The Tyrannidae, or Tyrant Flycatchers, comprising one of the largest families of the neotropical avifauna, are represented in the collection of Carnegie Museum by 10,100 specimens.A recently completed study of the family shows that we have an even 100 genera, 308 species, and 250 additional subspecies, or 558 forms in all.Some years ago an attempt was made to revise certain of the genera -Pipromorpha, Myiobius, and the South American My iarch us -but the results were not entirely satisfactory, even to the writer, and later receipt of additional material has served to modify some of the conclusions then reached.Sporadic studies of our South American material in this group have resulted in the description of thirty-five supposedly new forms, but of these at least nine must be relegated to synonymy -not a creditable record.Most of the remaining novelties contained in our collection have already been described by Messrs. Zimmer, Phelps, deSchauensee, and others, but there are at least fourteen more subspecies which appear to be new.These are named and described in the present paper, with some additional critical comment on certain other species.
Like the Wood-hewers or Dendrocolaptidae, to which they are closely allied, the Oven-birds or Furnariidae are wholly neotropical and largely South American in their distribution.As yet their classification cannot be said to be absolutely settled, and some genera, notably Asthenes and Cranioleuca, are composed of diverse elements.The group as a whole is much more difficult to study than are the Tree-creepers; racial differences, when present, are often obscured by seasonal, sexual, and age variations, and large series are indispensable in working out the taxonomy.The Carnegie Museum collection has 3,286 specimens of Oven-birds, representing 245 species and subspecies.For the loan of additional specimens of certain forms needed for comparison I am deeply indebted to the authorities of the U. S. National Museum, the
The sloughs and prairie meadows at the head of the lake were a favorite collecting ground.There was a slough just east of Stalwart that proved to be an interesting spot.Two trips were made to Devil's Lake, six miles west of Amazon; here was a grove of small trees.On June 8 we drove to Elbow, on the Saskatchewan River, where we remained until June 11.Our work there was done on the plains on the west bank of the river, some three miles west of the town.This was the only place where we found the Long-billed Curlew.On June 20 we made an excursion to Quill Lake, near Dafoe, but remained only one day; we returned across the "Touchwood Hills" by way of Raymore.Two visits were made to Quinn's Lake, ten miles north and two miles east of Davidson -the last on June 28.In the present paper, unless otherwise specified, the author is responsible for the identifications of and critical remarks on the various species.In general the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List has been followed (with its revisions to date), but in a few cases he has seen fit to differ.In discussing the seasonal status, nesting, haunts and habits, etc., of the several species he has utilized not only his own field notes made on the spot, but also those of Dr. Sutton, duly placed at his disposal, and
have lately worked out the races of this species.They left the northern range of the Mississippi Valley form indeterminate, as they had no specimens from east of Ohio.However, our specimens from Michigan, Ontario (Amherstburg) , and western Pennsylvania clearly belong to this race, whose best character seems to be the distinct yellowish gray tone of the underparts -a feature which in southern specimens is mostly lacking.The relative amount of white on the upperparts, which these authors claim is another differentiating character, is not nearly so well marked, and it is moreover subject to variation from wear.In general, these northern birds have rather more white on the outer rectrices than southern examples have, but the difference is inconstant.
Jacamerops aurea aurea (Muller).Five specimens: Tamanoir and Pied Saut, French Guiana
XXIXdescribed, and changes in the status of other forms have been proposed.Some authors manifest an increasing tendency to combine related forms under one specific head and to alter their nomenclature accordingly, as the "formenkreis" theory demands.With these views I cannot always agree.While subspecies are of course "representative forms," the converse is not necessarily true.
On the differential characters of this race compare Todd and Carriker, 1922, 272.Specimens from other parts of Colombia agree with those from the Santa Marta region, except that two male birds, from Jaraquiel and Monteria respectively, are uncommonly small (wing, 61, 58.5) and may indicate the existence of a dwarf race in this part.The Venezuelan specimens, coming as they do from the same general region as the type of fusca Cory, doubtless represent that supposed form.While they answer Cory's description well, they are obviously the same as Colombian specimens.Apparently he did not compare his birds with affinis , but only with hirsuta , from which they differ as he says.One of his topotypes is matched very closely by our No. 90,500.Chapman has compared Colombian specimens with the type of affinis and found them identical.Young birds differ from adults in lacking any decided buffy rufous on the breast, this part being barred with buffy on a dusky greenish background; the wing-coverts, wings, and upperparts generally also show more or less buffy feather-tipping. Glaucis aenea Lawrence.Seven specimens: Andagoya and Cordoba, Colombia; El Hogar and El Pozo de Terraba, Costa Rica.This form I have little hesitation in keeping specifically distinct from G. hirsuta.The distribution of the two forms in question would argue to this effect.I know of no place where they actually occur together, but their respective ranges certainly overlap.
Students in the various branches of zoology are often led by necessity in their systematic work to consult the type specimens, upon which authors have founded their descriptions of new species and varietal forms.Much labor and a vast amount of time might often be saved had they at hand lists indicating where the types of species are to be found.The Director of the Carnegie Museum, Dr. A.Avinoff, has suggested to various members of the curatorial force the preparation of such lists.The first member of the staff to respond with a carefully prepared list has been Mr.
Description.-Above plain olive, inclining to bistre on the rump and upper tail-coverts; tail also olive; wings and their coverts clove-
In the fall of 1908 the writer suggested to the well-known ornithological collector, Mr
