PROSPECTUS.

BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA.,

Kdited by F. D. GODMAN and OSBERT SALVIN.

UNDER this title it is proposed to publish a series of Quarto Volumes upon the Fauna and Flora

of Mexico and Central America—i. e. the whole of Mexico from the valleys of the Rio Grande and

Gila on the north, the five Central-American States of Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador,

Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, British Honduras, and the Colombian State of Panama as far south as

the Isthmus of Darien.

During the past twenty-two years the Editors have been collecting materials for such a Work

as they now propose. They have themselves visited parts of the country, and spent several years

there; and during the whole of the above period they have received collections from correspondents,

and from naturalists specially employed in visiting many of the previously unexplored districts.

The materials thus obtained have been partly retained by the Editors in their own Collection, and

partly so distributed as to be most readily avaiable for the present work. In addition to these

materials, the Editors propose that all specimens obtained by other travellers should be examined,

wherever they may be accessible, so as to make the work as complete a record as possible of what

is known of the Animal and Vegetable life of the country under investigation.

The work will be issued in Zoological and Botanical Parts. Those relating to Zoology will

contain portions of several subjects. When ths work is closed each subject will be complete in

itself; and the whole will form a series of volumes of various thicknesses, according to the extent

of each subject. The Botanical parts will contam no other subject.

Each Zoological Part will contain twelve sheets (or 96 pages) of letterpress, and an average of

six plates, most of which will be lithographs coloured by hand.

Each Botanical Part will also contain twelve sheets of letterpress and an average of six plates,

a few of which will be coloured.

As it is proposed to include all the materials that may come to hand during the progress of

the work, it is not possible to give an exact estimate of its extent; but it is believed that it

will not much exceed 60 Parts, equivalent to abut 12 Volumes of 500 pages each, of Zoology, and

20 Parts of Botany.

The work will be published by Subscriptioa; and Subscribers will be at liberty to take the

whole work or the Zoology or Botany separatey. The different subjects of Zoology will not be

sold separately ; and Subscribers, on commencng their Subscription, must give an undertaking

to continue it till the work is finished.

The Price of each Zoological Part will b 21s., and of each Botanical Part, 12s. 6d.

The Editors feel that it will be hardly possible to dsue Parts at stated intervals ; but they will endeavour

to complete a Part of each subject every two maths, or siz Zoological and sia Botanical Parts in the

course of a year.

Tur Editors have been fortunate in obtaining the cooperation of many Zoologists in

tho Zoological part of their work. The different-subjects, so far as at present

arranged, have been undertaken as follows :—

MAMMALIA. By Epwarp R. Auston, F.L.S.

AVES. By Ossert Satvin and F. DuCane Gopman.

REPTILIA. By Dr. A. Ginrner, F.R.S., Keeper of the Zoological Department, British

AMPHIBIA.

Museum.

PISCES.

MOLLUSCA (Land and Freshwater). By Dr. E. von Marrens.

CRUSTACEA (Freshwater Malacostraca). By Prof. T. H. Huxuny, LL.D., Sec. B.S.

ARACHNIDA. By Rev. O. Pickarp CaMBRIDGE.

COLEOPTERA. By H. W. Bares, F.L.S., Rev. HS. Goruam, Martin Jacosy, E. W. Janson,

Dr. D. Suarp, and C. O. WatrerHouse.

~ HYMENOPTERA 7.

LEPIDOPTERA.

RHOPALOCERA. By F. DuCanre Gopmay and OsBert Savin.

HETEROCERA. By Hersert Drvcz, F.LS.

DIPTERA *.

NEUROPTERA. By R. M‘Lacutan, F.R.S.

ORTHOPTERA (part). By J. Woop-Mason.

RHYNCHOTA. By W. L. Distant.

* No arrangement has yet been male with respect to these subjects.

The BOTANICAL portion is entirely in th; hands of Mr. W. B. HEMSLEY, A.L.S.

The Editors will give, at the conclusion of the Work, an Introductory Volume,

wherein the physical features of the counry will be described and illustrated with

maps.

Aueust 31, 1923]

miles south of the first, is working in eocene deposits,

the dawn period of mammalian life. The strata are

extraordinarily rich in fossil remains. We have discov-

ered the skull of a giant rhinoceros—like the beast known

as the titanothere, which, although it has been buried

for three million years, is almost as perfect as though

the animal had died a week ago. The titanotheres were

previously only known in America. Finding this par-

' ticular stage in their development shows that they crossed

from America by way of a former land bridge to Asia.

We have found, also, remains of a giant dog-like

carnivore, as well as many teeth and jaws of an ances-

tral tapir-like animal. We could spend easily a year’s

work in these great deposits, but will give them only

enough time to get a few of the choicest things.

THE GODMAN AND SALVIN MEMORIAL

A TABLET in memory of Frederick Du Cane God-

man, F.R.S., and Osbert Salvin, F.R.S., has been un-

veiled by Lord Rothschild, chairman of the memorial

committee, at the Natural History Museum, South

Kensington, and accepted on behalf of the trustees of

the British Museum by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The London Times notes that these two distin-

guished men of science were intimately associated in

research and the results of their labors form an im-

portant part of the treasures of the Natural History

Museum. The friendship between them dated from

the fifties of the last century, when they were both

undergraduates at Cambridge, and lasted until the

death in 1898 of Salvin, who was survived twenty-one

years by Godman, the latter dying in 1919, in his

eighty-sixth year. In 1876 the two friends conceived

the idea of the monumental work entitled Biologia

Centrali-Americana, which has been described as

without doubt the greatest work of the kind ever

planned and carried out by private individuals.

As completed, the Biologia consists of sixty-three

volumes, of which one forms the introduction, fifty-

one are devoted to zoology, five to botany, and six to

archeology. The work was edited by Salvin and God-

man, and after Salvin’s death by Godman alone. The

three volumes on the birds and three others on the

diurnal lepidoptera were prepared by Godman and

Salvin themselves, while the others were written by

various specialists. The volumes contain 1,677 plates,

of which more than nine hundred are colored, and the

total number of species is 50,263, of which 19,263 are

described for the first time.

In 1885 Godman and Salvin resolved to present

their wonderful neo-tropical collections to the British

Museum. Of birds’ skins alone over 520,000 were

contained in this magnificent donation, which included

not only the collections made by Salvin and Godman

themselves, chiefly in Guatemala, but many others

from various parts of South America, the Mexican

collections obtained by Godman himself and his col-

SCIENCE

157

lectors, made in that country in 1887 , and the great

Henshaw collection of the birds of the United States

containing over 13,000 specimens, which was secured

by Godman in order to provide a thoroughly authen-

tic series of North American birds for comparison

with those of Mexico and Central America.

The commemorative tablet, with portraits in relief

of Salvin and Godman, is placed on the wall of the

central hall of the museum, near and behind the statue

of Darwin.

Lord Rothschild, in presenting the tablet on behalf

of the subscribers, explained that the committee had

decided that any subscriptions left over after the

memorial had béen paid for should be devoted to a

collecting fellowship. Shortly after that decision

Dame Alice Godman and the Misses Godman devoted

a further sum of £5,000 to the Godman Exploration

Fund, to which others had given further donations.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, in accepting the

tablet, expressed the cordial welcome given by the

trustees to gifts of that kind. Mr. Godman was one

with whom it had been his privilege to sit for years

as one of the trustees on the committee of manage-

ment of museum affairs. Those who shared that privi-

lege knew well how wide was the range of his knowl-

edge and how applicable it was to almost anything

that might arise. The Archbishop commended the

setting up of memorials of great representatives of

science and great benefactors to the museum. In Mr.

Godman they had not only one of the donors to whom

they owed so much, but also a valued trustee. He

wanted to emphasize the importance which seemed to

him to attach to taking care that such names, such

acts, such memories and such lives should not be

forgotten by those who looked at the specimens and

collections the museum contained. He believed that

in thus recording the services rendered by men such

as Mr. Godman and Mr. Salvin they were serving the

best interests of the museum.

SIR WILLIAM THISELTON-DYER

THE following letter, printed in Nature, has been

addressed by British botanists to Sir William Thisel-

ton-Dyer, who celebrated his eightieth birthday on

July 28:

_ The oceasion o* your eightieth birthday affords us the

opportunity of which we gladly avail ourselves, not only

of offering you our congratulations upon having attained

so venerable an age, but also of assuring you of our con-

tinued regard and esteem. In doing so we who sign this

letter do but acknowledge our indebtedness to you for

the inspiration and guidance which we, both as teachers

and researchers, have derived directly or indirectly from

your own early work as a professor of botany. . We re-

gard that work, and more especially the courses of prac-

tical instruction conducted by you at South Kensington

158

in the years 1875 and 1876, as having inaugurated the

renaissance of the study of the structure and functions

of plants which had been so brilliantly carried on by

British botanists in earlier times. It must, we feel sure,

afford you great and justifiable satisfaction to contem-

plate the marvelous development of such studies in this

country during the years that have passed since you

quickened them into new life.

The professorial career on which you had embarked so

brilliantly was unfortunately, as it may have seemed at

the time, brought to a close by your appointment to the

assistant directorship of Kew in 1875 and your subse-

quent appointment as director ten years later. The work

that you were enabled to carry out at Kew has been of

such national importance that, however much we may

regret the loss of the stimulating influence you would

undoubtedly have exerted as a professor, we all realize

the great and lasting services you have rendered to bot-

any, not only from the purely scientific point of view,

but also in relation to the development and encourage-

ment of botanical enterprise throughout the British

Empire.

Another notable result of the interest you inspired was

the successful launching of the Annals of Botany, which

has come to be one of the leading botanical periodicals

of the world. We do not forget that it was your enthu-

siasm that turned the scale when the question of ‘‘to be

or not to be’’ hung in the balance. The Annals is a

lasting monument to your courage and prescience.

It would need a lengthy document were we to attempt

to set out in detail the value of your many efforts for

the promotion of our science, but in conclusion we feel

we must refer to the noble work you did in saving the

old Chelsea Physic Garden from destruction. Thanks to

you, London has now a botanic garden where students

and teachers can study the structure and functions of

plants and pursue those studies which you did so much

to promote.

With our very kind regards and good wishes,

Believe us to be, dear Sir William,

Yours very truly,

D. H. Scorr F, KEEBLE

S. H. VINES A. B. RENDLE

F. O. BOWER A. SHIPLEY

BALFOUR H. WAGER

H. T. Brown F, F. BLACKMAN

D. PRAIN V. H. BLACKMAN

F. DARWIN F. W. OLIver

H. H. Drxon A. G. TANSLEY

A. C. SEWARD F. E. WEISS

J. B. FARMER A. W. Hitu

and all the leading botanists in

Great Britain and Ireland.

SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS

THE University of Strasbourg has conferred the

title of doctor honoris causa on Drs. Simon Flexner

and Jacques Loeb, of the Rockefeller Institute for

Medical Research; William H. Welch, of the Johns

SCIENCE

[Von. LVIII, No. 1496

Hopkins University; William Maddock Bayliss and

Ernest Henry Starling, of the University College of

London; John Newport Langley, of the University of

Cambridge; Edward L. Ehlers, of the University of

Copenhagen; Jules J. B. Bordet, of the University of

Brussels; Edoardo Perroncito, of the University of

Turin, and Santiago Ramon y Cajal, of the Univer-

sity of Madrid.

Av the general public meeting of the American

Chemical Society on Tuesday, September 11, ad-

dresses of welcome will be delivered by C. H. Hall,

chairman of the Milwaukee Section; Hon. Daniel

Hoan, mayor of Milwaukee; Hon. Emanuel Philipp,

president of the Milwaukee Association of Commerce,

and President Fox, of Milwaukee University. The

general addresses at this meeting will be delivered by

Dr. Charles F. Burgess, who will speak on “Market-

ing chemical discoveries,” and Dean R. T. Kendall,

of the Medical School, Northwestern University, who

will speak on “Bacteria and the chemist.”

Tue following awards have been made by the Royal

College of Physicians, London: The Baly gold medal,

given every alternate year for distinction in the sci-

ence of physiology, to Mr. J. .Barcroft; the Bisset-

Hawkins medal, bestowed triennially for work in ad-

vancing sanitary science or in promoting public

health, to Dr. T. M. Legge.

At the International Surgical Congress recently

held in London, Dr. Davide Giordano, Venice, Italy,

was elected president to succeed Sir William Mace-

wen. The predecessors in the presidency of these

congresses were: Kocher, of Berne; Czerny, of

Heidelberg; Championniére, of Paris; Depage, of

Brussels, and Keen, of Philadelphia. The next con-

gress will be held in Rome.

WE learn from the Journal of the American Medi-

eal Association that more than twenty physicians of

Ontario were candidates at the recent elections to the

Canadian Parliament. The following physicians were

‘the successful candidates: Joseph D. Monteith, Strat-

ford; the Hon. David Jamieson, Durham; Arthur G.

Wallis, Algoma; Leeming Carr, East Hamilton;

George V. Harcourt, Parry Sound; Forbes E. God-

frey, West York, and John P. Vrooman, Lennox.

Tue National Alliance for the Increase of the

French Population has awarded the first prize of |

50,000 fr. to M. Paul Haury for the best popular

pamphlet on the decreasing birth rate in France and

the tragic consequences to the nation.

Sir RicwarD GLAZEBROOK has been appointed

chairman in charge of exhibits in pure science at the

British Empire Exhibition to be held next year in

London. .

BIOLOGIA

CENTRALI-AMERICANA,/

AVES.

Vou. I.

(TEXT)

OSBERT SALVIN, F.R.S., &c.,

AND

FREDERICK DUCANE GODMAN, D.C.L., F.R.S., &c.

1879-1904.

CONTENTS

OF VOL. I.

INTRODUCTION

TABLE SHOWING THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE FamILIES OF Brirps

REPRESENTED IN Mexico AND CentTRAL AMERICA re .

TABLE SHOWING THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES OF BIRDS oF

Mexico ann CentTRAL AMERICA

List or PLates

Errata Et CoRRIGENDA .

Subclass AVES CARINATE.

Order PassERES

Suborder Oscings .

Section I. Oscines DentirostREs .

Fam. Turdidz

Subfam. Turdinz

” Miminez

” Myiadectine

Fam. Cinclide

Fam. Sylviide

Subfam. Saxicolinze .

” Regulinz

» Polioptilinee

Fam. Paride .

Fam. Sittidee .

Fam. Certhiidz

Fam. Troglodytide .

Fam. Motacillide

Fam. Mniotiltidze

Subfam. Mniotiltinze

” Icteriinz

” Setophagine .

Fam. Vireonide .

. 107

. 109

. 157

. 162

. 185

Fam. Laniide

Fam. Ampelide .

Section II. Oscines LatrrostReEs.

Fam. Hirundinide .

Section III. Osctnes TenurrostRes .

Fam. Ceerebide .

Section IV. Oscrnes ConrrostREs

Fam. Tanagride

Subfam. Euphoniine

- Tanagrine

Fam. Fringillide

Section V. Oscines CULTRIROSTRES .

Fam. Icteridze

Subfam. Cassicine .

” Ageleine .

” Sturnellinz

» Icterinz

” Quiscaline

Fam. Corvide

Subfam. Corvin

» Garruline .

Fam. Alaudide .

Page

INTRODUCTION.

THE enumeration of the Aves of Mexico and Central America was commenced in

September 1879 by the late Osbert Salvin and myself, and is now completed in

four Volumes, three of text and one of plates. Salvin’s long-continued ill-health, and

sudden death in 1898, greatly retarded the conclusion of the Third Volume, which

was subsequently finished by me with the assistance of Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe

and Mr. Ogilvie-Grant. On this account, too, it has been decided to abandon all

idea of a Supplement, and to close the volumes as they stand. ‘The critical

examination of the large amount of additional material that has come to hand

during the progress of publication, and the analysis of the extensive literature on the

subject issued in recent years, could only have been dealt with satisfactorily with the

assistance of Salvin himself, and I am reluctantly compelled to leave this portion of

the subject untouched. It may be noted, however, that the additions are mainly

amongst the Passeres, which were completed in 1892.

The physical features of the whole region are described in the Preface to the

“Lepidoptera Rhopalocera,” concluded in 1901, and in the Appendix to the Botany,

published in 1887, and need not be again repeated here. This Introduction will

therefore be chiefly devoted to some remarks on geographical distribution, to the

journeys made by us in Central America, and the sources from which our material

has been obtained, concluding with a Table showing the distribution of the Families

and Species as arranged in this work. ‘To make this latter as complete as possible,

the additional countries whence specimens were subsequently received are, however,

specially indicated.

In dealing with the Birds we have extended the limits of our region, so as to include

the Revil'agigedo Islands on the Pacific side (on account of the numerous sea-birds

inhabiting them); the Island of Old Providence on the Atlantic side (this small island

vl INTRODUCTION.

having a peculiar humming-bird, Lampornis hendersoni); and some places on the

Isthmus of Darien a little to the south of the political limit of the State of Panama.

Baja (or Lower) California, though belonging politically to Mexico, is excluded.

The 1413 species of birds included in this work embrace representatives of

seventy-eight families and 539 genera. Out of the twenty Orders given in the

‘Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium’ (1873), all but three (the Opisthocomi, the

Struthiones, and the Impennes) are represented. The other Neotropical families

wholly absent from Central America are the Phytotomide, amongst the Passeres; the

Steatornithide, of the Macrochires; the Todide, of the Coccyges; the Palamedeide,

of the Anseres; the Cariamide and Psophiide, of the Geranomorphe; and the

Chionidide and Thinocoridex, of the Limicole. To the Passeres belong rather more

than half (741) of the total number of Central-American species, this proportion being

much greater than that given in the ‘Nomenclator’ for the whole of the Neotropical

Region, with 3565 species, where the numbers are 1976 and 1589 respectively.

The geographical distribution of the families, exclusive of the Sea-birds and Waders,

may be stated as follows: (1) Exclusively Neotropical—Ccerebidee, Oxyrhamphide,

Pipride, Dendrocolaptide, Formicariide, Pteroptochide, Momotide, Galbulide,

Bucconide, Rhamphastide, Cancromide, Eurypygide, and Tinamide (the subfamily

Tinamotidine excepted); (2) Neotropical, but represented by one or more species in

North America—Tanagride (Pyranga), Icteride, Tyrannide, Cotingide (Hadrostomus),

Trochilide, Sarcorhamphide, Cracide, Aramide, and Parride; (3) Tropical countries

generally—Trogonide and Psittacide (each with a single species extending to a little

north of our boundary), Capitonide, Plotide, and Heliornithide; (4) North and

Central America—Meleagride (not reaching south of Guatemala); (5) Nearctic,

migrating south during the northern winter—Mniotiltide and Vireonide ; (6) Holarctic,

migrating south during the northern winter—Turdide, Motacillide, Laniide, Hirun-

dinide, Fringillide, Cypselide, Caprimulgide, Picide ; and (7) Cosmopolitan—

Corvide, Alaudide, Cuculide, Strigide, Asionide, Pandionide, Falconide, Ardeide,

Ciconiidee, Plataleidxw, Ibidide, Phenicopteride (except Australia), Anatide, Colum-

bide, Peristeride, Phasianide, Rallide, Gruidee, Gidicnemide (not reaching north of

Mexico), and Charadriide.

Amongst the genera, thirty-eight are endemic :—Trochilide (14), Fringillide (4),

Momotide, Corvidee, Ampelide, and Turdidee (2 each), and Troglodytide, Mniotiltidee,

INTRODUCTION. Vii

Vireonide, Tanagride, Icteride, Tyrannide, Cotingide, Formicariide, Pteroptochide,

Caprimulgide, Trogonidee, and Cracidee (1 each).

Out of the total number of 1413 species enumerated, 636 are endemic. Of these

latter, 271 are peculiar to (a) Mexico, Honduras, or Guatemala, 3 to (0) Nicaragua,

and 162 to (c) Costa Rica or Panama, the remainder (189) being more widely

distributed within the region or common to two of these divisions.

The Trochilidz include 118 species, with 84 endemic; the Fringillidee 104, with 52

endemic; the Tanagride 86, with 46 endemic; the Formicariide 52, with 28 endemic;

the Dendrocolaptide 47, with 26 endemic ; the Troglodytide 46, with 30 endemic; the

Turdide 41, with 24 endemic; the Psittacide 34, with 24 endemic; the Phasianide

32, with 25 endemic; the Peristeride 30, with 19 endemic; the Cotingide 26, with

12 endemic; the Trogonide 16, with 11 endemic; the Cracide 14, with 12 endemic;

the Tinamide 11, with 8 endemic; and the Rhamphastide 10, with 7 endemic.

It will thus be seen that these fifteen families are all rich in peculiar forms, and that

the families themselves are almost all tropical. On the other hand, a large number of

species belonging to the more widely distributed genera find their winter home in

Mexico and Central America, or even further south, returning to breed in the

Nearctic Region, some Humming-birds (such as Trochilus colubris and Selasphorus

rufus) and others wandering far north at this season. Jt would be very interesting

to show the lines of migration of many of the species, but we have not sufficient data

for this purpose. Some of them, no doubt, travel southward from the United States to

the mainland of South America by way of the Caribbean or the West Indian Islands,

perhaps just touching the eastern part of our region en route. Others probably find

their way down the central tablelands, and a few western species, again, pass down the

lowlands of the Pacific coast.

The Tres Marias, Coiba, and Pearl Islands in the Pacific, and the islands of

Cozumel, Mugeres, Holbox, Ruatan, and Old Providence in the Atlantic, possess

various slightly modified forms; and the Revillagigedo Islands are the home of

numerous interesting sea-birds not found on the mainland.

To summarize the results, the Avifauna of Central America may be described ‘as

essentially Neotropical, with certain peculiar forms (such as Oreophasis derbianus,

Vil INTRODUCTION.

Meleagris ocellata, Pharomacrus mocinno, and Zeledonia coronata) restricted to it.

Central America, as here treated, is in fact merely a subregion of the Neotropical

Region, with a large admixture of Nearctic forms, especially during the northern

winter.

India, including Ceylon and Burma, the birds of which have been most exhaustively

studied, and which is perhaps the only other well-defined tropical region with which

the Central-American Avifauna can be compared, has 1626 species (Blanford, 1898)

as against our 1413. It must be remembered, however, that the area of India is

nearly twice as large as that of our region, so that the balance of numbers is very

considerably in favour of Central America. North America has 768 species (A.0O.U.

Check-list, 1895).

The material for this work was mainly obtained by Salvin and myself during our

several visits to Central America. Salvin visited Guatemala three times—in 1857-

1858; 1861-1863, in company with myself, for part of the time; and, finally, in 1867.

On his way to and from Guatemala he also collected (with me) in British Honduras,

and on one of these trips he also investigated en route various places on the Isthmus

of Panama. Salvin first reached Belize in December 1857. After a few days’ stay he

proceeded down the coast to Yzabal, over the inland lake called the Golfo Dulce, and

thence to the city of Guatemala, collecting by the way. Duefias, about thirty miles

south of the capital, situated between the Volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, was his

headquarters during his six-months’ residence in the country; but he also made two

excursions towards the Pacific coast, and one to the lake of Atitlan in the Los Altos

region. Leaving the country in June 1858, he returned home by way of Panama. On

the second journey I accompanied him. We arrived at Belize in September 1861, having

spent about three weeks in Jamaica on the way. From Belize we proceeded wid the

Golfo Dulce to Yzabal, remained there a few days, and then passed on over the Mico

Mountains to the ruins of Quirigua. From Quirigua we travelled vid Zacapa and

Guatemala city to Duefias. Here we stayed for about three months, collecting

principally in the forests on the slopes of the Volcan de Fuego. We then went

to San Gerdnimo, in Baja Vera Paz, and spent about two months there, making various

excursions tu the mountains of Santa Cruz, Chilasco, &c. From San Gerénimo we

continued our journey to Coban, whence trips were made to Choctum and Cubilguitz in

the low ground of Alta Vera Paz. Salvin left me at Coban, and went to Peten, by way

of Lanquin, Cahabon, and Chisec, and on by the River Belize to Belize, subsequently

INTRODUCTION. 1x

making a most interesting visit (May 1862) to the “ Cays,” where he found many sea-

birds nesting. In the meantime I went to the highlands of Quiché, Guatemala city,

Alotepeque, and Copan, and returned to Yzabal by way of Chiquimula, meeting Salvin

again on my way home. After I left he passed through the Altos, from Vera Paz,

staying at Totonicapam, Quezaltenango, and other places, and made two expeditions

to the Costa Grande: one to Retalhuleu, and the other to the lagoons of the coast and

the series of small lakes at Huamuchal, close to the frontier of Soconusco. Salvin, on

his third journey, arrived at San José in May 1873. He made his headquarters

again at Duefias, from which place he once more visited the forests of the Volcan de

Fuego, the Volcan de Atitlan, and the Altos, travelling thence to San Gerdnimo,

Guatemala city, and San José. On his way home he spent a week at Obispo, on

the line of the Panama Railroad, returning to England, vid New York, in June 1874.

On one of the earlier journeys to Guatemala, Salvin had been fortunate enough to be

able to train and secure the services of a native, Enrique Arcé, who subsequently

went to Costa Rica, Chiriqui, and Veraguas on our behalf.

In 1887-1888 I made an expedition to Mexico, visiting the Volcanoes of Popo-

catepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, Jalapa, Misantla, Vera Cruz, Puebla, Cuernavaca, Morelia,

Patzcuaro, Amecameca, Yucatan (Merida, Izamal, Ticul, Peto), &c. During part of

the time I had with me, as collectors, Mr. W. B. Richardson, Mr: and Mrs. Herbert

H. Smith, and an Indian, M. Trujillo, all of whom did good work and centinued to

obtain skins for us for some time after I left. Richardson subsequently visited the

Mexican State of Chiapas (1897), the Republic of Honduras (1898), Guatemala

(Volcan de Santa Maria), and Nicaragua, and sent us many birds from those

countries. Mr. H. Rogers was employed by me to visit Costa Rica (1877), and

Mr. W. Lloyd and Mr. F’. B. Armstrong investigated the provinces of Northern Mexico.

Dr. G. F. Gaumer, who accompanied me for a short time in 1888, added to our

collection many birds from Cozumel, Mugeres, Holbox, Ruatan, and other islands

off the coasts of Yucatan and Honduras, as well as from the mainland of Yucatan.

Mr. F. Blancaneaux sent us various forms from British Honduras, Mr. C. F.

Underwood an extensive series from Costa Rica, and Mr. M-Leannan many birds from

the line of the Panama Railway. The Mexican series purchased by us in 1889 from

Sefor F. Ferrari-Perez, Director of the Museum at ‘Tacubaya, and the North-American

collections acquired from Mr. Henshaw, Mr. W. E. D. Scott, and Mr. C. K. Worthen,

have been of much assistance in identifying many of the species, Professor Ridgway

having been kind enough to critically examine and determine all the specimens

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., Movember 1904. b

x INTRODUCTION.

belonging to the Henshaw collection before they were sent to England. We are

also much indebted to Professor Ridgway and the late Professor Baird, of the

Smithsonian Institution, and others, for the loan of various birds.

Salvin’s numerous ornithological papers (some of them written in collaboration with

Dr. P. L. Sclater), based upon the collections made by him or by myself in Guatemala

aud British Honduras, are almost too well known to need recapitulation. Still, it

will not be out of place to give the titles of the most important of them here :—

(1) Ornithology of Central America, by P. L. Scrarer and O. Satvin. Ibis, 1859, pp. 1-22,

117-138, 213-234.

(2) Contributions to the Ornithology of Guatemala, by O. Satvin and P. L. Scuater. Ibis, 1860,

pp. 28-45, 272-278, 396-402.

(3) Notes on the Humming-birds of Guatemala, by O. Satvin. Ibis, 1860, pp. 259-272.

(4) History of the Derbyan Mountain-Pheasant, by O. Satvin. Ibis, 1860, pp. 248-253.

(5) On the Nesting of some Guatemalan Birds, by Rosrrt Owen, with some remarks by O. Satvin.

Ibis, 1861, pp. 58-69.

(6) Quezal-shooting in Vera Paz, by O. Savin. Ibis, 1861, pp. 138-149.

(7) A List of Species to be added to the Ornithology of Central America, by O. Satvin. Ibis,

1861, pp. 851-857.

(8) A Fortnight among the Sea-birds of British Honduras, by O. Savin. Ibis, 1864, pp. 372-

387.

(9) The Sea-birds and Waders of the Pacific Coast of Guatemala, by O. Satvin. Ibis, 1865,

pp. 187-199.

(10) A Further Contribution to the Ornithology of Guatemala, by O. Savin. Ibis, 1866,

pp. 188-206.

[612 species were known from Guatemala at this date: it includes Godman’s captures,

and makes some corrections to the first paper. ]

(11) On the Psittacide of Central America, by O. Satvin. Ibis, 1871, pp. 86-100.

(12) Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium, by P. L. Scrarer and O. Sanvrn. (1873.)

The eighty-four hand-coloured Plates issued in this work (including XV. a, LIV. a,

LVIIL. a, LVIII. 6, and LIX. a) have all been drawn by Mr. J. G. Keulemans.

In conclusion, I may state that the whole of our Ornithological Collections,

numbering about 85,000 specimens, have been presented by Salvin and myself to

the National Museum at South Kensington.

F. D. G.

November 1904.

INTRODUCTION,

Geographical Distribution of the Famiiies or Brrps represented in Mexico and

1 The dagger (tT)

2 Zeledonia was doubt

Central America !.

rg :

. < a] (o=]

a}. Sisis Sls

EEE

. | | 5 lola

Ala . 64 wise

Vol. I. |

PassErzEs. |

Turdidee oo... eee PS *

Cinclidzs ...............ceeee. 2 Tie) x

Sylviida........... eee. «fx f | w]e (ele) e

Parida@ ....... cc cceeeeeeceees ePe .. %

Sittida 0... eee, ot eee veelee

Certhiide ................0.... ape. jth...

Troglodytide ............... ape *) e HLH] *

Motacillide .................. x |e... % wee

Mniotiltide ........ efx x *) x *

Vireonida ................ eee ape *) % xl a) *

Laniida ............ eee Pa ee ee ee

Ampelidee ...............ce ee. rr

Hirundinidee.................. wpe H) He) OK) Kk

Coerebidae ...............:0006 oe oe oe cee ee

Tanagride .............000.0. Ps oe ee

Fringillidee ...............44. * «| Ho bo fo ok

Tcteridae .......ecceeeeeeee eee KP LH kK Ok

Corvide ........ cece eee ape eR eK

Alaudida ............:c00c08: Ps ae ee

Vol. II. | | | |

Oxyrhamphide ............ 5 eee rr

Tyrannidee..........c.ceeeee ee x[e # x x haba

Pipridee ...........e cece cece oe oe oe

Cotingida ...............ceeee * a H % OK

; | |

. | i |

Dendrocolaptids ............ Ae ee % | % OK [k

Formicariide ..............-f... * | HO ¥) # | #) KL

Pteroptochide? ..........00 pe Dee leee |e

| |

MaAcrocu irs. | |

Trochilidae................-05 ape HH Le OK LK

Cypselidae ..........:eeeeee ees * Pe a 2 oe

Caprimulgidie ............0-. oe

Pict.

Picidee ... cee eee cece ee eeeeeeees re ee ee

CoccyGEs.

Momotider .........eseeereceees eS ee ee

Alcedinidae........cseeseeeeeees ade ele) oR | el K LK

Trogonidee eee eee * Ex * |e * %* | OK | OK

Galbulida ............:eeee eee wee OK ok

Bucconid@..........eseeeeeeees ec

Cuculidx .. .......-sseeeeeees sd lial % | | OK

Capitonidae ........seeseeeee feed. lactose [ok | ok

Rhamphastid ........-.-++- oe a oe ee

| |

Psirract. | | |

| |

Psittacide ......... eee eeeeeee ele « 4 % | * OK) *

| ||

}

| |

Vol. IIT.

SrRIGES.

Strigidae .......e eee eee Pe rr a

ASIONId2@ ... eee eee e ee eee eee ale # % OK)

| H

:[rd

EI Old World, &e.

eal

«xx Generally distributed.

«|...] Europe, Asia, N. Africa.

x] x} Generally distributed.

...| Europe, Asia, Africa.

... Generally distributed.

wo... Generally distributed.

«| «] Europe, Asia.

«|... Generally distributed.

«| «| Absent.

«| *} Absent.

..[...] Generally distributed.

.....«{ Generally distributed.

«*{*] Generally distributed.

«| «| Absent.

x 1x4 Absent.

x | «| Generally distributed.

* |x| Absent.

«|... Generally distributed.

x{...] Generally distributed.

x |... Absent.

«| x] Absent.

x«{...] Absent.

«|...J Absent.

x {...] Absent.

xf... Absent.

«|... Absent.

«| «| Absent.

«|x| Generally distributed.

«|| Generally distributed.

«| «{Hurope, Asia, Africa,

x]... Absent.

x |x] Generally distributed.

x] «| Tropical Asia and Africa.

«|... Absent.

x|...]/ Absent.

x |x] Generally distributed.

x|...J Tropical Africa and Asia.

x|...J Absent.

x|...] Tropical Asia, Africa, Australia.

x | «| Generally distributed.

x] «| Generally distributed.

General Remarks.

Peculiar to Tropical America.

One genus only (Ceryle, with very

Peculiar to Central and 8S. America.

Peculiar to Central and S. America.

In the tropics in the vicinity of mountain-streams.

Not represented in 8. America.

Not south of Mexico: in Mexico on the mountains only.

Not represented in S. America.

Peculiar to America.

In S. America in the Andes of Colombia only.

Peculiar to Tropical America.

Peculiar to America: N.-American species migratory.

Peculiar to Tropical America.

Almost peculiar to Centr.and S. America, one species only

(Hadrostomus aglaie) reaching north of Mexico.

Peculiar to Tropical America.

Peculiar to Central and 8. America.

Peculiar to Central and S. America (Scytalopus).

Peculiar to America.

Temperate and tropical regions generally.

Peculiar to Central and S. America,

Only one species found north of Mexico.

Extending to the Galapago Is.

[&e.

Peculiar to America, many species wintering in Mexico,

Peculiar to America.

Not represented in 8. America.

Absent from Madagascar, the Moluccas, Australia, &c.

few species) in America. |

indicates that one or more species were subsequently sent us from these districts.

fully referred to this family : it appears, however, from recent investigations,

to be a purely Oscinine form.

b 2

{

. Phaéthontidee

| Fregatida

Ardeidee....cccccc cece ceeee eens

- Cancromidee

- Ciconiidse

' Tbididee

| Cracides

| Meleagridee

' Phasianidse

| Columbidee

: Peristeride

X1l

| N. Am.

| Mex.

Vol. III. (contin.).

ACCIPITRES.

Pandionidee

Falconidee

Peewee wees een etee

STEGANOPODES.

Pelecanidiv.......cc.cce cece

Sulidee

Phalacrocoracidax............

Plotide

H&RopDIoNeEs.

Plataleida 2... sss

CoLuMB&.

eee OOP cere ernne

GaALLINaA.

Rallidae .. co.cc cece eee ee ees

Heliornithidee

Aramida ......cece ee cee eee e ee

Gruidee

Limico.a”.

Cidienemidar...............08. .

Parride

PyGoropzs.

Colymbidee ......... 0.

Podicipedidee............

ALCE.

Aleidse

Cryrrurt.

Tinamidee

i es i

mK OK

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Families (continued).

3s} 13

= ~F&

Sites

x g 5m

aos

x1 *

% 1X *

x) % *

* | * *

Ki * *

* |, *

x *

K | % *

Ki) *

| %

veel

* >

* 1% *

x) * *

x) *

x * *

1 *

x * *

* *

* | * *

x * *

mo %

; |

ad.

oe) %

| |

| Costa R.

| Nicar.

| Pan.

kK OK OK

mK OK OK Ok Ok

SK OK OK OK OK

DK ok ok

aK KK

KOK

x #

L - Old World, &e. General Remarks.

ale

«| * | Generally distributed, Cosmopolitan.

*f *f Generally distributed. Cosmopolitan,

«| «ff Absent. American representatives of the Old World Vulturidex.

...4 | Tropical regions only. Tropical and subtropical seas generally.

*]* 4 Tropical regions only. Tropical and subtropical seas generally.

*f*}? Generally distributed. Temperate and tropical coasts of both Hemispheres.

...4 «| Generally distributed. Nearly every Temperate and Tropical ocean.

**} Generally distributed. Sea-coasts and inland lakes generally.

*}...J Tropical regions only. Tropical lakes and rivers.

*| «| Generally distributed.

x |...f Absent. Confined to Central and South America.

* |...) Generally distributed. [of both Hemispheres.

«|... Absent. Generally distributed in Temperate and Tropical portions

«9 Absent. Generally distributed in Temperate and Tropical portions |

«|... Europe, Asia, Africa. [of both Hemispheres. |

* 1x} Generally distributed. Cosmopolitan.

*| «| Generally distributed. Cosmopolitan.

* | «x Generally distributed. Cosmopolitan.

x |...) Absent. Tropical and Subtropical America only.

woof... Absent. Confined to N. Amer., Mexico, and N. part of Centr. Amer.

*|*} Europe, Asia, Africa. Represented by the Odontophorinze.

*|* | Generally distributed. Cosmopolitan,

*|.... Tropical regions only. Tropical areas of both Hemispheres.

* {xf Absent. Tropical and Subtropical America.

* |... Absent. Peculiar to Tropical America.

«| Generally distributed. Temperate and tropical regions of the Old World, not

passing south of Mexico in America.

ae ‘[America.

*|*}| Generally distributed. Almost cosmopolitan ; not reaching north of Mexico in

*|* | Tropical regions only. Tropical and subtr opical regions.

*]* 1 Generally distributed. Cosmopolitan; many species migrating north to breed.

*{ «1 Generally distributed. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans generally.

-| Generally distributed. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans generally.

*| «| Generally distributed. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans generally.

es re Chiefly oceans of Southern Hemisphere.

[south as Mexico.

OS re oe North parts of both Hemispheres: in America as far

*|«{ N. Europe and N. Asia. Cosmopolitan.

4 N. Europe and N. Asia. Northern oceans,

*{.../ Absent. Represented in Central America by the Tinamine.

INTRODUCTION. xill

Geographical Distribution of the Species or Brrps of Mexico and Central America |.

: - ee en eNE NENT uNCEENRIEEON

lglg=| |e.) |b |

an eeeea se [8k | |

WI S18 318 Big <q Old World, &e. General Remarks. |

ZAZA oR™- ZO ADE

Vol. I.

Turpipx.

Catharus melpomene .........0.........08 A Ce A genus occurring throughout Colombia, Vene-

alticola .2.........ccc cece ceeeeeeeeeaes on or zuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

—— frantzii ..... ccc eee eee eae nn fs ee

occidentalis ..........0..0.e ccc ee eee At | x |

—— fuscater .......0.0...c cece eee cee ec eeeeee oe Pe er ee ee ee

griseiceps .... eee on ee veel cee fecetee) 3

gracilirostris........... 0......cccee eee A Od ee

MEXICANUS.......0. ccc cece ee eee wee HL Tix x

ALY AS. e ccc eeeeeeeeceeee we Thole. ee eo

Turdus mustelinus ....................000e rd

{USCESCENS .........6 0c ccc cece eee ee ees Hfeecleee cele Tole. tix va

—— 8WAINSONI 2.0... eee eee eee eee on eee ee es

ustulatus ........cccccccec cece ee ewes ae a es + |

—— ALICI. ccc ecec cece ccs e eee os er x «fix NUE. Asia.

—— pallasi oe a

—— auduboni .................00...c cece eee PUT] xe lc xe |

tYIStls ...... cee eee eee Atle! | |

L leucauchen................5 cece eee ee

—— plebeius ......... ee eee ee to

—— BTAY1 0. ee vevecevenaeee ee ee ee

Obsoletus ............0. cece ccc ceases on re ee

—— Migratorius ............0 eee ca os re Fe ies

flavirostris ............000.cc ee eeee eee eR

—— rufitorques ............0 cee vedas) To x |

Pinicola......... eee on |

——. infuscatus ............ccece cece eee eee on ne ee |

——— MIPVescenS oo... eee eee on ee ee

Galeoscoptes carolinensis be cseeeeeeeeees ee eS On 2 ere Bahama Is.

Melanoptila glabrirostris .............. Se a A OS Genus peculiar to Central America.

Melanotis cserulescens ................0.06 on hos ..| oe re ee ee ed Oe rrr Genus peculiar to Central Aimerica.

hhypoleucus ... cece... sees ee eee ee eee wee Toe) F |

Harporhynchus longirostris ............ #2) #

OCellatus ...... cc cceeeeee eee e eee eens on

CULVIPOSELIS 2.0... cece eee ee eee eeenes xi* *

ea (0) ce SO es Cd ee CSS 0 Oe) Peculiar to Socorro I.

Mimus polyglottus ...............:eeeeeee oe all ae Ce ee oe FO AOS ee Genus extending to Galapago Is.

QILVUS oe eeece eee ee eee cee eee ee eee e ees oe ee eee a

Rhodinocichla rosea ...........-..0.e eee on eee od eee

Myiadectes ODSCULUS............ cee cee eee eee ne Je+-| seslece eS es Genus occurring alsoin S. America and W. Indies.

UNICOLON vecseeeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee vefeee ee |

| —— melanops .......ceceececee eee e eee ees fn ee ee

CINCLID£. |

Cinclus mexicanus .............eee cece ees co ne Genus ulso found in the 8.-American Andes anid in

AYGESIACUS.........ceeeee ce eee tees cae ees on ee sev cee| cee [eee HL % the mountains of the Old World.

SYLviIDz. | ..

| | [to Nicaragua.

GSialia sialis .........ccee ec ee eee e teen eees 8 a ee 2 eee Bermuda. A N.-American genus extending south

MEXICANA 2... eeeeee eee cece eee teens of on i | |

| Regulus satrapa .............0:sereeeeeeees od eee SE Ceo) Genus also represented in the Old World

calendula ............0eecee cece eee e es apt x... I |

Polioptila ceerulea...............00- cere epee towel .. one on hd cre Bahama Is.

——— NIQYVICEPS ....-eeeeeeeeeee eset e ete on ai ee Be

Dilineata .........ce eee e eee eee e eee es weeps. t ... ¥| * * | * % |

albiloris .......cecee cee eee ees eeeeeeees on *| x

|| |

Parivz£. | | ||

Lophophanes atricristatus ..........----. *x|t x ol see eels Sn ee ee rrr ere Genus also found in the Old World.

— —— wollweberi .....ceeeeeeee erect e ees eit x | | } [confined to the high mountains.

Parus meridionalis ..........0 ceseeeeeeee a 2 eres ere Ce fe oe fe ce (eS Genus also found in the Old World: in Mexico

| Psaltriparus melanotis........--..+-+1++0++ oe ee ee seein wee vfs vec ceteeeceueesees Genus also represented in N. America.

Auriparus HavicepS ......ce.eeeeeeeeeee ees * | * o pe wee aa a as Lower California.

1 The dagger (1) indicates that specimens were subsequently sent us from these districts.

X1V INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

-| | |S > > :

ale 2 leglelel [ele

<= = m3 E w3|S)2| d]< a Old World, &c. General Remarks.

Al iid ol le Oa pa

Vol. I. (contin.).

SITTIDs£.

Gitta aculeata .........cccccccccccceuceecene apt oxi) ce leleePebep 00 ccceeeeeeeee Genus also found in the Old World.

PY_MKLA .........ceee ee ceeeeeseeeees xit x

Crrturip &. [Old World.

Certhia mexicana..........ccccccccccccceces cr rr Genus also represented in N. America and in the

TRoGLopyTIp x.

Campylorhynchus albibrunneus......... on FP A Genus extending to S. America.

capistratus ....... eee cee ee eee To i

humilis... cece cece eeeeee Ae x

“= JOCOBUS 6... eee eeeceeccc ee ecceeeeeeafeeefers *

wa gularis oe cc cee cece tox

brunneicapillus ............ cece eens ape x

—— guttatus oo. eee debe. *

ZONAGUS 2... eee cece eeeeeecceceeeeaafeedfeee ee) Tt x

~—— pallescens ..........0..0cccceceeeeeeeeee wat x ; .

Salpinctes obsoletus .........00...00...00 00 So aa a Oe re Lower California.

Catherpes mexicanus ..............0..000. Pa a

sumichrasti ...........c.c.ccceee seen ee on re

Jyphorhinus lawrengii..................... i a ee A Genus represented in S. America.

Microcerculus philomela .................. BPS Rd es OO Genus represented in 8. America.

Luscinia... ee eeeeeeeeeeeee eee i on er re

Uropsila leucogastra ...........00..60004. an oe

Henicorhina leucosticta .................. on or * | x e*

~— leucophrys ...........0..0cceceeeee eee on re ee

| Thryopbilus rufalbus ...........0.....0... on ee el LT LT lel ae fe

| —— Sinaloa oo... eee ceee eee eeeeeaee on

| ——— MOMESHUB oe cee ccc eeeseePee Pees coe eee *] x * | %

Te re Ae rr ce x

| leuCotis... i.e eecceceeeeeeeeeeaPeeafeee eee ces #4

)——— thoracicus..... 0. cece eee eebee dees coe cee wee || HL

/—— pleurostictus 20... eee on er a 2

| MISOTIUS oe eee c cece eee i

| ——semibadius ........ eee feefee. _ ara

CASLANCUS 20... eee cece eee ce fee Pees eee * | %

oo Migricapillus...... ee sees] wee fece[oee] OE

_Thryothorus fasciativentris............... on secfeeef wee Lf e LRP Pees Genus represented in the W. Indies.

atrigularis ...........cceeeeeeeceee ees vedeee eee ceeleee] vee [HL

/—-— hyperythrus............ccec eee ee bee | thx

= maculipectus oo... eed. tox xix] «x |t

FE cece cee cece eee es Le

| LaWwYenli .... 0... ceeeeeceeeccneeeeeeees ee Tres Marias Is. only.

