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P la t e LXIY. Fig. 2.
PYRGISOMA LEUCOTE.
(WHITE-EAEED GEOUND-EINCH).
Chamceospiza torquata
Melozone leucoiis
Pyrgisoma ieueote
Scl. c t Salv. Ib is , 18C0, p. 2 74, (en',)
Cab. J . f. O m . ISGO, p. 413.
Cassin, P r . Ac. P h il. 1865, p . 169.
Salvin, I b is , 1866, p . 205.
Scl. e t Salv. P.Z.S . 186S, p. 326.
S u p rà fu scum , dorso su p e rio re c iu eras cen to tin c to : p ilco medio cinereo, u trin q u e n ig ro ; Io n s , c iln s oculorum e t
r c rio n e a u ric u la ri a lbis, h a c n ig ro c irc um d a tà ; strig a p o st-o cu lari u trin q u e cum to rq u e cervicali postico co n ju n ctâ e t
flexura a la ri flavicanti-olivaceis: su b tù s ciuereum, m e d ialite r a lb ic a n s ; g u ttu r e to to e t plag a p e c to n s med n m g n s :
crisso ru fe sce n te , b y p o cb o n d riis eodom colore p e rfu s is : ro s tro n ig ro , p ed ib u s c o ry lm is: long, to ta 7 '0 , alæ 2 J ,
cau dæ 2 '8 , ta rs i l ’I .
Ha b . in C o sta-Ilicà e t Gu atema la.
One o f Salvm’s favourite skooting-grounds, when he was resident at Dueñas in Guatemala,
was the slope o f the Volcan de Fuego, which ruses over the village to a height o f upwards o f
thirteen tliousand feet above the sea-level. Here it was, in September, 1859, that the first specimen
o t the present Gromid-fliioh was obtained. 'Ihis example, liowever, being in qnite immature
plumage, was wrongly referred to CMmoeospüa torqmta. In his snccocding visits to Dueñas
Salvin oolleeted other shins o f this hiiul in perfect plumage, but before our error was detected.
Dr. Cabanis had already described the species from Costa-Eioan specimens transmitted to the
Berlin Museum b y Hoffman .and v. Frantzius.
In habits P . leucote much resembles P . hiarcuatum— a n i o f the most familiar species in the
hiobhiiids o f Guatemala. It is generally seen on or near the ground in the scrubby forests
which cover the eastern slopes o f the volcano up to an elevation o f six thousand feet. It seeks
its food amongst the dead leaves, which it scratches about vigorously with its strong feet. It docs
not appear to be widely distributed, not having been met with by Salvin in other parts o f Guatemala,
but it m ay be mentioned that the collection o f M. Booourt recently transmitted to la r is
contains a single skin o f this species, which was probably obtained in Vera Paz.
Our fimire of this bird is from one o f Salvin’s skills obtained on the slopes o f the \ olean
de Fuego below tbe village o f Alotenango in 1862. The ii-ides, according to Hoffmann’s
notes as°given b y Dr. Cabanis, arc coloured yellow.