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Show 1870. J DR. O. FINSCH ON THE BIRDS OF TRINIDAD. 577 Granada (Baranquilla), s. n. 31. robustus, Cab. The colouring is exactly the same as in 31. atronitens, also the metallic-green lustre on the vent and under tail-coverts ; but the size is constantly much larger. Having proved that M. discolor of Cassin cannot be either M. discolor of Vieillot or M. atronitens of Cabanis (a fact which has been already mentioned by Von Pelzeln, Orn. Bras. iii. p. 200, note 3), I am justified in giving it a new name-Molothrus cassini, Finsch. The Molothrus sp.?, described by Dr. Sclater (Cat. pp. 135, 821, note), from Trinidad, belongs apparently to this species. I must mention that Dr. Gundlach does not notice this bird in his lists of the birds from Cuba. M. aeneus, Wagl. (= robustus, Cab., Cass. Proc. Phil. 1866, p. 18), from Mexico and Central America, we possess also from New Granada. This species is easily distinguished from M. cassini, with which it nearly agrees in size; but those parts which are dark purple-violet in M. cassini, in M. aeneus are black with a silky metallic bronze-like lustre, as described by Wagler and Cassin. M. purpurascens, Cassin (I. c. p. 20), from Peru, seems to be nearly allied; also his M. sericeus (I. c. p. 21) from Brazil, which is by no means the species described under this name by Lichtenstein and Swainson. Xanthornus purpurascens, Hahn (Vog. aus Asien, Africa, &c. Liefer, v. t. 4), is very probably not the species described under this appellation by Cassin, but must be referred to 31. bonariensis, Gmel. (Cass. I. c. p. 19), with which Icterus sericeus, Licht. (Doubl. Cat. p. 19), and Icterus violaceus, Neuwied (Beitr. iii. p. 1212), are identical, and, as I am strongly of opinion, also the Passerina discolor of Vieillot. CHALCOPHANINJE. 64. CHALCOPHANES LUGUBRIS (SW.). Quiscalus lugubris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 299, f. 54 (nee 50) C; Scl. Cat. p. 141; Taylor, I. c. p. 84. Chalcophanes jamaicensis et minor, Cab. Schomb. Reise, iii. p. 683. Chalcophanes lugubris et minor, Cab. M . Flein. p. 197. Quiscalus barita, Leot. p. 268. Quiscalus lugubris, Cass. Proc. 1866, p. 408. Old male; black, with a faint purple-violet lustre, much less decided than in Molothrus bonai-iensis; quills and tail with a slight green lustre; the under tail-coverts washed with metallic green; bill and feet black. Another specimen is more uniform glossy black, the purple-violet lustre being scarcely visible. A younger one (or female) shows no purple or greenish reflection; the underside is lighter, more dull brownish black ; chin paler brown. Specimens from Demerara in the Bremen Museum are like. Long. al. rectr. med. rectr. ext. rostr. tars. 4" V 3" 9'" 2" 10'" 11'" 13'" (cS ad., Trinidad.) 4 3 3 4 2 10 11 13 (cS ad., Trinidad.) 3 11 3 2 2 5 10 12 (cS jun., Trinidad.) 4 3 3 7 2 10 11 14 (6* ad., Guiana.) 3 9 2 11 2 5 - 121 (S jun., Guiana.) |