_--— berlandieri ..............0cccceeee eee xp *

albinucha ..........ccceeccccceeee cece on

| bairdi occ cecec cece eeee fx") x

| Proglodytes aedon .......eececccceeeeees- epee lel ae Le pepep Genus also found in the Old World.

Insularis ....... eee cece eeee eee eee we ceeleeefeee] cee fecclecclee deeded 000 cccecceeeeeeeeeeee Peculiar to Socorro I.

—— intermedius .........000000 cece eee ee . % *

——— FUPVUS Lecce cece eeeeebec foes lee aes ca

—— solstitialis........0.. ed De. whe % | %*

brunneicollis .....0.... eee ees eeees ee.) * he x . .

-Cistothorus palustris ............ beteeeeee HPe HL Lp eee Genus distributed through N. America generally,

polyglottus ...... cece ee bel tie). pt lape and over nearly the whole of 8. America.

Moracinuip a. | . ae . ,

| [Genus widely distributed in the Old World.

Anthus ludovicianus .............00c..00. co ee ere Migrates in winter as far south as Guatemala.

rufus .......... cee eee cette eee e eens on oe ead

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

l Cozumel I.

; > ; :

deluge. lek

qi 5 s Be 8 g d Ei - Old World, &e. General Remarks.

Ze eaS se 2S ELE

Vol. I. (contin.).

Miormtipa. | [tides wintering in Mexico and Central America.

| Mniotilta varia ............. eee ef ete le] Tootpeiadedaep 0 One of the many N.-American species of Mniotil-

Protonotaria citrea ...............000c0008. ce rr ee

Helminthotherus vermivorus ............ 2 i a

Helminthophaga chrysoptera............ #P...*2)) x es eo es

PINUS....... eee eee eee eee ee eee rn eS t

ruficapilla........... cece cece ee 2

Celata .eseeeceeee cece sees cece sees xpt *

CLELTINA 20... ..ceeeeceece esc ecee eee ees * a oe ee

Parula atnerionna se eececcceecuucuceeeseueues a a i ee eeeeecsceeeeeeeees Genus extending to 8. America,

Imnornata oo... eee ceceeec eee eeeeeeee | er it «|x

insularis .....0...ceececeeeeeseeseeeedfee. ae “eleealee becsecesceseeaeess Tres Marias Is. and Socorro I.

—— nigrilora ...... eee cec eee ee xf? | |

sUperciliosa ........ eee eee ee AT oxi) # |

gutturalis ....0... cece eee eee i ee ee ee a

Dendroeca xstiva ..........ccccec cece cence es efxixl le ee el ede

vieilloti......... eee cece e cece vee aia veel Td we Lae pe

~—— caerulescens ..........cccccc cece ee ees a re be ta, #

COVONALA oe eee cee cee eee ee eee eee sees ePt xig le x tox «hide

auduboni ..........c0.cecec sec eeeeeeaes wfx * ale | |

maculosa ........... cece ee eee ec eeuees * xieixe) tot ee Oe os rrr Bahama Is.

——— cmrulea.......ecccececececcecececeeeeees * Pa a es Fee

pennsylvanica .......... eee * Pn ee Bahama Is.

CASTANEA 20... cece eee e cece cece eee ee ees * * to « wee Took pe

blackburnie ..........c...ceecceeee eee a xl «el aefef.. beceeceeeeeeeeeees Bahama Is.

——_ dominica ..........cccccce cece ee eec eee ee # x oe) TH. x

decora ......... bee ceeeeeceeaeceeneeeees we Rl ee] Tt |

—— NIGTeBCENS........ cere eee eee: eet x) |

—— VITONS oo. seeeeceeeecee ence ees eeeecenes edt xi tix) tT wx *

—— occidentalis ...........ccee eee eeee ees oS or |

—— chrysoparia .......... cc ceeeeeeeeeeeees 2

townsendi.........ecececeeecec eee eee ees 2 Lae |

Giscolor...........ceeceeceeeeeeeeeeeeees eR TU. eo |* becaeecseees beeees Has been found at sea near Swan I. [tains.

Peucedromus olivaceus ..............000. EET ee) Tp ee eeeeeee In Mexico and Guatemala confined to high moun-

Siurus auricapillus ........0.... cece epee ce oe eee pep Cl see Bermuda Is.

— noveboracensis...... sec cecteceeeaeuees eH ceed be i

motacilla ....... cee eeen cess cence ePe xi. e) TO tle) «pps

Oporornis formosa .................0000e oe 2 en C2 ee rrereerereereees . Winter visitant to Central America.

Geothlypis trichas ............... eee. efx oe tle ad dep ee Bahama Is. A winter migrant from the north,

ME]ANOPS 2.0... .cceceeeeeeeec esse ee epeeefees x} |

—— 8PeCi088............4. vtec eeeee eee eeeees chee | |

—— chiriquensis ............ cece eee ee Pee fees cae lees feel cee leeefeee]

CANINUCHA...........cceeeeseeececeeeees er ae a

poliocephala ...............cceeeeeeeeeefees xt) | | . :

—— philadelphia...................0.c0e oe on ee iT) el ae fae Veeceeeesceereuees A winter migrant from the north.

macgiflivrayl bec ee eee ne eeeeeeeeeees HP x. . Hl | i Ce en en errr rrr rrrre A winter migrant from the north. .

Teteria viridis .........ceeeeeeecee eee eee eens OF ae ee Ge fe) eee ower California. |

Granatellus VENUStUS .......eeeeeeeee eens oe no Pere Pe ee The only other known species of the genus is con- |

| | | | fined to Amazonia.

FPANICESCE ...0ec eee ece eee eeceeceeeeecee fees cn ee fe Fe ES Tres Marias Is. only.

re) OE) a * | % |

i 10 8 0) 6k: HET xe. % |

to caner bene ee sees eeeeeenenees oof . leeeleee |. .. on rrrrrrree ee eee eee Genus peculiar to Mexico and Guatemala.

VErSiCOlOY ...... ccc eee sees cence eee ewes vefeee Tee ¥ | |

Myiodioctes canadensis ...............++- od Pol Pad 02 on eee Micrati ao

MItVAtUS .ocececeee eee esee eee eeecee ees oe eS fee 2 eee igrating south from N. America in winter.

pusillus ......seeeeee cesses ee eee eee od ee t x on on rrr rrr

Basileuterus bivittatus........ rere ee ee eS

CULICIVOFUS 22... . cece cence eee ee: AT x). are t * *

——— leucopygius .....-..ceeeeeeeeeee reer ee epee pee vesefeee fees t hahahd

——_ melanOgenyS........e.cceeseeeeoneee ees sePeeeieeefeeelees se eH

belli ...cccececeeceeeeceeeeeeeeesseen eens oe er a) | |

rufifrons ............66 errr oo |

{

XV1

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

INTRODUCTION.

elaine 22/4! Lk

AES lg CO} LI 2 os S

“2 S50 2 28/82 aia Old World, &e.

Aldsom zo aale

Vol. I. (contin.).

Moiotintin# (contin.). |

Basileuterus delattrii ..................66 eho To OTe) tole 4

——— MESOChTYSUS...... ee eeeee ee ee eee ee vePeeeleee cee wee OP

Setophaga ruticilla .............c eee RPK fe) eT we PPP ee,

Pb eee veer eee 2 rer

—— Minlata...... cece eee on a

AUTANEIACA Lee eee ee eee on Aen ee * |x

torquata ....... eee ee oe Ae ee Oe wea] |

lacrymosa......... ieee cece e eee ees vedloe * t

VIREONID®.

Vireo calidris ...........ccccceece eee eeeeee eq. To. eS co co ree

O]iVACEUS oo. eee eee ec ec eee eee es ce es ee

flavoviridis ............0cceceeee eee epee Toe). lel epee

—— Magister oo... cece eee 7 ce t?

—— philadelphicus..........0..0.0000000.. wep Tx *

a BIVUS eee eee eee ees eptix, t

AMAULONOCUS oo. cece eee ape * i, f

—— Josepha... cccceeeeee peed. Jove eee rr iS cs

flavifrons 2.00... ec eec cece eens so ee re es ee

—— solitarius 2.0... ccc eee eeeee epee le) x

——— CASSINT oo. cece eee eee xpx Tt |

——~ plumbeus 20.0... ee eeee eee a ee

—— atricapillus 2.0... ee. Cs

—— noveboracensis.................0.0008. eytix tie} « KP eee ee ee ee eee eees

belli oe... cece eceeeees 2

—— ochraceus 0.0.0.0... cceee cece eee epee x x ele) tot

pallens oo... eee on ee x %

—— huttoni ....... ee eee oS Cr ae |

= CAPMIO]L vee eee ee cece eeees in Lee * %

hypochryseus ...............0.00.0004 on re a FO A re

| Neochloe brevipennis ...............00cc0 fee. Le, vee [eceleee Pn ee ee ne

Hylophilus decurtatus ............0....0... ee

—— aurantiifrons ......... el o. Meee rae

ochraceiceps.............0. ce ceeee eens in * Ti * x

—— viridiflavus 2.0... peepee hecleeeees %

Vireolanius melitophrys ................0.p... To Ll.)

pulchellus oo... eee pee 2 Le x x| x

Cyclorhis flaviventris ........ 0.0. 0.00.00 re

flavipectus ...... cece ee on re cee is

Lani 2. |

Lanius ludovicianus............... 0.000000 co A eee OS

AMPELIDE. |

Ampelis cedrorum .............0.0eeeeeee epee lel oe fl. %

Ptilogonys cinereus ..............0..000000. Ato.) SA fe rrr

Caudatus oo... ce ececeeeee Pee Pees cael, 2K) %

Phainopepla nitens ................00..000. wpe %

Phainoptila melanoxantha ..............J...[.. lees H/T Ppp ee

Hirvnpryip2.

Progne purpurea ...............cecceceee eee xe % vee De ee re

Chalybea oo... cece ce eeeece eens ee

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota ............... wpe tht Pott laefe dep 0 co,

SWAINSONL 0.0.22. eee eee cee eee cece es He

fulva oo... cece ccc ccc cece ce ceeeees ok % %

Atticora cyanoleuca ..........000..cccccee feed. eelefeee x thx

Pileata oo. ceceee ee on or es

General Remarks.

Bahama Is. A migratory species.

Migrates down E. coast and to the W. Indies.

Tres Marias Is.

Bermuda.

Tres Marias Is.

Genus peculiar to Mexico.

Genus widely distributed in the Old World.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Genus peculiar to the mountains of Costa Rica.

Genus also represented in W. Indies. |

[tralia. |

Genus represented in 8, Africa, India, and Aus-_

* Subsequently received from Cozumel I. and Ruatan I.

INTRODUCTION,

XVil

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

wile) [S| iA rd

FS Sho )isSiele! [S14

SIAR sai slalaey- Old World, &e.

Fiz aslo BS ats e

Vol. I. (contin.).

Hirvunpinip# (contin.).

Atticora tibialis 0... .cccccecccceeeeapee fees eeeleeelees ee

Hirundo erythrogaster................0060. epee te) Topple epee pe pe,

Tachycineta thalassinus .................. 2 ee wef ke ee ee eeeeeeee eee

1) (0) (0) oe Pe fe ce errr rrr

albilinea oo... ee ceeeseeeeeeeee scene veel Tele] «lela x

Stelgidopteryx serripennis ............... 2 Ce srr 2s

UPOPyGialis ..........e cece ee eeee eee eee a Ae ee

Cotile riparia oo... eee eeecseeeeeceee eet) ee) Ti.) «ep PN. Asia and Europe, and in

Alrica in winter.

CaruBipa.

Diglossa baritula ......0.. eeeeeeeeeeeees oo oe re Ee Con Oo recess

Plumbea uo... ceeceeeee sees Fn A | |

Dacmis cayana 1.0.0... cececeeeeeeeeee eee nn Fe ee wee| Pe

ultramarina ......... eee eee eee es we |e) x

VONUSLA 00... eee eects eee eee eee es ee

VIQUICTI Lecce ee eeeeeeeeeee ence . sleee] wee feeelene)

Chlorophanes spiza .............0..00.0000 oS rn ee

Coereba cyanea ......... cece eecece eee een eens oO) es ce

DCCs Ce Je] oe LT) tl

Certhiola mexicana .........s000.ccceeeeeee % Le The pepe pep eee

2) 00) eee Fee cd

TANAGRIDA.

Chlorophonia occipitalis .................. wef. #0.) % wfeceleefee feed ceca eee eeeeeuecaes

Callophrys oo... ce ceeecceceeeeeeeeee dpe wefeeeleee eel | x

cyanodorsalis ..............lc cece fn

Euphonia elegantissima .................. veep el eT x|%

AMAMIS Lecce cent ee eee eee ees He xl lx) T Lele

WNINUtA 20... cece ccc eee eset eee ence epee effees lees | % as co

Pracilis ...... cece eeeeeeeeeeeee es Lee % | 4

luteicapilla ....... eee eee eB elep wee | Pp oe fe

hirundinacea ...........ceec eee wile) e] * | el x

—— gnatho oo. eee ceeee eee ee scence veel *

lamiirostris 2.0.0.0... cece ee eee ee An fe *) xPx

Pouldi oo. eee cece eee ees wie ie] Tole lx

fUlViCrissa....... cece cece ecto ee ee ewes on fe ee eS

ALN 0. ee ee ee ees ec cece cess ee ee eee epe ease of |

Calliste florida 2.0.0... cee, a ee ee rere

uttata ...... cece eee eee ee eeepc Pee eleee «| % | ef

icterocephala ..............:.:000008, on ee |e) Pe

—— gyroloides..........cccecceeeeeeeee ees vedecsjecefeeel. 1 De

Taviniee ........ cece cece eee eee ee eee e epee Peecfeee lees . % |) %

CADANISI........c ce cee ee eee ee ee eee ee eee PeeePeeeleee/ eee *

——— OW] oo. ee ee eeeec ec ee teeeeeeeeteeeeeee peepee |)

——— INOLNALA eee e eee e eee renee eee veel xd

Tarvata 12... ce ceceeeeeeeeeeeee ee ee eens Pa oe er es

Buthraupis arcei ........sesecceeeeeeeee eens vepeecleeeleee lees ee ee ee rrr errr error

Tanagra Cama .....cseeseeeseeeteeeeeeee seeds Ce

ADDAS .... ee eee reece eee eee et eee eee ee dee affe es */ xe) | x

palmarum..........ssseeeeeeeeeeeeeees Ae tile l «yx

Rhamphoceelus passerinil ............... Tix|*| * |#|x|*

IcterONOtUS ........ce cess eee eeeeeees on eee veelees| HEX

Gimidiatus ....... cc ceeeeee cece eee ee ef Pee el ees Ca

Luciani oo... cece cece ee eee rene ee ee ees 5 .|

uropygialis .........ceeeeeeeee seer ees vePecefece[eee]

Phlogothraupis sanguinolenta ......... . epee] He LLLP Pe cece eeeee

Pyranga rubra .........seeeeeee eee serene ees epee pe) Tolle lade dep Lee

———. WSLLVA eeeeessceeeeeeeeeeeeeeresenenees * |x «Tt we] ow felelaepebep eee

0X0) 01>) One x] % |

hepatica .e..ceeeeeeeeeeeesee eee eee es x4 ¥ Ye *

——— testaCed.......eeccecceeeceereereeeree ee fee dfeee eee Jevslece| eee He HE

—— fighina .......cceceeeeeeeeec eee ee ae t | |

| | |

General Remarks.

Bermuda Is. A cosmopolitan genus.

Genus widely represented in S. America.

Bermuda Is.

Bermuda Is,

Genus represented in S.-American Andes.

Genus largely represented in W. Indies.

Peculiar to Cozumel I.

Genus represented in 8. America,

Genus represented in the island of St. Vincent.

Genus largely represented in S. America.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Bermuda Is,

Bermuda Is.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1904.

XVili

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

Old World, &e.

| N. Am.

| N. Mex.

| S. Mex.

| B. Hond.

Costa R.

Pan.

| S. Am.

| W. Ind.

| Nicar.

Vol. I. (contin.).

TANAGRIDE (contin.).

Pyranga roseigularis ............ seeeeeee ec epeee

—— erythrocephala ..........:sseeeeee fe.

erythromeleena.............4- seseeeees

ludoviciana ........ .

Chlorothraupis Olivacea ..........eseeee.

VINACED ...cceeesceecceencceescceesseeees

fuscicauda ..........

Lanio aurantius ..cccccccsceecccccceesecceefes oes

leucothorax .....cccccccsccesceessceedde fees

MelanOpygZius ......cceseceeseeeees cee

Eucometis cristata ... ceseeeeeeecseeePecspecslecclescl ees

spodocephala .......ceseseeeeee ceeees

— — ]UCEUOSUS oo... ee eee ce cee teen eee eee ees

xanthopygius .........c.cceee -

| -———~ ChYYSOME]AS ........cceeeeeeeeee wesc feeders

Gelattrid ...ccccceccccceeeeeeeseeeecees

nitidissimus....... seeeeees ceceeeeeeees

| Chlorospingus ophthalmicus ..............]. ~

postocularis ........ccceeeeseessceee ee Pe eel

OLLVACCUS oo. .ceececececeeeeeeeeeeeoeoe pee De

——— albitemporalis .

———— pileatus.......cceccecceceeee eee eeees eee

VIPENLICEPS ....ceeceeeeeeteseeeeeeees

—— albinucha.....

capitalis .........

tibialis ........

crassirostris ....

Arremon aurantiirostris ............ eres pee

Saltator atriceps ...........0068. be eeeeee wef pee.

MAGNOIMES ...ecesceeecseeeeeeeeeeees vepee.

—— grandis....... wee ceeecees i

—— plumbeiceps.........cccecseeeeeeeeeefee.

albicollis ..........c...ceeeeees seveeees weapecclecs|ecelees

Pitylus grossus ..........4. beet eee see eeeeneas

CelWNO ...cecceseeeeceeeees

FRINGILLIDA.

Pheucticus chrysopeplus .............00004fee.

tibialis ..........0., cote eeeeeees

Hedymeles ludovicianus ............ bee

melanocephalus ........ steteeeeen ees

Cardinalis virginianus...............

IQMCUS oo. ceeseeeseeeeeeeeeees

Pyrrhuloxia sinuata...........ceeeeceeeeees

Guiraca cerulea ......

——— CYANOIES 0... sececeecesssoeeecneeeenes

Oryzoborus nuttingl............eecececee ees

General Remarks.

bidentata ....... ceeeeeeeees ren

+ x

CATMIO]L Lo... ceenereeeeeeeeeeees A Be Oe ee

Pheenicothraupis rubicoides ............ ween] ®

CASSINI oo. ccc eee ccc ce ceeceeeeeteeesecees A ee

Tachyphonus melaleucus..............ec0feepeee|eeefeeelee.

OK OK OK

punctulatus ..........0ccee ceeveeees _. ceslees - .

hypopheeus ...........cc000e seseeeeepea pees leeeleeelecs

Buarremon assimilis ...... eevee sceeeceeeefee Perel seclecelecs

brunneinucha, .........eeeeee ees en on

—— gutturalis ....... seeeceetenceeteeesedee Pree l ee

mK OK

KOK OK:

2K OK OK OK OK ok kt

CALTICUS woe sceccrcccsecece co vevccssceeeefees

KOK OK CK OK ok ok:

KOK E

* OK

CONCLEEA oo. cc cece ee cerecccccececes weefee.

PAPElliNA .......ccecceseeeseeseceoeeeefees

FUNCTEUS ........cccescecevesceeccoesoefess

Yucatan.

Genus represented in 8. America.

Genus largely represented in 8S. America.

Genus represented in §.-American Andes.

Migratory species.

Genus represented in 8S. America,

Lower California; Tres Marias Is.

Lower California.

INTRODUCTION,

X1x

.| .\<2 Ins :

e222. "| lab

SECC Re

Zana ot ZOdase

Vol. I. (contin.).

FRINGILLIDE (contin.).

Amaurospiza concolor............ se eeeeees seedecsles slece lee cs oe

Spermophila minuta ............0cccccc0e . {- sealees Paeee's Fo

PALVA oe eee cece ceeceeceeceeseeeeees or t

torqueola ......... seeseeeeseecceues on oe

——moreleti ...... bee tee eeeseecesseeeeees Pa eo

AUTILA oe eee ec eceeeceececeeueee soe wleeelees *)*

—— gutturalis oe eeeeabee. sesfeceleee) cee feeeleee] #P%

COPVING ....... ec ececeecececsecececeees Sn ee

grisea ...... Set eeeeceeeneerecesceceaes A A A ed leas] eee =e * 1%

Volatinia splendens ............0...cececceabees HHH) x * | % ¥] x

Phonipara pusilla ..............ec.ee ren Oe Oe es re

Intermedia ..........ceceeeeceeeee ee A Ae I on

Cyanospiza versicolor ............000...005 HP | [ee veslesafens vf.

——-rosite ....... eoeeerecesseceesscesseceefeesers | H [eee cee] cee [eee cccleeefes aw.

leclancheri ...............02. se deeeveobeeed | |

AINOCNA oo. eceecceececcenscerccccesecen Oe ee ee ee Pe

CYANCD oes eeeeseseeeeeessseeeeeeeeee Od eS

CITIS oo. cc cece eee eeeseesccscecccessceaces oe i 2 oe

Haplospiza uniformis .............000...05 on se eee

Amphispiza bilineata .........0.000.00000. * | %

quinquestriata .... 0... eee cece ees we Tf | |

Zonotrichia leucophrys ............ or es ca ae veolee .

intermedia .............00..005 seeeee lh 1 |

—— Pileata wo... eee eceee eee ees eee 1% ae

Vulcan .... ee. eee eee eeceesee es se eeeetfecetees lees [eee eee . %

JUNCO CINCTCUS .......c0.cceeceeeecee ee a A Ge Pe

alticola .........eeeeee bees ee eeeeeeees vecdeecleceleee i seclane .

Chondestes strigatus ........... eee sees ee on ee

Spizella socialis.............. cece eeeeeee eee HEH Kl ee Pb

PimetoruM oe ee eeeee eee eee A FS .

pallida oo... cece eens seeeeeees ede | x

DreWePl...... cece cece eeeeee eee ees wae

atrigularis oo... eee eee eee eees oo ae oon Pe

Passerculus sandwichensis .............+. ee a |

YOSEVAGUS 2.0... eee eee ee eee eee enone 2 tee eeefeoete.

Pocecetes gramineus...............ec0eeees ede el...) tT |

Coturniculus passerinus ..............6005 xix le] tix bok. *

PetENICUS 2.0... cece cece eee eee fn cele fed

Melospiza lincolni oo... cece eee eee eee Oe een A on

MOMANA ...... cece cece cence eee eee * % |...) . |}.

heermanni ........ se eee eeee eee eee ees # P| # |. Pee ee

Peucsea botterii............ eee eeeee eee ee wooed KEE | 36

CT «it

boucardi oo... eeeeeeceee eee ees eit i *

—— notosticta 1.0... cece ceeeeeeeeee es coefee | %

Heemophila rufescens ...............60008 7 er

SUMICHYAStI 1.0... eee e cece eee eee eeee nn

BUPELCI]IOSA ..........cceccee eee eeeeee we fet

YULiCAUCA 1.0.0... see eeeeeeeeeeeee eens on eee ee ee

Tawrencli ........c cece cece eee ence ees woof...) %

ACUMINALA.........ceceeeeeceeeeeee ee ees woof |

—— humeralis .............. cece cee ee eee ees on

—— mystacalis..........ccccccesee eee ee eee ee coofeo | %

Chameospiza torquata.............ceceeees weafeee| H fecelecel oes

Pyrgisoma biarcuatum ............. feeees weefeee| Pleo.) .e

kieneri ...........646 beeeeeeeeseeeeeeees woe [2

PUDVICACUM 1.0... c eee ee cece eee eens wo |

-—— cabanisi,.............06 seeeeeeeeeeees on see [eee ®

leucote .......ccceee eee seceeeeeeeee coef. eB.. vee] eee | | %

occipitale ......... beeceeeceeecseecnens fn

Atlapetes pileatus............ sncecesceeenes wa tix. on ee

Pipilo macronyx ...... da eeenceeecseseeeeens wedeee) 3 |

———— CATMAN oo. e ese ceeeeseceeneeeeeeees oo Os en ed eee

——_ maculatus.........ccsceeeeeeeseeeeeeeee at iis | | | |

i |

| |

Old World, &e. General Remarks.

boneeeeuee veseeeee Genus peculiar to southern part of Centr. America.

seceacteeeeeeeeees Genus largely represented in the Antilles,

sec eeeeee ceeeeees Peculiar to Cozumel I., Holbox I., & Yucatan.

cesees beceeceeeees Lower California.

steeeeaeceeseeeees Peculiar to Tehuantepec.

beeeeeneseneeeens A migratory species.

seseeee seeeeteeeee Bahama Is.

be teeeeeneeeeeeees Bahama Is.

besees sees eeeeeees Genus represented in 8S. America.

ce eeeeeeeneeeees . Lower California.

bedeeseeseeceenees Genus largely represented in N. America.

be seaeeeeeee seeeee 8000-12,000 ft.

ve bene eceeeeeeens Genus represented in N. America.

sevens beceeseeeees Ruatan I.

ces eeeseneeeneeees Lower California.

ceseees se eeeeeeeee Lower California.

be eeee ee eeeeneees Cozumel I.; genus represented in S. America.

seeeeeeeeeeeeeeees Peculiar to Peten.

vecveveveesevevee ? Winter visitants to Mexico and Guatemala.

seeeceeeeneees eee Genus also represented in 8, America.

seeeeeees seeeeeees Genus peculiar to Mexico.

Sete eeeeeeeseneees Genus represented in S. America.

beceeeees becseees Genus peculiar to Mexico. Alpine.

sents seseeeeeeees Peculiar to Socorro I.

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

| ol | | as .

ALE Ee A elz

<5 ss 3 2A “alg|< os Old World, &e. General Remarks.

vile i OH ZO Ala

Vol. I. (contin.). | | |

FRINGILLIDA (contin.). | |

Pipilo megalonyx ............ceececeeeees KP X oe eee Mal. Per On ee rrr rer reas Lower California,

——- fUSCUS eee eee ccc eceeceenceeaee a a | |

a Ate | ||

Embernagra rufivirgata ............cc008 ADK LL. eee ed er ee ee en re Genus represented in S. America.

CLASSIFOSUTIS 1.0... .0eeece cess cee eeeeeee Veet) 3 |

Superciliosa wo... eee eee eee feed TM eee cee ee el

chloronota ........cceseeesceeeeeeees % He | t |

verticalis .......ccceccececeeeeeeeeee ee edee dees Se ee Peculiar to Yucatan and Meco I.

StriaticepS...........sceeeeeeeeeeseee ees vlc Tole ele

Chlorura wo... eee eeceeeeeeeeees % Pe) x) | |

Spiza americana ........ dececseveeeecueeuce Hie Hie oe le Kl ee

Calamospiza bicolor ..............cccccee00- a ae | |

Calcarius ornatus ...............0.cccceeeeee HPT Re ee pep 0, bese eaweeeenes Genus represented in the Palxarctic Region.

Carpodacus cassini .............0..00ece00e xi Tt) x |

frontalis ...........ccceceeeceeeees ee ed ee ee (ee oe Lower California.

—— Mexicanus ....... eee eee eee eeeeeeeeefe HOF | % | |

Loxia mexicana 20.0... eee ee ceececseceee Po on ee a

Coccothraustes vespertinus............6.. «efit |x

el nr i Hh.)

Chrysomitris pinus ................00c000. x *

—— notata oo cecccceccsneeeececeeecs i 2

FOPLOYL oo... eee ees ececcecececacceeeees RES

—— ALTICEPB.... eee cc ceeeeceeeees veel Td x

xanthogaster oo... 0... eceeeeeeeafeee i ee a an

MEXICANA ........ eee ce cc ecesceeeseeees Pelee cee lle) x

Sycalis chrysops ............ceececeeceeeeeahe ol. * i ceaslecfecdeed 0 cesseceeeeeececese Genus largely represented in 8. America.

Acanthidops bairdi ............0000cccccc BL see San ee ee res Genus peculiar to Costa Rica.

Icrrripx.

Eucorystes wagleri ............0..0cc0eceee oe es

Gymnostinops montezumez............... vee BRL Oe Lee %

guatemozinus ................ beeeeees ro ee Lop x

Ostinops decumanus ...............0.00.. vePeccleeclecclecs! « ee eo ee seceeeee Genus represented in S. America.

Cassicus flavicrissus ...........00000 | . weefee-| x Hx

microrhynchus .................. . seafeee cee wee LHL

Cassiculus melanicterus .................. Bele) oo. he. vealeee ee rrr Genus restricted to Mexico.

Cassidix oryzivora ............c..cecceeees Noleltial « le tleds

Ainblycercus holosericeus ............... a ee ee

Dolichonyx oryzivorus...............0..... * AL.) xl. Toltieledaded (00 ce. Galapago Is. (accidental ?).

Molothrus pecoris .................0.0008. a a ee A Genus represented in S. America.

£23 020 - Ce 2 x) % | %

Ageleeus pheeniceus .......... fee eseeeeeeees HEX) ele x The eeeeeeeeeee Genus represented in Cuba.

gubernator ...... eee ee |e |

Xanthocephalus longipes..........00.000. of Cae secleesleo sf ¥

Sturnella magna ..... 0... eee eee eee oe a re es ee

Leistes guianensis............, bee eeeeacecens tefeeeleesleceeee] cee eels) OP

Icterus baltimore ............ 0c ccccceccceees of ee ee ee ee

bullocki oo... ce eeeceeeeeees xT | x

—— abeillei......, tec eetsovccsseccsecaconces on Ae

—— pAPISOTUM oe eee eee cee ee ee ck Lower California.

—— spurius............ fee e eet eeeee ee ee ees os ee 2 ee

WagleVi ........ cc eeeeececeeececceseeeeedbees */ Le

prosthemelas 2.2.00... eee, wef R]e lH] [ele] T

maculi-alatus .............cceceeceeee on ee

—— melanocephalus ...........000000..., xp | x

giraudi ....... teseeseces beet eeeeseeeees oe er 2 2

—— mesomelas oo... eeceeecc eee ee ee

—— cucullatus...... Cee e eee eee eeaeeeeeeens % fe | |e. AEP eee eeeeee seen Mugeres I., Cozumel I.

—— nel]8ONI oe eee eceeseeeeecececees. so ee Lower California.

——— BU abUS... eee eceeeeeeeeeeeecedhe Se ee « | Peculiar to Yucatan and Meco I.

—— pectoralis..,....... setae ee ete eee eee eeeaPee epee. Hie] |e] x

* See Ridgway, Birds N, Am. i. pp. 449-450.

INTRODUCTION.

Xxi

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

Pan.

S. Am.

W. Ind.

N. Am.

| N. Mex.

| S. Mex.

| Guat.

| Nicar.

| Costa R.

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

Vol. I. (contin.).

Icrmrips& (contin.).

Toterus gularis .........cccceesceeeeeeeeee ceepe epee

SClAtCVi 2c... cc ceeeeeeeeeeeeees seeeees a

pustulatus .........

graysoni ....... +

Scolecophagus cyanocephalus ..... seeeeee

Dives sumichrasti......... ce eeeeeeeteeeeeees a

Quiscalus macrurus ..... seeeeees

graysoni ......... - beeeeees vee

tenuirostris ..........ccceeeees we eeeees on

MOXICANUS oo. eee eeeeeeeeeees se eeaceeepeaepees

Corvip#.

COrvuS COVAX .......ccesceeeeeeeeereeees seveee

cryptoleucus....... beens

MEXICANUS oo. sees eee eee

Cyanocitta macrolopha .........

Giademata,.........cecceecceseeeeeeecees nF

COFONAtA .........e eee ee de ceeeeeceenees seefeee

Aphelocoma californica ............ feeees

ultramarina........ veneeeeeees ee

——unicolor .............6 Leseeaeees en ee

nana ..... be eeaeeeeeneceseeses en Ae

Cyanolyca sanblasiana ................+5 on

beecheyi ...c.cececeeeeceeeeeeeeceee ees we

yucatanica ..........eee eens Lecce eeapee spe ee

——— melanocyanea ........sceseereeeeeeeee seafeesleee]eee

——— OFMALA oo. eeeeecccseee se ceeeeeee

——- cucullata ......... cece cece eee sees

—— pumilo ....... ce eeeeeeeeeeeeenees

argentigula .............eceeeee .

Xanthura luxuosa .........eeeeeeee

Cyanocorax affinis ...........4. se teeecesedfeesPeeeleee|eee lees

Psilorhinus morio ............. veces een ee

MMCXICATIUS. 0. ccc eee cece eee e eee eeee en pe

Calocitta colliei............ sesseeeeeeeee en oe

formosa .........4- seeeeseeeeeeeeseeepee pees

ALAUDID.

Otocorys chrysolaema, ..........:ssesseeees

Vol. II.

OXxyRHAMPHIDE.

Oxyrhamphus frater ........:0.sseeereees oe) Re oe

TYRANNID#.

Copurus leuconotus ..........2..eseeeeeeees Les

Platyrhynchus cancrominus .......-.--- .

albogularis ......escessesseeeeeeeees nn

superciliaris....... se ceeeceeeeeees eee Fe ee

Rhynchocyclus brevirostris..........-+--+ os

—— mquinoctialis ..........:..seeee An Fe de

sulphurescens .........0620ee+0++ en fe eee

CinereicepS ......-....0+ bececeeeeeeee oe

Todirostrum cinereum.,.........- ee Fen oe

NiGVICEPS «2... eevee eres seeseeeeeeeeees

schistaceicepS ......+.+++- bees

Oncostoma cinereigulare .........+++++++++ on ie

—— olivaceum ......... deseeeees erererrre fn ee ee

Lophotriccus squamicristatus .......--++- A fe

Orchilus atricapillus.......ccceeeeseeeeeee epee Pees|eee|eeeieee

Colopterus pilaris...........s+eseeeeseeeese peepee fees

7 Ok

2K ok OK OK ok OK

Ok XK Ox

OK OK OK KE

Ky OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK 2k OK

* OK S

{| Europe, N. and Centr. Asia.

eeeeee eeocee eee

Ceres erscaccaeeene

Corr ereerreseves oe

Pere ee eee seteceue

Pere r es eeeeenseres

ooo eeersessssereee

eedeceosersersesee

Lower California.

Tres Marias Is. only.

Genus represented in S. America and W. Indies,

Genus represented in W. Indies.

Genus represented in northern part of S. America.

Genus represented in S.-American Andes.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Genus represented in Old World.

Genus represented in S. America.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Genus represented in S. America.

XXill

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

PH ya 3 2 :| (4 [rd

BIZ) Sol sid Blsiea 0 As

<q (= SS 3 EAS ald a Old World, &e. General Remarks.

Allie SH BO mae

Vol. II. (contin.).

TYRANNIDE (contin.).

Leptotriccus superciliaris........0..cccceeqfeeQeee[eeeleeeleee| eee feces! feowbeee eoteceserceteveece Genus represented in S. America.

Pogonotriccus zeledoni.............++ ceeeedecpeeclecelees lace] coe [eee] % leceteoedees eevescaceeeceeseee Genus represented in 8. America.

Serphophaga cinerea ..............0008- om oon wee fone) ) PH

Mionectes olivaceus ..............06608 bees sesfecelece| eee feee] % | HP %

oleagineus HP el) & fel) ep

Leptopogon superciliaris....... mn ee see] aoe a is

flaVOVirensS «........cscceesee seen A RO A Od

Pileatus....... cece cee eeeeeees en fee Tt) *)*

Myiopagis placens .................6665 on oe i ere 2

MACIVAINI...... ccc ee cece ecco ee see wee feceleee| HEX

Capsiempis flaveola vedfecelecelecefece] eee | (TL a bx

Ornithion imberbe mo oe a ae es

pusillum ..........ceeeeee eee eens seeebecPeceleeeleeeleee] cee Joon TP | ep

Tyrannulus elatus.............0..00000. seofeceleesleefeee] cee fees eee) REX

semiflavus........... . on er

—— brunneicapillus oo... 2 ee

Tyranniscus vilissimus....... seseseeeeeeeePooperelereleeel #] OH [| TLR. Oseeteeeesececcees Genus numerously represented in 8S. America.

PATVUS ....... cece eee seeeceeceeeeedbeedees[eeefeee T] oe *)%

Elainea pagana............. st aeeeeeeeee en A ee ee

MALtinica ...........0ee cece ecenenensefecapeee| ©] Loe.) cee fees lee eleeele ead % eee eeeceeereer ees Grand Cayman I. and Old Providence I.

frantzii ........... saeeceteeereeeeceeeeo bec dece[eeeleee| 3 x | * | xix

Sublegatus arenmarum ..........cccceeeeee bee peee[eeefecelece] cee fee H leeal

Legatus albicollis.............. ee eeees Sere Pen er

Myiozetetes cayennensis ..........00 Pl ef ce lee Le pe

similis .......... ern oe eo a ce ee 2

granadensis ......... seeeeeseeeeseees es es ee

Pitangus derbianus ...............000008 eee Pox ete le] x fe pele he. Leet beneeeeeeeees Genus represented in Bahamas and W. Indies.

LiCtor.. cece cece cee eeeeee eee ee eee soso peeefeee lee selene] HEH

albovittatus .........ccccecereseeeeeeeede Peccleeeleccleee! cee leceleee|

Sirystes albogriseus .......... SPESEEEETOREESS OO FOS OES BO OOO PO Oe eoeteeseeceseneees Genus represented in S. America.

Myiodynastes luteiventris ..............Pafe | lela] oe [ela lad

audax ........ ren ee one . Je) ede

hemichrysus cecteeeeecee Peele eclece] cee fone #] %

Megarhynchus pitangua ...............8 Boel tle] oe fel el ee

Muscivora mexicana...........eceeeeeee ees 7

Cuipodectes subbrunneus...............068 in A wef HEE

Myiobius barbatus ..............ceee SOS AO ed Oe

sulphureipygius ........ce eee Pe fete] lel Le

fulvigularis ................ de eeeees os ee A ee . % |e EK

—— nevius ....... see ee tee eees esses ere Aen ee cae [ewefeoa! HH

Capitalis 2... eee eee seceefeceeeleeefeecleeel eee | 3]

Pyrocephalus rubineus .......... Pepe fee] oe feof de

Sayornis saya .......... set aceeesseceenceneas Xf |X

phoebe ............ se eeaereeececeencsee i PHL HK Lely coe leeefe oP

—— nigricans Ax fe | *

aquatica . vefee.| The..] % | %

Mitrephanes pheocereus .............+5 ne ce eleeefec fees srt ee eee esenseeees Genus represented in 8, America.

aurantiiventris............0.c0008 wecePeePecclecefeeefece] eee [eee] | %

Empidonax fulvifrons ..........cc cece Poe Pe | [od

albigularis ...... se veeereseeeeeeseereapee pees] FLL | cee feseleae] #

acaclicus HP [fee] fee] | PE

—— trailli C2 er re i

—— MINIMUS 2... eee een CS a oe

flaviventris oo. eee eeeee of Ce

—— bairdi wee eeeeeee eee wel Pe |

Salvini we beets ea teens Lee we] | *?

flavescens ..........000.. be eeeeceeseeens cedeeclecelecsfeee] eee foe] HH) %

hammondi oo... eee eeeeeeeeee ee x] fl *).)

obscurus ............005 wp % | x

—affinis ......,..0.., . Ae | *

—— canescens ......... ceeeeeeee im

ALTICOPS,.. 6. ee ceceepeeeeu eens sedeeclecefecefeee| cee [eee] oe |

Contopus borealis........ccececccssseeeeeeeof # PH | [eee] aes

——— MUSICUS,.,......eccseececeenseeeeeeeeees fe ae

INTRODUCTION.

XXiil

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

N. Am.

N. Mex.

| S. Mex.

Vol. II. (contin.).

TYRANNIDE (contin.).

Contopus lugubris .............cccceeeeees

ALYAeSIACUS.......cccseceescesecsenseeees

OCHYACEUS ... 1.0.0. eeeeeeeceees

——Virens .........

Vichardsoni ...........0.ccceeeeecees .

brachytarsus ....

Myiarchus crinitus ..,......... be eeeeeenees

INQUIetUS ...... eee eeeeeceeeeee eee es

MAQIStCL ......ceeseeseeeeeseees

YUCALANEDSIS .........eeeeesseec sees

lawrencii ..........00.-

nigriceps ......

flammulatus... weees

Tyrannus pipiri ............ecceeeeceeee ees

QYISCUS 2... . ce eeeeeeeeceeee ees

—— yociferans..........c.ccceeeeee .

verticalis .........cccccesescecccecees

melancholicus ...............

CYASSILOSLTIS ........cccceceeseeeececees

Milvulus tyrannus ............e.cceeceeees

forficatus ...

Perr ecccescosereecsovessces

Piprip«&,

Piprites griseiceps .............

auricapilla .

velutina

—-— leucorrhoa

Chiroxiphia lanceolata.......... secfeee|ee ele

linearis ........ececceeeeeeee seeeees | %

Chiromacheeris candi............ a

Vitellina .........ccccccecccesceeecees seslece

AULANCIACA oo... cee eeece sees eeees A en ee

Heteropelma versepacis .............c0008

CotTINGIDz.

eee cecrens

Tityra semifasciata ...

Hadrostomus aglaiw ..............c0.c0ee

homochrous.....

cinereiventris .........

major

albogriseus ...

Lathria unirufa............

——s

Poorer erence eres seaeeseeee

Aulia rufescens.........cccccesecsececcceecesfecsPeee lees

Lipaugus holerythrus ................0006

Attila citreopygius ........cseeseeseeeeeeeefee epee

QAUMETI oeesecsececsscnsceceececeecues

MAQNITOSEIIS..........cceecceeseeecee ee,

Ce end

albitorques ........ ser eeeeeees ceceeeeebee fees

Pipra mentalis ov eeuatessessseseccccecterses -_ -

Peer esr cerereescoosccccccososel,.steosl|e

leucocilla ..........ccccecceccececececceh

stenorhynchum ........ kee ee eee eceeepeeepees

eee! Cred Corse

——— COZUMEL .........ccececccecccenccesceapeospers

sclateri ..........06+

CINNAMOMEUS ........e.eceeceeeeeeeee

—— hypoxanthus .......sescecseecneeeees

KOK Ok OK OK Ok

3K OK

| B. Hond,

OK OK

& Salv.

Nicar.

ise

Costa R.

Pan,

8S. Am,

| W. Ind.

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

* OK OK kK Ok

KOK OK OK KS

ejeee

mK OK s

2K OOK OK OK

2K OK

Ok ok +E

KK OK OK

mK KK OK KK

KK OK OK

eee

2K OK

KOK KK OK

2 OK OK OK

@eceereeeroerscees

Raetorecscoseeeres

eee oeseessereesees

Lower California.

Peculiar to Yucatan and adjacent islands.

Bahama Is.

Bahama Is., Virgin Is.

Bahama Is,

Genus represented n S. America.

Peculiar to Yucatan and adjacent islands.

Peculiar to Cozumel I.

1 Mugeres I.

INTRODUCTION.

Geographics Distribution of the Species (continued).

| 3 |

<= E 5 8

Z\z add

Vol. IT. (contin.).

Corinaipa% (contin.).

Cotinga amabilis ............... re fn Ae

VIAGWAYI ..... ee eee cece eens beneeeees ceafeee|ece ce eleee

Carpodectes nitidus ...............66+ A A es

ANCONIV...... 60. ccee eee ee eee ee eee tetas cedfece lees eee lees

Chasmorhynchus tricarunculatus ...... in Se re

Querula cruenta ............... se eeeeeeeees on on ee

Cephalopterus glabricollis .........:0.2+ fee peeeeeceee eee

DenpDROCOLAPTIDS. |

Synallaxis albescens......... an Bes See ee

pudica ........ bee eeeeeeeeeeeees beeeeees vedfeeeleee eee ees

erythrothorax ....... ce eeeec eee eeeeee bec pees | 3

Siptornis erythrops ......... ce eeeeecec teens seafeeeleeeleee eee

rufigenis ............04. sensesenesovees vedeeelecsficelees

Pseudocolaptes lawrencii............ eseedeedeeecslecs eee

Automolus rufobrunneus..........c.cccee fee deeeleeeleee en

VIP GAtUS oo. seceeceeseerpeeeeee eens on fn oe

—— rubiginosus ...... bes eeneeeeee ceeeeeeepee pee) &

—— verepacis ....... veteseeeees beseesaeeeedeedeeeeceeee) &

——- umbrinus ...........ccee cece on on

——- guerrerensis .............. Kee .

