A New Subspecies of Siptornisstriaticollis (aves: Furnariidae) from the Eastern Slope of the Andes

—A new subspecies. Siplornis srriaticollis nortoni. is described from the eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador and northwestern Peru. The nominate form, .V. 5. striaticoliis, is restricted to the Magdalen a Valley of Colombia. Until recently, the Spectacled Pricklctail {Siptornisstriaticoliis) was known only from "Bogota" trade skins without specific locality data, a few specimens collected in the Magdalen a Valley of Colombia, and a single specimen from Mapoto on the eastern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes (Chapman 1917, Hellmayr 1925). Difference in plumage color among individuals was noted by Chapman and Hellmayr, but the lack of comparative material from known localities prevented them from assessing geographic variation among populations. Thus, Siptornis striaticoliis has been considered monotypic (Peters 1951). During the past twenty years a small number of prickletails were collected on expeditions to the eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador and northwestern Peru (Eley et at, 1979; unreported specimens). We assembled specimens with definite locality data and compared them with the type ("Colombia" = "Bogota") in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Harvard University, and a series of "Bogota" trade skins. Populations from the eastern slope of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru differ from those of the Magdalena Valley and from "Bogota" specimens and represent a new subspecies. Siplornis striaticoliis nortoni. new subspecies Figs. 1,2 Holotype. — Museum of Comparative Zoology, MCZ 298995; female, from Palm Peak on VolcanSumaco, ProvinciadeNapo, Ecuador, elevation 1500 m; 7 Aug 1964, David W. Norton (original number 1277). Characters.— Compared to S. .?. striaticoliis, the buffy central stripe on the leathers of the upper breast of S. s. nortoni arc much wider and longer (Fig. I) The while subocular spot and scattered white feathers on the forehead of S. & striaticoliis are largely absent in S. s. nortoni; white facial feathers Fig, I. Ventral view of typical specimens of Siptorttis % striaticoliis (left: ANSP 155471 $. La Candela, Dpto. Hui la. Colombia) and 5. s. nortoni (right; type). 122 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON