Ü x Orro .V in.
P late V IH .
M.árN.H4ii>.arl-ir.
VIR EO LA N IU S PULCHE L L I JS
VIREOLANIUS PULCHELLUS.
(BEAUTEOUS SHETEELET).
Vireolonius p uM e llu s . . Scl. e t Salv. Ib is, 1859, p, 12,
„ . . . Salvin, Ib is , 1861, p. 147.
„ . . . Lawrence, A n n N. T , Lyc. vii. p. 468.
„ . . . Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 45.
„ . . . B a ird , E ev . Am. B . i. p. 897.
N itid é viridis, pileo e t cervice c y a n e is : su b tiis flavicantius viridis, p u re flavá; ro s tro e t p edibus p lum b e ia ;
long, to tá 5'5, a la 2 '9 , c a u d » 2 0 . Fcem. raa ri simiiis, sed minus c la ra e t strig á ric ta li flavicante.
R a h . in G u atem a lá, reg. sy lvaticá o rien tali {Salvin)-. {McCleannan).
TTiis is one o f the many interesting novelties in Ornithology that Guatemala has lately
divulged to us, and as in other instances was first obtained by Mr. George Ure Skinner—the
enterprising pioneer o f zoological and botanical discovery in that previously little known region.
The authors o f the pi-esent work founded their original description o f this bird upon an e.xample
o f this species in the British Museum, received through the agency o f the last-named gentleman.
Since that description was published one o f them has had the pleasure o f making the personal
acquaintance o f this ornamental bii-d in its native wilds. Mi*. Salvin met with a single specimen
o f this S luikelet when shooting Quesals at Rasldcé in the mountains above Lanquin in
Vera Paz, as he has already recorded in the pages o f “ The Ibis.” In his subsequent expedition
to Guatemala in company with Mr. F. Godman this species was found to be very abundant
near Choctura, a small Indian village in the low wooded region o f Vera Paz, about a day’s
journey north o f Cohan. The figui-es represent two o f the specimens obtained on this occasion,
now in the coRection o f Messrs. Salvin and Godman.
The collectors employed at this latter locality have obtained from time to time a considerable
number o f slUns o f this bird, from which nearly all tixe Museiuns o f Europe and America have
been supplied with specimens.
Mr. Salvin generally found the present species roving amongst the outer branches of the
forest-ti-ees in quest o f insect food, much according to the fashion o f otlier Vireonida;. The
sexes, as characterized above, are described from specimens dissected by Mr. Salvin himself, and
are, we arc inclined to think, correctly distinguished, although it remains to be proved whether
there is always this difference between them.
Southwards o f Guatemala this Vireolanius is said to have been met with at Panama,
examples having been transmitted by Mr. JlcCleannan—the well known investigator o f the Orni-
thology o f that rich district—Loth to Jlr. Salvin and Mr. Lawrence. Wc have, however, some
[ 1 6 ]