—— fumosus .............006 an On ee

-cervinigularis ........... mn * veal

pallidigularis ...... vetceeeeceeeeeecePeedfeee ceeleee lowe

Philydor panerythrus ........... beceeeeees oe ee ee

fusclpennis ...... wee teeeeeees veceeeeePee Pees cee leee eee

Anabazenops variegaticeps ........... on on re

subalaris .............. sececeseeeeeeees ee \

Xenops genibarbis ..............00000 7 oe

rutilus ............ be eeeeeeeeeeees veveeefeefeee weelece eee

Sclerurus canigularis ....... setecteeeeteedee eee sels eee

MEXICANUS......... 0. eee e eee teeee a a

guatemalensis ............... eafeee cee *

| Margarornis rubiginosa ....... cofeee veslece eee

brunnescens ............ . weelcefecalens

Dendrocincla anabatina . vee rn en eee ee

homochroa .........+4- Seren Fon Re

| —— ruficeps............ bese eceeeteseeeeee on on lees

| olivacea............06- eee eecueeeee ees wef ce

‘“Glyphorhynchus cuneatus ............... i

Sittosomus olivaceus ...........-.eeeeee weafees |] %

Dendrornis eburneirostris ............... PK

NANA... seeee sees se eeeeee beseees cesses e eee vee safecs

erythropygia ......... be ee eee ee eens in or

—— punetigula ...... becees on fe fe

lacrymosa....... betecaeceeeeeeeeeeeceeapesapees leeelecclees

Xiphocolaptes emigrans ....... on on es

Picolaptes leucogaster.......0......0.00068 on

affinis ......... sieececestoceereeceerans wedfeee 3% 1.|

compressus ......... beceeee eee eceecaee oe

gracilis 0.0.0... eee be eeeeeees on en

Xiphorhynchus trochilirostris bet eeseeeees in eee

—— pusillus....... detec cee eeeceaseeeeeeees wee eee

Dendrocolaptes puncticollis .......... se

validus ...... cee eee beeeeeees aslieleee

sancti-thome ............eeeeee wee Le |

ForMrcarlpa&. |

Cymbilanius lineatus ....... ceccecenenececPeasfeee lode.

Thamnophilus melanocrissus ... on

transandeanus .....0...ceeeeeee eee veloc dee ee.

——- PUNCLALUS 0... eece cece eeee eee se eeees in

3B 2 EE

Ese § 2 aja cq Old World, &e. General Remarks.

HBO Aa

we [eee #RPLB.. bec eseeeeeeceeeees Genus represented in S, America.

wee HL

wee EH Be bees cece ee eneeenes Genus peculiar to Central America.

oe 1 &

vee [eee HH Pp. be eeeee eee ee eee ees Genus represented in 8. America,

vee | HEH

. aos On ee dedeeeeeeeeeeee eee Genus represented in 8. America.

x |e * ep eR

. |

2 OK

cee fees HH Pepe cent ese neeec senses Genus represented in 8. America.

w/e

we fee wafeeefee Peculiar to Vera Paz.

Sr Oe Oe rr Peculiar to the Pacific Slope.

ven [eceleeelendfeespoes weeeeea eee ceeees Peculiar to W. Mexico.

we [RR RP

ve BOM

mae cs

. wee He) HE

wee foe) | EY

. Le |e De?

wee fae HL

vee eee) LEX

wee | | PE

wee || HL EH

e 1%) %

* | ee

coe foe.) HL HER

wee || EH

. i % ee Genus represented in 8. America.

PP On Oe rr Genus represented in S. America.

vee Leaf) %

x |x| *) %

| *

a ee

x |x| * x>%

wee |] HEH

x |x

INTRODUCTION. XXV

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

Old World, &e. General Remarks.

| N. Am

| N. Mex.

| S. Mex.

| B. Hond.

| Guat.

| Nicar.

| Pan.

W. Ind.

| Costa R.

| S. Am.

Vol. II. (contin.).

Formicartp (contin.).

Thamnophilus bridgesi............ccsceecePeeefere eeelecleee] eee (eel ®

VIPZAtUS. 0... cece eeceeeeeeeeeeteceeredPeeePeeeleeelee. wees

abtrinucha .........cceeeeceeeeneeeeeeees Bn ee ee ee

—— pulchellus........cccceeeeceeeseeeeeeee Prefers cee cee] oe vee

—— doliatus......ccceeeeeeceeceeeeeeee epee np fae fe fe] oe |e) x

nigricristatus ............ seeeeeeeeeedPeePeeelecleceleee| eee wee

Thamnistes anabatinus ...-...........ce fee perenne) | cee feel 3

Dysithamnus semicinereus ............... on OO OO

PUNCHICEPS ....ee.ceeeee eee seeeeeees sedfeeelcecleccfeee] cee [eee]

striaticeps........ceee sees seeeeeeees Fs ee

Myrmotherula surinamensis .

—— fulviventris ..... wee Lee

ME]NA ......scceeoeseeseveeee eons seslecelece] see [eee]

MENECEICSL.... 0... ceceeeeceeseeee eee eees sedfeefeeelicf #1 cee |e] x

Terenura callinota .......... ce eeeeeee eases vefeesfeee ceefeee] eee

Cercomacra tyrannina ...........ceceeee ee fee fiee| ele) HL

TIQVICANS ....eccccececeeeecseeeeeeerePeesPers [eee leceleee! see ee las

Formicivora boucardi ............. Se Oe ee

virgata .........65 eer errs Gee Serine secleee| cee .

Rhamphocenus semitorquatus SEE Ce eed nn ee

mK OK OK 3K

seapeaseioneeceees Genus represented in S. America.

RK OK OK OK 3K

HK OK OK OK OK ok

«i

Genus represented in 8. America.

KOK

rufiventris...... beeeenteeeeceeeteeaeeees on ee

Gymnopithys bicolor .............ce Se Fs ee + Genus represented in S. America.

olivascens ....... see seeeceeeeesseeueeees seeeececliceleee) 3% |] | %

Gymnocichla nudiceps..........006eeeeeees on en ee

chiroleuca....... seteeeee teens seseeeeee er eee

Myrmelastes immaculatus ............... vedeecleceliccfeee! cee face) oe | oe D

lawrencli ......... ce eeeeeeeeeeeseeesees A Ad ee ee *

InterMedius ........cceccescscesseeeeedfeesPeee see ecc[eee] eee [LK | ¥

occidentalis ...... dee eeeseceeeeeetesnes Od rd

Myrmeciza swainsoni ......-..seeeeeseee ee oo ed ee wo [ Dok

LaemOsticta ....ccceeeeeseeeeeeeeeees vedecelcccleselece| coe [eee] | %

——— stictoptera .....ccceeeeeeeeeeeeee neers A fs ee

Hypocnemis neevioides...... seeteeeeeseteeeedPeoeleeelsecfeee] cee [eee] LHP

Formicarius moniliger..............0005- on or

hoffmanni......... ve ceeeeeegeteeeeeeees oe ee ee

——aanalis .........0066 ceseeeeeees A Ge Od rd ee

rufipectus ...... veeeeeeeeeeeees peceeeeedPee Pee eleceleccleee| cee [eeeleeel HP %

Phlogopsis macleannani .........+660..64- veel lace] vee fle DB. beceeeceee . Genus represented in S. America.

Pittasoma michleri ............6.00eeseeees vedfeeeleecjeeejeee| eee Ara p beseeeeees hecenees Genus peculiar to Central America.

ZeledOni........ssseeeeees seneeseeeeeenee cecfeec|ecfecclece| see fecal ®

Grallaria guatemalensis Lecceaseceecsasees vedeelicldae) oe fae Epa. Leccscecececeneecs Genus numerous in species in S.-American Andes,

mexicana ...... sesees seseeeecceeesecees mn es

princeps ......++- cevececeaueees seeees An Ad ee

perspieillata.... deteeeeceeetetcessecees

TZANIOL ....ccssseeeeee eee esse eeeeeeees cs de

—— intermedia ............ veceeeeneeeeees A Ps

dives ....... seceeceeees se lecteeeeeeeesees ey ee 9

Grallaricula flavirostris cae eeeeeeeeeeee A en ee ee

KOK HK SE

PreRoPTocHIDsA.

Scytalopus argentifrons .........:..ceec Peper lie) eee fee) ep pee be eeeeeeeees severe Genus numerously represented in 8. America.

Zeledonia coronata 1.........0.cceeeeeeeeees A Be ee 0 seeceeseeeeeeenees Genus peculiar to Costa Rica.

TROCHILIDA,

Heliothrix barroti........... Veceeeeeuseacces vesPeee[eeel 19] % [ele HD

Hemistephania veraguensis .......+0.2..-feefeeseeeieeeleee) cee fees a” oe

Glaucis hirsuta.........cceceeeee ees coteeetedpeespece|eceleselece] eee [eee] 36 | HD 56D

Tache latirostris .........seeeeeeeeeee ee es ee

——— MAGICA oo secereseserereeeeeeeeeee we ee eee ef 3

— lawrencii ...... Veceeseeeeeeeees eeeeee oe ee selece| cee [eceleceleedPeeepees Lececceeceeseceees

Coubledayi ......seeeeeeeee eee eeeeeees oo

Pheeoptila sordida...........seees+++ AAP PO ed ee es 0 Oe ceeeeseeeeeeeeeees

Genus represented in 8. America.

weeeeeeee seereccee

Tres Marias only.

Genus peculiar to Mexico.

1 See footnote, anted, p. x1.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1904. d

XXV1

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

| B. Hond.

i N

| Guat.

Vol. IT. (contin.).

TROCHILIDE (contin.).

Chlorostilbon auriceps ...........+66+ coved pee

forficatus ......ccccceeeceeceeeeeeneeee on fo

caniveti......... sevees

ASSIMILIS oe. eee eee eee eee e eee e eee

Thalurania townsendi ...............00006

COlombICAa ............ eee

Microchera albocoronata

—— parvirostris ........ce cee eee ee in ee

Callipharus nigriventris -

Hupherusa eximia............:..cceceee eee wef ee 3

CLTOLIA oo. .cee eee ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee es in ee eee

PO]LOCELCA ...... eee cece cece cece eee eee see

Elvira chionura

cupreiceps

Hypuroptila buffoni..

urochrysea ....... se teceeeeeneeseees oon oe

isaure ..... Steet senses eee eneeeeneneees co) An ed el

melanorrhoa................e eee severe fees|eefeee lees

Lampornis violicauda ................0.06- ve

PLOVOSEL oo... e cece cece cnet ee vee

—— hendersoni ..............eeeeee eee on on

VEraGueNSiS 2.2... cece ceeeeee tenes vee

Petasophora thalassina...... bene ee eee ee ees oo io

CYANOLIS. 0... eee eee e eect eee e een ees en eee

delphing. ....... eee

Panterpe insignis .............e cee eeee eee es on ee

Agyrtria lUCi®@ 1.2... ..... cece eee e ees wef fete

candida oo... eeeeeeee ve eeeeeeeenenees os

Arinia boucardi ...... see eee eee eee wef.

Cyanomyia verticalis .................006 ve

violiceps

—— viridifrons

——— Qlierrerensis .............. cece wef we

—— microrhyncha ..............006 keene veep.

eyanocephala .............0c cee .

guatemalensis .............0.0 ee cn

Amazilia cinnamomea ................0005. wee

PYAVSODL oo... eee eee cee eeeeee eee ee ve

beryllina ...... cee beceeeeeeeeeeeneeeees vee

—— devillii ......... dete eeeeeensensaeeeeenes i .

—— cyanura....... debe ence eeaeeeeeeeeeeeetes on ee

OCAL we. .eeeeeee seeeees bese eeeeeceeeeeues on

sumichrasti ..........e.c0ceeee es seeees

—— yucatanensis......

cerviniventris

riefferi ..........0.

edwardi cfeee

NVELVENETIS ......... eee ee cece eee ee ees in ee ee De

——— SOphi®@ oe cece eee sete eee sede.

Floricola longirostris ...... oeeeee fe.

——- constantl ce... cece cece ence eee ee oe

le0cadiae ee eee cceeceeceeeeeeceeeee ees _

Cyanophaia ceeruleigularis ............... on ee

Damophila panamensis ..................

julie ve. de teeeeseteetetaceeaeees on ee

Polyerata amabilis ...... Lente sees ane eens oe ee

<1) yn weeeeees on

Chrysuronia eliciag .........c ee eeeeeeee eee i ae

Basilinna leucotis .................ceee0ee es Les soe

Eutoxeres salvini ...........ceccecceeeeecens on A ee ee

Threnetes ruckeri ...............00cece eee

Phaethornis emiliae ............eeceeee ee. - ee

LONGiVOSLYIS oo... ec ee cece eens on

Pygmornis adolphi ...... bee eceeeeeeeeee ens an

“|S. Mex.

koe

2) AEE

Sara Old World, &e. General Remarks.

40 Gaile

——FI-|- _ a _

| .

| I FO ee rrr bees eeeeeeee Genus represented in S. America.

vecfens sec ee enc eeeseeees Peculiar to the islands off the coast of Yucatan.

% | %

sealeoe *

% He) HEX

vee beset eseeeecnees Genus peculiar to Central America.

x %

ae pee ee re betes e eens Genus peculiar to Central America.

ce fo rrr Genus peculiar to Central America.

we RP

| *)

x) %

ae ie

ep bee eeeeeeues beseee Peculiar to Old Providence I.

eefeee]

“

a a

HK) Ke

ae oe en ree ve eee eee ees Genus peculiar to Central America.

ee errr Genus with many species in 8. America.

en Oe ree - Genus peculiar to Central America.

beac ee eeeeeeeeeee Genus represented in S. America.

ce ee be ence eens Peculiar to Western Mexico.

* | %

ee Oe rr Peculiar to Tres Marias Is.

HLH | Ee

wae |

we[ oe] %

% | %

% | | ep

| *

HK EK

ay] x

| abe

es ree Genus represented in S, America.

kn Genus represented in Lower California.

ee en ee rr errrrree Genus represented in S.-American Andes.

on ee Genus represented in 8. America.

wae fae fe

a ee Oi

KL |e

INTRODUCTION.

XXVil

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

Vol. II. (contin.).

TROCHILID® (contin.).

| Pygmornis striigularis ................0006. on

Sphenoproctus pampa ............66600.00e on

CULVIPENUIS 20.0... cece eeeeeee seer es Le

Campylopterus hemileucurus ............ on

PULUS 00... e eee ee eeee ee ecesteee eens weafeee

Pheeochroa cuvieri .............seceeee ees os

0) 1 ee on

Eugenes fulgens ............ceececeeeeeees

spectabilis.............ceceeceeeeeeen ees cr Ao Oe

Ceeligena clemenci .............0.0eceeeeee

Oreopyra lewcaspis ............ccsseseeeeee co eed ee

——- CINEVEICAUAA ...... eee eeeeeee ees ee eee veecsleeefeeetees

calolema ...... be eee ee eeeee ea eeeee eens cesPeeefecsfecslees

-—— pectoralis 0.0.0... cece cence ees oo

Delattria hemrici ............ sce ceeeee sence on

margarethe ..........ceseeeeeee veeeees 7

viridipallens.............. cece ee cee ees in ee

BY DU 2... cece eee eee eee cn ed ee

hhemileuca .........cecee cess econ eee ees sefeee}iccfeeelees

Lamprolema rhami........eeeeeeeeee ve fee. .

Heliodoxa jacula ..........cece ce eecee tenons nn Oe

Florisuga mellivora ...............ceeeeee ee ween

Abeillia typica .........cc cece cess eee ee ee: an Pe

Klais guimeti ......ce cece cee cece eee eee nn

Doricha enicura ...............06008 ceeees wePecle la

A: oo

Dryantee ....cee ce ceee eee cee eee eee eee an es ee

Tilmatura duponti ..........:.. cee os

Calothorax lucifer ............csceeee eee ve

Selasphorus floresii ............:.:...00e00

LUPUS occ cccceccaccceeeceeeeeceeeeeeees

SCintilla vo... ee eeee eee cece ee eeee ees on A ee

COPVICUS Lees cece ce eee e cece eee eeeeeees os fd ee ee

—— platycercus ..........eeeeee eee eee ees

ATCENS ciccececeeeveceeseeceeeeceecees wedfeee| celeeefeee

flammula ........ 0c. ccc cece cece eee eee on ee

Trochilus colubris .................c cece

alexandri .........cccceceece eee eeeeeees

Atthis heloisee ..........ccecceeeeeeseeee ees or

CLLIOti Loc ce eeeeeceeceeeceeeeeseecteeees on

Stellula calliope ..........cceeeeeeeeeeee es

Lophornis Gelattrii ..........ccceeeecee eee an ee

helene ......ceeeeeeeeceeeeeeeeeee reser on

adorabilis ........... ccc eeeee eee eee eee vePeoelcclecelaes

Prymnacantha CONVELSL .....ccecceeeecees vedPeecleccleselees

CypsELiIp &.

Aéronautes melanoleucus ...............

Panyptila cayennensis ..........00000+2+7+ Fo A oe

sancti-hbierONyMl ......eeeeeeeeeee eee wePee lee!

Cheetura ZONALIS ....ccceeseeeeceeeeeeeeeees i

semicollaris .......... weeeeeeeeees ee en ee

PClAgiCa ..ceeeeeeeeeneeeereeeseererees

VOUXL. oc ce cece cence sonceeeeeeeceeeeueees

———_ PAUMETL oo. eeseeeereeeeeeeeeeeese ees on

—— fumosa ......seeeeeeeeeee deeeeceeseeeees on

brunneitorques ......eeeeeeeee eee wee.

Cypseloides niger .....-...s.sseseeeeeeeerees

Cherriei ......seeeeeeeeeee eee eee ee eee sefecefaceleeefeee

S. Am,

| W. Ind.

| N. Am.

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

wot

pulcher oo... ceeceeeeee cere eee eee a

3K OK OK OK 3k

2K OK OK OK OK

3K OK KK OK

Pewee cece eee en eee

ee ees

Genus peculiar to Central America,

Genus represented in S, America.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Peculiar to Western Mexico.

Genus peculiar to Mexico and Gua‘emala.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Genus represented in Bahamas.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Extends northward to British North America.

Genus also represented in California.

XXVlll INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

Old World, &c. General Remarks.

| Costa R.

N. Am

N. Mex.

| Pan.

Nicar.

| W. Ind.

| S. Am.

Vol. II. (contin.).

CaPRIMULGID.

Caprimulegus carolinensis .....csscceceef FP | eee] wee HH

PUfUS Loeeeeeeeeeees ees .

——— VOCIFELUS .......cecseseeeeeeeeees x] *

—— macromystax ....... cecccecereetereeep © foe

—— salvini oo... eee sed eeeeaeeeeeees soo] %

—— yucatanicus ............ceereeees cecaeefee Pees] % facelewe] cee feeeleee Beeb. bese eceseueeeeeees Peculiar to Yucatan.

saturatus ...... senseeeenees ceeeeeteaees ns Fs ne ed

Phalenoptilus nuttalli...... en oe en

Otophanes macleodi oF ae ae ee ee Oe bene eneeeeeewens a Genus peculiar to Mexico.

Stenopsis cayennensis ...... beeeeeeeeeenees ny

Nyctidromus albicollis............... sere PEER | |

Chordeiles virginianus .......... ee fe Ce

—— texemsis ............ beeteeeenteeneneee

Nyctibius jamaicensis ............ beeeeees we |

PvANCIS .........cceeeeeee ees cececeeeeeedfecPecs[ecelecelece| cee leeejeee) 0%

mK OK

rs ee ce cre a Bahama Is.

ee) xe

KK OK

Picip a.

Colaptes mexicanus ............66. oe aaa

mexicanoides ..... sefeedPeeeleee[eee see

chrysoides ...... .e.eeeseeee Seeeeeees ce eee Fe Le steeeeeees soeeee Lower California.

Chloronerpes eruginosus a

yucatanensis ..... weeeee se ceeeeeeeees os

auricularis ...........00. pe eeeeees mn Ae A

——— POU MAN veces eeceseceeeereneeee es eb.

eallopterus ............ seuteereenenees oy A

SIMPLX. 0... sees eecececeeeeeeeeeeereePee pees leeefecsiecel ee HH

Melanerpes formicivorus.............0 f* Pe |e) He) HK He) x

chrysauchen............ ceceeeeeeteecedperPecsleeelece ieee] cee [eeeleeel %

—— pucherani........cccccsccscsececeeeereqfeepenl ef % [9%] He |) ee ‘

— wagleri .......... eeteuees ecetecees Sn Ae A er ed ee [islands.

—— rubriventris............ seaeeeee Se Fe PO ee ceaeceeeuuevces ses Restricted to Yucatan, Honduras, and adjacent

aurifrons ....... ceseeeee ef HP |

hoffmanni..............c00e . seeeeleeeleeef

SANLACKUZL oe. sec eee eee seen este ees wef [HLL |

—— dubius ........ ceeeeaeteeeees we

CANESCENS 0... ee eec cess ee eees in

Uropygialis ........eeeeeee eee ere ie es

elegans ..........08 cee eeeeee seceeeeeeeePens

hypopolius ............. seeeeeee seeee epee dpe.

Sphyropicus varius ............ cee eoeeeeees * |

NUCHALIS oo... eeeseeceeeceeeeneeeeeeee es * | x

— thyroideus ..... ceeeeeeee seeeeeeeenees * | x

| Dendrocopus harrisi_ ...... sec eeeees coef % |

—— jardinii.......

—— stricklandi on oe

——arizone ....... a ed

3K OK OK OK

Cn en ee re venees seeees Peculiar to Ruatan I.

ceeeeeees veceeeees Lower California.

2k OK

«|

2K OK OK OK OK

oO 3:

oO:

os:

oo:

bee

2K OOK

caboti .......... ceteeeaee se ceeeeeeeeeepers .

sanguinolentug .....c.-secseeeeeeeefeePece eee eeeleee

cecilie ....... sececeeeceesceeecserenseespeespecelecelieefece! cee feeefece] % %

Celeus castaneus ......... on

loricatus ......... .

immaculatus ......

Campophilus imperialis ...... -

guatemalensis ....... a

malherbii ....... ceeeeeee seeeee eeeeeeees An ee ea

—— splendens ....... ce eeeeeeeen eens wee vePeceleeLeefeee| cee [eee lee] 8 P%

Ceophlceus scapularis

lineatus......... ves A Pe re re

Picumuus olivaceus ..........ccccceceeeeee: An ee ee

Geograp

N. Am.

N. Mex.

S. Mex.

B. Hond

| Guat.

Vol. II. (contin.).

Momortipa.

MEXICANUS wa....s sees

castaneiceps ............

Baryphthengus martii............ beseeeeee pc .

Humomota superciliaris ......... saneisees an

Prionornis platyrhynchus ............... on ne

CALIMATUS 1. ...cccccececcoeeeceeeceeeeafeeefees

Aspatha gularis..................

Hylomanes momotula .........

ALCEDINIDA,

Ceryle alcyon oo... ceceeecceeceeeeeees

torquata ............. . wees

AMAZONA .....ccececeeeeeceeeeeeeees tae

TROGONIDE.

Pharomacrus mocinno ............ seeeeaPeeepeee ees

Huptilotis neoxenus...............0002eeees .

3K OK OK OK

Trogon mexicanus ........... beset eee eeene seas

—— AMDI*UUS .... eee eee eeee eee wees

—— puella we.

—— atricollis ......

——— CHIONULUS.........ccececeeeeceeeeeeeees on ee

DAIL ....cccecececceccceeeeeceececceeefess

citreolus .......... setees ceeeeeeeeeeees we

—— melanocephalus .......... steee sence dees

caligatus ..... ce eseacsencenees beet eeees wee

chrysomelas...... be sedeeeeeeeeeeeees

—— macrurus ............

———— MASSONA ceerecscrsccececsccecscsscvers .

2k OK Ok Ok

OK Ok OK

aK .

Cleans «0... .eeeeeceeeeeeeceees ceeeeeees seefeeeeedee

KOK KF

mK OK OK OK

—— clathratus .......ccccceeseeceeeeeeees en

GaLBULIDA,

Galbula melanogenia .........see.ceseeeee in

JACAMELOPS AULCA .esecssesecseeeeeeeesees

Bucconips&.

SUbteCHUS ....ccceceeeeeeeeeceeeeeeees .

fulvidus ..........

Malacoptila panamensis ..............00ffel..

inornata ............ beet ee ee eset ee ees on ee

Nonnula frontalis ..............2.005 on en

Monasa grandior ......... bene eeeeeeeeeeees on A

Pallescens .........cceceeeeeeee eee eres .

CucuLips.

Coceyzus MiNOL.........eceeeeeeee eee es seeees

americanus ..........4. seceeceeeeecees

erythrophthalmus be eeeeeeeeeeeeenes

Playa Cayana ...ssssesesscsecneceeceeeesewepens

%* *

kK eK *

ruficollis .........cceeeceeeees re Ae See eee

3 .

Pl.

als

OK OK OK

eee

INTRODUCTION,

hical Distribution of the Species (continued).

XXiX

2K OK OK ok

RK OK OK kK OK ok

eee | &

x* * * *

| Costa R.

2K 3K

2 OK OK Ok

2 KOK ok XK Ok

Pan,

S. Am

W. Ind.

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

2K OK XK XK Ok XK

2K OK OK OK

x * * *

* >

KK OK OK OK OK

x* * * *

Porceeteeesseceses

POOsoreeroesensoes

Genus peculiar to Guatemala.

Genus peculiar to Central America.

Genus peculiar to Northern Mexico.

Swan I.

XXX

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

INTRODUCTION.

-| , i ; :

alga 2 Jee] ./8 aie

aR SEE Rls'= slay

Zia wisom aoa

Vol. II. (contin.).

CucuLip2 (contin.).

Playa Mexicana...........cecseensereereneee week | ok

minuta ............. sec eeeeeeeeeeseeeees os ee wee x | x

Neomorphus salvini ...............:0.00006 on ne a

Geococcyx californianus .............066 xix x

affinis cee ccccenees reer rrr rrr rrr Pe pee * x

Morococcyx erythropygus ...........++++ i a

Diplopterus neevius ......... seeeeneeeeeeees wef e ll Le fae me ede

Dromococcyx phasianellus ............... rn ee % | 1

Crotopbaga major ...... dose eeeeeeeeeeeees 7S nee . | led

ani.......... cee ee teeta eeeeeseeeeeeeeeenes oe ee es ee

SUICITOSEFIS ....... ec cee ee ees eee eee ees ea ee ee ee ees ee

CarITonIp az.

Capito maculicoronatus ............... on ee aes

salvini ............... seeee naeee eenees on een . oe | 4%

Tetragonops frantzii ...... seceeeseeeeaces we, ar

RaAMPHASTID&.

Rhamphastos carinatus .................. oe

brevicarinatus......... ceeeenees seeees wedded % |) HD

tocard oo... cece cece ece eens cece eees on ee oo. Lae be | ae Hse

Pteroglossus torquatus...............0.04. on xe ae ee

—— frantall oo... cece eee eee eee eeeee wl. “x

SANQUINCUS .... seek cece eeee eee eee oo ree veel

Selenidera spectabilis .................. or A wee | H)H)

Aulacorhamphus prasinus ............... on ee ee

wagleri ............. seeeeeeees see eeeeees wel)

—— ceruleigularis ............0.:0 cee wedocloce cc cleee x o¥

Psitracipz£.

Ara ararauna......... deeeeeCeeseees se eeeeeees weseccccecceleee] coe [ecelece| ALG

MACAO oo. eee ec eeeeeee ence eee eeees oe ee

—— chloroptera a vealece * Px

—— militaris ...... . Par weele ceeleceleeed %

—— ambigua oo... sn eee eee 1% | eH

——— BEVETA eee. e ee eeeee eens beeeeceeeeees 7 ee Paes

Rhynchopsittacus pachyrbynchus ...... «lee

Conurus finschi................2..cccee eee es AL lw lee wel oo. Lae fe |

bolochlorus wi wll *] xe |x

rubritorquis _ x |*

—— brevipes ......... ees OO 7a OO

EVA we 1 LHL HK) Le Le

—— ocularis oo... eee eee eee vee vesleee eel cee feeefeeel

canicularis ..... Ase | 4 elo fx |e

Pyrrhura hoffmanni cocleeclees | ae |

Bolborbynchus lineolatus ............... ol lee | | 9 Hae

Psittacula cyanopygia ................2.065 Ae | x

Brotogerys jugularis ce ceeeeeeteeseeeeeseeees aa ee ee

Chrysotis guatemala seed Hae le) x

virenticeps ...... Lote eeteeeseeeseeuees . |e

inornata ......... Cece ween eee ee cece reas wee ole

PANAMENSIS ....... cece eee ee eee eee ee sealeeeleee) cee locele ee ESE

auropalliata ............ . . ee oe

levaillanti ............00.. dbx | x) «i. *

—— finschi coe eecceeeceeeceeeed de | x

viridigena.... eeeeceecseceee seeveceecees we |

autumualis Wace) ele lok) x

salvini teeteeeeee : rd ed ee ee

albifrons ee ee

xantholora x |

Pionus menstruus...... . a xl x

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

[the islands off the east coast.

Not on mainland of Mexico and Honduras, but on

Lower California.

Peculiar to Socorro 2.

INTRODUCTION.

XXxl

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

General Remarks.

lea 2 | (4 A os!

SS sess 8) [56

< PS 6a) Sal eis : Old World, &c.

AaZasod Bose

Vol. II. (contin.).

Psirracip& (contin.).

Pionus senilis ....... ceeeeeeeeeeees en A A

Pionopsittacus heematotis ..........000f ee ele] oe Lt oe |e

coccineicollaris....... waceeeeeees teceee vlaeelecetee! cee fessleee| 3%

Vol. ITI.

Srrigiw a,

Strix perlata 0.0.0.0... ceseeeeereee eens aL es

ASIONIDA.

Asio wilsonianus ......... ce ecceeeees secee of 6 |

clamator ...........; seat eeeuseeeuncees ceeqecsleccleceles feesfeee| HH

StYQIUS cece ee eeeee be ee ee eeeneeees ee Pan co

—— accipitrinus ............ ere co oe See *|*] Europe, Asia, &c.

Syrnium sartorii ........... bene He |

fulvescens......... An

occidentale % |

Nyctala acadica..............0.045 wee seees 2 on

Bubo virginianus ..................0:0eeeee Ae er a

Lophostrix stricklandi ..................... es ae

Scops trichopsis ele] x?

maccalli ... ae ok

—— CINeVAaCeUS........6.....c0e * Ie?

VINACCUS oo. cee eee cece eeeee eens eeeeeees mae

COOPEDL .......ee sees eee ceeeeeeseceseeees ceddocc] se fecelecel 3 Lae 1%

guatemale ......... are se ces es

——- brasilianus ..... seclecleceleeal eee % [pe

hastatus ...... de) x

,barbarus ...... on A

—— flammeola...............08 vee ceeees Po ce Oe

NUIPES... 0.6... cee ceeee eens seeeecees es en Pe wou) oe | se fe

Ciccaba nigrolineata ............eeee on oe re eee

—— perspicillata......... seeteeceseeeeen ees nn ce

virgata ....... See e tent eee ee eae eer ee alone x x) e) x | % |e D

squamulata ..........eeee seeeceeeeeees on ee

Speotyto cunicularia ............. weeeeees ce a ee vecleeelec el *

Glaucidium phalenoides............... is oe a rer es

gnoma. ...... se eeeeees deeeeceeeeeeeeeees ne ee

grisciceps wacrccee wees oe % | % wee | %

jardinii........ cs eeseseeseeeseses deseees on ee % oe

Micropallas whitneyi ...........c.e eee foe ft oe |. we

QVAYSODL .o... eeseesseeeeseeeeeeeeeees wee |, wee

PANDIONID&.

| Pandion haliactus .......:.cceeeeeeeeeeee fe Pee ele] fe Poe

FALconip&.

Circus hudsonius ..........eeceeeeeeeeee ee cs oe es we) | ee veceeeceuuaes veces

Astur atricapillus...........cceeceeeeeee ees * |

Accipiter cooperi ........ seeeeee ec ee rr

bicolor ..........6. of oe ee ee

VelOX .....cce eee seeeeeees veeeeeeeeeeeues PS oa en er a

—— chionogaster............0.0066 er ee Oe

tinus .........8. see eececeeeeeeeteners . cecleccleceleee| coe | [eee] HAH

Geranospizias niger ......... beeeceeeeeeeees Sees ee ee

Archibuteo ferrugineus................+- oe Pe be

Buteo harrisi..... Leceeeeees seceeeeeeeeeeeeees So ee a ee

——albicaudatus ............. seseeseeees * % i...) % 3 | a6 fe

abbreviatus ............66- seseeeeeeees oe ee ee ee eS ee

—— borealis...... veseeccceweseeseel al % % | 4% Pare ee ee rere

SOCOLTOCNSIS cee .eeegeeeecceeeeseereeees An ee ee

——— fUMOsus oe... ceecececsceceeeeeereeeeddes A % ye veel ace leccleceleccDeccHeesP 00000 ceeceeeeeeees kewee

Chile, Falkland Is.

Lower California.

Peculiar to Socorro.

Bahama Is.

Lower California.

Bahama Is.

Socorro I. only.

‘Tres Marias Is. only.

XXXll

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

| Hond. &

Salyv.

{os { |

Jie,

<= Ss ins i

Zlz wa PAO

Vol. III. (contin.),

Fanconip& (contin.).

Buteo harlani ............secceeeeeeeeeee ee f Hf! %

Llimeatus.....cccceeeeeeceessoeeesereeere PH fee Keele.

SWAINSONL ....eceeeeeeereeeeeceeeceene sp RPK % *

latissimus...... RYH Rd,

brachyurus ... 5 ae Goa

Asturina nitida veafeee)s ves

plagiata ......... seeeeeee se esesveees ef HEH | H ..|

Rupornis ruficauda .. Sa

Urubitinga zonura seeleefeee

ridgwayi ......... be He)

anthracina be eteeeeeees HP HL

Leucopternis ghiesbreghti ............... on

princeps .......... be beeee tena eee eee es fn Se

—— plumbed .....cecceececeseeeeneee sence fn ee

SeMiIplUMbea ......sesceecsesereneeeefee fees eee eee ees

Busarellus nigricollis .........0..... ren fe

Heterospizias meridionalis ............... eel Hl,

Harpyhaliaetus solitarius ............... on Pe

Morphnus guianensis .......ccccecsseesredeedbeee ieee ceeleee

Thrasaetus harpyia .............e eee eee os are

Aquila chrysaetus...c.1....cscessseeesseees BPH HL.

Spizaetus ornatus............ beceeeeeeeeeees vedas HLH

TYVANNUS 0... .secec eee eeeeeceeeeeeeeeefeetens Hue %

Spiziastur melanoleucus ...........0..c00f he ee

Hlanoides furcatus ............... beeeeeees a

Hlanus leucurus .............0.006 seeeeeee el Hee Meee

Gampsonyx SWAINSONI .........eeeee eee ees in ee ee

Rostrhamus sociabilis .................065 HP Re

Leptodon cayennensis ..................065 wef 9H)

Regerhinus uncinatus ............ se eeeeees on

megarhynchus .............e.eeeee i, on

Ictinia plumbea ...........cceeeeeee re os

MUSSISSIPPICNSIS .....-..seeeeee eee co re *

Harpagus fasciatus ...... we He

Micrastur melanoleucus pk oe ee. |

AMAUTUS ......eeeee ee eeeeaeeceeeeeeees vel ce

mirandollei ... . on

guerilla... cece e cee eeeeeeeece seen fee fee 3)

Herpetotheres cachinnans ....... ern One ee

Falco peregrinus ... aor? *

mexicanus KER)

rufigularis ......... seeteeeeeeeeeerees on ce

deiroleucus ......... beeeeenes veefecelecas eee] a

fusco-ceerulescens...........-.eeeeeee HLH He eee x

columbarius...............06. se eeeeees % LK)

richardsoni ...... wee * | 3

Tinnunculus sparverius oe

Polyborus cheriway ......... setae ceteveces HR | HLL

pallidus ......... bees eeeteeeeeeeeeas LX |. .

Milvago chimachima ............... seeseefe. Pees wee

Ibycter americanus ..............cceeeeeee vee | *

SaRCORHAMPHID&.

Gypagus Papa .o...ceeecceccseseeceesoees on

‘Catharista atrata ............ seseeeees sesees oe ae

Cathartes aura .......ccecccceseeeeceeeece eee Poe L961. x

PHAETHONTID&.

Phaethon americanus ... os

——- mthereus .........cccecescceereecees ars # x! -

bo} od |

| Nicar.

| Costa R.

Pan.

W. Ind.

Old World, &e.

ok OK kt

mK OK OK OK

x KOK X

Europe and Northern Asia.

Europe and Asia.

General Remarks.

Lower California.

Masafuera 1.

Pearl Is.

Swan I.

Lower California.

Tres Marias Is. only.

Atlantic coast of Central America; Bahama Is.

Lower California; Revillagigedo Is.

INTRODUCTION.

XXX1li

cal Distribution of the Species (continued).

Geographi

.[ ii ; :

Hig) |S.) (Aa Ad

Els fists His!) Sys

i. ‘ = el 2A 5 a g <i: Old World, &c. General Remarks.

Zj4anoe Zod

Vol. III. (contin.).

FREGATIDA,

Fregata aquila ..........cccccesseeeeeeeeeee epee ee) oe fee ape fap Revillagigedo Is.

PELECANIDA.

Pelecanus fuscus ............:eeseseeeee eee epee pe x] e (ele epee pe Revillagigedo Is.; Galapago Is.

erythrorhynchus ..................06. a

Sunip#.

Sula bassana .........sceceeseeeeeser eee neeees HPP ll eee .| Coast of W. Europe, N. Afri Gulf of Mexico.

ca, Madeira, and Canaries.

——— CYANOPS... eee eeeeeeee en eeeees eee es pa ee ee «1 Indian Ocean. Revillagigedo Is., S. Atlantic, and S. Pacific.

PISCALOL.........ceeceeeeceer eee eeee eens co ee ee Pe 2 rrr te Swan I.

WEDSLCLL oo... ec eeeeeeeeeee eee eee eee Pees oT A 0 Revillagigedo and Galapago Is. (Galapagos.

——— NEDOUKL..... 0. cece eee eeeee ete eeee eee es ee re ee 2 ee errr rere Islands in Gulf of California, Revillagigedos and

leucogastra ........ce.sseseee ee eee es Lei ee oe fe] ae LP Indian Ocean. Swan I., Pearl Is.

brewsteri 0.0.0.0... cceeeeee sence eee ee ed Revillagigedo Is., Lower California.

PHALACROCORACIDA.

Phalacrocorax pelagicus .................. Pa ere Pacific coasts of N. Asia. | Lower California,

BULILUS 2.0... cee ce sees e ee eeeeeee eee ee es %pe.| |

GINCINNALUS 2.0... cee eee eee ee ees a vecfeeelecdee Peed ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Revillagigedo Is.

———— VIZ UA... ee ececccececerececeseneeeeeeees % fee] se [eee x | | o

MCXICANUS. 00.0.0... seeeee cece eee es HP) ee)

Puoripa.

Plotus anhinga.........cccecceceeeee eee eees a ee ce .

ARDEID.

Ardea herodias ...............cseseeseeeee ees epee le) ele ape pep ee Galapago Is.

CLVCCLA ....ececeeeeeeeeeceeee ete eee eeees 2 er rr ee oo

candidissima .............eeseee eee xe lee) el] «lel we) ee

tHiCOLON .....secece ee es see eeee ee ee ee ee ees ee le He] oe wel PL

—— CHULA 0... cee cece eect ee ne ee ens efx lx ie] * | ele) ef epx

TULA vee cececeeceeeceeescseeeetnee eres oA 2 re Lower California.

wm VIFCSCEDS cee eceeececscececeeseeeueeees whe la «lel we fe lela we Pearl Is., Lower California.

AQAML .eeeceeeeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee Peepers cee oS 2 ee ere ererrrerr ers Pearl Is.

Nycticorax griseus ..........:seeee eee: xP* |x .../%) % |*] x. eff Temp. Europe, Africa, Asia,

Nyctanassa violacea ............ceeee cece x fe fe me) we fel PPP eee eens Revillagigedo Is., Pearl Is., Lower California.

Pilherodius pileatus....................606: om Pe ee ee ed

Tigrisoma lineatum ..............:...ceeeee . vee] vee feeefeee) HP*

excellens ........ececeeeeeeeeeee eee eee on oe ee eS

CabaniSl ......seeceee ee eeeee sesso seen es a ee er

Ardetta exilis .........ssceeececseseeeeeeees pe Ea eee % *

Botaurus lentiginosus ..........0sseseeeee ee La

PUNMALUS 0... eee terete feel feeele aren a

CaNcROMIDE.

Cancroma, zeledoni ........0c.eeeeeeeeeeee epee: wl) xe) wl xe] 4%

Cicontipa.

Mycteria americana ..........ecseeeeeeeeees oe %/)% Pe

Tantalus loculator ........sceeceeeeeee ees a %)*) ep

PLATALEIDS.

Platalea ajaja ........seeceseeeeeeeeeeeeseee fd Cae a a

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. 1., November 1904.

XXXIV

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

.| ol | ; :

dle 2 8 isel: | lee

oO SO Hie

Mj SOS sels giclap-

fee) J|..1 5 a1 Ola .

Ziaoadbia BZoabhe

Vol. III. (contin.).

Ipipipz.

Eudocimus albus ............scceseeeeseeees aa ee ae a * 1% * 1%

TUDCY... occ ccc ece eee eec eet eeeeeeeeeesees x pe? Pars

Plegadis guarauna ........-.cecceeeeeeeees xP x x mn oe

Harpiprion cayennensis ........-....-2ee fee pene cee ee eee xy x

PHENICOPTERID.

Pheenicopterus ruber .........:..seeeeeeee * AL we, *].

ANATIDE.

Cairina moschata ..........cccccccceeeeeeeesfees ex) ele] wm [wel el dx

FLEX SPONSA.... ee cee eee ee ec ec eee eeeeeeenees * Pe | el. Ae

Chen hyperboreus ...........-......00008- 2 oe “

Anser gambeli ..............ccceceeeeeee eens we | x | *

Branta canadensis ............cceeceeeeees * ix |x

Dendrocyena fulva ...............cceeeee ee co a ee

autumnalis ...............ceceeeee eens 2 a ee ee ee ees oe 2

Anas DOSCAS ..........cccccce ese ceeeeeeees *Tx | x |. xf. Ae

GIAZI .... cece cece cece se ecc eee seceeeeeceaecs wo | %

m——— aberti oo. cece c cece eee eee ees . AL | x

Chaulelasmus streperus .................. HEH | HK feel. me

Mareca americana ...............c ese e eee oe a A Pe

Nettium carolinense...............2.00.0008 BPR ee Lele. *%

Dafila acuta ...........0.. ccc ccc cee eee cence a oe Seer See 2 ee

Querquedula discors .............00..0ee oS ee eS co

Cyanoptera ....... eee eee px | x ves veeleoef HA...

Spatula clypeata ......0.... eee Af x % | %

Nyroca americana .......... ee eeeee eee ee 2 ae

vallisneria...........ccccecceeeseeeeeees % fe | xe |e xe *

Fyligula marila oo... eee oS vaeleee

AMNIS oo. cece eee eceeeeeeeees * Pe | xe |...) % | 4%

COllarIS ........ccccceceec ees eeceeseesens % Ee |e |.) x i

Clangula glaucion ............. cece eee # ye)... wf x

albeola .........ccccccseceeseeeeceeeees % |x | x _ on on es

Nomonyx dominicus .................6085 *ALL KL] woe PE

EHrismatura jamaicensis .................. 2 Ca ae Caen oe

Merganser americanus................00008 2

Lophodytes cucullatus...................45 x] x) %

CotumBIDm.

Columba leucocephala .................0665 oe ee eB

O10) on er ce es 2

flavirostris .......... cece ceceeeeeeeee PX) X)..t ee) we lel x

MACensis..........ccccceccesceecceuces ed ee

rufina sec eneteeeeescseecucecusccaeeeses ee ee ee ee

fasciata............cceccccceceeaeeceues a ee *

Crissalis oo... eee eee eeeeeeec eens cues A

NIQVIVOSHVIS 2.0... eee eee eeeee eee J) ee) & Lela) x

Subvinacea ..........c ce eceeeceaeacees . . «| «ie

Hetopistes migratorius.................008. * *

PrERIsTERIDa.

Zenaidura carolinensis se csceeessesceeueeees oe a ee oo

Clarionensis ...........cccececcceeeeeee Ax

PYAYSONL oo... eee eeeeeec ec ee sees Ae |

Zenaida yucatanensis ...............0.00.. er .

Melopelia leucoptera .............00000... oe ee ee Pn

Scardafella inca ........... ce ceececceee ee *pelelclel x lx

Chamepelia passerina .................... *P |e] x ee ie cs

BOCOTTOCNSIS .......... 0 cece cecceeeecees Ae ood.

—— minuta oo... cc cee esac ee *i...1% | * ED

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

eee er ry

| N.E. Asia and N. Europe.

E. Asia.

[Burmah.

| Africa, Madagascar, India,

Europe, Asia, Africa.

Europe and Asia.

Europe.

Europe, Asia, N. Africa.

Europe, Asia, N. Africa,

.| Europe and Asia.

Europe and Asia.

Europe.

eter er nee w eens

eee ed

ee ee Sy

Oe es

Lower California.

Hawaiian Is.

Galapago Is., Bahama Is.

Bermuda Is.

Lower California.

Falkland Is.

Bermuda Is.

Bahama Is., Swan I.

Peculiar to Tres Marias Is.

Peculiar to Clarion I. in the Revillagigedo group.

Peculiar to Socorro I. in the Revillagigedo group.

Peculiar to coast of Yucatan and adjacent islands.

Lower California.

Peculiar to Socorro I. in the Revillagigedo group.

INTRODUCTION.

