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Show 1874.] MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON PERUVIAN BIRDS. 679 21. SYNALLAXIS ALBICAPILLA, Cab. J. f. O. 1873, p. 319 ; Tacz. anted,, p. 527. W e have compared Mr. Whitely's skin of this species with the typical specimen. 25. PSITTACULA ANDICOLA, Finsch, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 90. A second example of this interesting species, obtained, like the former, at Paucartambo. On reexamination we find that Sclater's collection contains a skin of this little Parrot, received from M . Taczanowski as a duplicate of Bolborhynchus orbignesius. It was obtained by Jelski at Punamarca, Peru, in 1872. 29. PENELOPE SCLATERI, G. R. Gray. Further examples of this species, already collected at Huasampilla by Mr. Whitely (P.Z. S. 1873, p. 780), and at Chilpes, Central Peru, by Jelski (anted, p. 558). In our 'Nomenclator' we unfortunately allowed Mr. Gray's name to be superseded by rufiventris of Tschudi, believing at the moment that Tschudi's Penelope rufiventris was a synonym. But Salvin has recently examined a typical specimen of Tschudi's bird, and has decided that our former reference of this doubtful species* was correct. See his remarks Ibis, 1874, p. 318. 31. MERGANETTA LEUCOGENYS (Tsch.). Specimens in Mr. Whitely's present collection rather resemble this form than Merganetta turneri, nobis (Ex. Orn. pi. 100) ; and we are not quite satisfied that the two species are really distinct. Mr. Whitely sends the following notice of the habits of this peculiar Duck. This bird is found in almost all the rivers and small mountain-streams of the Upper Andes. It is a beautiful sight to come across a pair of them swimming about amongst the immense boulders in one of these mountain-torrents. It dives with great rapidity equally well up stream, against a strong current, as down stream. It climbs up large stones that, with the action of the water constantly passing over them, have become smooth as glass, and seems to be greatly aided in this by the stiff feathers in the tail. I think the spikes on the wings are meant to assist the bird in diving rapidly, as I know of no enemy it has that would make them a formidable weapon to be used in attack or defence. Its food consists of grasses and sedges ; and the flesh is said to be a great delicacy, though personally I have never made the trial. The males are much more°plentiful than the females. I have not been able to find their breeding-ground, but should suspect it would be in some of the small caverns near the mountain-torrents. 32. NOTHOPROCTA TACZANOWSKIT, sp. nov. (Plate LXXXIV.) Supra fusca, plumis nigro late transfasciatis et pallido cervino utrinque marginatis : subtus omnino dilutior, pectore cinereo * P. Z. S. 1870, p. 531. |
