb. der math. naturw. Classe der Kais. Ak. d. Wiss. in Wien, vol. xx. 1856, p. 496), a species distinguished chiefly by its larger size. The Imperial Museum of Vienna possesses fifteen specimens of this large form from Ypanema in Southern Brazil, and nine specimens of the true T. atricollis from the north of Brazil (Borba, Marabitanas, Barra do Rio Negro), all collected by the late Johann Natterer. Von Pelzeln, in his valuable publication on Natterer's collections, still insists on the specific separation of the two species; and, as far as I can judge, he is right. W e possess one specimen of the true T. atricollis from Guiana (Demerara), which is much inferior in size to the measurements noticed of T. chrysochlorus by von Pelzeln. I therefore incline to believe that the T. (Pothinus) atricollis described by Cabanis belongs to T. chrysochlorus, as well as T. atricollis of Neuwied (iv. p. 309) and Burmeister (ii. p. 279). But to settle this question finally further researches are necessary. Fam. ALCEDINIDAE. 20. CERYLE AMERICANA (Gmel.); Leot. p. 112. Chloroceryle americana, Scl. Cat. p. 265 ; Taylor, I. c. p. 88. A female of this widely distributed species, agreeing with specimens from New Granada in the Bremen collection. 21. CERYLE SUPERCILIOSA (L.) ; Leot. p. 115. Chloroceryle superciliosa, Scl. Cat. p. 265 ; Taylor, I. c. p. 88. One specimen. Fam. CCEREBIDAE. 22. DACNIS ATRICAPILLA (Vieill.). Chlorophanes atricapilla, Scl. Cat. p. 5 2 ; Taylor, I. c. p. 81. Dacnis spiza, Leot. p. 122. Chlorophanes guatemalensis, Scl. Six males and one female. In comparing these specimens with others from Brazil, N e w Granada, and Guatemala (Vera Paz), I must consider them all to belong to one and the same species, having convinced myself that there is no real constancy in the characters by which Mr. Cassin separated four local varieties or races, although there exists a considerable variability in respect of the green of the plumage, as well as in size. Two males from Trinidad are as bright green as our Guatemalan one; and a specimen from South Brazil (St. Catharina), collected by Burmeister, jun., differs very much less, having the bill nearly as large as the stout-billed specimens from Guatemala. Columbian specimens are not distinguishable from Trinidad ones; others from Trinidad are as dark green as others from Brazil. |