SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTIOlSr. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, N'o. 50. THE BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. BY CURATOR, DIVISION OF BIRDS ART IV. :V?\KyNc/?? 3^< jCS"" ^^ ^F^ ^•^^••••...--^••^V^ WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 19 07. tAAcJ^ SMITHSOlN^IAISr IlSrSTITTTTIOlSr. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. l^o. 50. Part IV. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1907. THE BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA; A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE HIGHER GROUPS, GENERA, SPECIES, AND SUBSPECIES OF BIRDS KNOWN TO OCCUR IN NORTH AMERICA, FROM THE ARCTIC LANDS TO THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, THE WEST INDIES AND OTHER ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA, AND THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO. BY CURATOR, DIVISION OF BIRDS. Paet I a Family TURDIDiE— Thrushes. Family ZELEDONIIDiE— Wren-Thrushes. Family MlMIDJl— Mockingbirds. Family STURNIDJI— Starlings. Family PLOCEID^— Weaver Birds. Family ALAUDIDjE— Larks. FamHy OXYRUNCID^— Sharp-bills. Family TYRANN ID jE— Tyrant Flycatchers. Family PIPRID Jl— Myiarchusnakins. Family COTINGIDiE— Chatterers. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 19 7. PREFACE. Unavoidable circumstances have delayed the completion of this volume until the present time. Part I, issued in 1901, included the Famil}^ Fringillida? (Finches) alone. Part II, issued in 1902, included the Families Tanagridjp, (Tanao-ers), Icterid* (Troupials), Coerebida? (Honey Creepers), and Mniotiltidai (Wood Warblers). Part III, published in 1904, included the Motacillidse (Wagtails and Pipits), Hirundinidas (Swallows), Am- pelid?e (Waxwings), Ptilogonatidte (Silky Flycatchers), Dulidfe (Palm Chats), Vireonidje (Vireos), Laniidse (Shrikes), Corvid^ (Crows and Jays), Paridee (Titmice), Sittidse (Nuthatches), Certhiidaj (Creepers), Troglodytidas (Wrens), Cinclidaj (Dippers), Chamteidaj (Wren-Tits), and Sylviidte (Warblers). The present volume comprises the Turdidaj (Thrushes), Zeledoniidse (Wren-Thrushes), Myiarchusmidse (Mockingbirds), SturnidiB (Starlings), Ploceidie (Weaver Birds), Alaudidas (Larks), OxyruncidjB (Sharp-bills), Tyrannidte (Tyrant Flycatchers), Pipridte (Myiarchusnakins), and Cotingidee (Chatterers). Part V, which is partly done, includes the FormicariidiB (Ant Birds), Dendrocolaptid* (Wood- Hewers), Furnariidte (Oven Birds-), Pteroptochidte (Tapacolas), Tro- chilidge (Humming Birds), Myiarchuscropodidte (Swifts), Caprimulgid^e (Goatsuckers), and Picidse (Woodpeckers). In the four volumes published there have been described 1,675 species and subspecies, or somewhat more than half the total number of North and Myiarchusddle American Birds. Acknowledgments are due for the loan of specimens used in the preparation of this volume to those individuals and public institutions mentioned in preceding volumes; also to the Carnegie Myiarchusseum, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (through Myiarchus. W. E. Clyde Todd, in charge of the bird collection); the Myiarchusseum of Comparative Zoology, Cam- bridge, Myiarchusssachusetts (through Myiarchus. William Brewster); Dr. Louis B. Bishop, of New Haven, Connecticut; Myiarchus. J. H. Fleming, of Toronto, Canada, and Myiarchus. Arthur T. Wayne, of Mount Pleasant, South Caro- lina. The specimens from the Carnegie Myiarchusseum were especially help- ful, consisting of tine series of beautifully prepared specimens, mostly from Costa Rica. It is a great pleasure to the author to have this opportunit}^ of expressing his obligations foi- the privilege of studying the very com- VI PKEFACE. plete collection (numbering some 15,000 specimens) of Costa Rican birds belonging- to the National Myiarchusseum of Costa Rica, at San Jose, where a commodious and convenient workroom and free access to the specimens were placed at his service; and it is also a great pleasure to refer to the indispensable assistance rendered by Don Anastasio Alfaro, Director of the Myiarchusseum, and Don Jose C. Zeledon, of San Jose, during the author's six months' sojourn in that country collecting material for the present woi"k. The illustrations in this volume not previously published were mostly made by Myiarchus. H. W. Hendley, of Washington, District of Columbia, and the measurements of specimens were made chiefly by Myiarchus. J. H. Riley, of the Division of Birds. Robert Ridgway. Myiarchusy 20, 1907. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Family Turdid.e 1 Key to the American Genera of Turdidif 4 Genus 1. Saxicola Bechstein 8 1. Saxicola oenanthe cenanthe (Linnaeus) 9 2. Saxicola oenanthe leucorhoa ( Vieillot) 12 Genus 2. Cyanosylvia Brehm 14 3. Cyanosylvia suecica (Linnpeus) 15 Genus 3. Catharus Bonaparte 18 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Catharus 19 4. Catharus dryas (Gould) 21 5. Catharus mexicanus mexicanus (Bonaparte) 22 6. Catharus mexicanus fumosus (Ridgway ) 24 7. Catharus fuscater hellmayri Berlepsch 24 8. Catharus occidentalis occidentalis (Selater) 26 9. Catharus occidentalis fulvescens Nelson 27 10. Catharus occidentalis olivascens (Nelson) 27 11. Catharus frantzii frantzii Cabanis 28 12. Catharus frantzii alticola ( Sal vin and Godman ) 29 13. Catharus frantzii omiltemensis Ridgway 29 14. Catharus melpomene melpomene ( Cabanis) 29 15. Catharus melpomene clarus Jouy 30 16. Catharus melpomene costaricensis Hellmayr 31 17. Catharus griseiceps Sal vin 32 18. Catharus gracilirostris gracilirostris Sal vin 32 19. Catharus gracilirostris accentor Bangs 33 Genus 4. Hylocichla Baird 34 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Hylocichla 35 20. Hylocichla mustelina (Gmelin) 37 21. Hylocichla guttata guttata (Pallas) 39 22. Hylocichla guttata nana ( Audubon) 42 23. Hylocichla guttata sleveni ( Grinnell ) 44 24. Hylocichla guttata sequoiensis ( Bekling) 44 25. Hylocichla guttata auduboni ( Baird ) 46 26. Hylocichla guttata pallasii ( Cabanis ) 48 27. Hylocichla ustulata ustulata ( Nuttall ) 52 28. Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii ( Cabanis) 55 29. Hylocichla alicije alicite (Baird) - 59 30. Hylocichla alicipe bicknelli ( Ridgway ) 62 31. Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens (Stephens) 64 32. