Sporophila americana corvina (Sclater)

Spermophila corvina Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 27, p. 379, 1859 (Playa Vicente, Oaxaca, Mexico).

Specimens examined.— HONDURAS: 5 ♂, ♀, Lancetilla. NICARAGUA: 2 ♂, San Juan; ♂, Bluefields; 4 ♂, 3 ♀, Eden. PANAMA: ♂, Bocas del Toro.

Measurements.— ♂ ♂ wing 52- 55.5 mm., tail 42- 45.5 mm., culmen 8-9 mm.; ♀ ♀ wing 52-53 mm., tail 43 -44 mm., culmen 8.5 -9 mm.

Description of female—Fresh plumage: the darkest of all the species of Sporophila; above oily olive green, below lighter, buffy on the abdomen, but not in strong contrast to the rest of the plumage; wing coverts like the back. Worn plumage: no specimens examined.

Range.—Southeastern Mexico southward to the Caribbean coast of northern Panama.

Remarks.—Ten adult males are very constant in their coloration, all showing a small amount of white in the center of the abdomen.

I can see no reason for regarding S. aurita and S. americana as distinct species, for birds from southeastern Colombia (murallae) form a perfect connectant between the two; therefore, I propose to unite them.