XXXV

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

a! lS

Bho | Bol:

<< f= is as

Vol. III. (contin.). |

PERISTERIDE (contin.). |

Chamepelia rufipennis .................. vee oe)

Peristera cinerea .............0.c0ecceeeee wee ee) %

mondetoura .............ceceee eee ees fo A

Leptoptila brachyptera..................... oa ee

—— fulviventris ............0 eee on nr ae

capitalis 0... eee on Ce

VELTCAUX] 60.00. cece eee eee eee ee eee ees on ee

——— PAUMET oe eece eee eens on Pe ee

—— plumbeiceps .............c eee vee ee | 36 |

CASSINL 1.0... cece cece eee tec eee eee eefeedfees cae J...

Vimaceiventris ..............eeeeeee eee on ee jewelers

CETVINIVENLTIS 20.0... eee cece enone veefeee eee | *

rufinucha .............ceeeeeeeee neces in ee

battyi oo... eee eee ee on ee

Geotrygon albiventer ..................065 on ee .

——— Montana .... eee eee cece ee eee ce or a

lawrencii ..........c.ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee on Ao

COBtALICENSIS «2.0.0.0... ceeeeee eee e eee ee Pon Se ee

VEYAGUCNSIS .......e cece ee sees cece eee fn Pe tee

albifacies ....... cece ceeee ee ceeee eee ee vefeee 3% [eee]

—— chiriquensis ..............0 cc ceeeePeede. Jeseeee]eee

Cracipa.

Crax globicera ...............cecceceeeee eee on a

PANAMENSBIS 22.0.0... ee eee eee ee om foe

Chapman ........... cece eee eee on re

Oreophasis derbianus .................0665 on

Penelope purpurascens ...............4.. wef HH ..|

CriStata ..-..cececeee cece cece ecco ee ee ees sedeceleceleeelers

Penelopina nigra ............. cece eee ee rn

Chameepetes unicolor .................066 [on eee

Ortalis wagleri ............. cece eee eee neces veep 3 | 3

— poliocephala... 00.0.0... cece weofes.| %

Veta oes sceseceeecesees sees eceeeee x Px jx) x | %

leacogastra ........cecececeeeeeee seen fn

—— CIMETEICEPS oo... eeee eee ee eee wedfeeefeee/eeefeee

—— struthopus ......ccee cece eeeeee con en ee

MaLEacrip2&.

Meleagris gallopavo ......cc..sceeeeceeeeee oe eee

OCe ata ......ceee cece cece eeeee ee ee eee ees on

PHASIANIDS.

Dendrortyx macrurus ..,..........0..00008 on

barbatus ........ccceeeeeeseeereeeen eee on es

leucophrysS ........eceseeeee sees eeees wefee fees /eee] %

hypospodius,...........ccccceeeeeecees sedfece]esleee[eee

Callipepla squamata................:000006- * fx) x

Lophortyx gambeli ...............:eeeeeee * | x

Couglasi .........ceceeeeeeeceeeee eee wo P | %

Philortyx fasciatus ..................eeeees seefee |

Eupsychortyx leucopogon ............... Ann ee ee

leylandi .....ceeeeeeeeeeceeeeeeeee eee fn ee ee

—— nigrogularis .......0.....ceeeeeee neces oe on ae ae

—— hypoleucus ............: ee eeeeee eee es on ee

OrtyxX texanuUs ........ccecee ee eeeeeeeeeee es *] x | *

pectoralis ............ ce ceeee eee eee eens on

QYAYSODL ....cceeceeeeeceeeeeeeeeeee ees Pe) %

GOMMANI oo... eee eee ec sete ee ewes on

VIAQWAYL oo. ee eee ses e eee eeweeeeee es x] x

IMSIQNIS .......6. 0.0. cece eee ee ects eee es wo fee.| % [e0| #

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

. ate

+ aie

2228 2lar

Cw) Sia . .

|__|

a ees

| * |

% 1%) He) HP

wee % | % De

i all al

veeleee HDD

1 | mE

* | %

*)*

1 ee.

Ll ee

% |e Pe Pe

1 ®

.| %

» loool * | #

* |*

x %

% | | Pe

* > %

* | %

* | * | %

| ef

| % |

.| % |

| |

wee feeeleee * | *

% ei) *

}

Pere e cern wesscceee

Corre e tee cecaneres

Pearl Is.

Peculiar to Yucatan.

Peculiar to Tres Marias Is.

Pearl Is.

Peculiar to Yucatan and adjacent islands.

Peculiar to Coiba I.

Peculiar to Yucatan.

Peculiar to high mountains of Western Guatemala.

{mala, and Nicaragua.

Peculiar to the high mountains of Chiapas, Guate-

Peculiar to the Pearl Is.

Genus peculiar to N. and Centr. America.

XXXVi

INTRODUCTION.

{ rer] .

Hui, a) @.) & 3

Ble 8 Ssisaee [sls

Rare Ea 82 eee

ZAHM oH Zod

Vol. ITI. (contin.). | |

. | |

PuASIANIDE (contin.). | |

Ortyx Coyolcos ......eeeeeeeeecseee seeeeeees i

—— atriceps.......... ee eeeeeeee eens tee eens - *

Salvini ............ se eeseeeeeeeeeeeeeees on ee

Oyrtonyx montezume ...............4 ee ee ee

sallei ...... *

ocellatus . wef HL Oe

Dactylortyx thoracicus .............0.66- on ee ee es

Odontophorus marmoratus..............04.. Lesleee we] | DH

— melanotis......... Lec eeeeseeeeeeseesees oA *% | *)%

leucoleemusS ............0..000 SO en Se ...| 1%

—— guttatus 1.0.00... seeseescseenees on oe ee 2 % | %* | %

—— veraguensis ...............5 beeeee scans os wee cee fea) |

Rhynchortyx spodiostethus...............J040.... . % |...) &

—— CINCLUS oo. eee eee eee ee seeeeeeeeeees . . ses] cee eceleoe| %

Rauuip2#.

Rallus tenuirostris ...... saseeeees ee ee ens

virginianus ............. se deeeeeseeees w% ele « lescleceleccfeo cl

Aramides axillaris ..............c.ecccceee weal % | | x |. en

chiricote ............ seseee ses eeeeeeees cedpecclecclccleee, cee [eel HEH

albiventris ...... deeeeeees ceseeeeeeees _ ele *) x fe

—— plumbeicollis 20... ee. os

Amaurolimnas concolor ..........0..0.065 on ee ee ee ee

Porzana carolina ...........c.c.ceceeeeecees eS ee «| & | xe foe dx

Creciscus jamaicensis ...............00.005 * weslage LH} eee eee! oof %

exilis....... se teeeeeeencceees beesaeceeees on ae ae

-—— albigularis ............ be eteeeees en veel. dees wee le de

CINEPEICEPS ...... eee ee eeec ee eens on veslecclece| eee | 1%

ruber........ seeeeeceeeeeeeece seeeeeeeees oe es

Gallinula galeata ............. ce ceeseeeeeees fe a ee ee ee ee es

Porpbyriola martinica.. oe oe es ed

Fulica americana .................. seeseeees a ea ae oe ee es oe

HELIORNITHID A,

Heliornis fulica ............. teteceeeescoohe Peel LHL] Oe Le wel oD

ARAMID A.

Aramus pictus .............ccccceeseeseeseedl MPH. x % lee] % [ee |. Pe B oe

Evurypyaip2.

Eurypyga major errr errs 1 i wl] cee leeed | Ee

Groip2,

Gyrus canadensis teceecceeccesaccecsensccanef HH |X

AMELICANA............cccesececceees oe ee ees

CEpIcNEMID&.

Cidicnemus bistriatus ..................... ee ee ee es

PaRRID&,

Parra melanopygia .................. rn on ee seslece| coe [owclaee| 9%

MIQMA.....sseseeeeeeees eee ceceeeeeeeeees ee a ee ee

Asarcia variabilis ...0..0.00.....ccc00 0... ee ae ee er es ee

Old World, &e.

General Remarks.

Europe (accidental) .........

Swan I.

INTRODUCTION.

3 a ; %

42s Seles

fel) | sO

AZ AO

Vol. III. (contin). |

CHARADRIIDA. |

Arenaria interpres ............ccecceeccees #f... x/* *

Hematopus palliatus ..................088 ee) x...)

—— frazari .......cccc cc eccececeeeeceeeeees aa Ca eee ves

Hoploxypterus cayanus .............00.0fo deel. Leelee *

Squatarola helvetica......... ccc ePe] ee

Charadrius dominicus ..................065 oS on

Aphriza virgata ......ccc cece eee eeee ee # J. ee

Ochthodromus wilsoni...............660005 epee ee),

Oxyechus vociferus .........-...ccccseeeees * 1% «|x *| %

Aigialeus semipalmatus .............00005 xe) ee

Aigialitis collavis ............cccececseeeeeea fees vee] eae)

DLVOSA eee eceeeeeceeceseneeeeeneenecees wpele td o.

Himantopus mexicanus ...............06. ef e e x

Recurvirostra americana.........s.e0-e00+ wpe | el)

Numenius longirostris ................0008 epee) ee]

Qhudsonicus 2.0.0.0... cece eee ee ee ee wf foe taf x

Liimosa fedoa ........cecceeeeeeee eee eeees x fe) ee) %

Macrorhamphus griseus .................. wpe lel) x

Micropalama himantopus ............... xP lee.

Symphemia semipalmata.................. oe a ee

Totanus melanoleucus ..................64- ee *

flavipes .........ceececeeceeee een eeee eens epee te].

Helodromas solitarius ..................665 ape |e % *| x

Heteractitis incana ................ceee sees HA Rl

Tringoides macularia .................. 6. ce a oe

Bartramia longicauda .................0665 of oe

Hreunetes pusillus ..............0.ceeeeee epee Le],

Tringites subruficollis ................00082 epee lel x

Calidris arenaria ..............ccceeeee eee % | | #1 x

Limonites minutilla............ eee. wpe fe | 3

Heteropygia maculata .. ............eeeeee wpe |e 0.)

bairdi .o...ceseceeeeee ee eeeeee tee eee eee fe]

fuscicollis ........cccceeseeeeeeee ee eeees oe ee ee

Gallinago delicata ..........cee cece eee ee xfxle *) x] x

Phalaropus hyperboreus ...............4.. a

Steganopus tricolor ............:..seceeeees ee] |

Larip&.

Hydrochelidon surinamensis ............ efale | ele] x

Gelochelidon anglica .................0068 x * |e )..]

Hydroprogne caspia...........ceceeeeeeeees EPH fee.

Sterna forsteri ............cccsceeeeeeeee eres we |e |...)

fluviatilis 0.00.0... ccc ee ceeeee seer eens of

—— dougalli ......eeeeeeecceceeeeeeeeeees 2 ae

—— CANLIACA Loe eeceeceesreeeeeeeereenees wf) ete] o.

TAXI voce ccc ee cece ee eeeeeeeeeeeeees epee ela] x

CLEQANS 20... ccc eee ee cece nent renee eens wpe] ef.) oe

—— anmstheta .......cceeee cece eee eseee * w/e),

—— fuliginosa ............:eceeeseeeeeeeeeee #4 ei. *

antillarum ......... cece sees ee neers eS co ee

Anous stolidus ........c.cceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees oa

Pileatus.........cceeeeeeceeeeec een eeeees on

Micranous leucocapillus .............006..feeqfeee}ee- 1,

Rhynchops nigra ...........sseeeeeeeeeeeees ¥/ | % |...)

———. MENANUTA 20... sececeeceeeec ee ee een eeepee pees * |.

Larus philadelphia ............+00...seeee x] «| x

franklini oo 0.0... cece eee ee ee teen ees wpe | 1...)

atricilla.............eees dee eteeeeeeeees wpe] |e) x

heermanni ...........ssceeeeeeee scene * | “| %

a A ii

: ajs

g 3 g <7 Old World, &c. General Remarks.

ZO Gale

% | *{%* [| Europe and Asia. ¢

| | ef ede fe,

cePeeP Seceeeeeeeneeaeete Lower}California.

w--/sef..J--./ Europe and Siberia,

cee Cd

Pee CS os reer rrrre Bermuda Is.

vee] % [ef | %

we | % |e Pe |

sn cs

Cae oe ae er erreerrerrerreree Galapago Is.

ee Ce ee rrr errr renner Galapago Is.

...) * | «| «| * | Europe

* ee

ne *f* | Hurope ........................] Bahama Is,

% |e Pe Ee

Pe Co oe errr rere rere Swan I.

« * | x Pe Pe ;

wee leeefees ..|...) Oceania and N.E. Australia

x | «| «|| *{ Europe. }

Se i Swi I

eS eo ee rere wah I.

* |..., 4]. Europe and Siberia. *

.|«]--.] Europe, Asia, Africa, Galapago Is., Hawaiian Is.

Australia.

«x *)* peep f Europe oes Galapago Is.

we) eGo Pe Kurope .....eee eee Swan I.

cecleeefeesf ¢f.0 S.W. Africa.

Pa Co oe errr reer rerrre Falkland Is.

we) |) ee Pe

*|. ...| Europe, Asia.

% | ex [ Australia.

jx... Europe, Asia, Africa,

...,.../ Europe, Asia, Africa,

ae [Malayasia.

«| Europe, Asia, Africa.

«| +f Europe, Asia, Africa, Aus-

tralia.

...|..f...f---| Europe, Asia, Africa,

x |...Pe def W. Africa.

x |......«]8. Atlantic and Indian Is. | Pacific Is.

and coasts generally. _

x|.../*[......) Tropical Oceanic Islands | Revillagigedo Is.

generally.

x |x] W. Africa. be

eas, &¢.

* Tropical S ceceeeeecaee Revillagigedo Is. Pacific Ocean generally.

te ...... Atlantic Ocean. Pacific Ocean.

"| * beveeeeeceeeseeees Cozumel I.

es ce

2) % [eof oe De

XXXVil

XXXVili

INTRODUCTION.

Geographical Distribution of the Species (continued).

a) aE

gic B\o me}

f= |S 3

Poel wi). =

Zl aio

Vol. III. (contin.).

Larip@ (contin.). |

Larus argentatus .........:..ccescceeeeeeeee x>x | x

delawarensis ..............6.ee seen * Pe |

—— californicus .............:0 cee eee ees *4...| *

PRoceLLaRIDé.

Procellaria tethys............60c0ccseseeeees wedfeccfeeejene cee

Halocyptena microsoma ...............44. *# De)...

Oceanodroma keedingi ................0000-f.e % lee

Melania .......ceece cece eee ec ee eee eee expel x.

_| ——— SOCOTTOENSIS ..........seeeeeeee eee eee ee x Px).

PurFinips&.

Puffinus cuneatus ......00...0. cesses seer es HP He eee

auricularis ............ceecee eee e tees HUH ee

auduboni ............ cece cece e eee eee oe

Priocella glacialoides .................6008 #Pe LL

DIoMEDEID&.,

Diomedea nigripes .........:..:eeceee secede *

Thalassogeron culminatus ...............

CoLyMBID&.

Colymbus glacialis ...............s00seeees os cae

PopIciPEDIDA.

/Echmophorus occidentalis............... fe |

Podicipes californicus .................0008 oe er

—— dominicus,........ .ececeee cece cence ee *PX | xe 1%

Podilymbus podicipes ...........:......008 os Cer

ALcipa.

Brachyrhamphus brevirostris.........)... x

TINAMIDA.

Tinamus robustus ..............e ee eeeee fee epee % | *| x

—— fuscipennis ................ eee. weale

CAStANClCOPS ........ececeeeeeeeee eee ee Pee dbees we

Nothocercus frantzii ................068- eleeefecs fees

Crypturus meserythrus ............ ..... 1 ¥ i) ®

CINNAMOMEUS 2.0.0... eee eee eee fee fees % [eee] *

—— goldmani ......... ee epee. *

—— boucardi ........c eee eee cece eee we) | HL %

——— MEXICANUS oe... eee eee Ae x

———— MOFMALUS oe eee e ee eee 5

—— occidentalis ........... cece eepeee *

reer see!

| Nicar.

2K OK OK OK 3K

| Costr. R.

OK OK OK

(oa)

| W. Ind.

Old World, &e.

Cee, es

Cece nce e eset eseee

eer eee er eeecree

Peco es cers ess cenee

wearer eee neeeecces

.| Aleutian Is., Japan, &e.

General Remarks.

Bermuda Is.

West coast of Central America and Galapago Is.

Lower California, San Benito I.

Revillagigedo Is.

Lower California, San Benito I.

Revillagigedo Is., San Benito I.

&e.

Revillagigedo Is., Hawaiian Is., Lower Califone

Revillagigedo Is.., Lower California.

Gulf of Mexico, Bahama Is.

Southern Seas.

Revillagigedo Is., N. Pacific.

Southern Seas.

Lower California.

North Pacific.

Pearl Is.

LIST OF PLATES.

Plate.

VOL. I.

TuRDIDz.

Catharus griseicepp .............. I.

gracilirostris ................ I.

MeXiCaNnUS ............ 0.0. Il.

dryas se... eee eee eee II.

Turdus flavirostris................ IIl.

nigresceNs ....-........0-000. IV.

Melanoptila glabrirostris .......... III.

SYLVIID&.

Polioptila albiloris, ¢ ............ V.

A Vv.

TROGLODYTIDA,

Microcerculus philomela .......... Vv.

luscinia ............ 0.00.08 Vv.

Thryophilus thoracicus ............ VI.

semibadius ................ VI.

Thryothorus atrigularis............ VI.

felix ... 0... eee eee eee VIL.

albinucha .................. VIL.

Cistothorus polyglottus* .......... VIL.

Mniorinrip2.

Parula inornata .............2.06- VITl.

superciliosa ..............6. VIIt.

gutturalis ............0.00-. VIL.

Dendreeca decora ........--...5.. X.

Geothlypis chiriquensis ............ IX.

caninucha .............-..4- IX.

poliocephala ................ IX.

Ergatieus versicolor ............+. XI.

Basileuterus melanogenys .......... X.

Setophaga torquata ........-...-. X.

lacrymosa ..........-0e eee ee XI.

* Cistothorus elegans on the Plate.

bo Re bo

bot

bo ke

NNW WNH HH Wwe

+ Mrundo albilinea on the Plate.

. | Page. Plate. Fig. | Page.

VIREONIDE.

Vireo ochraceus .................. XII. 1 | 201

pallens .................0.4) XII. 2 | 202

carmioli................00.. XI. 3 | 208

Neochloe brevipennis............., | XIII. 2 | 205

6 | Hylophilus viridiflavus ............ XIII. 1 j 208 |

;

7 AMPELID&.

21 | Phainoptila melanoxantha.......... XIV. 221

27 HirgvnDInIpz.

Atticora pileata ...............0.. XV. 2 | 230

Tachycineta albilineaf ............ XV. 1 | 235

53 Ca@REBID&.

Diglossa plumbea, d.............. XV. a 1 | 243

9 Qo cece eee eee ee eee XV. a 2 | 243

Dacnis viguieri .................. XV.a 3 | 246

Certhiola caboti .................. XV. a 4 | 251

76 |

7 TaNaGRID&. |

88 || Euphonia gracilis ................ XVI. 3 | 259

91 luteicapilla ................ XVI. 1 | 260

93 fulvicrissa ................-. XVI. 2 | 264

94 | Calliste florida .................. XVII 1 | 267

105 || Rhamphoceelus passerinii .......... XVIII 1 | 281

uropygialis ................. XVIII 2 | 284

Pyranga testacea, ¢ .....-........ XIX. 1 | 292

» QD eee e cece cece eee XIX. | 2 | 292

erythrocephala .............. XVII | 2 | 294

120 || Chlorothraupis carmioli¢t .......... XX, | 1 | 299

122 || Eucometis spodocephala............ XX. 2 | 307

123 || Tachyphonus chrysomelas .......... XXI. 1} 311

136 nitidissimus, ¢.............. XXII. 2 | 312

152 9 Qe cece ccc ee eens XXI. 3 | 312

153 || Chlorospingus punctulatus.......... XXII 1 | 316

154 pileatus ..............0.0... XXII 2 | 316

165 hypopheus ................ XXIT 3 | 317

174 || Buarremon capitalis .............. XXIII 1 | 322

183 tibialis 2.2.0.2... eee eee XXITI 2 | 322

184 | Pitylus celano .................. | XXIV 332

$¢ Phenicothravpis carmioli on the Plate.

LIST OF PLATES.

* Zonotrichia quinquestriata on the Plate.

T Ammedromus petenicus on the Plate.

{ Ostinops guatemozinus on the Plate.

§ Cyanocitta on the Plate.

|| Elainea arenarum on the Plate.

{| Synallaxis on the Plate.

** Phalydor rufobrunneus on the Plate.

TT Myrmeciza immaculata on the Plate.

tt Hupheruza nigriventris on the Plate.

§§ Chalybura melanorrhoa on the Plate.

Plate. Fig. | Page. Plate. Fig. | Page.

FRINGILLID #. PrpRIpz.

Cyanospiza rosite, d.......-.. eee XXV. .. | 862 || Piprites griseiceps ................ XLI. 3 | 107

woes escsorvececee XXY. ‘+ | 362 | Chiromacheris aurantiaca, ¢ ...... XLI. 1 | 115

Haplospiza uniformis.............. XXVII 1 | 366 a XII. 2 | 115

Amphispiza quinquestriata*........ XXVII 2 | 368

Zonotrichia vulcani .............. XXXVI 2 | 371 Cormnarp x.

Junco alticola.... 0... 0... ee eee XxVI 1 | 374

Spizella pinetorum................ XXVIT 3 | 378 || Pachyrhamphus cinereiventris ...... XLITI. 1 | 127

Coturniculus petenicust .......... XXVIII 2 | 385 | —— albogriseus, gd .............. XLII. 2 | 128

Peucea notosticta .............00. XXVIII 1 | 893 || ——-—, 2 ..... eee eee eee XLII. 3 | 128

Heemophila rufescens.............. XXIX 2 | 394 Carpodectes nitidus, G@ .........00. XLII. .- | 140

superciliosa ..........-..05- XXX. 1 | 395 9D cece cece eens ‘ XLII, 140

ruficauda ..............000% xNLx i

humeralis ............0..2.. ¢

Chrysomitris atriceps.............. XXXI 1,2] 429 Daxproconarti Da.

xanthogastra..............0. XXXI 3 | 4380 | Synallaxis pudica ................ XLIV. 2 | 149

Siptornis 4] erythrops.............. XLY. 1 | 151

rufigenigs ........ cee eee eee XLV. 2 | 152

Automolus rufobrunneus ** ........ XLVI. 2 | 154

Tormurna. Philydor fuscipennis .............. XLVI. 1 | 161

Gymnostinops guatemozinust ...... XXXII .. | 4839 || Sclerurus guatemalensis .......... XLIV. 1 | 168

Icterus auratus ...............00- XXXII 2 | 473 || Margarornis rubiginosa ............ XLVI. 1 | 170

sclateri .... 0.0... 0. cc ee eee XXXII 1 | 476 brunnescens ................ XLVI. 2 | 170

Dendrornis lacrymosa ............ XLVIII. 1 | 182

Xiphorhynchus pusillus............ XLVIII. 2 | 189

Corvip&.

Cyanolyca § yucatanica............ XXXV. 498 Forurcannp2.

argentigula ................ XXXIV. 501 || Thamnophilus punctatus .......... XLIX 1 | 198

bridgesi ........ cee ee ee eee XLIX 2 | 199

Thamnistes anabatinus, ........ L. 1 | 205

Dysithamnus puncticeps, ¢ ........ L. 2 | 207

cece e cece eee L. 3 | 207

Vol. IT. Myrmelastes intermedius TT, ¢ LI. 2 | 297

bee bee e eee eee LI. 3 | 227

TYRANNIDE, Myrmeciza lemosticta ............ LI. 1 | 230

Leptotriccus superciliaris .......... XXXVI 2 18 | Grallaria princeps ................ LI. .. | 241

Tyrannulus semiflavus ............ XXXVI 1 32 perspicillata .......-...-..... LUI 2 | 242

Sublegatus arenarum || ............ XXXVI 3 37 GIVES . 2. ee eee eee eee LITT 1 | 243

Sirystes albogriseus .............. XXXVIT 1 5

Myiodynastes hemichrysus ........ XXXVITI 1 5

Muscivora mexicana, G--- 0 XXXIX. | 1 | 53 TRocuiirp a.

yD eee cece cence eee XXXIX 2 53 | Hemistephania veraguensis ........ LV. 1 | 2538

Myiobius capitalis Lecce cence eee XI. 1 59 | Callipharus nigriventris tt, ¢ ...... LVILI. 3 | 270

Empidonax albigularis ............ XL. 2 79 a LVII. 4 | 270

AtTICEPS . 6... eee ee eee ee XL. 3 79 "“Hypuroptila melanorrhoa §$, ¢ LV. 2 | 276

Contopus ochraceus .............. XXXVIIT 2 84 Ps LV. 3 | 276

| Myiarchus flammulatus............ XXXVII 2 96 | Oreopyra calolema, Sve eecee cease LIV. 1 | 333

LIST OF PLATES.

Plate. Fig. | Page. | Plate. Fig. | Page.

Oreopyra calolema, 9 ............ LIV. 2 | 333

Delattria margarethe, d .......... LIV. a. 1 | 336 FALconiD 2.

> Q cece eee ee eee ences LIV. a. 2 | 336 | Morphnus guianensis.............. LXIII. 88

sybillea, So... ee eee ee eee LIV. a. 3 | 3837 , Micrastur amaurus .............. LXV. 109

— Qe cece cece cece aes LIV. a. 4 | 337 | mirandollel ...........-20.. LXIV. 109

hemileuca, ¢ .............. LIV. 3 | 337 | Falco deiroleucus ................ LXVI. 117

a LIV. 4 | 337),

Selasphorus torridus, ¢ .......... LVI. 2 | 354

0D veee eset cere eee. LVI. 3 | B54 PURISTERIDZ.

——— ardens ................006. LVI. 1 | 356 | Leptoptila plumbeiceps ............ LXVII. 1 | 261

Lophornis adorabilis, ¢ .......... LVI. 1 | 365 CASSIDL 1... Le eee ee eee LXVIII. 1 | 262

A LVI. 2 | 365 | cerviniventris ............4- LXVII. 2 | 268

| rufinucha ...............04- LXVIIL. 2 | 264

Geotrygon lawrencii .............. LXIX. 266

CaPRIMULGIDs. veraguensis T.......2022. 0 ee LXX. 267

Caprimulgus salvini, gd ............ LVITI. 6. 387

yucatanicus, d .......... eee. LVIIL. a. 388 CRACID®.

*% i‘ QQ»

saturatus ', D veseseses sees LVI. 358" Chamepetes unicolor.....+....0... LXXI. 278

Ortalis wagleri ......... pec ccaeee LXXII. 279

Picipz.

Chloronerpes auricularis, ¢ ........ LIX. a. 3 | 408 | PHASIANIDE.

godmani, J ......--....---: LIX. a, 1 | 409 | Odontophorus melanotis .......... LXXITII. 310

ee eee LIX. a, ) 2 | 409 | leucolemus ........ cee. eee. LXXIV. 311

callopterus ................ LIX, 1 | 409 | Rhynchortyx ¢ spodiostethus ...... LXXVI. 313

Simplex ......--- +++ e sees LIX. 2 | 410 cinctlS 62... eee eee eee eee LXXV. 313

Melanerpes chrysauchen, ¢ ........ LX. 1 | 414 |

> Qe eee eee e teen eee LX. 2 | 414

Racripz&. |

Aramides axillaris ................ LXXVII. | 318 |

Vol. III. |

TINAMIDA, | |

AsIonID2. Nothocereus frantzii§ ..........-. LXXVIIL. | 452

Syrnium fulvescens .............. LXI. 9 | Crypturus mexicanus, ¢ .......... LXXIX. . 457

Scops trichopsis ..........-..0005- LXII. 16 9 Qe cece cece eee enee LXXIX. | .. | 457

* Antrostomus saturatus on the Plate.

Tt Geotrygon rufiventris on the Plate.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1904.

+ Odontophorus on the Plate.

§ Nothocercus bonapartu on the Plate.

101

121

123

126

137

145

147

146

147

165

174

175

178

181

219

223

225

227

234

243

ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA.

for tarsi 0-9 read tarsi 1:3.

for tarsi 2°2 read tarsi 1:2.

for helveolus read helvolus.

for Rotosinapam read Totosinapam.

for Musicapa read Muscipapa.

for Wicklam read Wickham.

for Ariba read Arriba.

for Temiscaltepec read Temascaltepec.

for Campylopterus read Campylorhynchus.

for Southern Mexico read Eastern Mexico.

for Ariba read Arriba..,

for Thyothorus read Thryothorus.

after Hab. insert “* Norra America,”

for vieillotti read vieilloti.

for Syvicola read Sylvicola.

for Ariba read Arriba.

for Sciurus read Seiurus.

for reorgnized read recognized.

for moticilla read motacilla.

add at end of line “ (Tab. XI. fig. 1.)”

for Ariba read Arriba.

before 1878 insert ‘ Ibis,”

for Ariba read Arriba.

for cinereus read caudatus.

for Guadalajura read Guadalajara.

for “Guaremata (Skinner), Peten, Belize,” read “ Bairisa

Honpvras, Belize (0. S.*°) ; Guaremaxa (Skinner), Peten,”

for series read species.

for coronota read coronata.

for Tupetero read Tupataro.

for cyana read cayana.

244 26,27,28 for C. read D.

252

before the heading Fam. TANAGRIDZ insert

Section LV. Oscrnes CoNnIROSTRES.

xliv

Page

294

307

322

331

342

361

371

383

389

401

408

424

481

491

500

511

ERRATA ET CORRIGENDA.

add at end of line “(Tab. XVII. fig. 2.)”

for “, Honduras, San Pedro” read “‘; Hoxpvras, San Pedro.”

for Tab. XXII. read Tab. XXIIT.

for erythromilas read erythromelas.

for C. cardinalis read C. virginianus.

before “ P. Z. 8.” insert “ Bp.”

for Antiqua read Antigua.

for grammineus read gramineus.

for bottert read botterit.

for Quatro read Cuatro.

for Rio read Real.

for Pyrangra read Pyranga.

for Lamprospar read Lampropsar.

for Achil read Cachil.

for Cienguilla read Cieneguilla.

add at end of line “ Panama, Veragua (Arcé).”

for chrgsolema read chrysolema.

BIOLOGIA CENTRALI-AMERICANA.

ZOOLOGIA.

Class AVES *.

Subclass AVES CARINAT &.

Order PASSERES.

Suborder OSCINES.

Section I. OSCINES DENTIROSTRES.

Fam. TURDIDA.

Subfam. TURDINZ.

CATHARUS.

Catharus, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 278 (1850). (Type C. aurantiirostris.)

Malacocichla, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1854, p. 285. (Type C. dryas.)

This genus differs from the true Thrushes (7Zwrdus) chiefly in its shorter, more

rounded wings and in its long slender tarsi—characters suited to the terrestrial habits

of all the species, and to their place of abode amongst dense brushwood or primeval

forest. Twelve species are now known of the genus, of which no less than nine are

found within our limits, the rest being Andean species occurring in various places as

far south as the province of Yungas in Bolivia, whence we have lately received the

species described as C. mentalis+, and where also C. dryas occurs. Though none of the

species appear to occur at or near the sea-level, some (such as C. fuscater, C. mexicanus,

* The classification here adopted is nearly that of the ‘ Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium’ of Sclater and

Salvin.

+ Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1876, p. 352.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Sept. 1879.

2 TURDIDZ.

and C. dryas) are found in the forest-clad slopes of the mountains at moderate height ;

others (as C. melpomene, C. occidentalis, and C. griseiceps) frequent the woods of the

tablelands of 4000 to 5000 feet elevation; whilst the upland forests of the volcanoes,

to a height of 10,000 feet, are the abode of C. alticola, C. frantztt, and perhaps of

C. gracilirostris. The species are generally observed on the ground, searching amongst

dead leaves for their food. C. melpomene has a pleasing song, not unlike that of a

Robin (Erithacus), a bird which its gait and actions also call to mind. |

The genus was originally founded on a Venezuelan species described as C. aurantii-

rostris by Dr. Hartlaub, and subsequently as C. immaculatus by Bonaparte. Mr.

Gould’s genus Malacocichla (based upon Catharus dryas), though somewhat aberrant as

regards coloration, is structurally identical with Catharus. Mr. Gould considered his

species to be closely allied to Chameza and Grallaria (Formicariide); but this view

cannot be maintained, Catharus being a typical member of the Turdide. The figure

of C. dryas* shows the front tarsal plate to be divided into three scutella. This is

not so in any specimen we have examined, the tarsi of all of which have a single

undivided plate running down the front.

1. Catharus melpomene.

Turdus melpomene, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 5 (1850°) ; Licht. Nomencl. p. 25.

Catharus melpomene, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 97”, 1859, pp. 823°, 362*, 370°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859,

p. 6°, 1860, p. 29"; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 322°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p.7°; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N.Y. ix. p. 90”; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N.H.i. p. 542"; Frantz. J. £. Orn. 1869, p.289 ”.

Catharus aurantirostris, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 294° (nec Hartl.).

Supra cinnamomeo-brunneus, alis extus late saturatioribus, pileo dorso fere concolori; subtus griseo-albidus,

pectore grisescentiore, gula haud striata ; rostro et pedibus aurantiaco-flavis. Long. tota 6-5, ale 3, caude 2:5,

tarsi 1°25, rostri a rictu 0°8. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé!3), Jalapa! (de Oca*), Totontepec (Boucard®), Orizaba

(Sumichrast ® 11); GuatemaLa, Duefias’, Coban (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica 8,

Quebrada Honda (v. Frantzius 1°), San José and Grecia (Carmiol !°), Volcan de

Cartago (Arcé). |

Catharus melpomene was originally described from a Mexican specimen (Jalapa),

where the species would appear to be not uncommon. In Guatemala we found it in

brushwood, both in the tablelands and also in Alta Vera Paz. In the highlands of

Costa Rica it seems to be equally abundant. Though the range of the species is pro-

bably broken by low-lying land at several points, no important variation has ensued,

and we are unable to trace any tangible differences between specimens from most dis-

tant localities. There is some variation in the intensity of the colouring of the back,

and also in the depth of the cinereous of the underparts; but these variations are not

* P.Z.8. 1854, p. 285, t. Ixxv.

CATHARUS. 3

traceable to any special locality, and appear to be simply individual peculiarities.

Catharus melpomene does not seem to be at all migratory in its habits: we observed its

presence the whole year in Guatemala; and specimens were obtained in every month

between July? and November. M. Boucard found it at Totontepec in January*. Its

nest is an open structure composed chiefly of moss; the eggs are white, thickly marked

with rufous-red. Prof. Sumichrast says !! that it nests in the gardens of Orizaba ; and.

we found it breeding close to Duefias in Guatemala. Its habits in Costa Rica seem to

resemble those it has in Guatemala. Dr. .v. Frantzius says” that its monotonous but

sweet song may be heard everywhere in the tableland of San José between April and

June wherever green hedges line the roads in the neighbourhood of towns. The bird

glides quickly through the shrubs, and flies close to the ground across the roads. It is

not shy, and allows one to watch it closely.

The eyes, bill, and eyelids of this species are rich orange in the male bird. The

maxilla of the female is light horn-colour ’.

Prof. Baird has suggested? that the Costa-Rica bird might be the true C. aurantit-

rostris of Hartlaub: but this is not the case; for on comparing it with a Venezuelan

example-in our collection, the absence in the latter of the rufous margins to the wing-

feathers, as well as the olivaceous tone of the plumage above, is very apparent. ‘The

_ previous comparison of Mexican specimens with the Venezuelan type by Dr. Hartlaub,

as recorded by Mr. Sclater 2, seems to have been overlooked by subsequent writers.

2. Catharus alticola, sp. n.

Catharus frantzii, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190’ (nec Cab.).

Supra oleagineo-brunneus ; uropygio, alis et cauda concoloribus, pileo paulo rufescentiore ; subtus grisescens,

ventre imo et crisso albis ; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula flava ; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota

6°75, alee 3:5, caudee 3-0, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1-4. Fem. mari similis.

Similis C. melpomene, sed alis extus et corpore supra minus cinnamomeis et rostri et pedum coloribus distin-

guendus. A C. frantzit uropygio et cauda oleagineis nec cinnamomeis notatus.

Hab. Guatemata, forests of the Volcan de Fuego, from 6000 to 10,000 feet (0. S. &

F. D. G.).

We obtained a single specimen only of this species during our stay at Duefas in

November 1861; and this example was subsequently! referred to the Costa-Rican C.

frantzi. During Salvin’s last visit to Guatemala, he obtained several more specimens,

and found the bird not uncommon in the ravines of the Volcan de Fuego and through-

out the forests on that mountain almost to the commencement of the growth of pines,

at an elevation of 10,200 feet. It was observed usually on the ground, searching

amongst leaves for food in the deepest shade of the forest. When standing in a wood-

cutter’s track, one of these birds would occasionally perch on a log at the side of the

path with all the gesture of a Robin (Erithacus).

4 TURDIDZ.

The additional specimens brought home by Salvin show the slight differences we

have pointed out above when compared with the highland species of Costa Rica, C.

frantzii. As these seem constant, it is necessary to provide each form with a different

name. Compared with C. melpomene, the difference between the two is much more

striking. Instead of the orange bill, eyelids, and legs of the male C. melpomene,

©. alticola has the maxilla dark horn-brown and the mandible yellowish, The eyelid is

inconspicuous dull brown, and the legs pale hazel. These differences are very obvious

when freshly-killed specimens are compared.

3. Catharus frantzii.

Catharus frantzii, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 823°; Baird, Rev. Am. Birds, p. 9°; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N. Y. ix. p.90°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 289*; Boucard, P.Z.S. 1878, p. 50°.

Supra oleagineo-brunneus ; pileo, uropygio et cauda saturatius rufescentibus ; subtus grisescens, ventre imo albo ;

rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula flava; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 6°75, ale 3°7, caude 3, rostri

a rictu 0°86, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex San José, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Rancho Redondo (/. Carmiol *), San J osé (v. Frantzius*), Volcan de

Cartago (v. Frantzius*, Arcé), Potrero Cerrado and La Palma (v. Mrantzius*),

Navarro (Boucard *).

This species seems to be nearly restricted in its range to the forests of the Volcano

of Cartago, where most collectors in Costa Rica have found it. Dr. v. Frantzius* says

that it occurs at an elevation of from 6000 to 7000 feet, and that he found it on the

slopes of Irazu in May, at Potrero Cerrado in April, and later in the year at La Palma

to the northward of San José, Carmiol having met with it at Rancho Redondo on the

western slope of Irazu. Nothing is recorded of the habits of the species, which doubt-

less resemble those of C. alticola.

4, Catharus occidentalis.

Catharus occidentalis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 323', 370°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 8°; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 542%; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, p. 11’.

Supra cinnamomeo-brunneus, pileo et cauda vix saturatioribus ; subtus cinereus, gula et abdomine medio albi-

cantibus, pectore fusco subobsolete flammulato ; rostro corneo, mandibule basi flavicante; pedibus pallide

corylinis. Long. tota 65, ale 3-5, caude 2-9, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 1-15. (Descr. maris ex Totontepec,

Mexico. Mus. nostr. exempl. typ.)

Hab. Muxico, Totontepec (Boucard}2), Oaxaca (Fenochio), Orizaba (Sumichrast **),

Sierra Madre near Zapotitlan (Sumichrast*), Tierra fria (Je Strange).

M. Boucard first discovered this species at Totontepec, in the Mexican State of Oaxaca,

in January 185912; and specimens from the same district have been since sent to us by

Don A. Fenochio. It has also been found nearer the isthmus of Tehuantepec by Prof.

CATHARUS. 5

Sumichrast, who obtained specimens in the Sierra Madre near Zapotitlan®. During

his previous residence near Orizaba the same gentleman also met with it, and sent

several specimens to the Smithsonian Institution ®; he says that it has nearly the same

range as C. melpomene*. These and others obtained by Mr. le Strange in the neigh-

bourhood of Mexico itself show that the species is not one peculiar to Western Mexico,

as Mr. Sclater at first supposed!?. Its range, however, seems to be very limited, as it

has not as yet been noticed out of the highlands of Southern Mexico.

The faint spots on the throat and chest render C. occidentalis easily distinguishable

from C. melpomene, and, indeed, from all its congeners.

5. Catharus fuscater.

Myioturdus fuscater, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 341°.

Catharus fuscater, Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, p. 824°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 132°, 1870, p. 180°; Lawr.

Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 90’.

Supra schistaceo-niger, pileo fere nigro ; subtus griseo-fuscus, abdomine medio albo; rostro et pedibus auran-

tiacis. Long. tota 6-5, ale 3-5, caude 3, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1*3. (Descr. maris ex Cordillera de Tolé

in Statu Panamensi. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Cervantes (v. Frantzius®); Panama, Cordillera de Tolé (Arcé?), Calo-

vevora and Cordillera del Chucu (Arcé+).—CotomBra!; Ecuapor 2.

This, the oldest known member of the genus, was not referred to its proper position

until Mr. Sclater removed it from the Formicariide (where it had been placed by its

describer Lafresnaye 1), and classed it among the Turdide in the genus Catharus?.

Its range, though wide, is not so extensive as that of its congener C. dryas; still it is

found from Ecuador to Costa Rica, specimens from which places, as well as from the

State of Panama, show no differences that we can trace.

Though not so rare as most other Cathari, it cannot be said to be a common species.

More specimens have been sent us from the mountainous parts of Panama than from

elsewhere.

A Costa-Rican example was compared by Mr. Lawrence with Lafresnaye’s type at

Boston, and certain differences described *, notably the colour of the maxilla and the

yellowish tinge of the abdomen in the Costa-Rica bird. The variation in the colour of

the bill, we believe, is due entirely to age, and the tint of the abdomen to the fresh-

ness of the specimen, the ochre tint of this part in C. dryas being very evanescent.

The blackness of the back is a sexual difference in species of this section of the genus.

The nearly uniform blackness of the whole of the upper plumage distinguishes

C. fuscater from all other Central-American Cathart.

6 TURDIDZ.

6. Catharus griseiceps. (Tab. I. fig. 2.)

Catharus griseiceps, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1866, p. 68°, 1867, p. 182°, 1870, p. 179°.

Supra olivaceo-brunneus, capite toto cum collo griseis, pileo paulo obscuriore, alis extus et cauda cinnamomeis ;

subtus griseus, gutture pallidiore, ventre medio et crisso albis; rostro et pedibus aurantiacis. Long.

tota 6, ale 3°5, caude 2°6, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 1:25. (Descr. maris ex Santa Fé in Statu Panamensi,

Mus. nostr. exempl. typ.)

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Santa Fé, Chitra, Calovevora, Calobre (Arcé 12°).

This species appears to be restricted in its range to the mountainous parts of the

State of Panama, being found from the Volcano of Chiriqui to Santa Fé and Calobre.

Further eastward it has not yet been met with, as none of the large collections made

on the line of the Panama Railway have contained examples. ‘The grey head and nearly

uniform ashy under surface are distinguishing characteristics of this species.

7. Catharus gracilirostris. (Tab. I. fig. 1.)

Catharus gracilirostris, Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 580°; Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 90”.

Supra oleagineo-brunneus, capite toto obscure cinereo; subtus cinereus, pectore dorso concolori; rostro nigro,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 3-0, caude 2:7, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 2-2. (Descr. exempl. typ.

ex Volcan de Cartago, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Cartago (Arcé1, Rogers), San Mateo (J. Cooper ?).

Originally described from two specimens obtained for us by Arcé in the Volcan de

Cartago. Even in Costa Rica, the only country where it has been found as yet, the

species must be considered rare, few other specimens having come under our notice.

M. Boucard, during his recent journey to that country, obtained but two examples, both

from the Volcan de Cartago, from which locality Rogers also procured us a specimen.

This last is a young bird, the remains of the spotted plumage showing on the under surface.

The black slender bill, grey head, and olive chest serve to distinguish this species at

a glance from all its congeners.

8. Catharus mexicanus. (Tab. II. fig. 1.)

Malacocichla mexicana, Bp. Compt. Rend. xlim. p. 998°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 203°; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 7°.

Catharus mexicanus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 824°, 1864, p. 172°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 11°; Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1866, p. 697, 1870, p. 179°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 90°; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 542”.

Supra oleagineo-brunneus, pileo et capitis lateribus nigris; subtus cinereus, pectoris lateribus dorso conco-

loribus, ventre medio albicante ; rostro et pedibus flavis. Long. tota 6°0, ale 3°6, caudz 2°5, rostri a

rictu 0-9, tarsi 1:25. (Descr. exempl. ex Teleman, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (White®), Jalapa (Sallé 1), Orizaba (Sumichrast }°) ; GuaTEMALA, Coban

CATHARUS. 7

(Delattre*), Teleman (0. S. & F. D. G.8); Costa Rica, Tucurriqui (Arcé?®) ;

Panama, Calovevora, Cordillera del Chucu (Arcé®). |

This well-marked species is one of the older-known members of the genus, having

been discovered near Jalapa by M. Sallé, whose specimens were described by Bona-

parte!. Though of wide range, but few examples have come under our notice; nor

did we ever actually meet with it ourselves in Guatemala, though one was secured for

us by a native collector sent by us to explore the valley of the Polochic river. At no

point of its range is it common, judging from the single specimens that have reached

us in collections from various points. C. mexicanus can at once be recognized by its

black head contrasting with the olive-brown back. In some specimens the cheeks and

chest are nearly pure grey and the head deep black; in others these parts have an

olivaceous tinge: the former we take to be male specimens, the latter female, though

Arcé’s dissected skins are marked the reverse.

9. Catharus dryas. (Tab. II. fig. 2.)

Malacocichla dryas, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 285, t. 75"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 7°.

Catharus dryas, Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, p. 824°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1866, p. 69°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 10’.