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola Ridgway 67 VII VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Genus 5. Zeledonia Ridgway « 69 33. Zeledonia coronata ( Ridgway ) 71 Genus 6. Cichlherminia Bonaparte 72 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Cichlherminia 73 34. Cichlherminia herminieri herminieri (Lafresnaye) 74 35. Cichlherminia herminieri lawrencii (Cory) 75 36. Cichlherminia sanctfe-luciae (Sclater) 75 37. Cichlherminia coryi Ridgway 76 38. Cichlherminia dominicensis (Lawrence) 77 Genus 7. Myiarchusmocichla Sclater 78 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiarchusmocichla 79 39. Myiarchusmocichla ardosiacea ardosiacea ( Vieillot ) 80 40. Myiarchusmocichla ardosiacea portoricensis ( Bryant) 81 41. Myiarchusmocichla ardosiacea albiventris Sclater • 82 42. Myiarchusmocichla plumbea (Linnaeus) 82 43. Myiarchusmocichla rubripes rubripes (Temminck) 84 44. Myiarchusmocichla rubripes eremita Ridgway 85 45. Myiarchusmocich la rubripes coryi ( Sharpe ) 86 46. Myiarchusmocichla rubripes schistacea (Baird) 86 47. Myiarchusmocichla ravida Cory 87 Genus 8. Haplocichla ( Ridgway ) 87 48. Haplocichla aurantia (Gmelin) 88 Genus 9. Planesticus Bonaparte 90 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Planesticus 93 49. Planesticus rutitorques ( Hartlaub) 96 50. Planesticus migratorius migratorius ( Linnaeus) 97 51. Planesticus migratorius achrusterus (Batchelder) 100 52. Planesticus migratorius propinquus (Ridgway) 101 53. Planesticus confinis (Baird) 103 54. Planesticus flavirostris (Swainson) 105 55. Planesticus graysoni (Ridgway) 106 56. Planesticus jamaicensis ( Gmelin) 107 57. Planesticus tristis tristis (Swainson) 108 58. Planesticus tristis assimilis ( Cabanis ) 109 59. Planesticus tristis cnephosa (Bangs) 110 60. Planesticus tristis leucauchen (Sclater) Ill 61. Planesticus gymnophthalmus (Cabanis) 113 62. Planesticus obsoletus ( Lawrence ) 114 63. Planesticus nigrirostris ( Lawrence ) 115 64. Planesticus grayi grayi (Bonaparte) 117 65. Planesticus grayi tamaulipensis ( Nelson ) 119 66. Planesticus grayi casius (Bonaparte) 120 67. Planesticus infuscatus (Lafresnaye) 121 68. Planesticus plebejus (Cabanis) 122 69. Planesticus differens (Nelson) 123 70. Planesticus nigrescens ( Cabanis ) 124 Genus 10. Turdus Linufeus 1 25 71. Turdus iliacus Linnaeus 127 Genus 11. Ixoreus Bonaparte 129 72. Ixoreus neevius (Gmelin) , 131 a This genus is to be removed from the Turdidee and placed in a separate family, Zeledoniidse. (See Addenda, p. 885.) TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX Page Genus 12. Ridgwayia Stejneger 1^^ 73. Ridgwayia pinicola (Sclater) 1^6 Genus 13. Sialia Swamson ^^° Key to the Species and Subspecies of Sialia 140 74. Sialia sialis sialis (Linnteus) 142 75. Sialia sialis fulva Brewster « 116 76. Sialia sialis guatemal;e Ridgway 147 77. Sialia mexicana mexicana Swainson 148 78. Sialia mexicana anabete Anthony 150 79. Sialia mexicana bairdi Ridgway 1^^ 80. Sialia mexicana australis Nelson 154 81. Sialia mexicana occidentalis (Townsend) 155 82. Sialia arctica Swainson 156 Genus 14. Myadestes Swainson 160 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myadestes 161 83. Myadestes townsendi (Audubon) - 163 84. Myadestes obscurus obscurus Laf resnaye 166 85. Myadestes obscurus occidentalis Stejneger 168 86. Myadestes unicolor Sclater 170 87. Myadestes melanops Salvin 1 ' 1 88. Myadestes elisabeth ( Lembeye) 172 89. Myadestes elisabeth retrusus Bangs and Zappey 1 73 90. Myadestes solitarius Baird - 174 91. Myadestes genibarbis genibarbis Swainson 175 92. Myadestes genibarbis sanctfe-lucife ( Stejneger) 176 93. Myadestes genibarbis dominicanus (Stejneger) 177 94. Myadestes genibarbis cherriei Ridgway 1 " 95. Myadestes armillatus (Yieillot) 1 7h 96. Myadestes sibilans Lawrence 179 Family Myiarchusmid.?;; ^°" Comparison of osteological characters of Troglodytidaj, Myiarchusmida?, and Turdida?. 181 Key to the Genera of Myiarchusmid* 1^^ -1 QA Genus 1. Toxostoma Wagler ^^'* Key to the Species and Subspecies of Toxostoma 185 1. Toxostoma rufum (Linnpeus) 187 2. Toxostoma longirostre longirostre (Laf resnaye) 191 3. Toxostoma longirostre sennetti ( Ridgway ) 192 4. Toxostoma guttatum (Ridgway) 193 5. Toxostoma ocellatum (Sclater) 194 6. Toxostoma cinereum cinereum ( Xantus) 195 7. Toxostoma cinereum mearnsi ( Anthony ) 196 8. Toxostoma bendirei ( Coues) 197 9. Toxostoma curvirostre curvirostre (Swainson) 199 10. Toxostoma curvirostre occidentale ( Ridgway ) 201 11. Toxostoma curvirostre maculatum (Nelson ) 202 12. Toxostoma curvirostre palmeri (Coues) 202 13. Toxostoma redivivum (Gambel) 203 14. Toxostoma redivivum helvolum Thayer and Bangs 888 15. Toxostoma lecontei lecontei Lawrence 20o 16. Toxostoma lecontei arenicolum ( Anthony ) 207 17. Toxostoma crissale Henry Genus 2. Melanotis Bonaparte " a This should be Sialia sialis azurea (Baird) . (See Addenda, p. 887.) X TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Key to the Species of Melanotis 210 17. Melanotis cyerulescens (Swainson) 210 18. Melanotis longirostris (Nelson) 212 19. Melanotis hj'poleucus Hartlanb 212 Genus 3. Melanoptila Sclater 213 20. Melanoptila glabrirostris Sclater 214 Genus 4. Myiarchusmodes Ridgway 215 21. Myiarchusmodes graysoni (Lawrence) 216 Genus 5. Galeoscoptes Cabanis 216 22. Galeoscoptes carolinensis (Linnaeus) 218 Genus 6. Myiarchusmus Boie 221 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiarchusmus 223 23. Myiarchusnus polyglottos polyglottos (Linnteus) 225 24. Myiarchusmus polj^glottos leucopterus (Vigors) 228 25. Myiarchusmus polyglottos elegans (Sharpe) 231 26. Myiarchusmus polyglottos orpheus (Linnaeus) 231 27. Myiarchusmus polyglottos dominicus ( Linnpeus) 233 28. Myiarchusnms gilvus gilvus ( Vieillot) 234 29. Myiarchusmus gilvus rostratus Ridgway 236 30. Myiarchusmus gilvus columbianus ( Cabanis ) 236 31. Myiarchusmus gilvus gracilis (Cabanis) 237 32. Myiarchusmus gilvus guatemalensis Ridgway 239 33. Myiarchusmus gilvus lawrencei Ridgway 240 34. Myiarchusmus magnirostris Cory 241 35. Myiarchusmus gundlachii gundlachii Cabanis 241 36. Myiarchusmus gundlacliii bahamensis ( Bryant ) 243 37. Myiarchusmus gundlachii hillii (Myiarchusrch ) 244 Genus 7. Nesomimus Ridgway 244 Key to the Species of Nesomimus , 245 38. Nesominuis trifasciatus ( Gould ) 247 39. Nesomimus maedonaldi Ridgway 248 40. Nesomimus adamsi Ridgway 249 41. Nesomimus bindloei Ridgway 251 42. Nesomimus personatus Ridgway 252 43. Nesomimus melanotis (Gould) 253 44. Nesomimus dierythrus Heller and Snodgrass 254 45. Nesomimus huUi Rothschild 254 46. Nesomimus bauri Ridgway 255 47. Nesominuis barringtoni Rothschild 256 48. Nesomimus parvulus (Gould) 256 Genus 8. Oroscoptes Baird 258 49. Oroscoptes montanus (Townsend ) 259 Genus 9. Allenia Cory 261 50. Allenia apicalis ( Hartlaub) 262 Genus 10. Myiarchusrgarops Sclater 264 51. Myiarchusrgarops fuscatus fuscatus ( Vieillot ) 265 52. Myiarchusrgarops fuscatus densirostris ( Vieillot) 267 Genus 11. Ramphocinclus Lafresnaye 268 Key to the Species of Ramphocinclus 269 53. Ramphocinclus brachyurus ( Vieillot) 269 54. Ramphocinclus sanctfe-luciaj Cory 270 Genus 12. Cinclocerthia Gray 271 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XI Page. Key to the Species and Subspecies of Cinclocerthia 272 55. Cinclocerthia ruficauda ruficauda ( Gould ) 273 56. . Cinclocerthia ruficauda tenebrosa Ridgway 274 57. Cinclocerthia ruficauda tremula ( Lafresnaye) 274 58. Cinclocerthia ruficauda pavida Ridgway 275 59. Cinclocerthia macrorhyncha Sclater 276 60. Cinclocerthia gutturalis (Lafresnaye) 277 Genus 13. Calyptophilus Cory 278 61. Calyptophilus frugivorus (Cory) 279 Family Sturnid^ 279 Genus 1. Sturnus Linnssus 280 1. Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus 280 Family Ploceid.e 283 Key to the "Subfamilies" of Ploceida^ 284 Key to the American (introduced) Genera of Ploceidse 284 Genus 1. Spermestes Swainson 284 1. Spermestes cucullata (Swainson ) 285 Genus 2. Estrilda Swainson 286 2. Estrilda melpoda ( Vieillot) 287 Family Alaudid.e 289 Key to the American Genera of Alaudidfe 290 Genus 1. Alauda Linnaeus 291 1. Alauda arvensis arvensis Linnaeus 292 Genus 2. Otocoris Bonaparte 295 Key to the Subspecies of Otocoris alpestris 298 2. Otocoris alpestris alpestris (Linnaeus) 303 3. Otocoris alpestris hoyti Bishop 306 4. Otocoris alpestris arcticola Oberholser 307 5. Otocoris alpestris enthymia Oberholser 308 6. Otocoris alpestris leucolaema (Coues) 309 7. Otocoris alpestris praticoJa Henshaw 311 8. Otocoris alpestris diaphora Oberholser 313 9. Otocoris alpestris giraudi Henshaw 314 10. Otocoris alpestris merrilli Dwight 315 11. Otocoris alpestris strigata Henshaw 316 12. Otocoris alpestris insularis Townsend 317 13. Otocoris alpestris chrysolamia ( Wagler) 319 14. Otocoris alpestris actia Oberholser 320 15. Otocoris alpestris anunophila Oberholser 321 16. Otocoris alpestris rubea Henshaw 322 17. Otocoris alpestris oaxacae Nelson 323 18. Otocoris alpestris occidentalis (MyiarchusCall) 324 19. Otocoris alpestris adusta Dwight 325 20. Otocoris alpestris aphrasta Oberholser 326 21. Otocoris alpestris pallida Dwight 326 22. Otocoris alpestris leucansiptila Oberholser 327 23. Otocoris alpestris enertera Oberholser 890 Superfamily Mesomyodi 328 Key to the Families of Mesomyodi 330 Family Oxyruncid.e 332 Genus 1. Oxyruncus Temminck 333 Key to the Subspecies of Oxyruncus cristatus 333 1. Oxyruncus cristatus f rater (Sclater and Salvin) 334 XII TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Family Tyrannid.e 385 Key to the Genera of Tyrannidpe 340 Genus Copurus Strickland 349 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Copurus 350 1 . Copurus leuconotus Lafresnaye 351 Genus 2. Onychorliynchus Fischer 352 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Onychorhynchus 353 2. Onychorhynchus mexicanus mexicanus (Sclater) 354 3. Onychorhynchus mexicanus fraterculus Bangs 356 Genus 3. Oncostoma Sclater 357 Key to the Species of Oncostoma 358 4. Oncostoma cinereigulare (Sclater) 358 5. Oncostoma olivaceum (Lawrence) 360 Genus 4. Todirostrum Lesson 361 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Todirostrum 363 6. Todirostrum cinereum finitimum Bangs , 364 7. Todirostrum nigriceps Sclater 366 8. Todirostrum schistaceiceps Sclater 367 Genus 5» Lophotriccus Berlepsch 369 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Lophotriccus 370 9. Lophotriccus squamtecristatus minor Cherrie 371 Genus 6. Atalotriccus Ridgway 373 Key to the Subspecies of Atalotriccus pilaris 374 10. Atalotriccus pilaris jiilaris (Cabanis) 374 Genus 7. Perissotriccus Oberholser 376 Key to the Species of Perissotriccus 377 11. Perissotriccus atricapillus (Lawrence) 377 Genus 8. Placostomns Ridgway 378 Key to the Species of Placostomus 379 12. Placostomus superciliaris (Lawrence) 379 Genus 9. Platytriccus Ridgway 380 Key to the Species of Platytriccus 382 13. Platytriccus cancrominus (Sclater and Salvin) 382 14. Platytriccus albogularis ( Sclater) 384 Genus 10. Craspedoprion Hartert 385 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Craspedoprion 387 15. Craspedoprion fequinoctialis (Sclater) 387 16. Craspedoprion brevirostris (Cabanis) 388 Genus 11. Rhynchocyclus Cabanis and Heine 389 Key to the Species of Rhynchocyclus 391 17. Rhynchocyclus flavo-olivaceus Lawrence 391 18. Rhynchocyclus marginatus Lawrence 392 19. Rhynchocyclus cinereiceps (Sclater) 394 Genus 12. Serpophaga Gould 395 Key to the Subspecies of Serpophaga cinerea 397 20. Serpophaga cinerea grisea (Lawrence) 397 Genus 13. Myiopagis Salvin and Godman 398 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiopagis 400 21. Myiopagis placens placens (Sclater) 401 22. Myiopagis placens jaliscensis Nelson 402 23. Myiopagis placens minima Nelson 403 24. Myiopagis placens accola Bangs 403 25. Myiopagis cotta (Gosse) 404 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XIII Page. Genus 14. Tyrannisciis Cabanis and Heine 405 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Tyranniscus 407 26. Tyranniscus vilissimus vilissimus ( Sclater and Salvin) 408 27. Tyranniscus vilissimus parvus (Lawrence) 408 Genus 15. Leptotriccus Cabanis and Heine 410 Key to the Species of Leptotriccus 410 28. Leptotriccus superciliaris Sclater and Salvin 411 Genus 16. Camptostoma Sclater 411 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Camptostoma 412 29. Camptostoma imberbe Sclater 414 30. Camptostoma pusillum flaviventre (Sclater and Salvin) 417 Genus 17. Sublegatus Sclater and Salvin 418 Key to the Species of Sublegatus 419 31. Sublegatus arenarum (Salvin) 420 32. Sublegatus glaber Sclater and Salvin 421 Genus 1 8. Ela'nia Sundevall 423 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Elsenia 425 33. Elsenia martinica martinica ( Linn;eus) 426 34. Eljenia martinica snbpagana (Sclater and Salvin ) 429 35. Elfenia chiri(|uensis chiriquensis Lawrence 432 36. Elfenia chiriquensis sordidata ( Bangs) 433 37. Elsenia frantzii frantzii Lawrence 434 38. Elaenia fallax Sclater 436 39. Ela?nia cherriei Cory .• 437 Genus 19. Legatus Sclater 438 40. Legatus albicoUis ( Yieillot) 439 Genus 20. Myiozetetes Sclater 442 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiozetetes 443 41. Myiozetetes cayanensis cayanensis ( Linn;eus) 444 42. Myiozetetes texensis texensis (Giraud) 446 43. Myiozetetes texensis columbianus (Cabanis and Heine) 449 44. Myiozetetes granadensis Lawrence 450 Genus 21. Pipromorpha Bonaparte 452 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Pipromorpha 453 45. Pipi'omorpha assimilis assimilis (Sclater) 454 46. Pipromorpha assimilis dyscola (Bangs) 455 47. Pipromorpha oleaginea parca (Bangs) 457 48. Pipromorpha semischistacea (Cherrie) 458 Genus 22. Myiarchusonectes Cabanis 459 Key to the Species and Subsisecies of Myiarchusonectes 460 49. Myiarchusonectes olivaceus olivaceus Lawrence 461 Genus 23. Leptopogon Cabanis 462 Key to the Species of Leptopogon 463 50. Leptopogon pileatus Cabanis 463 . 51. Leptopogon superciliaris Cabanis 465 52. Leptopogon flavovirens Lawrence : . . 