Malacocichla maculata, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 64°.

Catharus maculatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 8247; Cat. Am. B. p. 1°.

Supra olivaceo-fuscus, pileo et capitis lateribus nigerrimis; subtus ochraceus, pectore toto fusco maculato ; rostro

et pedibus flavis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3-9, caudex 3:0, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 1:35. (Descr. maris ex

V. de Agua, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guaremata (Skinner 1), Teleman (0.8. & F. D. G.°), Volcan de Agua above San

Diego (0. S.).—Cotompra; Ecuapor °°; Botivia.

We have hitherto considered the species described by Mr. Sclater as C. maculatus to be

distinct from C. dryas; but the acquisition of additional specimens both from South and

Central America has enabled us to make further comparison, with the result that we

can no longer discriminate two species. It is true that freshly-killed specimens are as

brightly coloured as Gould’s plate1; but experience has shown that the yellow of the

under surface rapidly fades with exposure ; and this being the case, one of the chief dif-

ferences relied upon fails to differentiate the two species. The difference of the colour

of the back is sexual, females being more olivaceous than males.

It is somewhat singular that in Central America this species has hitherto only been

observed in Guatemala. Its presence in other parts doubtless remains to be discovered.

For a long time we were accustomed to look upon C. dryas as one of the rarest of

Guatemalan birds; and until Salvin’s last journey only three specimens had come under

our notice. Two of these were from Vera Paz, one of them having been shot in the

valley of the Rio Polochic near Teleman. The precise origin of the other, the type,

now in the British Museum, is not known.

8 TURDIDA.

When staying at Duefias in the autumn of 1873, Salvin’s Indian hunters occasionally

brought specimens from the forests of the slopes of the Volcan de Agua, above the

village of San Diego, and from 2000 to 3000 feet above the sea. In this way more

than a dozen specimens were acquired, amongst which was only one female. The bill,

eyelids, tarsi, and toes of the fresh bird are orange, and the under plumage of a rich

tint not seen in older skins.

In South America the range of C. dryas is extensive. It occurs, though rarely, in

Bogota collections. Fraser obtained it at Chillanes and Pallatanga, in Ecuador®; and

the birds described by Mr. Sclater as C. maculatus came from the valley of the Rio

Napo*®, Mr. Buckley has also sent us a skin from Baisa in the same Republic. To

Mr. Buckley, also, we are indebted for a skin from Bolivia.

TURDUS.

Turdus, Linneus, Syst. Nat. 1. p. 291 (1766) (partim).

Seventeen species of Turdus are found within the limits of Central America; of these,

eight are northern species, several of which visit the country only during the winter

months. The resident species are variously distributed, some having a range almost

coextensive with the limits of the subregion. Others are much more restricted in their

domicile ; and amongst these the species inhabiting the higher ranges of mountains and

the pine-clad summits of the volcanoes are specially to be noted. Nearly every large

section of the country has one or more Thrushes peculiar to it: thus in Mexico we find

on the shores of the Pacific, from Mazatlan to Tehuantepec, 7. jlavirostris, and in the

pine-forests of the interior 7. pinicola. In the highlands of Guatemala 7. rufitorques

is found; Mexico and Guatemala have 7. infuscatus in common, a true Blackbird,

very closely allied to the European species, of which a second representative is found in

the Andes, in Venezuela, and in the island of Tobago; Costa Rica has two peculiar

species in 7. plebeius and T. nigrescens; and Costa Rica and the State of Panama share

T. obsoletus. The resident species of wide range are T. tristis and J. grayi. The

former of these extends from Southern Mexico almost to the line of the Panama

Railway; the latter, with a wider northern extension, also passes still further to the

southward.

Concerning the seven species constituting Prof. Baird’s subgenus Hylocichla, we are

in some doubt how far to admit the claims of all of them to rank as separate species,

especially as it has been strongly urged by American writers that links are not wanting

connecting some of them together. Without going into a discussion of these claims,

we may remark that our chief object in treating Turdus ustulatus and T. alicie as

distinct from 7. swainsoni, and T. auduboni as distinct from 7. pallasi, is to give

prominence to the peculiarities of their geographical distribution in the winter season—

points which have considerable significance when the value of slight modifications of

colour or size is attempted to be estimated.

TURDUS. 9

A. HYLOCICHLA.

a. Major, capite lete mame pectore et hypochondriis permaculatis.

1. Turdus mustelinus.

Tawny Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. p. 28°; Penn. Arct. Zool. ii. p. 19°.

Turdus mustelinus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 817°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 294°, 1859, p. 362’; Moore,

P. Z.S. 1859, p. 55°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 67; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 13°; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 543°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.11"; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 7"; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 57; Coues, B. N.W. p. 2”.

Turdus (Hylocichla) mustelinus, Coues, B. Col. Vall. p. 28.

Turdus densus, Bp. C. R. xxxviii. p. 2, et Notes Orn. p. 26”.

Supra precipue in pileo cinnamomeus, dorso postico et cauda olivaceo tinctis ; subtus albus, pectore et hypo-

chondriis distincte nigro maculatis ; auricularibus et capitis lateribus nigro et rufescente albido notatis ;

loris albis ; rostro corylino, mandibule basi et pedibus flavis. Long. tota 7-5, ale 4:3, caudee 2:9, rostri

a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1:25. (Descr. exempl. ex Choctum, Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, east of the’ Missouri plains !4.— Mexico, Cordova (Sallé*),

Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast°), Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast '), Tierra

Caliente of the Atlantic (le Strange), Tabasco’; GuaTemaLa’, Choctum, Coban,

Tactic, Godines (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, Omoa (Leyland °).—Cuba ©.

This well-known species was described by Latham! and Pennant? towards the end

of last century; and upon their descriptions Gmelin® bestowed the name Zurdus

mustelinus. It is a common species throughout the United States, between the

Mississippi river and the Atlantic, and breeds as far north as Massachusetts". In

winter it rarely visits Cuba 2, but is common in the eastern parts of Mexico and Central

America, as far south as Omoa on the north coast of Honduras®. In Guatemala the

most western point we have met with it is Godines, a small village 7000 feet above the

sea, situated in the mountains at the eastern end of the upland lake of Atitlan ; here

it was observed in February 1874. In the neighbourhood of Coban, in Vera Paz, it is,

during the winter months, a very common bird; and it may be found in the second-

growth woods, especially wherever a mountain-stream runs. It utters no song during

its stay in Guatemala; but during the summer Turdus mustelinus is remarkable for its

song, to the sweetness of which all writers on North-American birds bear testimony !.

As Prof. Baird remarks’, this Thrush is subject to very slight variation in its

markings, but some specimens have the spots on the breast rather larger and more

thickly spread than others. This difference is shown in our series from Guatemala,

and sufficiently proves that there is no ground for supposing 7. densus, Bonap., founded

on a specimen from Tabasco, to be a valid species )°.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Sept. 1879. 2

10 TURDIDZ.

b. Minores, cauda dorso concolor.

2. Turdus fuscescens. “

Turdus fuscescens, Steph., Shaw’s Zool. x. p. 182°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 826°; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. p. 17°; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p.92*; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.1. p. 9°;

Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 57°; Merrill, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 119”.

Turdus (Hylocichla) fuscescens, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 39°.

Supra rufescenti-brunneus unicolor; subtus albus, colli lateribus et pectore rufescentibus maculis subtriangu-

laribus brunneis parce adspersis ; rostro corylino, mandibule basi et pedibus flavis. Long. tota 6:8, ale

3:8, caudee 2°75, rostri a rictu °9, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Washington, D.C., Smiths. Inst. no. 28230.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, Canada, Eastern States, and westwards to Utah, Colorado, and

Texas®8.—Panama, Lion Hill (Jf/Leannan)*, Aspinwall (Mus. Boucard).—S.

America to the Amazon*; Cua °.

An excellent account of this species, as regards its range within the limits of North

America, its habits and synonymy, is given in Dr. Coues’s ‘ Birds of the Colorado

Valley’®, and in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway’s work®. In the former Dr. Coues

remarks on the absence of Turdus fuscescens from Arizona and New Mexico, and adds

that it must take a somewhat circuitous route in gaining its winter home in Central

America. But the records of the occurrence of this species outside the limits of the

United States are so scanty that it can hardly be said that we really know where the

major portion of the winter migrants go during that season. It is quite rare in Cuba °;

and as far as Central America and Mexico are concerned, we have Dr. Merrill’s authority

for its occurrence in the valley of the Rio Grande’; but from this point, if we except

Prof. Sumichrast’s doubtful reference to the occurrence of this species near Orizaba*,

we have no trace of it whatever until we come to Panama, where M‘Leannan obtained a

single specimen’, and whence we have recently seen another in the possession of

Mons. Boucard, to whom it was sent from Aspinwall. These two specimens are our

authority for including Turdus fuscescens in this work. Passing into South America we

have only five instances of the occurrence of the species there. Herr von Pelzeln

records * that Natterer obtained four specimens in December at San Vicente in Brazil ;

and Mr. H. Wickham also shot one at Santarem on the Amazon. This last-named

specimen we once had an opportunity of examining.

3. Turdus swainsoni. Vv

Brown Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. p. 28°; Penn. Arct. Zool. ii. p. 19”.

Turdus swainsoni, Cab., Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 188°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 451°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.

p- 19°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 91°; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 117 (2);

Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. p. 14°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 58°.

* Mem. Bost. Soc N. H. 1. p. 5438.

TURDUS. 11

Turdus (Hylocichla) swainsoni, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 84°.

Turdus minor, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 809 (partim); Sel. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 212(?)".

Turdus minimus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 5”; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 7”.

Supra cinnamomeo-brunneus unicolor ; subtus albus, gula, genis et pectore fulvescenti lavatis ; cervice antico,

pectore et hypochondriis brunneo crebro maculatis ; rostro corneo, mandibule basi et pedibus pallide

corylinis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3-9, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Paraiso,

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, Eastern States, westwards to Humboldt Mountains, north to Slave

Lake and Fort Yukon *.—Mextco(?), Orizaba (Botteri+)(?), Tapana, Tehuantepec

(Sumichrast")(?); GuatemaLa, Coban (Sarg fide v. Berlepsch); Costa Rica,

Barranca, Frailes, and Cervantes (Carmiol®), Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Lion Hill

(M‘Leannan *), Paraiso (Hughes).—Cotompia 12; Ecuapor*; Peru?; Cusa9.

Though this Thrush was known to Latham ! and Pennant? and other early writers,

no name was applied to it that is admissible until Dr. Cabanis, in 1845, bestowed upon

it that of Turdus swainsont*, under which it is now universally known. The history

of the early nomenclature of this bird is fully given by Dr. Coues in his ‘ History of

the Hylocichle,’ and in the synonymy of the species, A full account of 7. swainsoni

and its close ally 7. ustulatus will also be found in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway’s work.

Putting aside 7. aliciw for the present, and considering the relationship subsisting

between the eastern and western forms of this bird, we find points in their winter

distribution that are of considerable interest. Hitherto we have been in the habit of

ascribing the winter visitant to Guatemala to the eastern bird, 7. swainsoni; but

the acquisition of a larger series and a reexamination of the question shows that

by far the larger portion of them are of the western form, 7. ustulatus. Still the

true 7. swainsont does occur in Guatemala, as Count v. Berlepsch assures us he has a

specimen from Coban that is undoubtedly of that race. Passing further south, we

find that in Costa Rica the true 7’. swainsont seems to be exclusively found. Beyond

Costa Rica we have been unable to trace 7. ustulatus at all, every specimen from

Panama and South America belonging to the 7. swainsoni form. We are left in some

uncertainty as regards the Mexican bird. 7. ustulatus has undoubtedly been recognized

in the Tres Marias Islands; but a bird from Orizaba, and others from Tehuantepec,

have been ascribed to 7. swainsont, a race we should not expect to find in Mexico at all.

The winter distribution of these two races is almost exactly parallel to that of

Geothlypis philadelphia and G. macgillivrayt, where the eastern bird is absent from

Mexico and Guatemala, the western bird being the prevalent species. The two mingle

in Costa Rica; and in Panama and further south the eastern form is exclusively found.

4. Turdus ustulatus.

Turdus ustulatus, Nutt. Man. i. p. 400 (1840)'; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p.18*; Grayson, P. Bost. Soc.

N. H. xiv. p. 276°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc, N. H. i, p. 266%.

12 TURDIDZ.

Turdus swainsoni, var. ustulatus, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 16”.

Turdus swainsoni, c. ustulatus, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 35°.

Turdus minor, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 2127 (?).

Turdus swainsoni, Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 11° (?).

Supra olivaceo-brunneus unicolor ; subtus albus, gula, genis et pectore fulvescenti lavatis; cervice antico,

pectore et hypochondriis brunneo crebre maculatis ; rostro corneo, mandibule basi et pedibus pallide

corylinis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3-7, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu *8, tarsi 1:2. (Deser. maris ex Volcan de

Agua, Guatemala (alt. 3500 ft.). Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, Pacific coast from Alaska to California®>.—Mexico, Tres Marias

Islands (Grayson**), Orizaba (Botteri*)?, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast *)?; GuatE-

MALA, Coban, Duefias, Costa Grande (0. S. & F. D. G.).

This western race of 7. swainsoni, from which it differs in the more rufescent tint of

its plumage above, seems to winter in Mexico and Guatemala. Grayson found it quite

abundant in the month of January in the woods of the Tres Marias Islands off the

Mexican coast, where it was more timid and shy than any other bird on the islands.

It uttered a low plaintive whistle, and seemed solitary in its habits. Grayson adds that

though common on these islands it is never seen on the adjoining mainland‘. Birds

attributed to 7’. swainsoni have been recorded from Orizaba’ and Tehuantepec®; but

from the line of migration of this race, which barely touches eastern Guatemala, it seems

probable that these birds really belonged to the rufous form 7. ustulatus.

In Guatemala we found it very common at Coban in Vera Paz during the winter

months, where it frequented the second-growth woods so prevalent in that district. On

the Pacific side of Guatemala we did not meet with it until the winter of 1873-74. It

was then found to be not uncommon on the slopes of the mountains between Capetillo

and San Diego, a heavily wooded tract of country with patches of second-growth woods.

In thus tracing the winter quarters of 7. ustulatus and T. swainsont as shown by the

slight difference in colour between them, we are aware that these differences are of a

very slight character, and that it is very likely that the two forms will, at no distant date,

have to be considered as belonging to one somewhat variable species. Should this be so,

the name this species should bear is 7. ustulatus.

5. Turdus aliciz.

Turdus alicie, Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 217, t.81.f. 2°; Rev. Am. B. p. 21°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.N. Y.

ix. p. 91°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 180°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p.11°; Gundl.

Orn. Cub. p. 58°.

Turdus (Hylocichla) swainsoni, b. alicia, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 357.

Similis 7’. swainsoni, sed colore corporis superi grisescentiore, genis griseis et colore gule et pectoris albicanti-

oribus distinguendus. Long. tota 7:0, ale 4:1, caude 3:0, rostri a rictu °8, tarsi 1:23. (Descr. maris ex

Chiriqui. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, Eastern States, west to Fort-Yukon and Missouri-river States, shores

TURDUS. 13

of Arctic Ocean from Labrador to Kodiak 5.—Cosra Rica, San José (v. Frantzius*) ;

Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé*).—CuBa®; Eastern Asia in the north of

Kamtschatka.

Concerning the true status of Turdus alicie much controversy has taken place amongst

ornithologists of the United States. Prof. Baird was the first to distinguish it from

T. swainsoni!; and its specific distinctness is upheld in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway’s

work®. Mr. J. A. Allen has considered it to be undistinguishable as a species from

TL’. swainsont, whilst Dr. Coues, in his most recent work’, places it as an imperfectly

segregated race of 7’. swainsoni, and ranks it in the same category with 7. ustulatus.

These naturalists have all had many times over the amount of materials at their disposal

for arriving at their conclusions than we have; so that we do not feel in a position to

give a decided opinion on so delicate a point; but the skins before us, so far as they go,

conform to the differences pointed out by the original describer, and we have no diffi-

culty in assigning our single Central-American specimen to its right position.

This skin, from the Volcan de Chiriqui, and another from Costa Rica are all that

have hitherto been obtained in Central America; so that that country can hardly be

looked upon as the usual winter quarters of the race. What becomes of the birds at

this season, which in summer swarm on the shores of the Arctic Ocean to breed, is a

matter that is not yet known. T°. aliciv is stated to have once visited Cuba®; and it

is said to be found on the mainland of South America; but on the latter point we have

no evidence of our own to bring forward. A full history of 7. aliciw is given in Baird,

Brewer, and Ridgway’s work.

c. Cauda rufescente, dorso haud concolori.

6. Turdus pallasi.

Turdus pallasi, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 2051; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 272°; Baird, Rev.

Am. B. p. 14°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 18%.

Turdus (Hylocichla) pallasi, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 20°.

Supra brunnescenti-fuscus, uropygio et cauda rufescentibus ; subtus albus, linea rictali et maculis pectoralibus

distinctis fusco-nigris ; rostro corylino, mandibule basi flavo, pedibus flavis. Long. tota 6:3, ale 3-5,

caudee 2°65, rostri a rictu °8, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, Eastern States 4-—Guatema.a, Coban (0. 8.2).

The true Zurdus pallasi, the small Rufous-tailed Thrush of the eastern States, can,

so far as we know at present, only claim a place in the Central-American fauna from

the fact of a specimen of it having been obtained near Coban, Vera Paz, in November

1859. This agrees accurately with examples from the vicinity of Washington with

which we have compared it. It is decidedly smaller than the resident Mexican and

Rocky-Mountain race 7’. auduboni, but larger than the western race usually calledZ’. nanus.

14 TURDIDA.

The usual winter quarters of the true 7. pallast do not apparently extend beyond

Florida, as there are no authentic records of its presence in the West-Indian islands,

nor even in the valley of the Rio Grande. Our Guatemalan specimen therefore should,

’ we think, be looked upon as a straggler which has flown far beyond the ordinary limits

of the winter quarters of the species. A very full account of 7. pallasi and its allied

races is given in Dr. Coues’s recently published ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley ’ °.

7. Turdus auduboni.

Merula silens, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 869° (nec Vieill.).

Turdus silens, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 800°.

Turdus solitarius, Scl. P. Z.S. 1857, p. 212°.

Turdus auduboni, Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 16*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 542°;

Henshaw, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 134°.

Turdus pallasi, var. auduboni, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. 1. p. 21 -

Turdus (Hylocichla) pallasi, c. auduboni, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 21°.

Similis 7’. pallasi, sed colore corporis supra cinerascentiore et minus cinnamomeo, cauda brunnescentiore ;

statura quoque crassitiore distinguendus. Long. tota 7:0, ale 4:0, caudg 3:1, rostri a rictu ‘8, tarsi 1-2.

(Descr. fem. ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, Southern Rocky-Mountain region ® 7 §.—Mexico, Temascaltepec

(Bullock 1), La Parada (Boucard *), Orizaba (Botteri®, Sumichrast°); GUATEMALA,

Pine-forest of Volcan de Fuego, alt. 10,000 to 12,000 ft. (O. S.).

In his paper on Bullock’s collection of Mexican birds Swainson gave the characters of

this Thrush 1, but unfortunately chose for it the name of Twrdus stlens, one that had

previously been employed by Vieillot. He also erroneously referred to pl. 43. fig. 2

of Wilson’s ‘ American Ornithology’ (vol. v.) as representing his bird, this figure, in fact,

being a portrait of 7. swainsoni. Swainson’s name, however, remained in common use

until 1864, when Prof. Baird showed the impropriety of its retention, and substituted

that of 7. auduboni, basing his name upon a specimen from Fort Bridger *.

The relationship subsisting between the three forms of Red-tailed Thrushes 7. pallasi,

T. auduboni, and T. nanus had long been a matter of discussion amongst ornithologists

of the United States; and the matter still seems to be sub judice. In Dr. Coues’s

‘Birds of the Colorado Valley,’ and in Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway’s ‘ North American

Birds,’ the small western form 7. nanus and the large Colorado and Mexican form

T. auduboni are treated as imperfectly segregated races of the eastern 7. pallast; but

Mr. W. H. Henshaw, in a recent paper ®, seems inclined to the view that segregation has

proceeded far enough to admit of each race being recognized with certainty. As our

American brethren, with far more ample materials from which to form a judgment, seem

to be not yet of accord on this subject, it would be presumptuous of us to pronounce a

decided opinion; but as 7’. nanus seems to be absent from our limits, and as the true

T. pallasit has only occurred once within them, 7’. auduboni is left practically the sole

TURDUS. 15

representative of the three races within our limits. We therefore think it best to use

this name for the common Mexican bird.

In North America 7. auduboni is found from Fort Bridger southwards, Mr. Ridgway

having met with it in the Wahsatch Mountains, and Mr. Allen having observed it

breeding in the mountains of Colorado from about 8000 feet to the timber-line. In

Mexico it is a common species in the tablelands, judging from the number of specimens

sent home in collections. Prof. Sumichrast mentions it as an inhabitant of the alpine

region, and as common in the pine-woods of the district of Orizaba. He obtained it at

all seasons at Moyoapam, a locality about 8500 feet above the sea-level 5.

Its presence in Guatemala is known from a single specimen obtained in December

1873 in the pine-forests of the Volcan de Fuego, at an elevation of about 11,000 feet

above the sea. Whether the species is resident in this tract of forest or not cannot at

present be stated; but it is not at all improbable that it is to be found there, as near

Orizaba, at all seasons. It is also almost sure to be met with in the upland ridges

of the Guatemala Altos which stretch north-westwards to the Mexican frontier. Our

Guatemala bird exactly resembles Mexican examples, being fully equal to them in size,

and consequently considerably larger than the Vera-Paz specimen of the true 7. pallasi.

B. PLANESTICUS.

Gula nigro striata aut punctata, pectore et hypochondrits immaculatis.

Sexus similes.

8. Turdus tristis.

Merula tristis, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369”.

Turdus tristis, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 888°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 180°; Salv. Ibis, 1872,

p. 314%.

Turdus assimilis, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 4’; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 202°, 1859, pp. 3627, 370°,

1864, p. 172°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 24"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 5437.

Turdus leucauchen, Scl. P. Z. 8.1858, p. 447; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 6; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867,

p. 182; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 91”.

Supra olivascenti-brunneus, cauda (in stirpe typica) dorso concolori; subtus dilutior, macula pectorali et ventre

imo albis; gula nigro distincte maculata ; rostro flayido (nonnunquam corylino), pedibus pallide corylinis.

Long. tota 9:0, ale 4:9, caude 3°8, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1:3. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Temascaltepec (Bullock), Jalapa? ( Sallé°, de Oca"), Vigia (Sallé*), Juquila

and Teotalcingo (Boucard®), Orizaba (Botteri), Forests of Muero, Potrero, Cordova,

and Orizaba (Swmichrast 14), valley of Mexico (White °, le Strange), Puente nacional

(Pease) ; GUATEMALA 1°, Coban, Choctum, Cahabon to San Luis, Duefias (0. 8. &

F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely?); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt )4:

Costa Rica, Dota Mountains (Carmiol °), Navarro (J. Cooper ®); Panama, Volcan

16 TURDID.

de Chiriqui, Boqueti de Chitra, Cordillera de Tolé, Calovevora, Calobre, Santa

Fé (Arcé? 14),

Under the name Merula tristis Swainson, in 1827, described a Thrush from the

highlands of Mexico!. The description is so brief that it is hardly to be wondered at

that the name was for some time unrecognized or misapplied, and the same species

received the new name of Turdus assimilis from Dr. Cabanis®. As Swainson’s type, still

existing at Cambridge, shows that the description, so far as it goes, is accurate, 7. tristis

is certainly the right name to use for this Thrush.

It belongs to a southern group of Thrushes, its nearest ally being 7’. crotopezus of

Bolivia and South Brazil, from which it differs but little.

Within Mexico and Central America 7’. tristis has a wide range, extending from

South Mexico to the State of Panama; but within this area a very considerable amount

of variation is observable in a large series of specimens. Mexican individuals which

are typical of 7’. tristis have the back olive-brown and a light-coloured tail. In Guate-

mala, especially in the western parts, birds with a rich olive-brown back are common ;

but their tails are somewhat darker than those of Mexican specimens. Similar birds also

occur at the extreme end of the range of the species, in the State of Panama. In the

northern parts of Vera Paz the prevalent form of this Thrush has the back of a blackish

ash colour; the white mark on the throat is also more conspicuous than in the Mexican

bird, and the black throat-marks more plainly shown. Upon one of these Vera-Paz

specimens Mr. Sclater bestowed the name 7’ leucauchen “; but from the time the separa-

tion was made specimens have been reaching us from various parts showing characters

connecting by every stage of transition 7. leucauchen to T. tristis. We have thus been

obliged to merge the former name as a synonym of the latter; for it is evident that

T. leucauchen, though in its extreme form very different from 7. ¢ristis, is not nearly

sufficiently segregated to admit of the two races bearing distinct names. ‘The

T. lewcauchen form is not strictly confined to the forests of Northern Vera Paz, but is

found also in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, but everywhere mingled with birds

approaching the 7. tristis type of colour.

T. tristis, as we propose to call all these birds, appears to be by no means an uncom-

mon species in Southern Mexico, as most collectors there have obtained an abundant

supply of specimens. Prof. Sumichrast tells us that it has a very extended area of dis-

tribution in the State of Vera Cruz, being, however, restricted to the hot and temperate

regions below an elevation of about 4300 feet. Though a sedentary bird, he adds, it is

not always to be found in the same localities, but changes its residence frequently,

influenced by the ripening of the berries upon which it feeds’. M. Boucard obtained

its eggs in the State of Oaxaca, which Mr. Sclater described as like pale varieties of

T. merula, being of a pale greenish white, spotted and freckled with two shades of

rufous, and measuring 1:1 by 0°75 inch 8. |

TURDUS. 17

In Guatemala T. tristis is seldom absent from the neighbourhood of Duefias in the

plains between the Volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, where Jpomea murocoides abounds.

It is there a rather shy bird. We never found its nest, but obtained young birds which

“had not thrown off their first spotted plumage. In Vera Paz T. tristis is by no means

common in the vicinity of Coban; but at a lower elevation in the forests that stretch

away to the confines of Peten it is very abundant. The bird-collectors of Coban obtain

many skins from this district ; and we ourselves observed it wherever we went in these

forests. Owing, perhaps, to the different character of the vegetation of this part of

Vera Paz to what prevails at Duefas, 7’ ¢ristis is here a strictly forest-loving species.

To this cause, too, is probably due the darker colouring of the birds of Vera Paz.

9. Turdus plebeius.

Turdus plebejus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 823*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 91°; v. Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 290’.

Sordide fuscus, supra parum olivascenti tinctus, subtus nisi hypochrondriis dilutior ; subalaribus vix cervinis ;

rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 10-5, alee 5°5, caude 4:3, rostri a rictu 1-2, tarsi 1°3. (Deser.

maris ex La Palma, Costa Rica. Smiths. Inst. no. 42804. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Ricat, Dota, San José, La Palma (v. Frantzius?), Grecia, Cervantes

(Carmiol *), Volcan de Cartago (Rogers).

This plain-coloured Thrush was first described by Dr. Cabanis from Costa-Rica spe-

cimens sent by Drs. v. Frantzius, Hoffmann, and Ellendorf to the Berlin Museum.

Dr. v. Frantzius has since forwarded skins of it to the Smithsonian Institution ; and other

collectors in Costa Rica have also met with it, though it would appear to be not so com-

mon as some of its congeners. Dr. v. Frantzius tells us it is found in the forests of the

mountainous parts of the country at an elevation of from 3000 to 6000 feet above the sea.

Turdus plebeius, though devoid of any striking characters in the markings of its

plumage, is nevertheless a well-defined species, its nearest ally being Z. ignobilis of

Ecuador and Colombia. It has the bill black as in that species; and the throat is

without the conspicuous patch of white which distinguishes 7. ¢ristis and its allies.

It differs from 7. ignobilis in its larger size, and in having the whole of the under

plumage of the same dull grey-brown colour as the chest, these parts in 7. ignodilis

being nearly white. In his original description of the species, Dr. Cabanis compares

T. plebeius with T. amaurochalinus (i. e. T. lewcomelas), a bird of the same group as

T. ignobilis; and this seems to us to be its proper position. The first primary is quite

short, as in birds of that group; and the under wing-coverts have a rufous tinge.

T. nigrescens and T. chiqguaco, between which T. plebeius is placed in the ‘ Nomenclater

Avium Neotropicalium,’ have each of them a long first primary, and thus belong to a

different section of the genus; and from their immediate vicinity we now think that

ZT. plebeius ought to be removed.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Sept. 1879. 3

18 TURDIDZ.

10. Turdus grayi.

Turdus grayi, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 118’; Scl. 1859, pp. 362 >, 870°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 5*;

Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 60°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 172°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 344 .

1870, p. 836°; Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 182°, 1870, p. 180”; Ibis, 1866, p. 202", 1872,

p. 314"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 26%; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 175", ix. pp. 91”,

199"; Grayson, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 266; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 11”;

Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 276" ; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 543%;

v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 290”.

Turdus tristis, Scl. P.Z. S. 1856, p. 294° (nec Swains.).

Turdus casius, Bp. Compt. Rend. xli. p. 657”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 826.

Turdus helvolus, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vog. (1830), cf. J. f. Orn. 1868, p. 57” (descr. nulla).

Supra ochraceo-fuscus unicolor ; subtus cinnamomeus, gutture striolis fuscis notato ; subalaribus leete cervinis :

rostro fusco, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 9, ale 5, caudw 4:2, rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-3. (Deser.

exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. supra dorsi plumis medialiter stricte cervinis, tectricibus alarum cervino terminatis; subtus plumis omni-

bus fusco transfasciatis. (Descr. maris juv. ex Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mzxico, Tepic and Tres Marias Islands (Grayson "' 1°), Cordova (Sallé 22). Jalapa

(Deppe, Mus. Berol.® ; de Oca*), Choapam and Villa Alta (Bowcard*), State of

Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ), Mirador (Sartorius 1), valley of Mexico (White ®, le

Strange), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast 1°), Merida, Yucatan (Schott 1°) ;

GuateMALA!, Duefias+, Escuintla, Retalhuleu, San Gerdnimo®, Tactic, Coban

(0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely®); San Sanvapor,

Acajutla (J. M. Dow 8); Nicaracua, Chontales (Janson '*); Costa Rica, San José

and Barranca (Carmiol 3), Quebrada Honda, Lepanto (v. Frantzius*'), Volcan de

Cartago (Carmiol); Panama, V. de Chiriqui (Arcé 1°), David (Hicks *), Chitra and

Santa Fé (Arcé®), Lion Hill (1 Leannan’ *4), Obispo (0. S.).—CoLomBIa.

This well-known Central-American Thrush was first described by Bonaparte from

Guatemalan specimens brought from that country by Col. Velasquez’. It had, how-

ever, been previously received in the Berlin Museum from Deppe and Schiede, who had

procured examples during their travels in Mexico near Jalapa?*. In his list of the

birds collected by these travellers, Lichtenstein included this Thrush under the name of

Turdus helveolus, but gave no description of it.

Turdus grayi is one of the commonest species of Thrush in Mexico and. Central

America, being found nearly everywhere in the hot and temperate districts from Tepic

in the far north-west to Panama, and is a resident species wherever it occurs, except

perhaps at the extreme north-western limits of its range. Grayson, to whom we are

indebted for our knowledge of this district, says that it is at times abundant in the

winter months on the Tres Marias Islands, and that it is frequently found in the “ tierra

caliente” of the mainland, where he met with it breeding near Tepic in the month of

May. He adds that it is gregarious and partially migratory. Prof. Sumichrast, who

TURDUS. 19

found it in the State of Vera Cruz, says 2° that it is perhaps the most abundant of all

the Mexican Turdide, that it is resident in the hot and temperate regions, but does not

pass above an elevation of 4300 feet. He afterwards found it on the isthmus of

Tehuantepec; but there it was not so common'!®. In Guatemala Turdus grayi is

common in the neighbourhood of towns and villages up to an elevation of between

5000 and 6000 feet. It was found breeding in abundance in April and May near

Duefas, and also near San Gerénimo in Vera Paz. It is usually to be seen in the

outskirts of plantations and in the orchards near houses, but not so much in the forest

away from habitations. Its song is rich and of considerable compass, being quite equal

to that of any of its congeners. Its powers of song make it a favourite cage-bird in

Spanish and native houses. Dr. v. Frantzius, who seems to have been less favourably

impressed with the song:of Turdus grayi in Costa Rica than we were with it in

Guatemala, says?! that it is one of the commonest birds in Costa Rica, and that he

met with it from the shores of the Gulf of Nicoya to places as much as 6000 feet

above the sea, but that it is more rarely seen during the dry season than during the

wet, at the commencement of which it breeds, and when its monotonous song may be

heard everywhere from morning till night till it becomes wearisome. Its food in the

dry season consists of the small fruits of the various species of Ficus, which at this time

of year are found in great quantities.

Turdus grayt is subject to but slight variation in different parts of its wide range. The

most noticeable divergence from the normal colour prevalent in Guatemala is to be seen

in some specimens from Costa Rica and Panama, which are of a greyer tint ; upon one

of these Bonaparte seems to have founded his 7. casius *°, a bird Mr. Lawrence was at

one time disposed to admit as a species distinct from 7. grayi*4. But as these greyer

birds are found with others of the normal colour, we think their claims to separation

hardly established. In the neighbourhood of Santa Marta, in Colombia, a small race of

T. grayi is found which is rather less cinnamon in tint than the usual form ; it is also

paler beneath. This race has been described by Bonaparte as Turdus luridus; but we

do not think it ought to be admitted as specifically different from 7. grayi.

In Guatemala Gray’s Thrush builds in low bushes a nest of roots and fibres and small

twigs, lining it with dry grass and fine roots. The eggs, usually three in number, are

more or less covered with spots and blotches of red-brown on a ground of pale bluish

green. One of them is figured in ‘The Ibis’ for 1859, t.v. f. 7. They measure 1:2 x°8.

}

11. Turdus obsoletus.

Turdus obsoletus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 470°, ix. pp. 91°, 145°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 28°;

Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 183°, 1870, p. 180°; Ibis, 1869, p. 312"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 290°.

Supra cinnamomeo-brunneus unicolor; subtus paulo dilutior, gutture striolis fuscis vix apparentibus, ventre

20 TURDIDA.

imo et crisso albis, subalaribus lete cervinis; rostro fusco-nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 9-0, ale 4-9,

caudee 3°7, rostri a rictu 1°1, tarsi 1:2. (Descr. fem. ex Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Jw. subtus paulo dilutior, pectoris plumis fusco maculatis, tectricibus alarum cervino terminatis. (Descr. av.

juv. ex Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica®, Cervantes (Carmiol?, M. L. Calleja*), Orosi, Volcan de Poas

(v. Frantzius®); Panama*, Santa Fé (Arcé*), Lion Hill (I/‘Leannan ').

This Thrush, which seems to be the northern form of the South-American Turdus

fumigatus, and still more nearly allied to the Amazonian 7. hauawelli, is distinguishable

from both by the whiteness of the feathers of the middle of the abdomen and under

tail-coverts, and from the former by its darker upper plumage. It was first described

by Mr. Lawrence from a Panama specimen 4, whence we have also received examples >,

as well as from the neighbouring State of Costa, Rica’, where Dr. v. Frantzius also found

it, at Orosi, in February and on the Volcan de Poas in March®. At one time we sup-

posed that, as the first specimens received were females, the males would prove to be

dark-coloured ®, as the bird is not unlike the female of the South-American T urdus ser-

ranus, the male of which is black’. Mr. Lawrence, however 2, has always held to the

belief that the sexes do not differ in 7. odsoletus ; and all subsequent specimens received

tend to show that he is right in his opinion’. The name odsoletus, chosen for this

Thrush, seems to have been suggested by the presence in the type specimen of spots on

the greater wing-coverts, the remains of the immature plumage.

Turdus obsoletus appears to be nowhere common, and is confined in its range to the

narrow tract of country between Costa Rica and the Isthmus of Darien.

12. Turdus migratorius. Y

Turdus migratorius, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 292"; Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vég. (1830), ef. J. f. Orn.

1863, p. 57°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 294°, 1858, p. 300*, 1859, p. 362°, 1864, p. 172°; Salv.

& Scl. Ibis, 1860, p. 396"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 28°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

p. 543°; Merrill, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 118”.

Planesticus migratorius, Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 58”.

Turdus migratorius, var. migratorius, Baird, Brew. & Ridg. N. Am. B. i. p. 25”.

Turdus (Planesticus) migratorius, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 8”.

Supra cinerascens, pileo, capitis lateribus et cauda nigricantibus; subtus castaneus, ventre imo et crisso albis,

hoc fusco notato; gula alba nigro striolata; periophthalmio albo; rostro flavo apice corneo, pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 9-0, ale 5-0, caudee 3°7, rostri a rictu 1:1, tarsi 1-25. (Descr. maris ex La Parada,

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America! 1° 2 13._MeExico?, Rotosinapam (Sallé?), La Parada (Boucard*),

Jalapa (de Oca*), Mountains of Orizaba (Sumichrast®), Mirador (Sartorius),

Oaxaca (Menochio), valley of Mexico (White®, le Strange); GuatemaLa, Coban

O. S.").—Cusa 1,

The American Robin is a common bird in Mexico, where it is found throughout the

TURDUS. . 21

highlands in the winter months, but where a considerable number remain to breed.

In this respect the habits of the species are much the same as in the United States, a

few birds being found nearly everywhere throughout the year. Prof. Sumichrast? con-

siders 7. migratorius to be a resident species in the alpine region of the State of

Vera Cruz in Mexico, having found its young in July in numbers in the mountains of

Orizaba at an elevation of about 8000 feet. It is one of the most abundant of the

Thrushes, he says, in the alpine region, where it especially frequents the clearings and

natural openings in the forests of pines, which it animates with its lively manners and the

sweetness of its notes. Prof. Sumichrast only knew of a single instance of its occurrence

near the city of Orizaba. The breeding of Zurdus migratorius in Mexico is also confirmed

by a skin of a bird in the first (spotted) plumage in our possession, which originally formed

part of Mr. G. H. White’s collection made in the vicinity of the city of Mexico itself ,

where also adults were obtained by Mr. le Strange.

The presence of Zurdus miyratorius in Guatemala is only known from a single skin

having been obtained near Coban in January 1860". The occurrence of the species

beyond Mexico must therefore be considered to be accidental.

A large flock of 7. mitgratorius appeared in Cuba in 1860; so Dr. Gundlach tells us;

but since then none have come under his notice. It has not yet been observed in any

other of the West-India Islands.

13. Turdus flavirostris. (Tab. III. fig. 1.)

Merula flavirostris, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369°.

Turdus flavirostris, Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, p. 382°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 31°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S.

1870, p. 550°; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 276°; Lawr. Mem. Bot. Soc. N. H. ii.

p. 266°; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 11”.

Turdus rufopalliatus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 259°.

Turdus palliatus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 272°.

Pileo, capitis lateribus, collo postico, alis extus et uropygio schistaceis; dorso medio et alarum tectricibus

oleagineo-rufis ; subtus albus, pectore subalaribus et hypochondriis lete castaneis, gutture toto nigro

distincte striolato; rostro et pedibus flavis. Long. tota 9°3, alee 5:0, caude 4:2, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi

1-2. (Descr. fem. ex Plains of Colima, Mexico. Smiths. Inst. no. 30137. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Temascaltepec (Bullock +), Mazatlan, Tepic, Tres Marias Islands, Bendaras

Bay (Grayson®), Colima (Xantus, Grayson®), San Juan del Rio (Lébouch +), Tehuan-

tepec (Xantus, Grayson, Sumichrast*).

This species was first described by Swainson, in 1827, from a specimen sent from

Mexico by Bullock 1, and said to have been obtained in the tablelands. This, how-

ever, is perhaps incorrect; for subsequent investigation tends to show that Turdus

Jiavirostris is only found in the western parts of Mexico bordering the Pacific Ocean

from Mazatlan to Tehuantepec. Here it has been met with by all the collectors

who have visited that part of the country—Grayson, Xantus, and Sumichrast, and

22 TURDIDA.

also by M. Rébouch, a skin of whose preparation we have in our collection from San

Juan del Rio. .

Two other names have been applied to this Thrush. That of Turdus rufopalliatus 8,

given to it by Lafresnaye, was based upon a specimen said to have come from Monterey,

California; but this, as Prof. Baird has already pointed out, is an erroneous locality.

So also, probably, is “ Lower California,” quoted by Mr. Sclater in his “ Synopsis of the

Thrushes of the New World”?. The name Turdus palliatus ®, used by Bonaparte, is

simply a synonym of the present bird.

Grayson, to whom Turdus flavirostris was well known, says® ¢ that it has the general

appearance of Turdus migratorius, and that, like that bird, it is also partially migratory

in its habits. It frequents the Tres Marias Islands in great numbers, and becomes ex-

cessively fat upon the berries which they find there in abundance. It breeds on these

islands, and is found equally commonly on the mainland. Grayson further describes it

as an inhabitant of woods and as gregarious in its habits, and says that in its migrations

it passes from one part of the country to another in quest of the different kind of berries

which are its chief subsistence.

The sexes of T. flavirostris are said to be almost alike.

Our figure is taken from one of Xantus’s specimens from the Plains of Colima,

which agrees with Swainson’s type still extant in the Cambridge Museum.

C. MERULA.

Sexus inter se dissimiles: mares nigri aut nigro varii; femine fusce aut Suscescentes.

14. Turdus rufitorques.

Turdus rufitorques, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 214°; DuBus, Esq. Orn. tt. 19, 207; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 6°, 1860, p. 29*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 32°.

d niger, mento albo ; gula nigro striolata; pectore toto et cervice undique lete castaneis; subalaribus fusco-

nigris; rostro flavo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 9-0, ale 5:3, caude 4:0, rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-3.

(Descr. maris ex Quezaltenango, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

2 fusca, gula striata, pectore et torque obscurius castaneis quam in mare ; rostro flavido, pedibus fusco-cory--

linis. (Deser. fem. ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. GuatemaLa', Duefias?, Calderas*, Volcan de Fuego (10,000 to 12,000 feet),

Godines*, Quezaltenango, Cordillera above Totonicapam (10,500 feet), Chilasco,

Tactic (0. S. & #. D. G.).

Dr. Hartlaub was the first ornithologist to describe this Thrush, from specimens

obtained in Guatemala‘; it was soon afterwards figured by Vicomte DuBus in his

‘Esquisses Ornithologiques’?; and from that time specimens of it have been occa-

sionally sent to Europe by Constancia and others.

Turdus rufitorques is rather local in its distribution in Guatemala, though its range

extends over a considerable area in that country. It has, too, a great range in altitude,

TURDUS. 23

being found below 5000 feet, both near Duefias and at Tactic in Vera Paz, and also

occurring in some numbers in the pine-forests of the summit of the Volcan de Fuego,

as high as 12,000 feet, and in the main Cordillera above Totonicapam at a height of

10,500 feet. It does not seem to be found only in one class of forest; for the plains

near Duefias, where [pomea murocoides abounds, the oak-forests of the volcano, and

the pine-forests of the upper parts, the pine-tracts of Quezaltenango and Totoni-

capam, and the forests it frequents in Vera Paz are each very different in character.

It, however, is not so much an inhabitant of the belt of dense forest of mixed trees

which surrounds the volcano between 7000 and 10,000 feet ; and it is altogether absent

from the forests of the hotter parts of Guatemala, which lie below 4000 feet.

We never found Turdus rufitorques breeding; but as birds were observed about

Duefias and Quezaltenango in the month of August, it is probable that they had

built in the vicinity of those places. It is not, however, a migratory species, except,

perhaps, in a very limited sense.

The habits of 7. rujfitorques recall those of 7. merula. It is rather shy, generally

keeping out of gunshot. Its powers of song are not remarkable, and are certainly

inferior to those of T. grayt.

The curious rufous ring which surrounds the neck of this Thrush recalls the similar

feature in the plumage of 7. albicincta of the Himalayas. The American bird, how-

ever, is of not nearly so robust a form as the Asiatic species; and there are other

differences between them.

15. Turdus pinicola,

Turdus pecilopterus, Licht. Mus. Berol. (fide Sclater), nee Nomencl. Av. p. 25.

Turdus pinicola, Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, pp. 334", 362°, 1860, p. 250°, 1864, p. 172*; Cat. Am. B. p. 6,

pl. 1’; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 543°.

S fusco-niger, capitis et dorsi plumarum scapis brunneis ; alarum tectricibus majoribus fumido albo late lim-

batis, primariorum parte basali extus et intus macula magna alba occupata, apicibus eorum et secunda-

riorum grisescenti-albo terminatis; primariis tertio, quarto et quinto extus macula alba apicem versus

ornatis, secundariis medialiter albo extus marginatis ; cauda nigra, hujus tectricibus superioribus et rectri-

cum apicibus albis; abdomine cum crisso et tectricibus alarum inferioribus albis ; rostro nigro, pedibus

flavis. Long. tota 8°5, ale 5:3, caude 3:4, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

@ brunnescentior, coloribus dilutioribus, gutture et pectore toto brunneis colore pallidiore marmoratis. (Deser.

fem. ex Jalapa. Mus. P. L. 8.)

Juv. supra capitis et dorsi plumis late ochraceis, dorsi postici ferrugineis ; subtus flavidus plumis singulis nigro

marginatis. (Descr. juv. ex Oaxaca. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (de Oca‘), Orizaba (Sallé*), valley of Mexico (White+, le

Strange), Moyoapam (Sumichrast *), Oaxaca (Lenochio).

Though specimens of Turdus pinicola seem to have been in the Berlin Museum for

some years, under the unpublished name of T. pecilopterus, no published name was given

24 TURDIDA.

to the bird until Mr. Sclater described it, in 1859, from specimens obtained near Jalapa,

in Mexico, by Sefior de Oca, who found a pair on the highland, amongst the pines 1.

Other collectors have since met with it in similar localities 234; but it would appear to

be a rare species, of very restricted range. It only once came under Prof. Sumichrast’s

notice, when he found it at Moyoapam °, in the pine-woods north of the valley of

Orizaba, at a height of about 8400 feet above the sea.

The singular variegated plumage of this species renders it easily distinguishable from

all other American species. The only Thrush that at all approaches it in this respect

is Turdus nevius, a bird which Prof. Baird places in a separate subgenus, Hesperocichla,

from the rest of the Thrushes, and in which Mr. Seebohm has found characters in

common with the Asiatic genus Geocichla and also with Oreocincla.

16. Turdus infuscatus.

Merula infuscata, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 417.

Turdus infuscatus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 6°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, pp. 334°, 3624, 870°; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 548°.

g niger unicolor, rostro et pedibus flavis. Long. tota 8-7, ale 4:9, caude 3-8, rostri a rictu ‘95, tarsi 1°15.

(Descr. maris ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostvr.)

2 brunnescens, subtus dilutior, gutture striato, subalaribus rufis; rostro fusco, pedibus flavis. (Descr. fem.

ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. P. L. 8.)

Juv. brunneus, abdomine dilutiore et fusco maculato, tectricibus alarum fulvo terminatis, (Sp. ex Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (de Oca**), Totontepec (Boucard®), mountains of Orizaba (Su-

michrast °); GUATEMALA®, Coban, ridge above S. Gerénimo, Quezaltenango (0. S.

& FD. G.).

Turdus infuscatus was originally described by the late Baron Lafresnaye !, whose type

we have examined, from a Mexican specimen ; and several more recent explorers have

found it in that country4®. Prof. Sumichrast gives as its habitat, in the State of Vera

Cruz ®, the temperate and alpine regions, and says that in the lower part of the alpine

and the upper and wooded part of the temperate is the favourite resort of this

Thrush. He adds that it is quite common in these localities at the foot of the

mountains, at elevations of from 4200 to 8400 feet above the sea.

In Guatemala it is by no means a common bird; but we met with it more frequently

near Coban, in Vera Paz, than elsewhere. Here it was usually found in the patches

of older forest which clothe the summits of the curious conical hills which so abound

in this district. A young specimen in our collection most probably came from near

Coban, proving that 7. infuscatus is a resident species, as we also observed it in

November and January, a season at which the bird would not be breeding. Our speci-

mens were all obtained near Coban; for, though we observed this Thrush in the forest

of the mountain ridge above San Gerdnimo, and at Quezaltenango, near enough to

TURDUS. . 25

recognize it with certainty, no birds were obtained. Its note much resembles that of

Turdus merula.

No true Blackbird is found in Costa Rica; but in the Andes of South America, and

in the West-Indian island of Tobago, a second species, Turdus serranus, is commonly

met with. The close relationship of this species and T. infuscatus to the Old-World

T. merula is a curious fact of geographical distribution, and probably indicates the

remains of a much wider dissemination of the ancestral 7. meruda in past times, or that

a Blackbird inhabiting the high north has been pushed southwards in both America

and the Old World by advancing cold, and that, in America at least, these birds have

not followed the returning warmth, but have sought a congenial home in the mountains

of the south.

D. SEMIMERULA.

Major: ptilosis fere unicolor, fusca aut fusco-nigra. Seaxus similes.

17. Turdus nigrescens. (Tab. IV.)

Turdus nigrescens, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 324°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 91°; v. Frantz.

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 290°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 180°.

Brunnescenti-nigrescens, alis et cauda nigricantioribus; subtus paulo dilutior; rostro aurantiaco, pedibus

flavis. Long. tota 10-0, ale 5-5, caude 4:5, rostri a rictu 2-2, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. exempl. ex S. Francisco,

Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. subtus gula et pectore cervinis nigro maculatis ; dorsi plumis medialiter cervino notatis. (Descr. ay. juv.

ex Volcan de Cartago. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Cartago (Hoffmann, v. Frantzius, Arcé, J. Cooper), Dota

Mountains (Carmiol), San Francisco (/ogers) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé).

Turdus nigrescens was first described by Dr. Cabanis from specimens obtained by

Dr. Hoffmann in the Volcan de Cartago1, and, Dr. v. Frantzius tells us, it is found in

this volcano at an elevation of from 9000 to 10,000 feet above the sea?. This mountain

seems to be the head quarters of the species in Costa Rica, as all collectors who have

worked there have obtained specimens. It is, however, also found in the Dota Moun-

tains, which lie at no great distance from Cartago. ‘The only other locality in which it

has been obtained is the volcano of Chiriqui, whence several specimens have been sent

us by Arcé +.

This Thrush seems to belong to a South-American section of the genus, found in the

Andes from Colombia to the neighbourhood of Mendoza, the best-known species of

which is Turdus gigas. It is, however, a well-marked species, and only remotely allied

to its next of kin. The sexes present scarcely any difference in plumage.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Sept. 1879. 4

26 TURDID.

Subfam. MIMINA.

GALEOSCOPTES.

Galeoscoptes, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 82 (1851). (Type Muscicapa carolinensis, Linn.)

The single species of this genus is a winter immigrant to Central America. In

Mexico and Guatemala it is abundant, but, in the latter country, only in the eastern

parts. Southwards of Guatemala it is by no means common; but it has been traced as

1. Galeoscoptes carolinensis.”

Musicapa carolinensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 328°.

Turdus carolinensis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. (1830), ef. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57°.

Mimus carolinensis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 294°.

Galeoscoptes carolinensis, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 82*; Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, pp. 362”, 370°; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 77; P.Z. 8. 1867, p. 278°, 1870, p. 836°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 54°; Lawr.

Ann. Lye. N.Y. ix. p. 204"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 544; Gundl. Orn.

Cub. p. 59”; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 52; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1.

p. 120”.

Mimus (Galeoscoptes) carolinensis, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 56”.

far as Panama.

Plumbeus ; subtus dilutior, pileo et cauda nigris; crisso ferrugineo; rostro nigro, pedibus brunneis. Long. tota

7-7, ale 3-6, caude 3°8, rostri a rictu -9, tarsil-1. (Descr. maris ex Belize, Brit. Honduras. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, north to Lake Winnipeg and west to the head of the Columbia river

and the Cascade Mountains", Texas &.— Muxico, Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa* (de Oca*),

Totontepec and Playa Vicente (Boucard ®), Orizaba (Sumichrast 1"), Mirador (Sar-

torius 1°), Merida, Yucatan (Schott }!); Guaremata, Coban, Choctum, Rio de la

Pasion, Cahabon, Barranco Hondo (0. S. & F. D. G.); British Honpuras, Belize

(O. 8.7); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M Whitely®); Nicaracua, Blewfield’s River

(Wicklam®); Panama, Frijole Station (If*Leannan !°).—Cusa 3; Banamas "4.

The Cat-bird, by which name Galeoscoptes carolinensis is familiarly known in the

United States, is a winter visitant to Mexico and Central America, retiring northwards

in the summer to breed. Though found over a wide extent of country during the

winter months, it is by no means universally distributed, as we have hardly a trace of

its occurrence on the Pacific side of any portion of the country of which we are now

treating. In Mexico it has been only found in the south-eastern parts of the country,

in the State of Vera Cruz and on the borders of the State of Oaxaca; but it is absent

from the whole Pacific side from Mazatlan to Tehuantepec. Present apparently in

some numbers in Yucatan, it is found near Belize and on the shores of the Gulf of

Honduras to Omoa and San Pedro. Further in the interior it spreads over the forest

MELANOPTILA. ; o7

country to the mountains of Alta Vera Paz, and there ascends to the vicinity of Coban,

where it is very common in winter at an altitude of from 4000 to 5000 feet above the

sea. In the more southern parts of Guatemala we have only once met with it, a spe-

cimen having been obtained on October 22nd, 1873, by an Indian hunter near Barranco

Hondo on the slope of the mountains between the Volcanoes of Agua and Fuego at an

elevation of nearly 4000 feet. Southwards of Honduras we have only two records of it—

one from the Blewfields river, and another from the Panama Railway. The last record

is not in Mr. Lawrence’s Catalogue of Panama birds, but rests on a specimen sent from

Frijole Station by M‘Leannan to the Smithsonian Institution.

In Cuba G. carolinensis is a common bird in winter 2%,

The habits of the species in the United States are fully given by Baird, Brewer, and

Ridgway, and also by Dr. Coues. In Guatemala, as might be expected, the bird does

not sing, but passes a retired life in the second-growth woods and about the edges of

clearings. Our specimens were all obtained in the autumn and winter months, betwee

October and February. |

MELANOPTILA.

Melanopiila, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 275. (Type Melanoptila glubrirostris, Scl.)

A peculiar genus of very restricted range, being only found as yet on the coast of the

Gulf of Honduras and the coral islands which line the shore. It is quite probable that

its range extends both northwards along the coast of Yucatan and also eastwards to

Cape Gracias a Dios, tracts as yet ornithologically unexplored.

The name glabrirostris, chosen by Mr. Sclater for the single species, was suggested

from no rictal bristles being observed in the specimens he examined. In all of our ex-

amples, however, they are fairly well defined.

1. Melanoptila glabrirostris. (Tab. III. fig. 2.)

Melanoptila glabrirostris, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 2757; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p- 7°; Moore, P.Z.S.

1859, p. 55°; Salv. Ibis, 1864, p. 380°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 55°.

Sericeo-purpurascenti-nigra, alis et cauda magis chalybeo tinctis; rostro et pedibus nigerrimis. Long. tota

75, ale 3:6, caudee 3°5, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1-15. (Descr. maris ex Half-moon Cay, British Honduras.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. British Honypuras, Lighthouse and Glover’s Reefs (O. S.*), Corosal (Roe) ; Hon-

Duras (Delattre'), Omoa (Leyland 123),

This interesting species was first described by Mr. Sclater from specimens in the

Derby and British Museums, obtained by the French collector Delattre somewhere in

Honduras, and from one in his own collection brought home by Mr. J oseph Leyland

from the vicinity of Omoa!. Mr. Leyland was not able to give much information

respecting the bird, as only one other individual came under his notice.

28 TURDIDA.

Melanoptila glabrirostris was a much wished-for species that long eluded our obser-

vation in Guatemala ; and it was not until the early part of May 1862 that it was at last

found to be not uncommon on some of the islands of the outermost of the coral reefs

which line the coast of British Honduras. Several specimens were obtained on Half-

moon Cay on Lighthouse reef ; and it was observed on Northern two Cays, Long Cay and

Middle Cay (islands of the same reef), and also on Glover's reef, which lies to the south-

ward of Lighthouse reef. In its actions and flight M/. glabrirostris much resembles a

Mocking-bird (Mimus) ; and it has a short but sweet song. It is said to lay blue eggs;

so that Mr. Sclater’s suggestion as to the position of the species amongst the Mocking-

birds seems to be correct, and the genus may be placed next to Galeoscoptes, from which

it mainly differs in the colour and texture of its plumage.

Since our specimens were obtained we have received two examples from the neigh-

bourhood of Corosal on the mainland of British Honduras. These were sent home in

spirits by Mr. Roe in a small collection of birds from that place.

MELANOTIS.

Melanotis, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 276 (1850) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 56. (Type Orpheus

cerulescens, Sw.)

A genus of two species peculiar to Mexico and the highlands of Guatemala, each

district having a species to itself. Prince Bonaparte first removed the Mexican species

from the genus Orpheus (vel Mimus), in which Swainson had placed it, and made a

new genus, Melanotis, for its reception, giving, however, no characters. ‘This deficiency

has been supplied by Prof. Baird, who has fully described the external form. Melanotis

seems most nearly allied to Galeoscoptes and Melanoptila, having, however, several

characters by which it may be recognized. The young of Melanotis, as shown by

examples of young WM. hypoleucus, have the back unspotted in the first plumage—

a fact which may help to determine the position of the genus and its allies at some

future day.

1. Melanotis czerulescens.

Orpheus cerulescens, Swains. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369".

Mimus cerulescens, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 294°.

Melanotis cerulescens, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, pp. 362°, 370°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 56° ; Grayson, Proc.

Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 275°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 266"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

No. 4, p. 12°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 548°.

Turdus melanotis, Temm. Pl. Col. 498”.

Turdus erythrophthalmus, Licht. Preis- Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2 (1830), ef. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57”.

Schistaceo-cerulescens ; capitis lateribus, loris et gula nigris; gutturis plumis elongatis, rostro et pedibus

nigris. Long. tota 10:5, ale 4:5, caude 5:2, rostri a rictu 1°3, tarsi 1-2. (Deser. exempl. ex Jalapa, 8.

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

MELANOTIS. 29

Hab. Muxico!, Mazatlan, Tepic (Grayson®*), Tres Marias Is. ( Grayson’), plains of

Colima (Xantus’), Sierra Madre near Zapotitlan (Sumichrast*), Oaxaca (Fenochio),

Talea, Juquila, Villa Alta, and Totontepec (Boucard*), Jalapa (Deppe4, de Oca),

Temascaltepec (Deppe"), Cordova (Sallé2), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®),

Orizaba (le Strange), Mirador (Sartorius >).

A specimen from Bullock’s Mexican collection, still extant in the Cambridge Museum,

formed the basis of Swainson’s description of Orpheus cerulescens, published in 18271.

The same species was afterwards described by Temminck as Turdus melanotis in 1830 © ;

and in the same year Lichtenstein bestowed the title of Turdus erythrophthalmus upon

specimens in the Berlin Museum obtained at Jalapa and Temascaltepec by Deppe!.

The species has now been long known under Swainson’s name.

Melanotis cerulescens is widely dispersed in Mexico, being found from Mazatlan to

Tehuantepec. Except in the far north-western part of its range, it is usually an

inhabitant of,the temperate region; but in the State of Vera Cruz, according to Prof.

Sumichrast®, it passes beyond these limits into the hot region and into the alpine region

as high as 4300 feet. Grayson, who found it at the sea-level in the Tres Marias Islands,

gives the following account of its habits there :—

“ One of the most abundant as well as interesting song-birds of the Marias. They are

tame and confiding, allowing persons to approach very near them, often following me

in the woods, evincing considerable curiosity, and uttering mimicking cries, and occa-

sionally breaking out into the richest song, awaking the echoes of the silent woods.

Like the true Mocking-bird (Mimus polyglottus), this bird is solitary in its habits,

showing great aversion to the companionship of its own species; and combats between

them are very frequent. The notes of this bird are full and melodious; at all seasons

of the year the woods are enlivened by its mellow song ; and during the spring, or love-

season, it is particularly so. They make excellent cage-birds, are easily kept, and soon

become reconciled to their prison, even when taken at an adult age.

“They inhabit the densest forests and thickets, spending much of their time upon the

ground, turning up the leaves with their bills in search of insects.”

2. Melanotis hypoleucus.

Melanotis hypoleucus, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 460; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 337°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1859, p. 7°, 1860, p. 29°; Ex. Orn. p. 85, t. 43°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 57°.

Schistaceo-cerulescens, capitis lateribus nigris; subtus nisi crisso et hypochondriis albus ; rostro et pedibus

nigris. Long. tota 10-5, alx 4-3, caude 5-0, rostri a rictu 1:35, tarsi 1:3. (Descr. exempl. ex San Geré-

nimo, Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. plumis corporis subtus fusco-nigro et albo commixtis, rostri mandibula flava. (Deser. juv. ex Duefias,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemala’, Duefias®4*, Godines, San Gerdnimo, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.).

30 TURDIDA.

This species was first described in 1852 by Dr. Hartlaub, from a specimen sent to the

Hamburg Museum by M. Gadechens!; and since that time numerous examples have

been transmitted to Europe, most of them from the vicinity of Coban, in Vera Paz.

Melanotis hypolewcus is a common bird in the neighbourhood of Duefias, where it is

resident throughout the year. It frequents the thick bushes and underwood on the

banks of the Rio Guacalate and the borders of the open land near Duefias. It isa shy

bird, skulking to elude observation, and never flying far in the open. During the greater

part of the year its song is rather disjointed and short; but as the breeding-season

approaches in May and June it improves, and is then of fair quality, containing a few

rich notes. The breeding-season would seem to spread over a considerable period. We

found nests with eggs about the end of May; two months later, on ‘the 23rd July, a

young bird was shot that had just left the nest; and in the middle of September another

young bird was obtained, hardly more advanced than the first. The nest, which is

usually placed in a thicket, about 9 or 10 feet from the ground, isa very slight structure,

composed of small twigs and lined with fine roots. The usual complemént of eges is

three; these are of a uniform greenish-blue colour, and rather elongated in shape,

measuring 1-17 inch by ‘8. The food of M. hypoleucus consists chiefly of berries ; but

as it is also frequently in the habit of scratching about the roots of trees and among

dead leaves, insects and their larvee are probably included in its diet.

Melanotis hypoleucus, though restricted in its range to Guatemala, is a well-known

and common bird in the highlands of that country. The lowest district where we met

with it was the neighbourhood of San Gerénimo in the plain of Salama, which lies at

an elevation of about 3000 feet above the sea. Near Coban, at an altitude of about

4500 feet, it is also common. Of its abundance at Duefias (altitude 4900 feet) we have

already spoken. It was also observed in some numbers on the road which skirts the

north side of the Lake of Atitlan, near Godines, at a height of not less than 7000 feet

above the sea. It will thus be seen that I. hypoleucus has, as a rule, a much more

elevated range than its congener MV. cwrulescens, which is found at the sea-level in some

parts of Mexico.

HARPORHYNCHUS.

Toxostoma, Wagler, Isis, 1831, p. 528 (nec Rafin.). (Type Orpheus curvirostris, Sw.)

Harpes, Gambel, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1845, p. 264 (nec Goldfuss). (Type Harpes redivivus, Gamb.)

Harporhynchus, Cabanis, Arch. f. Nat. xiii. p. 823 (1847).

This peculiar genus consists of about eight or nine well-marked species, several of

which have been subdivided into geographical races or varieties. The head quarters of

the genus seems to be the basin of the Colorado, outlying species being found in Lower

California (H. cinereus), the Eastern States (H. rufus), and in the coast region of Cali-

HARPORHYNCHUS. 31

fornia (H. redivivus). In Mexico, too, we find three species, two of which, H. curvirostris

and HH. longirostris, have a wide range, the third, H. ocellatus, being restricted to the

State of Oaxaca. The fourth species found in our region is peculiar to the island of

Socorro.

The genus has been carefully studied by Dr. Coues, who has written several papers

on the subject. His latest views will be found in his recently published ‘ Birds of the

Colorado Valley.’

Though placed in the Turdide by many systematists, the position of Harporhynchus

there is by no means assured. The short rounded wings of all the species, their scu-

tellated tarsi, and peculiar curved bills are not at all Thrush-like, and point rather to

the Troglodytide, in which family they have been placed by Prof. Cabanis. A close

examination of the internal structure of some member of the genus alone can afford

good grounds for settling the point.

Besides the four species mentioned below, two others, H. lecontit and H. crissalis,

occur on our frontier in the valley of the Gila, and may be found to pass to the Mexican

side. An account of both these birds will be found in Dr. Coues’s work already

referred to.

1. Harporhynchus longirostris.

Orpheus longirostris, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 54°.

Mimus longirostris, Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 294°.

Harporhynchus longirostris, Scl. P. Z.S8. 1859, p. 362°, 1864, p. 172°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 44°;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 543°.

Harporhynchus rufus, var. longirostris, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 397; Merrill, Pr. U.S.

Nat. Mus. i. p. 119°.

Harporhynchus rufus, b. longirostris, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 63°.

Harporhynchus rufus longirostris, Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 3°.

Supra sordide castaneus, pileo paulo fuscescentiore ; alarum tectricibus albo terminatis, macula subapicali nigra ;

subtus albus, cervice lateribus, pectore, hypochondriis et crisso nigro longitudinaliter striatis ; gula et ventre

imo immaculatis ; rostro et pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 9°5, ale 3°8, caude 4:9, rostri a rictu

1-4, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. exempl. ex 8. Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. N. America, valley of the Rio Grande, Texas’.—Mexico 1, Jalapa (Deppe, Mus.

Berol.), Cordova (Sallé?), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast °), Mirador (Sar-

torius®), valley of Mexico (White *).

The position of this Mocking-bird in its relationship to the well-known Harporhynchus

rufus of the Eastern States of America has long been a matter of doubt, most American

authors’? § considering it to be a local form of that species, which no doubt it is, differing

in the duller tint of the upper plumage, and in the greater curvature of the bill, in its

darker cheeks, and the larger size and closer arrangement of the spots on the breast and

32 TURDIDA.

flanks. These points of distinction are not difficult to recognize ; and as they appear to

be strictly associated with a definite area, the use of a distinct name for the bird seems

to be justified. The best accounts of Harporhynchus longirostris are those given by

Dr. Merrill ® and Mr. Sennett !°, who both observed it in considerable numbers on the

Texan side of the valley of the Rio Grande, where it is a resident bird. The habits of

the species are fully described by these authors in their respective papers.

Several years before Lafresnaye described the bird! Deppe met with it at Jalapa; and

his specimens are still in the Berlin Museum. Most of the more recent collectors have

since met with it in the same district ; and Prof. Sumichrast § says that it is quite common

in the temperate region in the vicinity of Orizaba, ranging from an elevation of 3300

feet to 6600 feet above the sea. We have no record of the occurrence of the bird in

any part of Western Mexico; and its range seems to be strictly confined to the eastern

part of the country, from the valley of the Rio Grande on the north to the State of Vera

Cruz on the south.

2. Harporhynchus ocellatus.

Harporhynchus ocellatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 18, t. iii?

Supra fusco-cinereus ; alarum tectricibus albo terminatis ; caude rectricibus, preter quatuor medias, albo stricte

terminatis ; subtus albus, pectore et hypochondriis maculis rotundatis nigris conspicue notatis; gula et

abdomine medio immaculatis; hypochondriis et capitis lateribus paulo rufescenti tinctis ; rostro nigro,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 11-5, ale 4:1, caude 5:5, rostri a rictu 15, tarsi 1-5. (Descr. maris ex

Oaxaca, Mexico merid. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca (Boucard !, Fenochio).

Of this species hardly any thing is known. It was described from a single male spe-

cimen sent by M. Boucard from the neighbourhood of Oaxaca; and from the same dis-

trict we have received another bird of the same sex from Don A. Fenochio. No account

has reached us of its habits. The species is a well-marked one, as Mr. Sclater says 1, the

large round black spots on the clear white under surface rendering it easily distinguish-

able from every known member of the group.

3. Harporhynchus curvirostris.

Orpheus curvirostris, Swains. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 83697.

Toxostoma curvirostre, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 212°.

Harporhynchus curvirostris, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 370°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 45°; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 543°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 267°; Lawr. Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, p.12"; Sennett, Bull. U. 8. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 4°; Merrill, Pr. U.S.

Nat. Mus. i. p. 119°.

Turdus deflexus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég., cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57”.

Pomatorhinus turdinus, Temm. Pl. Col. 441".

Toxostoma vetula, Wag). Isis, 1881, p. 528”.

HARPORHYNCHUS. 33

Supra fusco-cinereus, campterio et tectricum alarum apicibus albis; subtus sordide albus, pectore fusco-

cinereo variegato, hypochondriis eodem colore suffusis ; caude rectricibus (nisi quatuor internis) pracipue

in pogonio interno albo terminatis; rostro nigro, pedibus obscure fuscis. Long. tota 9°7, ale 4:5, caudex

4:5, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 1:35. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico merid. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America, southern frontier of United States4+—Merxtco Tableland

(Bullock 1), Mazatlan (Xantus °, Bischoff®), Tepic (Grayson °), Tamaulipas (Couch 4),

Mountains of Colima (Xantus*), Temascaltepec (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), Orizaba

(Botteri), Oaxaca (Boucard ?), Tehuacan (Sumichrast*), Cuernavaca (le Strange).

Originally described by Swainson from a specimen obtained by Bullock in the table-

land of Mexico !, Harporhynchus curvirostris has since been met with by nearly every

collector who has worked in Southern Mexico; and the bird seems to be common from

the State of Oaxaca, where M. Boucard found it °, northwards to the valley of the Rio

Grande and Texas ® °, extending also along the western coast through the mountains of

Colima ® to Mazatlan ®. Prof. Sumichrast never met with it except on the plateau of

Mexico, and omits the name of the species from his list of the birds of Vera Cruz,

stating that the localities cited in that State, where the species is said to have been found,

may be erroneous °.

We have no record of the habits of the species in Mexico; but in Texas, where it

came under the observation of both Dr. Merrill® and Mr. Sennett §, it is described as a

bird of very retiring disposition and of no great powers as a songster.

In Mexico Prof. Baird speaks of the western specimens having heavier and thicker

bills and stouter legs than eastern birds, but does not attach much importance to the

fact. In Arizona a race occurs which has received the distinct title of H. palmeri, but

which is apparently only imperfectly separated from the typical form.

Of the names proposed for this species subsequently to Swainson’s, Turdus deflexus

of Lichtenstein '° seems, by the light of specimens in the Berlin Museum, to be certainly

applicable to H. curvirostris.

Pomatorhinus turdinus, given to it by Temminck ", was applied to a bird said to have

come from New Holland! No such species has ever been recognized in Australia; and

the plate is a fair representation of A. curvirostris.

Wagler’s name Toxvostoma vetula'? has always been a recognized synonym of this

species, and was suspected to apply to the same bird as Swainson’s title by Wagler

himself. This latter writer considers it to be the Chietottotl of Hernandez.

4. Harporhynchus graysoni.

Harporhynchus graysoni, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p. 1'; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv.

p- 298°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 267°.

“ Male. Above of a rather dirty reddish-brown, the front paler, a blackish spot in front of and under the

eye; chin, upper part of throat and sides of the head pale ochreous, the latter marked with faint dusky

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Nov. 1879. 5

54 TURDIDA.

bars ; tail dark liver-brown, the outer three feathers with a greyish spot on the inner web at the end ;

quills of the same colour as the tail, the larger ones narrowly edged with dull white, the others with dull

pale rufous; the entire under plumage is pale yellowish fulvous, sides darker, with longitudinal brown

stripes ; bill black; tarsi and toes blackish-brown. Length (fresh) 111 inches, wing 44, tail 54, bill ?,

tarsi 13.”—Lawrence, l. s. ¢.

Hab. Mexico, Socorro Island (Grayson 1).

Of this species, which Mr. Lawrence! says is so distinct from all others of the

genus that no comparisons are necessary, we have never seen specimens. From the

description it would seem to be allied to the H. redivivus section of the genus, in which

the plumage is unspotted. Grayson, to whom the credit of the discovery of the

species is due, found it during his expedition to the island of Socorro, and in his paper

on the birds of that island has given the following note respecting it ?:—

** Not very abundant, but seems to be well distributed over the island. It has all

the characteristics of the true Mocking-bird in its habits (Mimus polyglottus). Of

solitary disposition, it attacks every bird of its own species that approaches its usual

haunts.

“One took up its quarters in our camp, and was certainly the tamest bird of this

genus I ever saw; he appeared to take pleasure in our society, and attacked furiously

every bird that came near us. He doubtless regarded us as his own property, often

perching upon the table when we were taking our meals and eating from our hands,

as though he had been brought up to this kind of treatment; at times ascending to

the branches over our head, he would break forth into loud and mellow song, very

Thrush-like. In the still hours of the night, while roosting in the branches near us,

he would sometimes utter a few dreamy notes, recalling to mind the well-known habits

of the true Mocking-bird.”

MIMUS.

Mimus, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 972. (Type Turdus polyglotius, Linn.)

With the single exception of M. polyglottus, all the species of this genus are found

in South America, their distribution over the southern continent being almost universal,

extending from the northern shores to Patagonia, and including the greater Antilles

and the Galapagos Islands. The common North-American species M. polyglottus is

found throughout Mexico to the isthmus of Tehuantepec, where its place is taken by

MM. gilvus, a species, under slightly varied plumage, extending through Yucatan,

Guatemala, and Honduras to Colombia, Venezuela, and Guiana.

In introducing the generic name Mimus, Boie gave no characters, merely men-

tioning the type species. This want is fully supplied in works on North-American

ornithology *.

* Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 48.

MIMUS. 39

1. Mimus polyglottus.

Turdus polyglottos, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 293’.

Orpheus polyglottos, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369’.

Mimus polyglottus, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1857, p. 212°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 48‘; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 543°; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 277°; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. i. p. 267"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 49°; Sennett, Bull. U.S.

Geol. Surv. iv. p. 3°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. p. 53”.

Mimus caudatus, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 345%.

Mimus polyglottus, var. caudatus, Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 12”.

Mimus?, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 250”.

Supra cinereus, superciliis indistincte albis, loris nigris; alis nigricantibus cinerascenti limbatis, primariorum

basi et eorum tectricibus (preter apices) speculum alare album formantibus; subtus albus, pectore paulo

grisescente ; cauda nigra, rectrice extima tota, secund pogonio interno, et tertia (nisi parte media) albis ;

rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 9°5, ale 4:4, caude 4:4, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1-35. (Deser.

exempl. ex Oaxaca, Mexico merid. Mus. nostvr.)

Hab. N. Amurica, from lat. N. 40° southwards *.—Mexico, between Guaymas and

Mazatlan (Grayson®), Mazatlan (Grayson, Bischof"), Tres Marias Is. (Grayson®),

Real del Monte (Bullock), Orizaba (Sallé!, Botteri?, Sumichrast >), Mirador

(Sartorius*), valley of Mexico (le Strange), Oaxaca (Fenochio), Villa Alta (Boucard),

Tehuantepec (Sumichrast ).

This well-known species, perhaps the most familiar of all the birds of the United

States, is found in suitable localities throughout Mexico as far south as the Isthmus of

Tehuantepec (where J. gilvus is also found), its place being taken in the promontory

of Yucatan and in Guatemala by the southern species Mimus gilvus. Whether the

Cuban species spoken of by Dr. Gundlach * is identical with the northern bird is not

yet certain, as specimens do not appear to have been actually compared ; but as each

of the islands of the Greater Antilles appears to have a race of its own of this section

of the genus Mimus, it is probable that the Cuban bird differs to some extent from

Mimus polyglottus.

In Mexico M. polyglottus was found by Grayson in the Tres Marias Islands, where,

however, though resident’, it is rare and a shy bird®. In the State of Vera Cruz Prof.

Sumichrast found it in the hot and temperate regions, and he says® that it is one of the

few species that are found equally abundant in localities the most widely different both

as to height and climate, being found from the gulf-shores as far up as the great plains

of the plateau, but always only in the more open portions. It nests in the neigh-

bourhood of Orizaba. Mimus polyglottus is found in abundance all along the northern

frontier of Mexico, both in the basin of the Colorado !° and in the Rio-Grande valley ?.

At one time Prof. Baird seemed disposed to separate the western bird under the

name M. caudatus'', on account of the greater length of the tail of certain western

* Orn, Cub. p. 60.

36 . TURDIDZ.

. . . . . 8. . 12

specimens. In his later work this separation is not confirmed’; but Mr. Lawrence

refers Tehuantepec specimens to the long-tailed race, if such it is, under the name

Mimus polyglottus, var. caudatus. Our Oaxaca specimen, however, has a shorter tail

than one from Villa Alta and another from Cape San Lucas in our collection ; so that

the length of the tail cannot be said to be a characteristic of western specimens.

The well-known habits of this species are fully described in works on North-

American birds ®.

2. Mimus gilvus.

Turdus gilvus, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. ii. p. 15, t. 68 bis*.

Mimus gilvus, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 3’.

Mimus melanopterus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. v. p. 35, t. 2°.

Mimus columbianus, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1. p. 82%.

Mimus gracilis, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 83°; J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 410°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 7";

Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 110°; Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 60°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 202"; Lawr.

Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. pp. 91", 199”; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 12%; Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 290”.

Supra cinereus; superciliis albis; loris nigris; alis nigris albo limbatis, tectricibus alarum et secundariorum

apicibus albis; speculo alari nullo; subtus albus, pectore paulo cinerascente; cauda nigra; rectricum

apicibus nisi duarum mediarum albis, rectrice utrinque extima pogonio externo toto et interno dimidio

apicali albis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 10:0, alee 4:1, caudee 5:0, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1°25.

(Descr. maris ex Belize. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. pectore et hypochondriis fusco maculatis. (Descr. exempl ex Duefas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Tehuantepec (Swmichrast *), Merida, Yucatan (Schott *, Gaumer) ;

British Honpuras, Belize’, Lighthouse and Glover's reefs (0. S.); GUATEMALA,

Salama, San Gerdénimo®, plain of Zacapa, Upper Motagua valley, Duefias®, Jutiapa

(0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras®, Comayagua (Taylor5).—CotomBiat ; VENEZUELA? ;

GuiaNna!; Lesser ANTILLES.

The name Turdus gilvuus was bestowed upon a Guiana bird, which was also said to be

found in the warmer parts of South America!; and Vieillot’s plate of it! fairly represents

the bird found throughout the northern parts of South America and Central America

as far north as Guatemala. Several names have since been proposed for this Mimus ; but

the differences between birds from different localities seem hardly sufficient to justify the

retention of any of them. The bird found in Venezuela is perhaps the most distinct,

as it has the wing-coverts more broadly edged with ashy, and tipped more widely with

the same colour, than usual in Colombian and Guatemalan specimens; but the latter

are not quite constant in this respect, and we think all ought to bear the same name.

Thus I. melanopterus*® of Venezuela, M. columbianus* of Colombia, and MW. gracilis ®

of Honduras all become synonyms of WZ. gilvus.

Found in the isthmus of Tehuantepec!’ and in Northern Yucatan !? W. giluus spreads

MIMUS.—RHODINOCICHLA. 37

over the whole of Guatemala and Honduras as far as Comayagua’. We have no

authentic record of its occurrence elsewhere in Central America; but in South America

it reappears in the neighbourhood of Santa Marta, in Antioquia, and the vicinity of

Bogota, and spreads eastwards through Venezuela to Guiana and some of the Lesser

Antilles. The record of its occurrence in Costa Rica, Dr. v. Frantzius tells us 4, was

founded on an error, the bird sent home by Dr. Hoffmann ® having come as acage-bird

from Guatemala.

In Guatemala Mimus gilvus has the same great range in altitude attributed to

M. polyglottus in Mexico. We found it at the sea-level near Belize and on the Cays of

the adjoining coral-reefs, and also at Duejias, 5000 feet above the sea. It is, however,

most abundant in the Upper Motagua valley and throughout the plain of Salama,

where its song may always be heard throughout the breeding-season. Mr. Owen? took

several of its nests near San Geronimo, most of which were placed in the cactus-plants

grown for the cochineal-insects. Others were in hedge-rows or bushes on the plain, but

all in rather exposed situations. The usual complement of eggs was three, which were

of a pale greenish-grey, blotched with spots of red-brown and two shades of faint lilac.

They measure 1:05 in. X°7. One of them is figured in ‘The Ibis’ for 1861 (t. 2. f. 2).

At Dueiias we saw very little of Mimus gilvus during our early visits to Guatemala” ;

but we obtained a young bird, which still retained spots on the under surface, which

must have been reared in the neighbourhood. In 1873 its numbers appeared to have

greatly increased, and birds were frequently seen in plains covered with scattered trees

of [pomea murocoides. When disturbed a bird seldom flies far, but seeks shelter in

the nearest bush. Its song is very varied and rich, and the bird is much sought after

by the natives as a favourite cage-bird.

Note.—Another species of Mimus (M. nigriloris) has been doubtfully attributed to

Mexico by its describer, Mr. Lawrence*, upon the authority of Dr. Van Patten and

Mr. Gruber, of San Francisco. As the bird appears to belong to the section of the

genus containing J. longicaudatus and M. thenca, species of Western Peru and Chili,

a more southern origin than Mexico is probably its true one. Anyhow, better evidence

is required as to its habitat before including the bird in the fauna of Mexico.

RHODINOCICHLA.

Rhodinocichia, Hartlaub, Journ. f. Orn. 1853, p. 33. (Type Furnarius roseus, Less.)

This singular genus was long placed in the Dendrocolaptide, near the Oven-birds

(furnarius), to which genus it was actually assigned by its original describer. Prof.

Baird seems to have been the first to recognize that Dr. Hartlaub was not far wrong as

to its generic affinities when he described the female as a species of Turdus. It is,

* Ann. Lye. N. Y. x. p. 187.

38 TURDIDA.

however, with the Mimine, or perhaps the Troglodytide, that Rhodinocichla has the

closest relationship, the short rounded wings, comparatively strong feet, with tarso-

metatarsus covered in front with several scales, as well as its strong curved beak and

rounded tail being all Mimine rather than Turdine characteristics. The young, too, in

its first plumage has a mottled under surface, the back being plain-coloured. In its

powers of song it resembles both sections; but in coloration Rhodinocichla is quite

peculiar. As regards the wings, the first primary is large enough to take its full

function as part of the wing, a very important point considering the high value that

has been placed upon this character. On the whole, then, though we are at present

disposed to place this curious form with the Mimine, we should not be surprised to find

that its affinities are really elsewhere. This point cannot be settled until more material

than the mere skin is examined, upon which alone opinions have at present been formed.

Rhodinocichla being a monotypic genus, its geographical range is coincident with

that of the single species contained in it.

1. Rhodinocichla rosea.

Furnarius roseus, Less. Til. Zool. t. 5°.

Rhodinocichla rosea, Hart]. J. f. Orn. 1858, p. 88°; Scl. P. ZS. 1855, p. 141°, 1856, p. 140°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 292°, ix. p. 92°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2677; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. p. 91°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 345°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 183”,

1870, p. 180"; Finsch, Nat. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870, p. 829”; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 291”.

Turdus vulpinus, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 276“; P. Z.S8. 1850, p. 276”.

Cichlalopia vulpina, Bp. C. R. xxxviii. p. 6"°, et Orn. Not. p. 29”.

& fusco-niger, fronte, superciliis anticis, gutture, abdomine medio, crisso et campterio alari rosaceo-rubris,

superciliis posticis albis; hypochondriis fuscis; rostro pallide corneo, maxille basi et pedibus corylinis.

Long. tota 8-0, ale 3:4, caudee 3:6, rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-0.

paulo minor et brunnescentior, coloribus maris rosaceo-rubris saturate fulvis; abdomine imo albicante.

Long. tota 7:5, ale 3-1, caude 3:5, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. maris et fem. ex Lion Hill, Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan and Sierra Madre (Grayson); GuaremaLa? (Mus. Derb.*) ;

Costa Rica (fide 8S. F. Baird’, v. Frantzius); Panama, David (Bridges*), Volcan

de Chiriqui, Mina de Chorcha, Chitra, Calovevora, and Santa Fé (Arcé 1°14), Lion

Hill (M‘Leannan® °).—Vanezveta™ ; CoLomBia®.

Lesson, who first described and figured this species!, gave as its habitat “ San Juan,”

Brazil; but recent researches render it doubtful if the species is found outside the

limits of Venezuela and Colombia and the parts of Central America indicated above.

The bird described by Lesson was a male, from which the female differs so widely in

colour that it is hardly surprising that Dr. Hartlaub redescribed a specimen of the

latter sex under the name of Turdus vulpinus—the widely different views as to the

RHODINOCICHLA.—MYIADECTES., 39

position of this anomalous form entertained by these two ornithologists rendering the

recognition of the two birds as sexes of one species less easy, Lesson having placed his

bird in the genus Furnarius, Dr. Hartlaub the bird he described in the genus Turdus,

the distribution of the colours and, to some extent, the form suggesting to his mind a

resemblance to the African genus Cossypha. For many years Lesson’s views were usually

adopted; but latterly its relationship to the Turdide has been recognized partly from

a reexamination of the external form and partly from the discovery of the vocal powers

of the bird. There can now be but little doubt that Rhodinocichla must be considered

an aberrant Thrush or Wren, its affinity being, perhaps, nearer the latter family.

The range of £2. rosea is somewhat singular. In the State of Panama it seems to be,

as in Venezuela and Colombia, a very common bird. In Costa Rica its presence has

been recorded ; and that is all that can be said concerning it. Mr. Sclater’s statement

of the existence of a Guatemalan specimen in the Derby Museum at Liverpool is all that

we know of the presence of the species in that country; for, of the thousands of skins

we have examined from there, we have never met with a single example of R. rosea *.

It has never been detected in Southern Mexico; but in North-western Mexico it has

been noticed by both Grayson and Xantus. It is to the former of these travellers that

we owe the chief note on the habits of the species. He says that it is found near

Mazatlan in the thickly wooded district bordering the river, where it remains through-

out the year concealing itself in the densest bush, its voluptuous and melodious song

being often heard when the bird is invisible. Bridges also* speaks of having had his

attention attracted to the single bird he obtained at David by its very peculiar note.

Subfam. UVITADECTINA.

MYTADECTES.

Myiadestes, Swainson, Nat. Libr. Ornith. x. p. 182 (1838). (Type M. genibarbis, Sw.)

The position of this group of birds was long a matter of considerable doubt; for

though Myiadectes was placed by some systematists in the family Ampelide with

Ptilogonys and Phainopepla, it was felt that the many points of difference from those

genera possessed by it rendered its removal from their vicinity only a matter of time.

In 1866 Prof. Baird made a careful and exhaustive examination of the external form

of Myiadectes when writing his ‘Review of American Birds ;’ and though he placed it

in the family Ampelide, he clearly pointed out the great affinity the genus has to the

Turdide, suggesting its removal into that family in any remodelling of these groups of

birds. This plan has now been pretty generally adopted ; and recent writers on American

birds place Mytadectes either as a subfamily of the Turdide or in the Sylviide, two

* Mr. Moore informs us that this specimen was purchased of Leadbeater in 1844. It bears a ticket with

“ Guatimala” written on it in an unknown handwriting.

4) TURDID.

families of very artificial limits, no very trenchant characters being found to separate

them. To the Muscicapide Myiadectes also has a certain resemblance, especially

when the form of the bill and the development of the rictal bristles are considered ;

of Muscicapide, the West-African genus Cassinia is that which Myiadectes most calls

to mind. The characters Myiadectes has in common with the Turdide are the spotted

first plumage of the young, the tarso-metatarsus covered with single plate in front, the

long pointed wings, and the great vocal powers of all members of the genus.

About ten species are included in the genus, all of which are very uniform in their

general appearance, though differing considerably in colour. They are distributed from

the Rocky Mountains through Central America to Bolivia; and several of the West-

Indian Islands possess species peculiar to them. In the north MW. townsendi is found,

a species which may cross into Northern Mexico. Mexico and Guatemala have two

species in common; and in Costa Rica another isfound. A single species, if we except

the aberrant M/. leucotis, ranges throughout the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia.

Cuba and Jamaica have each a species peculiar to them; and one is reported from San

Domingo, but has not yet been obtained. The Lesser Antilles have three other species,

all closely allied to the Jamaican bird.

The peculiar songs of the various species of Myiadectes have always excited attention.

Those of WZ. obscurus and M. unicolor, with which we are familiar, may be likened in

tone to pouring water into a tin vessel. ‘The habit of the birds is to sit almost

motionless on a branch in thick underwood, the males uttering their song at intervals

chiefly in the morning and evening. J. townsendi is described as sometimes running

on the ground*, a habit never observed by us in the Guatemalan birds. The food of

Myiadectes seems to consist chiefly of fruit ; but I. townsendi devours insects also.

1. Myiadectes obscurus.

Myjiadestes obscurus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 98°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 213 *, 1858, p. 802 *, 1859,

pp. 363%, 876°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 14°; Ex. Orn. p. 49, t. 25"; Baird, Rev. Am.

B. p. 480°; Sumichrast, Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 548°; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv.

p- 277°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 273".

Hypothyrius cesia, Mus. Berol.”

Schistaceus; oculorum ambitu albo, loris et striga rictali nigris ; alis fusco-nigris, extus rufo limbatis; inter-

scapulio pallidus rufo; dorso imo olivaceo perfuso; subtus dilute schistaceus, gutture et ventre medio

cum crisso albicantibus; remigum macula magna interna ochraceo-alba; cauda nigricante, rectricibus

duabus mediis cum unius utrinque proxime pogonio externo griseis ; rectricibus lateralibus albo termina-

tis; harum unius utrinque extime dimidio apicali pallide griseo notato ; rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long.

tota 7°5, ale 4:0, caudee 4:1, rostri a rictu °75, tarsi ‘9. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico!, Tres Marias Is. (Grayson 1° 11), Tonila and Jalisco (Xantus 1), Real Ariba

(Deppe), Orizaba (Botteri?, Sumichrast®), Jalapa (de Oca*), La Parada®, Yoletepec®

* Coues, B. Coll. Vall. i. p. 45.

MYIADECTES. 4]

and Totontepec (Boucard), Oaxaca (Fenochio); GuateMALA, Volcan de Fuego,

Cerro de Zunil, Quezaltenango, San Gerénimo, Tactic (0. S. & F. D. G.).

Though the late Baron Lafresnaye first described this species from Mexican speci-

mens!, the bird had for several years stood in the galleries of the Berlin Museum,

Deppe having found it near Real Ariba in Southern Mexico. The Berlin specimens

now bear the name “Hypothymis cesia”*. Since then the species has been observed

by many travellers in Mexico, where it is known under the name of “Jilguero.”

Grayson’? tells us that in the Tres Marias Islands the bird is more frequently to be met

with than on the mainland, confining itself to the hilly portions of the islands, where,

at all times, its strange medley of song may be heard in the morning and evening. It

will thus be seen that the bird is found in North-western Mexico at no great elevation

above the sea; but Prof. Sumichrast® places it amongst the birds of the alpine region

of the State of Vera Cruz, where it chiefly breeds up to a height of 8200 feet, being

found, however, as low as 3300 feet above the sea-level. In Guatemala it is very

abundant in some parts of the country, being diffused throughout the high tableland

(elevation from 5000 to 7000 feet) which forms the main cordillera. Eastward of

this JM. obscurus follows the high ridge of mountains which runs into Vera Paz,

where it passes a little beyond the village of Tactic. Here its range terminates abruptly,

its place being taken by J. unicolor, the two species being never found together. In

the ravines of the volcanoes we found it very abundant, its clear, metallic, rmging song,

which is uttered at intervals throughout the day, at once attracting attention and

making its presence known. As it sits concealed in the thickest undergrowth of the

ravines, it is not a bird easily detected, and a sight of it can only be obtained by

cautious movements on the part of the observer.

The solitary habits of J/. obscurus, and its place of constant resort, have suggested

the name “ Guarda-barranca,” or “ Guard of the ravine,” by which it is well known to

the people of Guatemala. It is a very favourite cage-bird, living happily in captivity

and singing freely its peculiar and melodious song.

The eggs of this species, which were obtained by M. Boucard in Oaxaca, are described

by Mr. Sclater® as very Robin-like in appearance, being minutely freckled and streaked

with brownish ash-colour on a white ground, the markings being denser round the

larger end, where they form a ring; they measure ‘875 by ‘61 inch.

2. Myiadectes unicolor.

Myiadestes unicolor, Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 299", 1857, p. 213°; Salv. & Scl. Ibis, 1860, p. 397°;

Ex. Orn. p. 51, t. 26°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 428’; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p- 548°.

* Mr. Sclater (P. Z.S8. 1856, p. 299) at one time thought that this name applied to M. wnicolor; but a

recent examination of the specimen showed us that it had been attached to MW. obscurus.

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Nov. 1879. 6

42 TURDIDZ.

Schistaceus fere unicolor, loris nigris, oculorum ambitu albo; subtus paulo pallidior, ventre medio albicantiore ;

alis nigris, extus brunnescenti-oleagineo partim marginatis ; cauda nigra, rectricibus duabus mediis dorso

concoloribus, rectricum lateralium parte apicali pallidiore et apicibus ipsis albis; rostro nigro; pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 7-5, ala 3-8, caudee 3:4, rostri a rictu ‘6, tarsi -73. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico, Cordova (Sallé 1), Orizaba (Botteri?), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ®) ;

GuatemaLa, Coban*, Choctum, and forests northwards to Peten (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

This interesting bird was one of M. Sallé’s discoveries in Southern Mexico, where he

obtained the specimens described by Mr. Sclater in 1856 *, one of these type specimens

being afterwards figured in ‘Exotic Ornithology’ *. Cordova * and Orizaba 2° are the

only recorded localities in Southern Mexico where M. wnicolor is found, it being

apparently absent from the western parts of the country, the territory of M. obscurus.

Prof. Sumichrast, who found it in the State of Vera Cruz, states ® that it is an inhabitant

of the temperate region, where it is quite a characteristic species, being especially

abundant in the deep ravines of the districts of Jalapa and Songolica. In Guatemala

M. unicolor is exclusively found in the northern parts of the department of Vera Paz,

the line of demarcation between it and MV. obscurus being singularly well defined. A

traveller journeying to Coban hears the song of the last outlier of J. obscurus just

after passing the village of Santa Cruz; before he reaches Coban the notes of M.

unicolor alone strike his ear. Around Coban the present species is abundant in all the

patches of wood that clothe the peculiar conical hills of the district; in the vast

forests which stretch northwards to the confines of Peten the song of M. unicolor is

constantly to be heard. Its range in altitude thus extends from about 1000 to 4900

feet above the sea.

The name by which this species is known in Guatemala is “ Pito real ;” and it is even

more esteemed than the “Guarda-barranca” as a cage-bird. Its song is very similar

to that of its congener; but the difference between the two is very apparent to one who

has ever heard them.

A nest of VM. unicolor; obtained near Coban by one of our hunters, was a cup-shaped

structure formed of fine roots and small twigs, and lined principally with moss. The

eges were very similar to those of M. obscwrus, described above.

3. Myiadectes melanops.

Myiadestes melanops, Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 580, t. 36°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 426°; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 97°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 296°.

Schistaceus fere unicolor, subtus dilutior; fronte, loris, ciliis oculorum et mento nigris ; alis nigris, primariis ad

basin schistaceis, secundariis extus parte distali et tectricibus alarum mediis schistaceo limbatis ; plaga

magna alba in pagina alarum inferiore; cauda nigra, rectricibus duabus utrinque extimis albo terminatis,

rectrice utrinque extima pro majore parte distali schistacea, rostro et pedibus flavissimis. Long. tota 7:0,

alee 3°4, caude 3-0, rostri a rictu °65, tarsi °75. (Descr. exempl. typici ex Tucurriqui, Costa Rica. Mus.

nostr.)

CINCLID. 43

Juv. plumis omnibus supra et subtus maculis distinctis fulvis nigro circumcinctis notatis. (Descr. exempl. ex

Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Tucurriqui (Arcé!), La Palma? and San José4 (v. Frantzius), Navarro

(J. Cooper*), Dota Mountains and Rancho Redondo (Carmiol?), Volcan de Irazu

(Rogers).

Myiadectes melanops was one of our collector Arcé’s discoveries in Costa Rica soon

after he reached that country from Guatemala in 1863. After sending us a small

collection from the shores of the Gulf of Nicoya, he proceeded into the interior, and,

crossing the mountains, descended into the valley of the Reventazon, and explored the

neighbourhood of Tucurriqui and Turrialba with such success that a score of novelties

reached us in the next collection he sent us. I. melanops was one of the most inter-

esting amongst them; and of it he obtained several examples. Since then many

specimens have been obtained by collectors, mostly in the forests of the Volcan de Irazu

and in the Dota Mountains. Dr. v. Frantzius gives an account of the species, chiefly

derived from its habits in confinement+; but he does not seem to have had a personal

knowledge of it in its native haunts, as he speaks of its living in the tops of the highest

trees—a place of abode so different from that of all its congeners that we cannot but

think some other species must have been mistaken for it. A living specimen kept by

Dr. v. Frantzius was fed exclusively on the fruit of Phytolacca decandra, to be obtained

throughout the year in the neighbourhood of San José. The bird would not refuse

other juicy fruits, but never touched insects of any kind. From Dr. v. Frantzius’s

description of the gait and song of his captive bird it would seem that IZ. melanops in

these respects quite resembles its congeners.

Fam. CINCLIDZ.

CINCLUS.

Cinclus, Bechstein, Naturg. Deutschl. ii. p. 808 (1807).

America possesses four species of this genus, belonging to two very distinct groups,

the northern birds being closely allied to the Northern-Asiatic Cinclus pallasi, the

southern species having characters of coloration peculiarly their own. Of the northern

birds Cinclus meaicanus has a wide range throughout the Rocky Mountains, but is

confined to that chain, whence it passes into Mexico and Guatemala. C. ardesiacus, of

the high mountains of Costa Rica and Panama, is a local race of the northern bird.

Thus in Central America we find no trace of near relationship with the two Andean

species, one of which, however, is found as near our limits as the Quindiu Mountains

in Colombia. |

In the Old World Cinclus is distributed pretty generally throughout the mountainous

44 CINCLIDZ.

parts of the Palearctic region, its southern limits extending in Asia to the Himalayas,

and in Africa to the Atlas Mountains.

The habits of the species are well known, and have been fully described by writers

on European and North-American birds. The number of recognizable species is about

thirteen, an account of which will be found in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1867.

1. Cinclus mexicanus. |

Cinclus mexicanus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 83687; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 361° ; Baird, Rev.

Am. B. p. 60°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190*, 1867, p. 120°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. i. p. 544°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 56"; Coues, B. of the N.W.

p- 10°; B. of the Col. Vall. p. 89°.

Obscure cinereus, capite undique fuscescente. Long. tota 6:2, ale 3-4, caude 1°8, tarsi 1-1, rostri.a rictu 1:0.

(Descr. exempl. ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mountains of CentraLand Wesrern N. America from the Yukon southwards’ °.—

Mexico, Temiscaltepec (Bullock), Jalapa (de Oca), Tierra fria (Je Strange), |

alpine region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), Oaxaca (Fenochio); GuatEMaLa t,

ridge above Totonicapam (0. S.*).

Though the Mexican Dipper was first brought into notice as an American bird by

Swainson, who described Bullock’s specimen}, it was supposed by Bonaparte to be the

same as the Asiatic Cinclus pallasi, and for some time passed under that name *.

It has an extensive range in North America, reaching from the Yukon throughout

the Rocky Mountains, to Southern Mexico and probably to Guatemala. It seems

to be resident wherever it occurs, even in the most northern parts of its range,

where Mr. W. H. Dall found it in the height of winter’. Its habits, which

quite resemble those of the common European Cinclus aquaticus, have been fully

described by writers on North-American birds?*, and need not be repeated here.

From Mexico we have but few details concerning it; Prof. Sumichrast ® places it

amongst the birds of the alpine region of Orizaba, but states that it follows the water-

courses of the Cordillera into the temperate region as low as 3300 feet above the sea,

its range in altitude extending upwards to an elevation of 7200 feet. In Guatemala

we only once met with Dippers, when, on the 5th September 1862, a pair were

observed in a mountain-torrent in the Cordillera above Totonicapam, at an elevation of

about 10,000 feet above the sea. One of these was shot, but lost in the stream. Not

having examined these birds at less than a gunshot distance, we cannot say whether

they actually agreed with the Mexican C. meaicanus; but we observed that their

plumage was of one colour, as in the northern bird.

Cinclus mexicanus has received several synonyms, which will be found enumerated

in Dr. Coues’s ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley’®.

* Bp. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ii. p. 489, and Am. Orn. iii. p. 1, t. 16. f. 1.

SYLVIIDZ. A5

2. Cinclus ardesiacus.

Cinclus ardesiacus, Salv. Ibis, 1867, p. 121, t. 2*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 92°; v. Frantz.

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 290°.

Cinereus, subtus dilutior, capite toto fuscescente, gula albicantiore; alis et cauda fusco-nigris, alarum tectri-

cibus et secundariis cinereo marginatis ; ciliis albis; rostro nigro, pedibus flavis. Long. tota 5:5, ale 3-2,

caude 1°6, tarsi 1-2, rostri a rictu 0-9. (Descr. fem. ex Cordillera de Tolé, in statu Panamensi. Mus.

nostr.)

3 juv. corpore subtus albido, alarum tectricibus albo terminatis. (Descr. exempl. ex eodem loco. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Dota Mountains (Zeledon 2%); Panama, Cordillera de Tolé (Arcé?).

Of this southern form of Cinclus mexicanus but little is known. Since the receipt

of the two specimens from the Cordillera de Tolé, which formed the basis of the

original description, no others have reached us from that part of the country. It

has, however, been detected in Costa Rica in the Dota Mountains ??; and Mr. Sclater

has a skin obtained in the same country.

Cinclus ardesiacus is a close ally of C. mexicanus. It is, however, of a greyer tint ;

and though of smaller size, its bill fully equals that of its congener in length. ‘The

legs, too, of the type specimen are yellow; but this may indicate immaturity, as the

legs of young birds of C’. mewxicanus are described as of that colour.

Fam. SYLVIIDA.

Subfam. SAXICOLINA.

SIALIA.

Sialia, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 173 (1827). (Type Motacilla statis, Linn.)

This small genus of three species is a purely Nearctic one, two of its members passing,

however, beyond the southern boundary as far as Southern Mexico and Honduras.

Its relationship seems to be nearest to the Old-World genus Sazicola, from which it

chiefly differs in its much shorter tarsi and more thickened bill, besides possessing a

totally different character of coloration in the plumage. The young have a spotted

first plumage as in the typical Turdide; and with that family Stalia and, indeed,

Saxicola have a very close relationship.

1. Sialia sialis.

Motacilla sialis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 386°.

Sialia sialis, Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 627; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 62°; Coues,

B. of the N.W. p. 13*; Sennett, Bull. Geol. & Geogr. Surv. iv. p.6°; Merrill, Pr. U.S.

Nat. Mus. i. p. 120°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 61".

46 SYLVIIDZ.

Sialia wilsoni, Sw. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 173°; Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 293°, 1858, p. 299", 1859,

pp. 861", 371”; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 8°, 1860, p. 29 “; Jones, Nat. Bermuda, pp. 28,

66°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 110"; Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 60 ur

Sialia azurea?, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 869 (descr. nulla!)"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 62”;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 544”.

Supra azurea, uropygio paulo letiore, genis vix obscurioribus; subtus rufo-castanea, ventre medio et crisso

albis. Long. tota 6°5, ale 4-1, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Agua,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. supra fusca, interscapulio albo guttato ; subtus albescens, plumis (pracipue in pectore) rufo marginatis, alis

et cauda cerulescentibus. (Descr. av. juv. ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern Unitep States, west to Fort Laramie, north to Lake Winnipeg*.—

Mexico, Real del Monte (Bullock'8), Cordova and Cerro del Gallego (Sailé*),

valley of Mexico (le Strange), temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast*°),

Jalapa (de Oca"), Mirador (Sartorius?), La Parada! and Juquila!? (Loucard) ;

GUATEMALA, Quezaltenango, ridge above Totonicapam, Godines, Duefias™, San

Gerdnimo"’, Tactic, Coban (0. S.& F. D. G.); Hoypuras (Taylor *)—Brruupa !;

Cusa’.

The common Bluebird of the Eastern States, which has been known to naturalists

since the days of Catesby *, was described by Linnzeus under the name Motacilla sialis ;

but Swainson, using Sialia for the generic name, proposed to call the bird S. wilsonz,

by which it was long known. Prof. Baird restored the Linnean specific name whilst still

retaining Swainson’s generic title, considering that the slight difference in the termi-

nation of the two words was sufficient to justify such a course. The bird is now

universally known as Sialia sialis by all American ornithologists; and we follow their

practice.

In his ‘ Synopsis of the Birds of Mexico’ !® Swainson seemed to consider the Mexican

bird to be distinct from the northern one, and proposed for it the name Stalia azurea,

but gave no description of it. This name Prof. Baird! adopted for the Mexican

and Guatemalan bird, believing it to possess characters sufficiently pronounced to

admit of its being considered distinct. We have carefully examined a number of

specimens, to ascertain whether S. azurea can be distinguished with certainty; but

we fail to find constant characters by which to detine it. Some Guatemalan examples

have the chestnut colour more diffused over the under surface and are somewhat large ;

but scarcely any difference is to be seen in the colour of the back when compared

with specimens of true S. stalis; and the other points being variable, we doubt whether

S. azurea deserves specific rank or is even to be considered a local form.

S. sialis would appear to be a common bird in Mexico, though by no means go

abundant in Texas®°°. In the State of Vera Cruz Prof. Sumichrast considers it to be

unquestionably a resident, but not always found in the same localities; wherever it

* Nat. Hist. Carol. i. p. 47, t. 47.

STALIA. 47

appears it is very common throughout the entire temperate region, ascending to a

height of 7400 feet above the sea. In Guatemala it is distributed over the table-

lands of the Cordillera, ascending as high as 10,500 feet. It breeds in the neigh-

bourhood of Duefias, as we more than once obtained young birds in their first spotted

plumage in August. The lowest district where it is found is on the plains of San

Ger6nimo, where it also breeds, Mr. Owen having obtained its eggs in 1860. It is

also abundant in open places in Alta Vera Paz, having been noticed both at Tactic

and Coban. In Honduras, the most southern locality whence we have any tidings of

Sialia sielis, Mr. Taylor found it throughout the line of country he traversed, being

common amongst the pine trees of the high ridges 1%,

In its migrations this bird would seem to be somewhat irregular, as it sometimes

makes its appearance in the United States in February, and even in the end of January

when the season is mild?. It is resident in Bermuda, but in Cuba of uncertain

appearance. A large flock, Dr. Gundlach tells us, arrived in April 1860 in the neigh-

bourhood of Havana; but since then he has not observed it 7.

2. Sialia mexicana.

Sialia mexicana, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 2021; Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 293°, 1859, p. 362°; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. i. p. 63*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 544°; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 65°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2677; Coues, B. of the

N.W. p. 14°. .

Stalia ceruleicollis, Vig. Zool. Voy. Blossom, p. 18, t. 3°.

S. siala similis, sed supra purpurascentius azurea, gula et abdomine medio cerulescentibus differt. Long.

tota 6°5, ale 4:5, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu °75, tarsi 75. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Wrstrern Nortu America, from Rocky Mountains to Pacific ®§.—Mexico !2 (Sallé ;

le Strange), Saltillo (Couch *), Mazatlan (Grayson"), plains of Colima (Xantus‘),

Jalapa (de Oca*), Popocatepetl (Suwmichrast®).

In North-western Mexico Sialia mexicana would appear to be found at lower eleva-

tions than in Southern Mexico; and this may also be said of it in the districts it

frequents in more northern countries, Dr. Cooper recording its abundance in all wooded

districts in California, except in the high mountains®. This species would appear

to be more stationary in its habits than the eastern species S. sialis, as Dr. Cooper met

with birds associated in flocks in Washington Territory in December, at a time when

S. sialis is to be found in much more southern countries®. In its habits §. mevicana

resembles S. sta/is; but its song is described as far less tuneful °,

In Guatemala we never observed this species ; for though Bluebirds were obtained in

mountains over 10,000 feet above the sea, they proved to be of the eastern species.

~The Mexican Bluebird was described by Swainson, in a note in the ‘ Fauna Boreali-

48 SYLVIIDZ.

Americana, ! from a specimen in Mr. Taylor’s collection obtained from Mexico.

Though found in that country by several subsequent travellers, the bird would appear

to be rather local in its distribution in Southern Mexico, being, according to Prof.

Sumichrast *, confined to the alpine region, at the extreme limits of vegetation, on

the lofty volcano of Popocatepetl; he doubts the accuracy of the locality “* Jalapa ”

assigned to de Oca’s specimens ? *.

Subfam. REGULINAK.

REGULUS.

Regulus, Cuvier, Leg. Anat. Comp. i.t. 2 (1800). (Les Roitelets = Motacilla regulus, Linn. &c.)

Phyllobasileus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 33 (1850). (Type Motacilla calendula, Linn.)

This peculiar genus comprises six species, which are distributed over the Nearctic

Region, Europe, Madeira, and the Himalayas, two of them (or, including RB. cuvieri,

three) being found in America. Both R. satrapa and R. calendula enter within our

limits as winter migrants. One of the chief peculiarities of the genus lies in the nostrils

being covered by small stiff feathers—a character which, though rudimentary in

fh. calendula, is still present, rendering Cabanis’s generic term for it, Phyllobasileus,

unnecessary.

1. Regulus satrapa.

Regulus satrapa, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 35*; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 2127, 1860, p. 250°; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. p. 654; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 73°; Coues, B. Col. Vall.

p. 96°.

Supra virescenti-olivaceus ; alis caudaque fusco-nigris flavo limbatis; fascia alarum alba; pileo, oculorum

ambitu et stria rictali nigris ; vertice summo maris flavo, centraliter rubro-aurantiaco, femine flavo

tantum ; fronte, superciliis, genis et corpore subtus sordide albis. Long. tota 0-4, alee 2:3, caude 1-7, rostri

a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex Washington, U.S. Smiths. Inst. no. 25217: Mus. nostr. Fem. ex

Mexico: Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America generally.—Mexico, Orizaba (Sallé?, Botteri*), Tierra fria (le

Strange); GuaTEMALA, Cordillera near Los Encuentros? (0. S.).

Though Lichtenstein was the first ornithologist to describe this species, it was

previously known to Wilson and others, who, however, failed to distinguish it from

the European Regulus cristatus. Like R. calendula it has a wide range in North

America, being, according to Dr. Coues, a more northern species upon the whole, as it

is rare in the basin of the Colorado and the country lying to the southward

i. satrapa passes the winter in the States, being found as far north as New England

and Washington Territory at that season*; but those which are found in Mexico and,

* Cordova has also been included, on M. Sallé’s authority, amongst the places where this species is found ;

but no. 85 of that traveller’s list (P.Z. 8. 1856, p. 293) has no locality assigned to it, and may have been

obtained in the upland region of the Volcano of Orizaba.

REGULUS. 49

perhaps, Guatemala during the winter months are probably immigrants from the

north ; but on this point our evidence is scanty.

In Mexico it has only been noticed in the neighbourhood of Orizaba? and in the

highlands near the city of Mexico. Its presence in Guatemala must be considered

doubtful, as the only evidence of its being found there rests upon the fact of Salvin

having recognized a bird that flew across the road a few yards from him when riding

from Totonicapam to Los Encuentros in February 1874.

The habits of this species are fully described in the works on North-American birds

we have quoted above. Concerning its song some difference of opinion prevails,

Dr. Brewer speaking in high praise of it, whilst Dr. Coues has little to say in its

favour. If it at all resembles that of Regulus cristatus, we should certainly pronounce

it a very poor performance.

2. Regulus calendula.

Motacilla calendula, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 337°.

Regulus calendula, Scl. P. Z.8. 1857, p. 202°, 1858, p. 300°, 1859, pp. 361 *, 371°, 1864, p. 172°;

Sel. & Salv. This, 1859, p. 8"; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 66°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.

Am. B.i. p. 75°; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 120"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. p. 92";

Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 48”.

Supra virescenti-olivaceus, vertice coccineo ; uropygio, remigum et rectricum marginibus paulo flavescentioribus ;

- alis albo bifasciatis ; oculorum ambitu albo; subtus omnino sordide flavo-albidus, rostro et pedibus

obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 2-4, caudew 1:8, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0-8. (Deser. exempl. ex

Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Av. juvenis vertice coccineo caret.

Hab. Nortu America generally—Mexico (Galeotti), Jalapa (Sallé2, de Oca*), La

Parada® and Talea® (Loucard), City of Mexico (White °, le Strange); GuaTEMALA

(Skinner), ridge above Totonicapam ? (0. S.).

This well-known North-American Regulus has a wide range over that continent,

being found from the shores of the Arctic Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the

Atlantic to the Pacific, and has even been known to stray to Greenland. It is a

migratory species; but the majority of the birds do not pass beyond the Southern

States in winter, being found in some abundance in that season in Texas !°. In Mexico

it is probably only a winter visitant; and it would seem to be not common there,

as several of the most assiduous collectors in that country have failed to meet with it.

In Guatemala its presence is assured from specimens having been sent from there by

Mr. Skinner’ (one of which, doubtless from this source, is in the Smithsonian Insti-

tution ®) ; and this is all that can be said concerning it in that country. We have never

ourselves met with a single specimen in the large Guatemalan collections of bird-skins

we have examined. When crossing the ridge of mountains between Quiché and

Totonicapam, Salvin thought he recognized this species in a bird that flew across his

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Nov. 1879. 7

50 SYLVIIDA.

path in the pine-forest at an elevation of 10,000 feet; but no specimen was secured,

so that its occurrence in those parts needs confirmation.

Regulus calendula is described by writers on American ornithology as gifted with

great powers of song. The habits of the bird are minutely described by them; but,

as yet its eggs have never been obtained, and its nest was only quite recently described

by Dr. Coues. This would seem to be rather a clumsy structure compared with that

of Regulus cristatus. |

Subfam. POLIOPTILIN ZA.

POLIOPTILA.

Polioptila, Sclater, P. Z.S. 1855, p. 11. (Type Motacilla cerulea, Linn.)

The right position of this genus is still a matter of uncertainty. It has been placed

with the Paride, a family in which its slender bill makes it much out of place. It has

also been supposed to have relationship with the Old-World Muscicapide; but the

point has never been thoroughly examined, nor, indeed, would it be possible to do so

now without opening the wide question of the relationship of the Muscicapide with the

Sylviide, Turdide, &c., which would lead us into a discussion much beyond the scope

of this work. American writers have of late years placed Polioptila in a subfamily

of the Sylviide ; and in so doing we must, for the present, be content to follow them.

The form of the first primary and the general structure of these birds would seem to

indicate that such a position cannot be very far from the correct one, though it is

very questionable whether the group should take the rank of a subfamily.

The genus Polioptila comprises about eight or nine species, all very similar in colour

and of quite uniform structure. These range from the United States to the La-Plata

basin. Three species are found in North America, of which one, P. cwrulea, enters

our region as a winter immigrant, the other two being resident beyond the northern

border. Counting P. cewrulea, four so-called species are found in Mexico and Central

America: two or three of these, however, appear to mingle to some extent. Cuba has

a peculiar species in P. lembeyt, and also shelters P. cwrulea in winter. Guiana and

South-eastern Brazil have each a species closely allied to one another and to the more

northern P. nigriceps ; and Bolivia and the La-Plata region have P. dumicola in common.

1. Polioptila ecerulea.”

Motacilla cerulea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 837°.

Polioptila cerulea, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 362°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 74°; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N.Y. ix. p. 199°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 267°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 12°;

Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 787; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 120°;

Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 101°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 61”.

Culicivora mexicana, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 316".

POLIOPTILA., 51

Polioptila mexicana, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, pp. 862”, 373°, 1862, p.18™“; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859,

p- 9"; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 202™.

Polioptila, sp.?, Salv. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 298.

Supra plumbeo-cerulea, fronte et superciliis nigris, loris, capitis lateribus et corpore subtus albis cinereo

tinctis ; oculorum ambitu albo; alis fusco-nigris, remigibus et tectricibus sordide cinereo limbatis, secun-

dariis intimis late albo marginatis ; cauda nigra, rectricis utrinque extime parte exposita alba, proxime

dimidio apicali albo, tertia utrinque albo terminata; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2:1,

caude 2, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Lanquin, Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.)

mari similis, sed paulo cinerascentior, fronte et superciliis nigris absentibus. (Descr. fem. ex Duefias, Gua-

temala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Middle region of Unirep States? 9.—Mextico ! (de Strange), Mazatlan (Grayson *),

Tamaulipas and Colima (Couch ?), Cordova (Sallé"), Jalapa (de Oca?”), Oaxaca

(Boucard * *), Tonila (Xantus°), Santa Efigenia and Juchitan, Tehuantepec (Swmi-

chrast®), Merida, Yucatan (Schott*); Guatemaa, Retalhuleu, Escuintla, Duefias,

summit of Volcan de Agua !°, San Gerdnimo, Tactic, Coban, Lanquin, savannas of

Peten (0. S. § F. D. G.).—Cusa!; Banamas’.

Polioptila cerulea was well known to the old writers of the last century, having

formed the subject of plate 302 of Edwards’s ‘Gleanings of Natural History,’ pub-

lished in 1760, under the name of “The Little Blue-grey Flycatcher,” subsequently

called Motacilla cerulea by Linneus!. It is a familiar species in the United States

during the summer, where it arrives early in April and remains till September. Dr.

Coues, to whom the bird is well known, has given a full account of its habits in the

neighbourhood of Washington in the breeding-season, and described its nest and

egos®. Its winter quarters are to be found in Mexico and Guatemala, all records

of its occurrence in the former conntry having been made in the autumn, winter, or

early spring months. In the latter country we only found it between September and

March. ‘The earliest record of its appearance is given by Prof. Sumichrast, who

observed it on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in August, whilst it came under our notice

at Retalhuleu in September. March seems to be the month of its departure from the

south ; we have a specimen shot at Lanquin in that month, but none later. In Texas

Dr. Merrill says it is abundant during the migration; but here a few remain to breed °.

In Guatemala it is a very common bird nearly everywhere, its restless pursuit of insects

rendering its presence almost certain to be detected wherever it is found. Stems,

branches, and leaves of trees and shrubs are all searched with the greatest diligence, so

that the movements of the bird soon catch the eye of one on the look-out for such objects.

The great range in altitude at which Polioptila cerulea is found in Guatemala is

somewhat surprising; we observed it in the stunted bushes which grow on the crater

of the Volcan de Agua, at a height of 12,300 feet above the sea, and also at Retalhuleu,

which is not more than 900 feet, a difference of 11,400 feet! and this in places that

are almost within sight of each other.

52 SYLVIIDZ.

It seldom happens that male birds with the black forehead and eye-streak are found

in Mexico and Guatemala; and this fact has given rise to the supposition that the bird

found in these countries, for which Bonaparte gave the name P. mexicana, is a species

distinct from P. cwrulea. My. Sclater, in 1859, thought that the black marks in the

male were only assumed during the breeding-season. If this is really so, we know of

no parallel case of such a change taking place in Passerine birds; but the suggestion

receives support from the fact that one of our specimens with the black frontal line was

shot at Lanquin in March. Dr. Gundlach, however, speaks very positively on the

point, stating that the character which distinguishes the male from the female is only

to be observed in spring shortly before the departure of the birds from Cuba for the

United States in April 1°.

2. Polioptila nigriceps.

Polioptila nigricens, Baird, Rev. Am. Birds, p. 69°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 267°;

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 12°. ;

P. cerulee similis, sed pileo toto cum loris et superciliis nitenti-nigris. Long. tota 4:3, ale 1-95, caude 2:0,

rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex La Union, San Salvador. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Xantus!, Grayson ?), Tepic (Grayson ?), Quiotepec (Oaxaca),

Tapana and Santa Efigenia (Tehuantepec) (Sumichrast *) ; San Satvapor, La Union

(O. S.).—CoLoMBIA; VENEZUELA.

Having had, through the kindness of the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution,

an opportunity of examining the type specimen of Polioptila nigriceps and of comparing

it with Colombian and Venezuelan examples some time called P. buffoni, we were

unable to appreciate any tangible differences between them. Both have the lores black ;

and in the amount of black on the outer rectrices both were almost exactly alike. We

are therefore obliged to acknowledge them to be of one species. The La-Union

specimen described above has a few white feathers in the lores, but does not otherwise

differ from the type of P. nigriceps. The true P. buffoni is from Guiana, and has, as stated

in Mr. Sclater’s original description, the outer rectrix nearly wholly white. The name

P. mgriceps, therefore, can be used for the bird having the range indicated above. It

is stated by Grayson? to be found in North-west Mexico in low brushy woods at all

seasons, and by Prof. Sumichrast? to be common almost everywhere in the west of the

Isthmus of Tehuantepec and in dry warm districts of the State of Oaxaca, frequenting

the ravines and thin woods and going almost always in pairs.

3. Polioptila bilineata.

Culicwora bilineata, Bp. Consp. i. p, 816".

Polioptila bilineata, Scl. P. Z.S. 1860, p. 273°; Baird, Rev. Am, B. i. p. 72°.

Polioptila superciliaris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. pp. 804‘, 822°, viii. p. 179°, ix. p. 9275 Scl.

POLIOPTILA. 53

& Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 344°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 71°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190";

P. Z.S. 1870, p. 182".

P. nigricipiti affinis, sed loris et superciliis albis, striga postoculari tantum nigra, capiti nigro conjuncta. Long.

tota 4:0, alee 1:8, caude 1-8, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°7.

Q mari similis quoad lororum et superciliarum colorem, sed capite summo plumbeo nec nigro distinguenda.

(Descr. maris et fem. ex Lion Hill, in statu Panamensi. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemaa, Chisec (0. 8. & F.D. G.*°); San Satvapor, La Union (0. S.); Nica-

raaua, Greytown (Holland *); Costa Rica, Punta Arenas (0. S.), Turrialba (Arcé),

Angostura, Atirro, and Guiatil (Carmiol); Panama, Bugaba (Arcé™), Lion Hill

(M‘Leannan 458°), Chepo (Arcé).—CoLompra!; Ecuapor ®.

This species, originally described from specimens in the Berlin Museum obtained at

Carthagena in Colombia 1, was subsequently found by Fraser at Babahoyo in Ecuador ? ;

and we have since had specimens sent us from the island of Puna in the Gulf of Gua-

yaquil. It was afterwards described by Mr. Lawrence, from examples obtained on the

Isthmus of Panama‘, as P. superciliaris; but we think there is little room for doubt

that Panama, Colombian, and Ecuadorian birds belong to the same species, which should

bear the name P. bilineata. The species in its range passes beyond the State of

Panama through Costa Rica into Nicaragua, and as far as the Gulf of Fonseca, and then

reappears in the northern parts of Vera Paz, its range being interrupted by the so-

called P. albiloris—a state of affairs we have attempted to explain under the heading

of that form.

One of the birds shot at La Union is exactly in the plumage of the typical female

P. bilineata. It was found in company with males that approach much more closely

to P. nigriceps than to any other form, the only difference being the presence of a few

white feathers in the otherwise black lores of these male birds.

The specimen shot by Salvin near Punta Arena, in Costa Rica, was found in the

scrubby forests in the outskirts of the town. It exhibited the restless habits so well

known in its congener P. cwrulea.

4, Polioptila albiloris. (Tab. V. figg. 1, 2.)

Polioptila albiloris, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1860, p. 298; Ibis, 1860, p. 397°; Owen, Ibis, 1861,

p- 61, t. 2. f.3°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 73°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4. p. 12°.

P. nigricipiti affinis, sed loris (nec superciliis) albis distinguenda. Long. tota 4:3, ale 1:9, caude 2-0, rostri a

rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°7.

? mari similis, sed capite plumbeo distinguenda. (Descr. maris et fem. ex Chuacus, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Santa Efigenia and Tehuantepec city (Sumechrast*) ; GuaTeEMaLA, Chuacus

(0. S. & F. D. G.1? and R. Owen *) ; Nicaragua, Granada and Realejo (J. I. Dow *).

The original specimen described as Polioptila albiloris was shot near the village of

Chuacus in Vera Paz, in a gorge opening out into the great valley of the Motagua.

54 SYLVITIDA.

The bird, a male, was found in scrubby wood near the roadside. The following year

Mr. Owen obtained a female bird with its nest and eggs in the same locality. The

nest, a very neat compact structure, was composed outwardly of dried stalks of grass

and roots, with a coating of cobweb and other adhesive materials. ‘The lining consisted

of the feathery parts of seeds, horsehair, and fine grass; the whole structure measured

13 inch across the inside and 13 inch in depth. ‘This nest was situated in low

brushwood, almost under the eaves of one of the ranchos. ‘The eggs are white, spotted

with red, principally of two shades, the spots increasing in number towards the obtuse

end; they measure—axis 0°6, diam. 0°45 in.

Besides these typical birds, the male of which has the lores white, but no white

supercilium, though a few white feathers are to be seen in this region in the type

specimen, we have seen similar ones from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where Prof.

Sumichrast observed them in May and December.

Having thus given some account of the three forms of black-headed Polioptilw found

in Central America (P. nigriceps with the lores wholly black, P. albiloris with the lores

white, and P. dilineata with both lores and superciliaries white), it remains to consider

the position of certain specimens which seem to have intermediate characters connecting

two or all of these forms together. These birds were obtained, with a female of the

true P. bilineata, near La Union in San Salvador, and have the lores black, with a

few white feathers intermingled. They were once attributed by us to P. buffoni—that

is, the Colombian bird we now consider to be the same as P. nigriceps; and they are

undoubtedly as closely allied as possible to that bird; Prof. Baird, however, preferred

to call some of them P. albiloris. Putting P. albiloris aside, and observing the ditribu-

tion of P. nigriceps and P. bilineata, we find the curious fact that the ranges of these

two forms actually cross one another, and that the area where P. bclineata comes into

contact with the northern section of P. nigriceps corresponds more or less to that occupied

by P. albiloris, at once suggesting the supposition that P. aldiloris is not a true species

at all, but due to the intermingling of P. bilineata with P. nigriceps, and, further, that

technically these last-named birds are not true species either. The way the present

state of affairs has come about may have been as follows :—Formerly P. nigriceps was

the only form which was found from Colombia to Mazatlan. The form of Western

Ecuador, P. bilineata, then began to spread, pushed out or more probably absorbed

P. nigriceps in Panama and Costa Rica, where now only pure-blooded P. bilineata are

found. In San Salvador and Central and Western Guatemala to the Isthmus of Tehu-

antepec the process of absorption is still incomplete; and hence the presence of the

intermediate forms represented by P. albiloris. But P. bilineata has done more than

this; for in Vera Paz we find pure-blooded birds, showing that it has established itself

beyond the influence of P. nigriceps. The range of this last form has thus been com-

pletely severed, one part remaining in Colombia and the other in Western Mexico.

PARIDA. 50

_ How our nomenclature is to recognize cases like the present is a matter not easy to

adjust. We believe that P. nigriceps and P. bilineata once occupied distinct areas, and,

not coming into contact, were “species” in the sense of the term as generally adopted.

P. albiloris, on the other hand, has never held this position, but is, in fact, P. nigriceps

bilineata or P. bilineata nigriceps, according to which form most prevails in individual

birds.

Fam. PARIDA.

LOPHOPHANES.

Lophophanes, Kaup, Skizz. nat. Syst. eur. Thierw. p. 92 (1829). (Type Parus cristatus, Linn.)

Beolophus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 91 (1851). (Type Parus bicolor, Linn.)

This section of the Paride differs from true Parus chiefly, if not entirely, in having

a more or less well-developed crest—a character of no great importance, but one which

has been used by American writers to distinguish Lophophanes as a genus. Still

further subdivision has been proposed by Cabanis, who placed the American species

under the name Bwolophus, and applied the term Machlolophus to certain Indian species

with long crests. Including all these under Lophophanes, the genus comprises about

fifteen species, whereof four are American and one European, the rest being found

in the mountainous parts of India, chiefly in the Himalaya range. Of the American

species there is an eastern bird (Z. bicolor) and a western (L. inornatus), the other two

being found near the southern frontier. Both these last occur in Mexico.

1. Lophophanes atricristatus.

Parus atricristatus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. v. p. 108, t. 2’.

Lophophanes atricristatus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 78°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p. 90°; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 6*; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 120°.

Supra olivaceo-cinereus, alis et cauda fuscescentioribus, capite summo et crista elongata nigris ; fronte et loris

albis, genis griseo tinctis; subtus albidus, hypochondriis et crisso rufescentibus; rostro plumbeo-nigro,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°6, caudee 2°4, rostri a rictu 0°47, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. exempl. ex

Vera Cruz, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Texas, valley of the Rio Grande !345,—Mzextco ?, Vera Cruz (fide Boucard, mus.

nostr.).

Lophophanes atricristatus is a bird of very restricted range, being confined to the

valley of the Rio Grande, and thence probably passing southwards along the seaboard

of Eastern Mexico as far as Vera Cruz, whence we have a specimen supplied us

by M. Boucard. The bird has never, so far as we know, been obtained by collectors

who have worked more in the interior of Southern Mexico. In Texas it is described

as everywhere abundant and lively in its habits, as well as a good singer, having a loud

56 PARIDZ.

whistling song much like that of the Cardinal (Cardinalis virginianus)* °. Though

several nests with young have been found, no eggs have as yet been taken.

The specimens of L. atricristatus which were first .described by Cassin were

obtained in Texas by J. W. Audubon in 1850; but until comparatively recent times the

bird has been very little known.

2. Lophophanes wollweberi.

Lophophanes wollweberi, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxi. p. 478"; Sel. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 299 *, 1859, p. 373°;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 79*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 544°; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 93°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 1177.

Parus anneaus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. v. p. 103, t. 1°.

Lophophanes galeatus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 90°.

Supra olivaceo-cinereus, vertice dorso concolori undique nigro marginata, crista elongata, stria postoculari

cum gula nigra conjuncta et torque nuchali nigris ; fronte, superciliis usque ad pectus productis et genis

albis; subtus griseo-albescens ; rostro nigro, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4°8, ale 2°6, caude

2:4, rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0-67. (Descr. maris ex La Parada, Mexico, Mus. nostr.)

Hab. South-western Unirep States, Arizona, New Mexico, and Western Texas7.—

Mexico, La Parada? and 'Talea* (Loucard), Mountains of San Diego, Orizaba

(Sumichrast®), Tierra fria (le Strange).

This is a well-marked species of rather limited range, being found only in Arizona,

New Mexico, and Western Texas’ within the boundary of the United States, and

again in Mexico in the highlands of the States of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca, as well as

in the vicinity of the city of Mexico. It is doubtless found in many parts of the

intermediate country, of the ornithology of which we know so little. Like Parus

meridionalis it appears to be in Mexico an inhabitant of high ground, Prof. Sumichrast

having observed it in the alpine region at an elevation of over 6000 feet above the

sea °.

Observers in the United States describe L. wollwebert as gregarious in habits, going

about in flocks of twenty-five or more individuals’. Its nest and eggs have not been

discovered up to the present time.

It is somewhat remarkable that the three names!®° bestowed upon this species all

appeared within a few weeks of one another. ‘That proposed for it by Bonaparte

(L. wollweberi) has always been accepted, and has probably a slight priority.

PARUS.

Parus, Linneus, Syst. Nat. 1. p. 341 (1766) (partim).

Of this well-known genus one species enters our limits, being found exclusively in

the high mountains of Southern Mexico. The genus itself (including Pwcile) contains

about fifty species, and is one of wide range, extending throughout the Palearctic and

PARUS. 57

Nearctic regions as well as to the Himalayas, Java, and West Africa, the South-

African birds being barely separable as Melaniparus. No form of the family Paride is

known from South America.

1. Parus meridionalis.

Parus meridionalis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 293°, 1857, p. 81°, 1858, p. 299°, 1859, p. 363%; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. i. p. 81°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 544°; Salv. Cat. Strickl.

Col. p. 637

Supra cinereus; alis et cauda nigricantibus brunnescenti-cinereo limbatis; pileo toto cum nucha, gutture

et cervice antica nigris, genis et capitis lateribus albis; abdomine cinereo brunnescenti tincto ; pectore et

ventre medio albidis; rostro nigro; pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°8, ale 2°5, caude 2°3, rostri a

rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (T. Mann"), El Jacale (Sallé'), La Parada (Boucard*), Jalapa (de Oca’),

Moyoapam near Orizaba, 8200 feet (Suwmichrast®), Tierra fria (le Strange).

This southern Tit, which has a general resemblance to the North-American Parus

atricapillus, is only found, so far as we yet know, in the higher mountains of Southern

Mexico, whence a specimen was sent to Strickland in 18447, where it was subse-

quently rediscovered by M. Sallé 1, and where several other collectors have met with it.

Mr. Sclater, who described M. Sallé’s specimens !, afterwards? made a close com-

parison between itand P. atricapilius, which he was unable to do (for want of spe-

cimens) in his first notice of it. He was then able to point out that P. meridionalis

is a fairly well-defined species; and this view has been confirmed by subsequent

writers, who have left it full specific rank whilst placing several northern forms of

P. atricapillus as “varieties” of that bird. The real affinity of P. meridionalis, as

indicated by the absence of white edging to the feathers of the wings and tail, and

its short tail, seems to be with P. carolinensis, a species which is found in the Southern

States, and therefore geographically its nearest neighbour.

We have no account of the habits of P. meridionalis in Mexico; but it doubtless

resembles in this respect most other Pari. Though only known as an inhabitant of

Southern Mexico, we should not be surprised to hear of its being found in the Altos of

Guatemala towards the frontier of the State of Chiapas.

PSALTRIPARUS.

Psaltriparus, Bonaparte, Compt. Rend. xxxi. p. 478 (1850). (Type P. personatus, Bp., =Parus

melanotis, Hartl.)

This small genus contains three species, of which two are so closely allied as to be

deemed geographical varieties of one another by recent writers on North-American

birds; the third is well defined and is apparently exclusively found in Mexico and

Guatemala, being the sole representative of the Paride in the latter country. The

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Fed. 1880. 8

58 PARIDA.

members of the genus are all of small size, and are distinguishable from Parus by

their long graduated tails, in which respect they approach the Old-World genus

Acredula.

1. Psaltriparus melanotis.

Parus melanotus, Sandbach, Rep. Brit. Assoc. iv. p. 99 (1837, descr. nulla)’.

Parus melanotis, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 216°.

Psaliriparus melanotis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 299°, 1864, p. 172*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 84°;

Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 5447; Dugés, La

Naturaleza, i. p. 140°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw, N. Am. B. i. p. 108°; Salv. Cat. Strickl.

Coll. p. 66°.

Psaltria personata, Westermann, Bijdrag Dierk. i. p. 16, t.”

Psaltriparus personatus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxi. p. 478”.

Supra fusco-brunneus, pileo toto plumbeo ; alis et cauda dorso fere concoloribus paulo cinerascentioribus, capitis

lateribus cum mento nigris ; subtus rufescenti-albidus, gutture canescente ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long.

tota 4:0, ale 1:95, caude rectr. med. 2°2, rectr. lat. 1-7, tarsi 0-62. (Descr. maris ex La Parada, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

mari similis, sed loris et genis pallide brunneis nec nigris (cervicis posticis lateribus tantum nigris)

distinguenda. Iride, ave vivo, pallide straminea. (Descr. fem. ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico!!, Guanajuato (Dugés*), La Parada (Boucard?), Cayuilalpam (Sallé5),

valley of Mexico (White *, le Strange), alpine region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast) ;

Guatemata ®, Solold°, Godines, Volcan de Fuego, San Lucas (0.8. & F. D. G.).