46*7 Genus 24. C'apsiempis Cabanis and Heine 468 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Capsiempis 469 53. Capsiempis tiaveola ( Lichtenstein ) 469 Genus 25. Pyrocephalus Gould 471 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Pyrocephalus 473 54. Pyrocephalus rubinus mexicanus (Sclater) 475 55. Pyrocephalus nanus Gould 478 56. Pyrocephalus dubius Gould 480 XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Genus 26. Nesotriccus Townsend 481 57. Nesotriccus ridgwayi Townt^end -482 Genus 27. Cnipodectes Sclater and Salvin 483 Key to the Species of Cnipodectes - 484 58. Cnipodectes subbrunneus (Sclater) 484 59. Cnipodectes minor Sclater 485 Genus 28. Myiobius Darwin 486 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiobius 487 60. INIyiobius barbatus atricaudus ( Lawrence) 488 61. Myiobius xanthopygus sulphureipygius (Sclater) 490 Genus 29. Aphanotriccus Ridgway 491 62. Aphanotriccus capitalis (Salvin) 492 Genus 30. Terenotriccus Ridgway 493 Key to the Subspecies of Terenotriccus erythrurus 494 63. Terenotriccus erythrurus fulvigularis (Salvin and Godman) 495 Genus 31. Myiarchustrephanes Coues 496 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiarchustrephanes 498 64. Myiarchustrephanes pha?ocercus phpeocercus (Sclater) 498 65. Myiarchustrephanes phfpocercus tenuirostris Brewster 500 66. Myiarchustrephanes aurantiiventris (Lawrence) 501 Genus 32. Deltarhynchus Ridgway 502 67. Deltarhynchus flammulatus (Lawrence) 503 Genus 33. Nuttallornis Ridgway 504 68. Nuttallornis borealis (Swainson) 505 Genus 34. Myiochanes Cabanis and Heine 509 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiochanes 511 69. Myiochanes pertinax pertinax (Cabanis and Heine) 513 70. Myiochanes pertinax pallidiventris (Chapman) 515 71. Myiochanes lugubris ( Lawrence ) 516 72. Myiochanes ochraceus (Sclater and Salvin) 517 73. Myiochanes virens (Linnaeus) 518 74. Myiochanes richardsonii richardsonii (Swainson) 521 75. Myiochanes richardsonii peninsulpe (Brewster) 525 76. Myiochanes richardsonii sordidulus (Sclater) 525 77. Myiochanes brachytarsus (Sclater) 526 Genus 35. Blacicus Cabanis 529 Key to the species of Blacicus 531 78. Blacicus bahamensis ( Bryant) 532 79. Blacicus caribauis (D'Orbigny ) 533 80. Blacicus hispaniolensis (Bryant) 535 81. Blacicus pallidus (Gosse) 536 82. Blacicus blancoi Cabanis 537 83. Blacicus brunneicapillus Lawrence 538 84. Blacicus latirostris ( Verreaux) 539 85. Blacicus fiaviventris Lawrence 540 Genus 36. Myiophobus Reichenbacln 541 Key to the Subspecies of Myiophobus fasciatus 542 86. Myiophobus fasciatus furfurosus ( Thayer and Bangs) 543 Genus 37. Empidonax Cabanis 545 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Empidonax 546 87. Emi)idonax fiaviventris ( Baird ) 549 88. Empidonax virescens ( Vieillot) 552 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV 89.- Empidoiiax traillii tiaillii ( Aiulul)c)n) 555 90. Empidonax traillii alnorum Brewster 558 91. Empidonax minimus (Baird) 561 92. Empidonax hammondii ( Xantus) 565 93. Empidonax wrightii Baird 567 94. Empidonax grisens Brewster 570 95. Empidonax pulverius Brewster 572 96. Empidonax f alvipectus Lawrence 573 97. Empidonax trepidus Nelson 575 98. Empidonax difficilis difficilis Baird 576 99. Emjiidonax difficilis cineritius ( Brewster) 580 100. Empidonax ditKcilis bairdi (Sclater) 581 101. Empidonax salvini Ridgway 582 102. Enjpidonax flavescens Lawrence 583 103. Empidonax a'lbigularis Sclater and Salvin 584 104. Empidonax timidus Nelson 586 105. Empidonax atriceps Salvin 586 106. Empidonax f ulvifrons fnlvifrons ( Giraud ) 588 107. Empidonax fnlvifrons pygmieus (Coues) 589 108. Emjiidonax fnlvifrons rubicundns (Cabanis and Heine) 591 109. Empidonax fnlvifrons fusciceps Nelson 592 Genus 38. Sayornis Bonaparte 592 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Sayornis 594 110. Sayornis pha>l)e (Latham) 594 11 1. Sayornis nigricans nigricans ( Swainson ) 597 112. Sayornis nigricans aquatica (Sclater and Salvin ) 600 113. Sayornis nigricans amnicola (Bangs) 601 114. Sayornis saya ( Bonaparte) 602 Genus 39. Eribates Ridgway 605 115. Eribates magnirostris (Gray ) 606 Genus 40. !\Iyiarchus Cabanis 607 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiarchus 609 116. Myiarchus crinitus ( Linnfcus ) 613 117. Myiarchus oberi oberi Lawrence 617 118. Myiarchus oberi nugator Riley 619 119. Myiarchus oberi berlepschii (Cory) 620 120. Myiarchus brevipennis Hartert 620 121. Myiarchus riexicanus inexicanus (Kaup) « ' 621 1 22. ]\Iyiarchus mexicanus magister Ridgway '^ 623 123. ]\Iyiarchus cinerascens cinerascens ( Lawrence) '. 625 124. Myiarchus cinerascens pertinax ( Baird) 628 125. Myiarchus nuttingi nuttingi Ridgway 629 126. Myiarchus nuttingi brachyurus (Ridgway) 630 .127. Myiarchus nuttingi inquietus (Salvin and Godman )...-. 631 128. Myiarchus yucatanensis Lawrence 632 129. Myiarchus stolidus (Gosse) 623 130. Myiarchus dominicensis ( Bryant) 634 131. Myiarchus denigratus Cory 635 132. Myiarchus sagrse sagrse (Gundlach ) 636 "Incorrect name, the correct name being MyiarcJius niagiMer nelson! Ridg^way. h =Myiarchus magister magister Ridgway. (See Addenda.) 11422— VOL 4—07 — ^11 XVI TABLE OF f'ONTP^NTS. 133. Myiarchus sagne lucaysiensis (Bryant) 637 ] 34. Myiarchus antillarum ( Bryant ) 6.38 135. Myiarchus sclateri Lawrence 639 136. Myiarchus ferox panamensis ( Law rence ) 640 137. Myiarchus ferox actiosus Ridgway 642 138. Myiarchus lawrenceii lawrenceii ( Giraud ) 642 139. Myiarchus lawrenceii nigricapiUus (Cabanis) 644 140. Myiarchus lawrenceii bangsi Nelson _ 646 141. Myiarchus lawrenceii querulus Nelson 647 142. Myiarchus lawrenceii platyrhynchus ( Ridgway) 648 143. Myiarchus lawrenceii tresniari;e Nelson 649 144. Myiarchus lawrenceii olivascens Ridgway 649 145. Myiarchus nigriceps Sclater , 650 146. Myiarchus barVjirostris ( Swainson ) 652 Genus 41 . Myiodynastes Bonaparte 653 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Myiodynastes 655 147. Myiodynastes luteiventris Sclater 656 148. Myiodynastes inaculatns nobilis ( Sclater) 659 149. Myiodynastes maculatus insolens ( Ridgway ) 661 150. Myiodynastes hemichrysus ( Cabanis ) 662 Genus 42. Megarynchus Thunberg , 663 Key to the Subspecies of Megarynchus pitangua 664 151. Megarynchus pitangua mexicanus ( Lafresnaye) 665 152. Megarynchus pitangua caniceps Ridgway 667 Genus 43. Coryphotriccus Ridgway 667 Key to the Species of Coryphotriccus 668 153. Coryphotriccus albovittatus ( Lawrence) 669 Genus 44. Pitangus Swainson 669 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Pitangus 671 154. Pitangus sulphuratus derbianns ( Kaup) 672 155. Pitangus lictor ( Lichtenstein ) 675 Genus 45. Tolmarchus Ridgway 676 Key to the Species of Tolmarchus 678 156. Tolmarchus bahamensis ( Bryant) 678 157. Tolmarchus caudifasciatus (D'Orbigny ) 679 158. Tolmarchus caymanensis (Nicoll) 681 159. Tolmarchus jamaicensis (Chapman ) 682 160. Tolmarchus gabbii ( Lawrence ) 683 161. Tolmarchus taylori (Sclater) 084 Genus 46. Tyrannus Lacepede 685 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Tyrannus 687 162. Tyrannus tyrannus ( Linnaeus) 689 163. Tyrannus vociferans Swainson 694 164. Tyrannus verticalis Say 697 165. Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa (Cabanis and Heine) 700 166. Tyrannus melancholicus coucliii (Baird) 705 167. Tyrannus dominicensis dominicensis (Gmelin) 706 168. Tyrannus dominicensis vorax ( Vieillot) 710 169. Tyrannus cubensis Richmond 711 170. Tyrannus crassirostris Swainson 712 ( ienus 47. ^luscivora Lacepede 714 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XVII Page. Key to the Species of Myiarchusscivora 715 171. Myiarchusscivora forticata (Gmelin) 715 172. Myiarchusscivora tyrannns ( Liniifeus) 718 Family Piprid.e 723 Key to the Genera of Piprid;e 724 Genus 1 . Myiarchusnacus Brisson 727 Key to the Species and Subspecies of ]Myiarchusiiacus 729 1. Myiarchusnacus candei ( Parzudaki) 730 2. Myiarchusnacus vitellinus (Gould) 732 3. Myiarchusnacus aurantiacus (Salvin) 734 Genus 2. Chiroprion Bonaparte 735 Key to the Species of Chiroprion 736 4. Chiroprion lanceolata ( Wagler) 737 0. Chiroprion Hnearis ( Bonaparte ) 739 Genus 3. Pipra Linnjeus 741 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Pipra 742 6. Pipra mentalis mentalis Sclater 746 7. Pipra mentaUs ignifera Bangs 747 8. Pipra erythroeejihala erythrocephala ( Linn.ims ) 748 9. Pipra vehitina Berlepsch 750 10. Pipra pipra anthracina Ridgway 751 Genus 4. Corapipo Bonaparte 753 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Corapipo 754 ] 1. Corapipo leucorrhoa altera Helhnayr . 755 Genus 5. Scotothorus Oberholser 756 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Scotothorus 757 12. Scotothorus verye-pacis verae-pacis ( Sclater) 758 13. Scotothorus vene-pacis dumicola Bangs 759 14. Scotothorus furvus Ridgway 761 15. Scotothorus amazonus stenorhynchus (Sclater and Salvin ) 762 Genus 6. Laniocera Lesson 763 Key to the Species of Laniocera 764 16. Laniocera rufescens (Sclater) 765 Genus 7. Piprites Cabanis 767 1 7. Piprites griseiceps Salvin 768 Family CotinCtId.e 769 Key to the genera of Cotingidpe 772 Genus 1 . Cotinga Brisson 778 Key to the species of Cotinga 779 1. Cotinga aniabilis Gould 781 2. Cotinga ridgwayi Zeledon 783 3. Cotinga nattererii ( Boissoneau ) 785 Genus 2. Carpodectes Salvin 786 Key to the species of Carpodectes 787 4. Carpodectes nitidus Salvin 788 5. Carpodectes antoni^ Zeledon - . 789 Genus 3. Myiarchuscrotriccus Ridgway - 790 Key to the Species of Myiarchuscrotriccus - - - 791 6. Myiarchuscrotriccus semiflavus (Sclater and Salvin) 791 7. ]Myiarchuscrotriccus brunneicapillus ( Lawrence) 792 Genus 4. Tyrannulus Vieillot 793 Key to the Subspecies of Tyrannulus elatus 794 8. Tyrannulus elatus reguloides (Ridgway ) 794 XVIII TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. < ieinis 5. Idiotric'cus Ridgway "96 9. Idiotriccus zeledoni ( Lawrence) 797 Cienus 6. Klainopsis Ridgway 799 10. Elaiiioi)sis gaimardii mat'ilvainii ( Lawrence ) 800 Genus 7. Attila Lesson 801 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Attila 802 - 12. Attila teplirocephalus Ridgway 804 13. Attila citreopygus citreopygus (Bonaparte) 805 14. Attila citreopygus salvini Ridgway 807 15. Attila citreopygus cinnamomeus ( Lawrence) 809 16. Attila citreopygus mexicanus ( Nelson ) 810 17. Attila citreopygus luteolus Ridgway 810 18. Attila citreopygus gaumeri (Salvin and (lodnian) 811 19. Attila citreopygus cozumeLe (Ridgway ) 812 Genus 8. Hylonax Ridgway 813 20. Hylonax validus (Cabanis) 814 Genus 9. Sirystes Cabanis and Heine 815 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Sirystes 817 21. Sirystes albogriseus (Lawrence) 817 Genus 10. Lipaugus Boie 818 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Lipaugus 819 22. Lipaugus holerythrus holerythrus Sclater and Salvin 820 Genus 11. Lathria Swainson 821 Key to the Subspecies of Lathria unirufa. 822 23. Lathria unirufa unirufa (Sclater) ' 823 24. Latliria unirufa clara Riilgway 824 ( ienus 12. Pachyrhamphus Gray 825 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Paciiyrhamphns 826 25. Pachyrhamphus polychropterus cinereiventris ( Sclater) 829 26. Pachyrhamphus polychropterus similis (Cherrie) 832 27. Pachyrhamphus dorsalis Sclater _ 832 28. Pachyrhamphus major major (Cabanis) 833 29. Pachyrhamphus major uropygiahs Nelson 836 30. Pachyrhamphus major itzensis Nelson 836 31. Pachyrliamphus albo-griseus albo-griseus Sclater 836 32. Pachyrhamphus cinereus ( Boddaert) 838 33. Pachyrhamphus cinnamomeus Lawrence. 840 34. Pachyrhamphus ornatus Cherrie 842 35. Pachyrhamphus versicolor ( Hartlaub) 843 Genus 13. Platypsaris Sclater 846 Key to the Species and Subspecies of Platypsaris 847 36. Platypsaris niger (Gnielin) 849 37. Platypsaris aglaia? aglai;e (Lafresnaye) 850 38. Platypsaris aglaire sumichrasti Nelson 852 39. Platypsaris aglaia? hypophanis Ridgway 854 40. Platypsaris aglaite latirostris ( Bonaparte) 855 41 . Platypsaris aglaite albi ventris ( Lawrence) 856 42. Platypsaris aglaia? insularis (Ridgway) 857 43. Platypsaris aglaise yucatanensis Ridgway 858 44. Platypsaris homochrous (Sclater) 859 Genus 14. Erator Kaup 860 Key to the Species of Erator 862 45. Erator all)itorques (Du Bus) 863 TABLE OF CONTENTS. XIX I' age. Genus 15. Tityra Vieillot 86G Key to the Species and Subspecies of Tityra >S67 4G. Tityra semifasciata costaricensis Ridgway 86!) ■17. Tityra semifasciata personata ( Jardine and Sell)y) 871 48. Tityra semifasciata griseiceps ( Ridgway ) 87;] Genus 16. Querula Vieillot 874 49. Querula purpurata (Myiarchusller) 875 Genus 17. Cephalopterus Geoffrey St.-Hilaire 877 Key to the Species of Cephalopterus 878 50. Cephalopterus glabricoUis Gould 878 ( ienus 18. Procnias Illiger 880 Key to the Species of Procnias 882 51. Procnias tricarunculata 888 Addenda 885 Index : Hll List of figures illustrating generic details xxi JST OF FIGURES ILLUSTRATING GENERIC DETAILS. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 1.5. 16. 17. 18. 19. •20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 2."i. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 4.5. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. Saxicola Bechstein Sialia Swainson Cyanosylvia Brehm Catharus Bonaparte Hylocichla Baird Zeledonia Ridgway Ciehlherminia Bonaparte Myiarchusmocichla Sclater Haplocichla Ridgway Ixorens Bonaparte PlanC'ticus Bonaparte Tnrdus Linnaeus Ridgwayia Stejneger Myadcste.s Swainson Toxostoma Wagler Melanotis Bonaparte Melanoptila Selater Galeoscoptes Cabanis Oroscoptes Baird Myiarchusmodes Ridgway Myiarchusmus Boie Nesomimus Ridgway L Donacobius Swainson « Calyptophilus Cory Allenia Cory Estrilda Swainson Sperm estes Swainson Myiarchusrgarops Sclater Cinclocerthia Gray Ramphofinclus I^af resnaye Sturnns Linnaeus Oxyruncus Temminck Alauda Linnaus Otocoris Bonaparte Atalotriceus Ridgway Oncostoma Selater Perissotriccu.s Oberhol.ser Copurus Strickland Onychorhynchu.s Fi.scher Lophotriccns Berlep.sch Todirostrum Lesson Platytriccus Ridgway Rhynchocyclus Cabanis and Heine Placo.stomus Ridgway Craspedoprion Hartert Legatus Sclater Myiozetetes Sclater Pyrocephalus Gould Serpophaga Gould Camptostoma Sclater aExtrnlimital but included to complete representation of Myiarchusniint XXII LIST OK FIGUKKS ILLUSTRATING GENERIC DETAILS. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. .50. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 02. 63. 04. 05. 66. 67. OS. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. SO. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 90. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. Myiopagis Salvin and Godmaii — Subk'gatus Sclater and Salvin Tyranniseus Cabanis and Heine. . . Elaenia Sundevall Lcptopogon Cabanis Pipromorpha Bonaparte Myiarchusoneetes Cabanis Tcrenotriccus Ridgway Capsiempis Cabanis and Heine Cnipodectes Sclater and Salvin Myiobius Darwin Aphanotriccns Ridgway Myiarchustrephancs Coues Deltarhynchus Ridgway Nuttallornis Ridgway Myiochanes Cabanis and Heine . .. Blacicus Cabanis Myiopliobu.s Reichenbaeh Empidonax Cabanis Sayornis Bonaparte Myiarchus Cabanis Nesotriccns To wnsend Eribates Ridgway Myiodynastes Bonaparte Pitangus Swaiuson Tolmarehus Ridgway , Coryphotriccus Ridgway Tyrannus Lacepede Myiarchusseivora Lace'pede Megarynchus Thunberg Laniocera Lesson Chiroprion Bonaparte Pipra Linnffiiis. Corapipo Bonaparte Myiarchusnacus Brisson , Piprites Cabanis Seotothorus Oberholser Cotinga Brisson Carpodectes Salvin , Myiarchuscrotriocus Ridgway Attila Lesson Hy lonax Ridgway Sirystcs Cabanis and Heine , Elainopsis Ridgway Lathria Swainson Idiotriccns Ridgway Tyrannulus Vieillot Lipaugus Boic , Platypsaris Sclater Pachyrbainpbns Cray Erator Kanp Tityra Vieillot Querula Vieillot Cephalopterus fJeoffniy St.-Hilaire Procnias Hliger. Plate. XVII XVII XVII XVII XVIII XVIII XVIII XVIII XVIII XVIII XIX XIX XIX XIX XX XX XX XXI XXI XXI XXII XXII XXII XXIII XXIII XXIV XXIV XXIV XXV XXV XXV XXVI XXVI XXVI XXVI XXVI XXVI XXVII XXVII XXVII XXVIII XXVIII XXVIII XXIX XXIX XXIX XXIX XXX XXX XXX XXXI XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV Page Figure, of text. THE BIRDS NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. By Robert Ridgway, Curator, Division of Birds. Part IV. Family TURDID^. THE THRUSHES. Slender-billed or small-billed, ten-primaried aciitiplantar Oscines, having the acrotarsium undivided or "booted," except for lower por- tion, and the young in first plumage more or less distinctly spotted above as well as below, '^ even in species which are unspotted in the adult stage. The preceding brief diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish the Tur- didsd, as usually restricted, from the most nearly related groups of slender-billed, ten-primaried Oscines, with the single exception of the so-called family Myiarchusscicapidse (Flycatchers), an exclusively Old World group, with which the Turdidse are nearly if not quite con- nected by the Palsearctic genus Pratincola and related groups, the Hawaiian genus Phseornis, the genera of the American so-called Mya- destinse,^ and other transitional forms. In fact, no satisfactory line a In some of the Neotropical species of Planesticus, in several species of Catharus, and in the Antillean genera Myiarchusmocichla and Ha-plocichla the young are very indis- tinctly spotted, the spotting being confined on some of them to the under parts. In the young of Zeledonia there is no trace of spotting in any portion of the plumage, and the same may almost ])e said of the young of Catharus gracilirostris. Tlie value of this character as diagnostic of the Turdidse is therefore much less than has generally been supposed. (See remarks with reference to Phainoptila, under Family Ptilogonatidae, on page 113, Part III, of the present work.) b The genus Myadestes grades so completely into Planesticus, through genera of vari- ously intermediate structure that, unless osteological or other anatomical characters may be found, it certainly cannot properly be considered as representing a group of subfamily rank. 11422— VOL 4—07 1 2 BULLETIN 50, L^NITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. has ever been drawn between the two groups, and there is much reason for doubting: whether their separation can be maintained. The only other groups to which the Turdidae are intimately related are the Myiarchusmidse (Mocking Thrushes) and Cinclidas (Dippers). The former have often been included with the Turdidaj as a subfamily (Myiarchusminse) ; but their more or less distinctly scutellate acrotarsium, relatively larger hallux, more rounded wing, with relatively longer outermost (tenth) primary, and weaker or fewer rictal bristles, will serve to separate them as a fairly well-defined family group.'* The Cinclida' are much too different to need close comparison with the Turdidfe, and ma}', therefore, be dismissed without further notice.^ The folk)wing osteological characters are said to be diagnostic of the Turdidse as distinguished from the Myiarchusmidse: — Ante-orbital region wide; descending process of nasal w^ide, the angle formed by this process and the pars jtlana acute; maxillo- palatines of a modified claviform shape; costal process of sternum large, blunt, rhomboidal in outline; coracoid with a wide flange run- ning halfway up the shaft; pelvis broad, flattened.'^ Authors have varied greatly in the limits which they have assigned the family Turdidse, as they have respectively defined it. Myiarchus. Henry Seebohm, author of that volume of the ''Catalogue of the Birds in the British Myiarchusseum" '^ which contains the group includes in his "Family Turdidse," besides the true thrushes, the w^arblers (Sylviidse) as a "subfamily Sylviinse," but excludes the "Myadestinse," the Myiarchusmidse, and the genus Pratincola. In a later special paper on the group* Doctor Stejneger has recast the limits of the family by adding to it the " Myadestinae " (as suggested by Professor Baird in his "Review of American birds," 1866, p. 417), and the genus Pratincola (in accord- ance with the views of many previous authors), and removing the Syl- viidse. The family Turdidae, therefore, as defined by Doctor Stejneger, whose views are here adopted, is equivalent to Myiarchus. Seebohm's "Sub- o- It is true that not all the characters mentioned above as diagnostic of the Myiarchusmidse invariably occur in the same genus; but one or another of them at least is always present to determine which of the two groups a given form should be referred to. b See the present work, Part III, 1904, 675. c Lucas, Proc. U. S. Nat. Myiarchuss., xi, 1888, 179. For osteological characters of Myiarchus- midse and Troglodytidse as compared with those of Turdidee, see p. 181. <^ Catalogue [ of the | Passeriforms, | or | Perching Birds, | in the | Collection | of the 1 British Myiarchusseum. | | Cichlomorphee: Part II. | Containing the family | Turdidai ] (Warblers and Thrushes). | By | Henry Seebohm. | London: | Printed by order of the Trustees. ] 1881. | (Constituting Volume V of the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Myiarchusseum. Pp. xvi-|-426, pis. (hand colored) 18.) « Remarks on the Systematic Arrangement of the American Turdidee. By Leon- hard Stejneger. Proc. U. S. Nat. Myiarchuss., 1882, (February 13, 1883), 449-483, with n\imerous cuts. BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 6 family Turdinse'' plus the Myadestinse of authors;'^ and I quite agree with Doctor Stejneger that ''the definition of the group Turdidae ( = Seebohm's Turdinse), given by Myiarchus. Seebohm, seems to be a very proper one," and expresses "the only chief character which really indicates the relationship of the birds to be included in this family." As Doctor Stejneger remarks, "The peculiar spotted first plumage of the Tur- dida:" is a A^ery striking feature, and its coincidence with booted tarsi very remarkable. A careful comparison with forms, which, without showing those characters, have at different times been referred to the Turdidse, will convince us that the limits traced by Myiarchus. Seebohm are the only reliable ones, and that the family thus defined is a very natu- ral group, and, indeed, one of the best among the Passeres. It is only to be regretted that Myiarchus. Seebohm did not include a few other forms which have the same peculiarities. I may especially allude to the Myadestinae, the position of which will be discussed in fidl below. His concluding remarks on page 2 seem, however, to indicate that he himself has been aware of this fault." Myiarchus. Seebohm's definition of the characters of his "Subfamily Tur- dina^" applies quite as well to the family Turdidae in its revised sense, and is so concise in its reference to the diagnostic characters presented by the plumage of the young and peculiarities of the molt that a better one could scarcely be framed. It is as follows: Tnrdinx. — The young in first plumage differ from the adult in having the upper and the under parts spotted, whether that is or is not the case in the adult. Instead of two molts in the year there is only one, in autumn, the spring plumage being obtained l)y abrasion, or by casting the points of the feathers. Where any feathers have become much worn by the spring, they are replaced by new ones, but nothing approaching a complete molt is observable. Under these circumstances the young birds would have to carry their nestling plumage, or the gi'eater part of it, until the second autumn. To avoid this they have a complete molt, from immature plumage to adult, in their first autumn before they migrate. Consequently the winter plumage of the young and adult is the same, and they can generally only be distinguished by an isolated feather here and there, generally on the wing-coverts or innermost sec- ondaries, which have a pale tip as in the immature plumage. These peculiarities of molting appear in this group of birds to be always associated with a plain tarsus, except occasionally in very young birds of one or two species. The Turdidse comprise a great variety of forms which, though all possessing the characters given above as diagnostic of the group, pre- sent wide differences in general appearance, form and coloration, and habits. They may be arboreal, terrestrial, or saxicoline; frugivorous or insectivorous — though many kinds feed both upon fruits and berries and insects ; plainly colored or of brilliant hues, though the latter is exceptional, the former being the rule. The family is remark- able for the number of excellent songsters which it contains, several a To which I add the genera Zeledonia and Phxornis, the former unknown at the time Doctor Stejneger's article was published, the latter not mentioned by him. 4 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. of them, as the Nightingale, the Song Thrush, and the Blackbird (Planesticus merula) being renowned in this respect, while the American Wood Thrushes (genus Hylocichla) and some of the Night- ingale Thrushes (genus Catharus) and Solitaires (genus Myadestes) are scarcely less remarkable for the quality of their melody. The Turdidse, as a group, are nearly cosmopolitan, only ])arts of Polynesia being without representatives.'* They are most numer- ously represented in the extensive area of the Pahearctic Region, which possesses many peculiar genera; but the family is well devel- oped in America, especially in the mountainous districts extending from Mexico to the central Andes, the total number of species and subspecies now known to occur in America being about one hundred and fifty, belonging to nineteen genera. ^ KEY TO THE AMERICAN GENERA OP TURDID.E.C a. Bill relatively longer, narrower, and more couipi-essed, its width at frontal antise little if any greater than its height at same point and decidedly less than length of gouys; the latter nearly if not quite equal to half the distance from point ef- mandible to malar apex (if less than the latter the tail even). b. Wing less than five times as long as tarsus; middle toe (without claw) less than three-fourths as long as tarsus. c. Myiarchusddle toe (without claw) not more than three-fifths as long as tarsus, or else (Cichlherminia, part) tarsus nearly half as long as wing. d. Bill relatively smaller and more slender, the exposed culmen not more (usually much less) than half as long as tarsus; wing less than 115 mm. e. Tail much longer than combined length of tarsus and middle toe (without claw), the rectrices 12; wing at least two and a half times as long as tarsus; outermost (tenth) primary obvious, sometimes half as long as ninth (usually much less). /. Exposed culmen longer than inner toe with claw: rump and l)usal por- tion of tail white Saxicola (p. 8) ff. Exposed culmen shorter than inner toe with claw; rump not white; no white on base of tail, or else {Calliope, part) a scarlet patch on throat of male. y. Myiarchusndible narrower basally, with gonys longer than the rami. h. Tail more or less rounded, with rectrices broader, tapering rather than widening terminally, the shafts of lateral pair parallel or convergent terminally in closed tail. i. Tarsus half as long as tail, or longer; plumage more or less varied, adult males having blue or scarlet on thi-oat and a whitish superciliary stripe, adult females with the latter jiresent but less developed. alt is possible that the New Zealand genus Turnagra does not belong here, in which case that country also would be unrepresented. Some doubt also attaches to the supposed Australian members of the group. ''In Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe's "Hand-List of Birds'*' (iv, 1903, 111-184) the total number of species listed for the entire world (including subspecies, no distinction being made) is very nearly six hundred, referred to seventy-five genera. It is pos- sible, however, that a few of the genera may eventually be excluded from the Turdidte. c Several allied Paltearctic genera and one Hawaiian genus are introduced into the key for the purpose of comparison with the most nearly related American forms. BIRDS OF ISTORTH AND MIDDT.E AMERICA, 5 j. Outermost (tenth) primary smaller and narrower, about one- third as long as ninth; no bristly tips to frontal feathers; rictal bristles weaker; basal portion of tail rufous ; adult males with blue on throat and chest Cyanosylvia (p. 14) jj. Outermost (tenth) primary larger and broader, nearly half as long as ninth; bristle-like points to frontal feathers; rictal bristles stronger; base of tail without rufous (sometimes I^artly white): adult males with scarlet on throat. Calliope (extralimital) « ii. Tarsus much less than half as long as tail ; plumage plain brown above (more rufescent on tail), dull white below, becoming pale grayish or brownish on chest and sides; no superciliary stripe; sexes alike Luscinia (extralimital) ^ hh. Tail slightly emarginate, with rectrices narrow, slightly widening terminally, the lateral pair with shafts curved, diverging ter- minally in closed tail Erythacus (extralimital) c gg. Myiarchusndible broader basally, with gonys not longer than rami. h. Outermost (tenth) primary longer, decidedly (usually much) longer than primary coverts; ninth primary shorter than fourth. Catharus (p. 18) hh. Outermost (tenth) primary smaller, not longer (usually shorter) than primary coverts; ninth primary longer than fifth. Hylocichla (p. 34) ee. Tail not longer than combined length of tarsus and basal phalanx of middle toe, the rectrices 10; wing much less than two and a half times as long as tarsus; outermost (tenth) primary not obvious (very minute) Zeledonia (p. 69) (hi. Bill larger and stouter, the exposed culmen more than half as long as tarsus; wing more than 115 (usually more than 130) mm . . . Cichlherininia (p. 72) cc. Myiarchusddle toe (without claw) more than three-fifths as long as tarsus. (I. Four primaries (eighth to fifth, inclusive,) with outer web sinuated. e. Myiarchusddle toe (without claw) less than two-thirds as long as tarsus, the latter much less than twice as long as exposed culmen; wing much less than three and a half times as long as tarsus; lateral rectrices broadly tipped with white (at least inner web), or else a white patch on innermost greater wing-coverts. /. Tail decidedly longer than distance from bend of wing to end of second- aries (very nearly, sometimes quite, as long as wing); eyelids naked; tail more strongly rounded, the lateral rectrices extensively tipped with white on inner web; no white on wing Myiarchusmocichla (p. 78) ff. Tail not longer than distance from bend of wing to end of secondaries; eyelids normally feathered; tail less strongly rounded (nearly even); no white on rectrices, but wings with an elongated white patch involv- ing outer web of two innermost greater coverts Haplocichla (p. 87) a Calliope Gould, Birds of Europe, ii, 183G, pi. 118. (Type, Turdus camtschatkensis GmeYm^ Motacilla calliope Pallas.) Not Calliope Ogilvy, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1836 (pub. Sept., 1837), 138 (a genus of mammals). bLuscinia Forster, Synopt. Cat. Brit. Birds, 1817, 14. (Type, Sylvia luscinia Lin- naeus.) cErythacus Cuvier, Le^-ons d'Anat. Comp., i, 1800, table 2. (Type, Motacilla ritbc- cula Linnaeus. j 6 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. ee. Myiarchusddle toe (without claw) more than two-thirds as long as tarsus, or else {Planesticus, part) the latter more than twice as long as exposed culmen; wing more than three and a half (usually nearly four, sometimes nearly five) times as long as tarsus; o lateral rectrices without broad (if any) white tip, and no white on wing. /. Tail even or slightly rounded or double-rounded Planesticus (p. 90) jf. Tail distinctly emarginate Cossyphopsis (extralimital) & dd. -Not more than three primaries with outer web sinuated. e. Myiarchusxillary tomium distinctly notched subterminally; nasal fossse less extensively feathered, the nostrils entirely exposed; tenth (outermost) primary much shorter than primary coverts. /. Three primaries (eighth to sixth) with outer webs sinuated; sexes alike in color; no whitish or buffy band across basal portion of inner webs of remiges Tardus (p. 125) ff. Only two primaries (eighth and seventh) with outer webs sinuated; sexes radically different in color; a broad band of white or buff across basal portion of inner webs of primaries Cichloselys (extralimital) c ee. Myiarchusxillary tomium without distinct, if any, subterminal notch; nasal fossae extensively feathered, the nostrils partly concealed; tenth (outermost) primary nearly as long as primary coverts. (Sexes different in color, both with wing "pattern," as in Cichloselys.) Ixoreus (p. 129) bb. Wing at least five times as long as tarsus; middle toe (without claw) at least three-fourths as long as tarsus, or else (Grandala) wing more than ten times as long as exposed culmen. c. Tail double-roundpd, the lateral rectrices not longer than middle pair; basal portion of primaries (both webs) and of inner webs of secondaries white; upper tail-coverts and tips of rectrices white; no blue. . . .Rid^wayia (p. 135) cc. Tail emarginate, the lateral rectrices longer than middle pair (usually longest) ; no white on wings nor tail; plumage partly blue. d. Myiarchusddle toe (without claw) three-fourths as long as tarsus; tail more than three times as long as tarsus; wing-tip decidedly less than three-fourths as long as tail; adult females not streaked nor with white "pattern" on inner webs of remiges Sialia (p. 136) dd. Myiarchusddle toe (without claw) only two-thirds as long as tarsus; tail not more than three times as long as tarsus; wing-tip nearly, sometimes quite, equal to three-fourths length of tail ; adult female conspicuously streaked and with white " pattern " on remiges Grandala (extralimital) '^ "The wing is less than three and a half times as long as tarsus in P. jamaicensis, P. nigrirostris , and P. rnfivenlris. bCossyphopsis Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Myiarchuss., v, Feb. 13, 1883, 478. (Type Turdus reevei Lawrence.) (Western Ecuador.) I am doubtful as to the validity of this supposed genus, since all the characters originally ascribed to it, with the single exception of that given above, prove to be shared by certain species of Planesticus. cCichloselys Bonaparte, Compt. Rend., xxxviii, 1854, 5, 10. (Type, by elimination, Turdus sibiriais Pallas. See Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Myiarchuss., xv, 1892, 317, footnote.) dGrandala Hodgson, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, xii, pt. 1, 1843, 447; xxiv, 1855, 577. (Type, G. ccelicolor Hodgson.) This genus is exceedingly distinct from Sialia, with which Myiarchus. Seebohm merged it. (Cat. Birds Brit. Myiarchuss., v, 1881, 327, 328.) The female, according to Myiarchus. Seebohm's ideas as to the paramount value of color characters in the Turdidse (see p. viii of the volume cited) should go in his "genus" Geocichla! BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 7 a