This species, though previously indicated as an inhabitant of Mexico1, was first

actually described from Guatemalan specimens ?, where it is confined to the district of

the Altos, being found in most of the higher ranges of the Cordillera, between 7000 and

9000 feet above the sea. We observed it at several places in this region, between the

hills near Solola and the highest part of the road leading from the city of Guatemala

to Antigua. In its habits Psaltriparus melanotis much resembles Acredula caudata of

Europe. A small party of birds usually associate in a flock and fly from tree to tree,

one bird following another at short intervals. When congregated in a tree they are

restless like other Part, and search the leaves and branches assiduously for food. In

Mexico the species seems to be also confined to the highlands. Prof. Sumichrast puts it

down as an inhabitant of the alpine region of the State of Vera Cruz, being found in

the mountains of San Diego at an elevation of over 6000 feet’. M. Boucard also found

it in the higher parts of the State of Oaxaca. Though included by Messrs. Baird, Brewer,

and Ridgway in their work on the birds of North America®, no specimens have as yet

been obtained in that country; but Mr. Ridgway, when in the Humboldt Mountains of

Nevada, saw what he believed to be birds of this species. In life the iris of P. melanotis

is pale straw-colour.

AURIPARUS. 59

AURIPARUS.

Auriparus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 85 (1864). (Type Agithalus flaviceps, Sundev.)

This genus, which contains but a single species, seems most nearly allied to Ayithalus,

differing from it in several points, especially in its short tarsi and its peculiar coloration.

Mr. Lawrence, who described the bird, as well as Sundevall, placed it in the genus

Conirostrum, a view which Dr. Coues* seems inclined to indorse. ‘The presence of

the spurious primary, absent in Conirostrwm, seems to preclude this view of its

affinities if this character is of the value usually attributed to it. Auriparus is at once

distinguishable from all other American Paride by its slender acuminate bill.

1. Auriparus flaviceps.

AEgithalus flaviceps, Sundev. Gifv. Vet. Ak. Férh. vii. p. 129°.

Psaltria flaviceps, Scl. P.Z. 8. 1856, p. 37°.

Auriparus flaviceps, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 85°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 111°;

Sennett, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 121’; Merrill, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 6°.

Conirostrum ornatum, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. v. p. 112, t.5. £17.

Supra fuscus, alis et cauda obscurioribus; capite toto flavo, pileo antico et fronte aurantiacis; subtus sordide

albidus flavido vix tinctus; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 3°7, alee 1:9, caudee 1°7, rostri a rictu 0°45,

tarsi 0-55. (Descr. maris ex Cape San Lucas, Lower California. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norv America, valleys of the Rio Grande ®® and Colorado 4, Lower California 4.

—Mexico, El Paso (Emory *), Saltillo (Couch *).

This pretty species is quite unknown in Southern and Central Mexico, but occurs in

some numbers all along the northern frontier in the valleys of the Rio Grande and

Colorado, being specially abundant at Cape San Lucas in Lower California’. It breeds

throughout this district; and its curious large nest, which is described as being shaped

something like a retort, has been noticed by most travellers in these regions. Except

as regards its nesting-habits, accounts of this species are rather scanty; but it is

described as having manners somewhat intermediate between those of the Tits and

Warblers, being, at the same time, usually very shy.

Fam, SITTIDZ.

SITTA.

Sitta, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 177 (1766).

The genus Sitta comprises about sixteen species, whereof five are found in the conti-

nent of North America; and of these, two enter our territory, being found in the high

mountains of Southern Mexico. Of the Old-World species five are variously distributed

throughout the Palearctic Region, and six are found in the Himalayas, India and

Burmah, these last being the most highly-coloured of the genus, and one of them,

* B. Col. Vall. i. p. 129.

60 SITTIDZ.

S. magna, a giant amongst the rest. Though allied to the Paride, the Nuthatches

have sufficient differences of bill, feet, and general shape to justify their being placed

in a separate family. Dr. Coues has described these points very fully in his ‘ Birds

of the Colorado Valley,’ where also a good account will be found of the habits of

several American species.

1. Sitta aculeata,

Siita aculeata, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. viii. p. 254!; Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 86%.

Sitta carolinensis, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 293°, 1858, p. 800*, 1859, pp. 863°, 873° (nec Latham).

Sitta carolinensis (vel aculeata), Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 5447.

Sitia carolinensis, var. aculeata, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 117°.

Siita carolinensis aculeata, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 184°.

Supra cxruleo-plumbea, pileo toto cum nucha sericeo-nigris, superciliis et capitis lateribus cum gula albis,

corpore subtus fusco-albido, tibiis et crisso castaneis ; caudee rectricibus mediis dorso concoloribus, reliquis

nigris, extimis utrinque pogonio externo (preter apicem) albis, his et duabus rectricibus utrinque proximis

apicem versus albo maculatis; alis fusco-nigris, primariis intus ad basin albis, subalaribus nigerrimis ;

rostro obscure plumbeo, maxilla ad basin pallide corneo; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:2, alex 3:6,

caude: 1-9, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Western and middle provinces of Norra America’.—Mexico (Sallé*), La

Parada * and Cinco Sefiores 4 (Boucard), Jalapa (de Oca®), Tierra fria (le Strange),

Moyoapam and Popocatepetl (Swmichrast).

Mexican specimens of this Nuthatch belong to the western form of Sitta carolinensis

(which Cassin distinguished by the name S. aculeata), rather than to the eastern bird.

The difference, however, between the two is very slight, consisting chiefly in the

western bird having a much slenderer bill, and in the spots on the tertial feathers being

obsolete instead of well defined. Though granted full specific rank by Cassin}, and by

Prot. Baird in his ‘ Review’, S. aculeata has since been placed as a “variety” or race

of S. carolinensis by writers on North-American birds®®. The relationship between

the two is undoubtedly close; but, we believe, intermediate links have not yet been

discovered connecting them. Anyhow, the position of the Mexican bird, with reference

to those of the north, is best shown by calling it Sitta aculeata. In Mexico a certain

amount of variation exists between birds of different localities, Mr. Sclater having

shown ° that Oaxaca specimens are smaller in all their dimensions than those from Vera

Cruz; but all possess the attenuated bill of S. aculeata; and therefore the generally

smaller size of Oaxaca birds is, perhaps, of not much significance. This Nuthatch

would appear to be an inhabitant of the higher pine-forests of Southern Mexico, having

been obtained by Prof. Sumichrast at Moyoapam at an elevation of 8200 feet, and

at a great height on the sides of the volcano of Popocatepetl 7.

2. Sitta pygmea.

Stita pygmea, Vig. Zool. Voy. Blossom, p. 25, t. 4. f. 2"; Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, p. 863’; Baird, Rev.

SITTA. 61

Am. B.1. p. 88°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.1. p. 5444; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.

Am. B. i. p. 120°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 139°.

Supra ceeruleo-plumbea, capite summo et nucha laterali brunnescentibus, loris et regione parotica paulo obscu-

rioribus, macula nuchali media alba; subtus sordide alba; alis nigris, secundariis intimis plumbeis, reliquis

plumbeo limbatis, primariis tertio, quarto et quinto ad basin albis et horum pogonio externo partim albo

limbatis ; rectricibus mediis dorso concoloribus, ad basin pro majore parte albis, reliquis nigris, duabus

extimis utrinque fascia obliqua alba notatis et ceeruleo-plumbeo terminatis; rostro plumbeo-nigro, ad

basin pallidiore ; pedibus nigrescentibus. Long. tota 3:7, alee 2°75, caude 1:4, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°6.

(Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Western N. America, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific °5—Mextico, Jalapa

(de Oca?), Volcanoes of Orizaba and Popocatepetl (Sumichrast *).

This small Nuthatch was originally described by Vigors from specimens obtained

at Monterey during the voyage of H.M.S. ‘ Blossom,’ under the command of Captain

Beechey!; and it has since been found to be very common in that locality and

throughout the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, from Washington Territory to

Southern California®. In Mexico it was found by de Oca?, who sent specimens from

Jalapa, which were probably obtained at a higher elevation, as Prof. Sumichrast tells

us‘ that it is an inhabitant of the alpine region, ascending to the extreme limits of

vegetation on the volcanoes of Orizaba and Popocatepetl. The habits of S. pygmaa

have been fully described by American writers®®; but nothing concerning it in

Mexico has been recorded.

Fam. CERTHIIDA.

CERTHIA.

Certhia, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 184 (1766).

This small but peculiar genus contains five species*, whereof C. familiaris is by

far the best known, having the widest range, being found throughout Europe and

North America; for it would now seem that C. americana is not really separable from

the Old-World bird. Three others are peculiar to the Himalayas, a fifth being found

in Mexico and Guatemala, southward of which points we find no trace of the genus.

1. Certhia mexicana.

Certhia mexicana, Reich. Handb. spez. Orn. p. 266 (ex Licht. Mus. Ber.) ; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 290’,

1858, p. 297°, 1859, pp. 362, 372°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 90°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 190";

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 544°.

Certhia familiaris, var. mexicana, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 128°; Coues, B. Col.

Vall. i. p. 146”. . . 7

Supra obscure fusca ; capite summo, cervice postica et interscapulio albido striatis ; uropygio late castaneo ; alis

nigro-brunneis, primariis et secundariis albido bisectis fasciam alarem formante, pogoniis externis apicem

versus albido marginatis, et plumis omnibus cum tectricibus alarum albo punctatis ; subtus fusco-albida,

gula fere alba, crisso rufescenti tincto ; rostri maxilla nigrescente, mandibula ad basin flavescente ; pedibus

* Cf, Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe.’

62 CERTHIID 2.

obscure corylinis. Long. tota 5:1, ale 2:45, caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°55. (Descr. exempl. ex

Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Ranchos de Suapam (Sallé*), La Parada? and Cinco Sefiores*® (Boucard),

Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (le Strange), Moyoapam, Popocatepetl, Peak of Orizaba

(Sumichrast®); GuaTeMALA, Volcan de Fuego’, Totonicapam, ridge above San

Geronimo to Chilasco’ (0. 8S. & F. D. G.).

Though included in several works on North-American birds? 1°, Certhia mexicana

does not seem to have ever been found so far north; nor have we any record of its

existence except in the higher mountains of Southern Mexico and Guatemala. Asa

species we are disposed to consider it quite distinct, a position that has of late not

always been conceded to it®1®. Granting that Certhia americana of North America

is inseparable from the European C. familiaris, C. mevicana seems to be always distin-

guishable by its altogether darker colouring, the richer chestnut of the rump, and the

colour of the under surface, which contrasts strongly with the white under-plumage

of its congener—differences which we have never, so far as the Guatemalan specimens

are concerned, seen destroyed by examples of intermediate character. This view is not

quite in accordance with that adopted by Mr. Dresser in his ‘ Birds of Europe,’ where

he unites the Mexican and North-American birds with Certhia familiaris, whilst he

admits the distinctness of the Guatemalan bird. An examination of more Mexican

specimens than we possess would settle the point; in the meantime our view is probably

most in accordance with fact.

In Southern Mexico Certhia meaicana seems to be exclusively found in the higher

mountains, Prof. Sumichrast including it amongst the birds of the alpine region of the

State of Vera Cruz, being found on the lofty volcanoes of Orizaba and Popocatepetl 8. —

In Guatemala we only found it in districts where extensive tracts of pine trees grow,

such as the upper part of the Volcan de Fuego, at an elevation of from 10,200 feet to

between 11,000 and 12,000 feet, and also near Totonicapam, as high as 10,000 feet.

In Vera Paz we found it at a much lower elevation, amongst the pine trees on the spur

of the range overlooking the plain of San Gerdnimo, where the Indian ruins which

now go by the name of Pueblo Viejo stand, which are less than 4000 feet above the

sea. Near the same district we also found it at Santa Barbara, and in the pine-forests

on the road to Chilasco, at an elevation of about 6000 feet.

The habits and notes of the species seemed quite to resemble those of the well-

known European bird.

Fam. TROGLODYTID.

CAMPYLORHYNCHUS.

Campylorhynchus, Spix, Av. Bras. i. p. 77 (1824).

Heleodytes, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 80 (1850). (Type Formicarius griseus, Sw.)

There are seventeen or eighteen species in this genus, all having a general structural

TROGLODYTIDZ. 63

resemblance, but showing some diversity in colour. Two genera have usually been

admitted under the names given above; but the characters dividing them are very

slight, and some species have been placed first in one genus and then in the other.

The formation of the nostril is the chief character by which they have been sought to

be distinguished ; but this proves to be not very trustworthy, such species as C. yocosus

forming a connecting link between the two.

With the exception of one species found all along the southern frontier of the

United States, and another in the promontory of Lower California, all the species

belong to the Neotropical Region, Mexico and Central America being the metropolis

of the genus, where no less than half its members are found. In South America

Campylorhynchus ranges over nearly the whole country as far south as Bolivia; but

none of the species are specifically the same as those of Central America.

The various species are usually somewhat gregarious in their habits, as many as ten

or twelve individuals being often found together, except during the breeding-season.

Though C. brunneicapillus is credited with a powerful song, our experience of these

birds is that their notes are harsh, and that their song, if such it may be called, is

far inferior to that of many Troglodytide.

A. HELEODYTES.

Nares aperte subrotundate ; pileus fere unicolor.

a. Nares aperte, fere rotunde ; nucha haud striata.

1. Campylorhynchus albibrunneus.

Heleodytes albobrunneus, Lawr. Ibis, 1862, p. 10*; Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vi. p. 470°; Scl. & Salv.

P.Z. 8. 1864, p. 344°.

Campylorhynchus albibrunneus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 98 *.

Brunneus, capite toto, cervice et corpore subtus cum tectricibus subalaribus pure albis, erisso brunneo subob-

solete transfasciato ; rostro et pedibus obscure brunneis. Long. tota 7°3, ale 3:3, caude 3-1, rostri a

rictu 1°1, tarsi 1:05. (Descr. maris ex San Pablo, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Veraguas (Arcé), Frijole* and Lion-Hill Stations (I/‘Leannan'?), San-

Pablo Station (0. 8.3).

This peculiar species has a very restricted range, all the specimens (with one exception)

that we have seen having been obtained at some one of the stations on the Panama

railway. It goes a little further into the Isthmus, having been sent from the neigh-

bourhood of Veraguas by Arcé.

Mr. Lawrence first described it in ‘The Ibis’ from specimens sent him by M‘Leannan},

and afterwards included it in one of his lists of Panama birds?. When crossing the

Isthmus in 1863, Salvin shot a bird of this species in some low trees near the railway

at San-Pablo Station. It was seen climbing about the outer branches of a tree

with the restless habits of a true Campylopéerns °.

64 TROGLODYTIDA.

2. Campylorhynchus capistratus.

Picolaptes capistrata, Less. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 174’; Des Murs, Icon. Orn. pl. 63°.

Campylorhynchus capistratus, Scl. P. Z.8. 1859, pp. 363°, 371°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 8°;

P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 836°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 317"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 104°; Salv.

Ibis, 1866, p. 202°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 92”.

Heleodytes capistratus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 409".

Campylorhynchus rufinucha, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 339°; Less. Descr. Mamm. et Ois. p. 285”;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 105“; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 191”.

Troglodytes (Campylorhynchus) cervicalis, Licht. fide Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 4091°.

Supra lete castaneus, uropygio nigro transfasciato, capite summo et stria transoculari nigris; alis fusco-nigris,

extus castaneo variegatis ; cauda nigra, rectricibus maculis subapicalibus albis notatis, apicibus ipsis

sordide griseo-fuscis, rectricibus duabus mediis fasciis quinque imperfectis ornatis, rectricum duarum

utrinque extimarum pogonio externo albo maculato; corpore subtus et superciliis albis ochraceo vix

tinctis ; rostro corneo, mandibule basi albicante ; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 0°7, ala 2°85, caudee 2:8,

rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. maris ex Escuintla, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. Specimina queedam dorsum conspicue striatum habent, crissum fasciatum, et hypochondria maculis

paucis nigris notata (unde Campylopterus rufinucha, Baird, ex Lafresnaye).

Hab. Mexico, Vera Cruz (A. Lesson}3), Jalapa (de Oca®), Juquila and Playa Vicente

(Boucard*), Mirador (Sartorius 8), Chico (Mus. Ber.16; British Honpuras, Belize 5;

GuaTEMALA, plain of Zacapa, Chuacus! and Trapiche Grande in the Motagua

valley, Savana Grande, Escuintla, Naranjo, and Retalhuleu in the Pacific-coast

region (0. S. & F. D. G.); San Sarvapor, Acajutla and La Union (0. S.);

Honpuras, near the Pacific (Taylor’), San Pedro (G. UM. Whitely*); Nicaracua,

Realejo (Zesson!), San Juan del Sur (O. S.); Costa Rica, Punta Arenas (J. J.

Dow), San Mateo (J. Cooper 1°), Bebedero (Arcé).

There has long been considerable doubt whether the bird described by Lesson from

Realejo as Picolaptes capistrata 4 is distinct from one from Mexico, called by Lafresnaye

Campylorhynchus rufinucha—the latter having the. back conspicuously striped and the

flanks sparsely spotted with black, the former having the back plain chestnut and the

flanks without marks. Des Murs2, when figuring the type of C. capistratus, considered

C. rufinucha to have been applied to a younger individual of the former; and this

view was generally accepted until Prof. Baird wrote his ‘Review of American Birds’

and reinstated C. rufinucha as a species 4. We were at one time } disposed to follow

Prof. Baird in thus recognizing two species ; but now, by the light of additional speci-

mens, we doubt the existence of more than one; for the extent of the markings of

the back is found to be variable, and not correlated with the spotting of the flanks.

Nor can we fix the birds with spotted backs to any special locality. Prof. Baird sup-

posed C. rufinucha to be the species of Eastern Mexico; but we trace it in some of its

characters to Costa Rica, specimens of the true C. capistratus being found at immediate

points.

C. capistratus has a wide range in Central America, being found from the State of

Vera Cruz in Mexico to Costa Rica. It nowhere occurs at a higher elevation than

CAMPYLORHYNCHUS. 65

about 3000 feet, and descends to the sea-level. In Western Mexico its place is taken

by C. humilis; but in Western Guatemala it is very abundant, and thence passes down

the coast of the Pacific, through San Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, to the Gulf

of Nicoya in Costa Rica. On the eastern side it is found, as already stated, in Vera

Cruz; it also occurs in the valley of the Motagua in Guatemala !°, and near San Pedro

in Honduras °.

Though found in the outskirts of forests, its favourite resort is the more open parts

of the country where Mimose abound. In such a district we found it nesting in the

neighbourhood of Chuacus, the nest being placed in a low tree. This nest was a large

loose structure, rather elongated in shape, with the opening at the end of the longer

axis. ‘The species is a restless noisy one, and has no song worthy of the name.

3. Campylorhynchus humilis.

Campylorhynchus humilis, Scl. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1856, p. 263°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 107°;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 545°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 267°;

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 13°.

C. capistrato similis, sed minor, capite toto summo rufescente nec nigro et stria rictali utrinque nigra distin-

guendus. Long. tota 6:0, ale 2°6, caude 2:3, rostri a rictu 0°9, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Tehuan

tepeque. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Bell+3), Colima (Xantus?+), San Juan del Rio (Rébouch),

Juchitan (Sumichrast*), Santa Efigenia and Tehuantepec city (Suwmichrast*).

This species is restricted in its range to Western Mexico, being found only in the

States bordering the Pacific from Mazatlan to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It has

been reported from Orizaba?, but incorrectly, as Prof. Sumichrast has shown’. The

last-named naturalist states ° that it is the most common species of the genus on the

shores of the Gulf of Tehuantepec, and is found as far as San Carlos on the road to

Oaxaca. It is, he says, a lively bird, whose song at the time of mating is agreeable and

varied. Except at this time, when it lives in pairs, it is almost always seen in small

flocks. Campylorhynchus humilis was originally described by Mr. Sclater from a specimen

in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, brought from

Mazatlan by Mr. Bell +, whence other specimens have since been obtained and compared

with the type by Prof. Baird?. In general appearance C. humilis is not unlike

C. capistratus, but is quite distinct from it, as pointed out above. It seems, however,

to take the place of that species in Western Mexico, the two never being found

together.

The iris of this species in life is described as of a bright brick-red colour, the bill

blackish, and the basal half of the mandible and feet light plumbeous‘,

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Fed. 1880. 9

66 | TROGLODYTIDZA.

b. Nares aperte, ovales; nucha striata.

4. Campylorhynchus jocosus.

Campylorhynchus jocosus, Scl. P. Z.S8. 1859, p.371'; Cat. Am. B. p.17, t.8°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.

i. p. 106°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 13°.

Sordide brunneus, capite summo nigricantiore, dorsi plumis nigro ocellatis et medialiter albo punctatis ; cervice

postica albo nigroque striata; superciliis albis, stria transoculari et altera (valde obsoleta) rictali nigris ;

alis fusco-nigricantibus, tectricibus sicut in dorso pictis, remigibus extus brunneo regulariter transvittatis ;

cauda nigricante, supra (cum uropygio) brunneo regulariter transfasciata, rectricibus duabus utrinque

extimis in pogonio externo albo distincte maculatis, rectricibus quatuor utrinque extimis fascia subapicali

alba notatis; subtus lactescenti-albus, pectore toto et abdomine maculis rotundis nigris conspicue notatis,

gula immaculata ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6°5, ale 2°8, caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 1-1,

tarsi 0°95. (Descr. exempl. ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Oaxaca, Tehuacan ? (Boucard), Don Dominguello (Suméichrast *).

Little is known of this species, which has a restricted range in Mexico, extending from

Tehuacan to Oaxaca. It was first discovered by M. Boucard near the latter town ; and his

specimens were described by Mr. Sclater. Since then other naturalists have found it

in the same district. The iris of the living bird is described as of a red-brown colour ;

the bill blackish, and the feet dusky ash +.

5. Campylorhynchus gularis.

Campylorhynchus gularis, Scl. P. Z.S. 1860, p. 462°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 109°.

Supra brunneus, dorsi plumis omnibus nigro ocellatis et medialiter albo punctatis, cervice postica albo nigroque

conspicue striata; pileo toto brunnescenti-rufo unicolori, superciliis elongatis albis, stria postoculari et

altera rictali utrinque nigris ; alis fusco-nigricantibus, tectricibus sicut in dorso pictis, remigum pogonio

externo pallide brunneo regulariter transvittato; cauda nigricante, apice late sordide albo, rectricibus

quatuor mediis pallide brunneo variegatis, duabus proximis utrinque in pogonio externo rufescente albido

maculatis, duabus extimis in utroque pogonio maculis magnis albis notatis; subtus lactescenti-albus,

ventre rufescente, pectoris lateribus et hypochondriis nigro sparse maculatis; rostro plumbeo, pedibus

pallide corylinis. Long. tota 7-0, ale 2°8, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0°85. (Deser. exempl.

typici ex Mexico. Mus. P. L. Sclater.)

Hab. Mexico 1.

A single skin, obtained by Mr. Sclater from Mr. Gould in 1860, is all that is known

of this species. The precise locality where it was obtained is not recorded; but the

skin is made up somewhat in the manner of Floresi’s preparations; and as many of

that travellers’ skins came into Mr. Gould’s possession, it is not improbable that this

skin once formed part of this collection. Floresi worked in Central Mexico, of the

ornithology of which hardly any thing is known at present. Prof. Baird has suggested ?

that C. gularis is nearly related to C. humilis, differing from it chiefly in its spotted

chest and flanks, and in the conspicuous longitudinal marks on the neck behind. It

has also a shorter, more decurved bill; but the coloration of the head in both species is

CAMPYLORHYNCHUS. 67

similar. The colouring of the hind neck connects it with C. jocosus, which is really its

nearest ally.

B. CAMPYLORHYNCHUS.

Nares sublineate, operculo sensim obtecte.

c. Pileus fere unicolor; dorsum longitudinaliter striatum.

6. Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus.

Picolaptes brunneicapiilus, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1835, cl. ii. pl. 471; Heermann, Journ. Ac. Phil.

li. p. 263°; Dugés, La Naturaleza, i. p. 140°.

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 99*; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 483°; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 182°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 156".

Supra brunneus, pileo toto unicolori; dorso toto maculis elongatis albis nigro utrinque limbatis notato; alis

extus rufescente albo frequenter transfasciatis; cauda nigra, rectricibus mediis pallide brunneo indistincte

transfasciatis, extimis maculis magnis albis in utroque pogonio notatis; subtus albus, abdomine imo et

tibiis rufescente tinctis, pectore toto, gutture imo et hypochondriis maculis rotundis nigris permaculatis ;

crisso albescente maculis magnis nigris notato; rostro obscure plumbeo, mandibule basi albicante ;

pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3-2, caude 3:0, rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-0. (Descr.

femine ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America, Rio Grande 5 and Colorado valleys, Southern California, Utah,

and Nevada %.—Muexico, Guaymas (Heermann ), Guanajuato (Dugés *), valley of

Mexico (le Strange).

Though apparently common all along the northern frontier of Mexico, from the

Atlantic to the Pacific, the only evidences we have of the occurrence of C. brunnei-

capillus further south are the statement of Dugés of its being found at Guanajuato

and the specimens brought home by Mr. le Strange from the vicinity of the city of

Mexico, one of which, through his kindness, we have in our collection. On the

northern frontier it is described by naturalists who have worked in that region?° as

frequenting very arid country where cacti abound, its partiality to that plant having

gained for it the name of the “Cactus-Wren.” It even builds its loose purse-shaped

nest in the cactus-plants, making it outwardly of grass and straw, and lining it with

cotton or feathers+. Its notes are described as harsh and scolding, but its song as clear

and ringing ©. |

Lafresnaye’s description and figure ! are, as Prof. Baird says, not satisfactory ;. and as

the locality of the original specimen is supposed to have been either California or Peru,

there is a possibility that a different species from the one now under consideration

should bear the name C. drunneicapillus. ‘This name, however, has always been

associated with the present species ; and it is universally admitted that it would be unwise

to disturb matters except on better grounds for so doing than at present exist.

68 TROGLODYTID ZA.

7. Campylorhynchus guttatus.

Thryothorus guttatus, Gould, P. Z.S. 1836, p. 89°.

Campylorhynchus guttatus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 94°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 108°; Lawr.

Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 199°.

C. brunneicapillo affinis, sed supra paulo grisescentior et pileo pallidius brunneo, maculis corporis subtus multo

paucioribus et in hypochondriis nec rotundis sed transversim extensis, abdomine quoque albicante nec

rufescente differt. Long. ale 2°85, caude 3:1, rostri a rictu 1:2, tarsi 1. (Descr. exempl. ex Progreso

Yucatan [Smiths. Inst. no. 42401]. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mxxico 1, Progreso and Celestin, Yucatan (Schott *).

Though described many years ago by Mr. Gould! nothing further was known of

this species until Dr. Schott obtained several specimens of it in Northern Yucatan ‘,

where it would appear to be not uncommon, and where, we should not be surprised to

find, it is exclusively found. Prof. Baird *, judging from the description, rightly con-

jectured that its closest ally would prove to be C. brunneicapillus, and even supposed

that it might be the same as that species. Dr. Schott’s specimens, however, which

came into Mr. Lawrence’s hands for examination, enabled that naturalist to point out

the differences between the two birds; and these differences we have given in our

diagnosis.

No notes have as yet reached us on the habits of C. guttatus.

d. Pileus variegatum ; dorsum transversim striatum.

8. Campylorhynchus zonatus.

Picolaptes zonatus, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 210, t. 70°.

Campylorhynchus zonatus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 223°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 290°, 1859, p. 363°; Salv.

& Scl. Ibis, 1860, p. 29°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 104°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H.i. p. 545°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 92°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 13°.

Campylorhynchus nigriceps, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 461°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 109”.

Supra nigricans albido transfasciatus, plumis pilei griseo marginatis, collo postico albo striolato, superciliis in-

distinctis griseo-albidis ; cauda nigra fulvescente transfasciata, rectricibus mediis grisescentibus; subtus

albidus, ventre toto et crisso lete rufescentibus, gutture toto crebre maculis nigris notato, hypochondriis

nigro transfasciatis ; rostro corneo, mandibule basi albicante ; pedibus flavescenti-olivaceis. Long. tota 7°5,

ale 3:3, caude 3-5, rostri a rictu 1°15, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. (C. negriceps, Scl.) supra niger fulvescenti leto maculatus, pileo omnino nigro; subtus fulvescens maculis

vix ullis. (Descr. exempl. ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico? (le Strange), Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca*), Mirador (Sartorius °),

Orizaba (Sumichrast"), Guichicovi (Sumichrast®); GuaTemaLa, near Duefias®,

Volcan de Fuego, Tactic, Coban, Choctum, Alotepeque® (0. 8. & F. D. G.) ;

Costa Rica, Turrialba and Cervantes (J. Carmiol ®), Tucurriqui (Arcé, J. Zeledon ®).

This bird was originally described by Lesson as coming from California!; but this

CAMPYLORHYNCHUS. 69

locality has long since been proved to be erroneously ascribed to it, as it has never yet

been found further north than Southern Mexico. Here, however, it would appear to

be common in the temperate region of the eastern part of the country up to an

elevation of 4300 feet, thence spreading to the hot lands of the State of Vera Cruz’.

In Guatemala its distribution is extensive, including the low-lying lands north of

Coban, as well as Alotepeque on the frontier of Honduras. In the forests of the

Volcan de Fuego and the hills about Duefias it is very common. It is generally found

in companies of eight or ten, or even more, which usually keep about the upper

branches of the forest-trees. Its cry is loud and incessant, having little resemblance to

that of a Wren. Its flight, however, is rather Wren-like. It builds a large loose

nest, composed chiefly of dried vegetable matter, including dead flowers, and measuring

fifteen inches in depth and twelve in diameter. One we ascended to was in the upper

branches of a tree, and had a side entrance near the top. It contained neither eggs

nor young, though the old birds passed in and out several times.

In the higher parts of Costa Rica C. zonatus would appear to be just as common as

in Guatemala; but it is absent from the intervening country, and further south we

have no trace of it. In Colombia a near ally is found in C. zonatoides.

The young of C. zonatus differs considerably from the adult, having a black head and

the under surface without the black spots of the old bird. These differences led Mr.

Sclater to describe the young as C. nigriceps and to compare it with the black-headed

C. capistratus °, The real position of C. nigriceps was shrewdly suspected by Prof.

Sumichrast’; and his opinion has since been confirmed by specimens obtained by us,

which, though agreeing with the types of C. nigriceps, are undoubtedly ¥ young examples

of C. zonatus.

There is considerable diversity between individual specimens of the adult bird as

regards the number of spots on the throat and breast. In some these are much more

thickly spread than in others; but the variation does not seem to be due either to a

difference of sex or of locality, but are simply individual peculiarities.

The iris of C. zonatus in life is cinnamon-red, the maxilla black, the mandible horny,

and the feet yellowish olive °.

9. Campylorhynchus pallescens.

Campylorhynchus pallescens, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 93°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p.101*; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 544°.

Campylorhynchus megalopterus, Scl. P.Z.S. 1858, p. 298 *, 1859, pp. 363°, 371° (nec Lafr.).

C. zonato affinis, sed supra grisescentior maculis pallidis transversis latioribus et cauda magis distincte trans-

fasciata ; subtus fere omnino griseo-albus, maculis fuscis paucioribus notatus. Long. tota 6-8, ale 3-4,

caude 3-1, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. C. zonato ejusdem etatis similis, sed omnino grisescentior et subtus ventre magis distincte fasciato

distinguendus. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

70 TROGLODYTIDZA.

Hab. Mexico 1, La Parada‘ and Llano Verde ® (Boucard), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba

(Sumichrast *, le Strange).

For some years this bird was supposed by Mr. Sclater to be the Picolaptes mega-

lopterus of Lafresnaye, described in 1845; but Prof. Baird, who examined the question

very fully 7, came to the conclusion that the name C. pallescens was more strictly

applicable to it; and his verdict has since been allowed to stand.

The species is restricted in its range to the highlands of Southern Mexico, the

alpine region of the States of Vera Cruz and Oaxaca being its home, where it

would appear to be by no means uncommon. Prof. Sumichrast ® gives as its vertical

range 5000 to 6500 feet, and says that he does not doubt that de Oca’s specimens

from Jalapa were obtained in the neighbouring mountains. It would thus seem to

occupy a more elevated tract of country in Mexico than C. zonatus, which is also found

in the same States.

We have no trace of the species in Guatemala, or elsewhere in Central America ;

but in Ecuador a closely allied bird, C. balteatus, occurs, in the western parts of that

country.

Of the true C. megalopterus, said by its describer, Lafresnaye, to be from Mexico, we

have had no tidings of late years; nor has it been satisfactorily shown to what country

it actually belongs, if, indeed, it is really distinct from C. padlescens.

SALPINCTES.

Salpinctes, Cabanis, Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 323 (1847) (type Zroglodytes obsoletus, Say); Baird,

Rev. Am. B.i. p. 109.

This genus and Catherpes have remarkably weak feet and toes compared with other

genera of Troglodytide, the lateral toes being very short. This is especially the case

in Salpinctes, in which the inner toe (without the claw) falls short of the distal end of

the second phalange of the middle toe, and the outer toe hardly passes it. All the

claws in these two genera are much compressed, and have a deep lateral depression on

each side. The tarsus in Salpinctes is peculiar in having the posterior surface enclosed

in several scutelle instead of a single plate, as in Catherpes and Troglodytide generally.

The bill is long, and depressed in a rather abrupt curve towards the end, near which a

slight notch is visible on the cutting-edge. The nostril is elongated, a membrane

slightly overhanging it. The nasal opening is pointed at its distal and rounded at its

proximal ead. The texture of the plumage is soft.

Until quite recently, Salpinctes contained but a single species, though Catherpes was

for some time associated with it. A second species or race has since been discovered

inhabiting the small island of Guadalupe, situated in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of

California *.

* Ridgway, Bull. U.S. Geol. & Geogr. Surv. of Terr. ii, no. 2. p. 185.

SALPINCTES. 71

The metropolis of the genus is the Rocky Mountains, whence it spreads through the

Mexican and Guatemalan highlands.

1. Salpinctes obsoletus.

Troglodytes obsoleta, Say, Long’s Exp. ii. p. 4".

Salpinctes obsoletus, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 3237; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 871°; Scl. & Salv.

This, 1860, p. 30*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 110°; Dugés, La Natur. i. p. 189°; Lawr.

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.137; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 135°; Coues,

B. Col. Vall. i. p. 159°.

Troglodytes latifasciatus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2” (J. f. Orn. 1868, p. 57).

Supra fusco-griseus obsolete fusco transfasciatus, plumis singulis maculis albis (apicalibus) et nigris (sub-

apicalibus) notatis, uropygio rufescente; alis et cauda media fuscis nigro frequenter transfasciatis, rectri-

cibus lateralibus fulvo et nigro late transfasciatis; superciliis indistincte albidis ; subtus albescens,

hypochondriis paulo rufescentibus, gula sparsim nigro striata, abdomine toto maculis paucis nigris

notato, crisso nigro variegato; rostro et pedibus obscure corneis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 2°6, caude 2:1,

tarsi 0°8, rostria rictu 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Cachil, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Central region of NortH America and Lower California ®.—Mexico, Coahuila

(Couch®), Guanajuato (Dugés®), Apam (le Strange), Oaxaca (Boucard*), Caco-

prieto, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast"); GuaTEMALA *, Quezaltenango, Salama, Rabinal,

Quiché, and Jutiapa (0.8. & F.D.G@.); San Satvapor, Volcan de Conchagua (0.58.).

The Rock-Wren (by which name this bird is commonly known in the United States)

has a wide range throughout the Rocky Mountains, where it was first discovered by Say,

who accompanied Long’s expedition !. Itis found from British Columbia and Vancouver’s

Island to Cape San Lucas, and southwards through Mexico to Guatemala and even as

far as the Gulf of Fonseca. It is, however, generally considered an inland rather than

a coast species, and in the mountains is found at considerable elevations. Its nesting-

habits are well known; and observations respecting them have been collected by Dr.

Coues in his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley’. Though noticed by many travellers in

Mexico, we have no further account of it in that country beyond records of the places

where it is found. In Guatemala it often came under our observation, as it occurs in

some numbers in the hills surrounding the plain of Salama wherever open stony places

are found. Thus, when descending the Salama side of the Cuesta of Chuacus we

usually saw these birds about some old walls near the foot of the hill; and, again, near

the summit of the Cuesta of Cachil on the Coban road birds were seldom absent.

These places are at the comparatively low elevation of from 3000 to 4000 feet above

the sea. Salpinctes obsoletus, however, was more numerous about Quezaltenango, at an

elevation of 8000 feet, the stony barren hill-sides of that district being apparently well

suited to its habits. It is probably a resident species in Guatemala as elsewhere; our

specimens were obtained at Cachil in November, and at Quezaltenango in August; and

it was observed at the latter place in February. In March, too, Salvin observed it at

72 TROGLODYTIDA.

the top of the volcano of Conchagua, at an elevation of about 4000 feet, this mountain

forming the north-western extremity of the Gulf of Fonseca. Here, too, it was on open

barren stony ground. The wide gap in the range of this species between Conchagua

and Quezaltenango is partly bridged by specimens having been observed near Jutiapa,

in Guatemala, not far from the frontier of San Salvador.

There is considerable diversity in the plumage of different specimens of this species,

due, we believe, to season or age. Our Quezaltenango specimens, shot in August, have

none of the characteristic black and white spots on the back; but the whole upper

surface is transversely barred with black, giving the bird a very different appearance ;

a close examination, however, reveals a few freshly-moulting feathers of the normal

type; so that we are led to infer that these specimens are either young birds or old

ones in abraded plumage. A Cachil specimen killed in November is exactly like one

from the Yellowstone River.

Concerning the name Troglodytes latifasciatus ° little can be said, except that it may

apply to this species. The description is exceedingly meagre; and, moreover, a fruitless

search in the Berlin Museum for Lichtenstein’s type leaves us with nothing but the

description upon which to form an opinion.

CATHERPES.

Catherpes, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 356 (1858). (Type Thryothorus mexicanus, Sw.)

Though the feet are somewhat stouter in this genus than in Salpinctes, the relative

length of the toes is about the same, and the feet are more feeble than in other

Troglodytide. ‘The posterior covering of the tarsus is of the normal type, being a

single plate instead of several, as in Salpinctes. The bill is long and slender, and

without subterminal notch. The nostril is shaped much as in Salpinctes.

Two species constitute this genus, one of which, C. mexicanus, is rather variable in

its characters, at least in Mexico, but more stable towards the northern limits of its

range. ‘The second species is only known from a single specimen obtained in the

Mexican State of Vera Cruz.

1. Catherpes mexicanus.

Thryothorus mexicanus, Sw. Zool. Tl. ser. 2. i. t. 11’.

Salpinctes mexicanus, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. xiii. p. 323°; Sel. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 212°, 1858, p. 297 *.

Catherpes mexicanus, Baird, B. N. Am. p.356°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p.172°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i.

p- 111’; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p.484°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545°; Lawr.

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 268"; Dugés, La Natur. i. p. 189".

Catherpes mexicanus, var. conspersus, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 189”.

Catherpes mexicanus conspersus, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 164”.

Troglodytes murarius, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2“ (J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57).

CATHERPES. 73

Thriothorus guttulatus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 99 ©.

Certhia albifrons, Girard, B. Texas, t. 18°.

Supra nigro-brunneus, pileo obscuriore ; dorso toto et cervicis lateribus albo nigroque stellato; cauda rufa

nigro anguste transfasciata, supracaudalibus rufis nigro maculatis ; alis fuscis nigro obsolete transfasciatis ;

subtus gutture toto albo, pectore rufo, ventre brunneo punctulis nigris albido terminatis notato; rostro

obscure corneo, mandibule basi albicante; pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5-5, alee 2:5, caudee 2-1, tarsi 0°8,

rostri a rictu 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Tehuantepec. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. South-western parts of Centra Norra America, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Texas 8,

&c.1? 8.—Mexico ®, Tepic (Grayson !°), Guadalaxara (Grayson, Dugés!1), Guana-

juato (Dugés 1"), Real del Monte (Morgan '), Rio Coahuayana (Xantus7), Mirador

(Sartorius"), Yuantepec (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), valley of Mexico (White ®, le Strange,

Sumichrast®), Orizaba (Botteri*), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), Oaxaca

(Loucard *), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec (Swmichrast).

Specimens of this Wren from America north of Mexico have been separated from

the Mexican bird by Mr. Ridgway as a geographical race under the name of Catherpes

mexicanus, var. conspersus |”; the differences observable between the two being stated to

be the greater curvature of the bill of the northern bird, the head and neck above being

thickly marked with white spots, the colours of the under surface more blended, as well

as other minor points. The validity of these distinctions is confirmed by Dr. Coues 2%,

and, we have no doubt, indicate that the northern bird is fairly constant in its characters.

But when Mexican examples are compared, we find great diversity both in the size of

the bill and in the coloration of the plumage. A specimen from Sallé’s collection

from Southern Mexico is barely distinguishable from one of Mr. Henshaw’s specimens

from Arizona, whilst a Tehuantepec example exhibits all the characters attributed by

Mr. Ridgway to the true C. mexicanus. We possess other Mexican specimens which

are intermediate, having the bill of the southern bird and the plumage of the northern.

It would seem, then, that C. mexicanus is a variable species in Mexico, but that in the

northern parts of its range it is more constant in its characters.

The Mexican bird was first described by Swainson in 18291 from specimens obtained

at Real del Monte. Two years afterwards Lichtenstein named Deppe’s birds as

Troglodytes murarius*, under which name the specimens still stand in the Berlin

Museum. Again, in 1839, Lafresnaye renamed it Thryothorus guttulatus } ; and, lastly,

in 1841, Giraud included it amongst his sixteen birds of Texas, under the title of

Certhia albifrons *°, All these names apply to the Mexican race.

In North America C. meaxicanus is usually found in the cafions of the south-western

portion of the United States, which form so characteristic a feature in the physical

geography of that district; and from this, its favourite resort, it is called the Cafion

Wren '*, But it by no means only frequents such barren localities, being also found

about walls and houses, where its familiar habits make it a general favourite’ 12, Its

song is described as a series of loud clear notes, uttered in a simple descending scale 13,

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Feb. 1880. 10

74 TROGLODYTIDZ.

It breeds amongst rocks and in walls, laying four white eggs thickly covered with large

blotches of a reddish or cinnamon-brown ™.

In Mexico Catherpes mexicanus seems to be universally distributed, from Tepic in

the north-west throughout the central plateau to Oaxaca and Tehuantepec in the ~~

south; but it has not yet been detected in Guatemala, though it might not unreason-

ably be looked for in the Altos bordering the Mexican State of Chiapas. Prof.

Sumichrast says it is also found in the temperate region in the department of Vera

Cruz. It builds in the houses of -Orizaba, making a skilfully-wrought nest of spiders’

webs, which it places in crevices of old walls or in the interstices between the tiles of

the roofs of houses ®.

2. Catherpes sumichrasti.

Catherpes sumichrasti, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1871, p. 233!.

Brunneus, uropygio et alis obscurioribus, capitis lateribus paulo pallidioribus, gula grisescenti-rufa, pectore

fasciis angustis crebris obscuris notato, abdomine maculis minutis albis nigro circumcinctis ornato, hypo-

chondriis indistincte fasciatis, crisso nigricanti-brunneo ; rostri maxilla nigricante, mandibule basi flavi-

cante; pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota (absque cauda) 5:0, ale 2°75, rostri a rictu 1-2, tarsi 1-2.

(Descr. exempl. typici ex Mexico. Mus. Smiths.)

Hab. Mexico, Mata Bejuco (Labarraque 1).

Through Mr. Lawrence’s kindness we recently had an opportunity of examining this

interesting and distinct bird; and had the specimen been perfect, we should have

figured it in this work. So far as we can see, Mr. Lawrence’s views as to its position

seem correct; but this cannot be assured until the form of the tail (entirely wanting in

the only known specimen) is known. In general appearance the bird resembles

Catherpes mexicanus, except as regards its throat, which is rufous with a greyish tinge

instead of white; it is also a considerably larger bird. |

The single specimen in the Smithsonian collection was forwarded to that institution

by Prof. F. Sumichrast, he having obtained it from Sefior T. Labarraque, who found it

at a place in the State of Vera Cruz called Mata Bejuco. No further details of the

species have yet come to light.

CYPHORHINUS.

Cyphorhinus, Cabanis, Arch. f. Naturg. Jahrg. x. 1, p. 282 (1844) (type C. thoracicus, Tsch.) ;

Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 112.

This genus was based upon a bird obtained by Tschudi in Peru, and called by him

C. thoracicus, since supposed by several writers to be identical with Thryothorus modu-

lator of d’Orbigny. d’Orbigny’s bird, however, is quite distinct, a most obvious

difference being its much shorter tail. The genus itself is a remarkable one, on

account of the peculiar form of the nostril, which is small and circular, and situated

CYPHORHINUS. 75

in the middle of the soft membrane which occupies the nasal fossa. The bill, too, is

much compressed at the base, and has the culmen rather abruptly bent just above

the nostril. These characters distinguish Cyphorhinus from all other Troglodytide.

Six species are now known of this genus, whereof C. musicus is peculiar to Guiana,

C. modulator to Bolivia and the Upper Amazon, C. thoracicus to Peru, C. phewocephalus

to Ecuador and the Cauca, valley, C. dichrous to the Cauca valley, and C. lawrencti to

Central America as far north as Costa Rica. South-eastern Brazil has no known

species of the genus.

1. Cyphorhinus lawrencii.

Cyphorhinus cantans, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 298* (nec Gm.).

Cyphorhinus lawrencii, Scl. MS.; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 5”, ix. p. 92°; Baird, Rev. Am.

B. p. 113°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 345°; Ex. Orn. p. 41, t. 21°.

Supra fuscus, alis et cauda extus nigro frequenter transfasciatis ; regione auriculari, mento, gutture et pectore

toto castaneis; ventre medio cinereo, hypochondriis et crisso brunnescentibus; rostro corneo; pedibus

fuscis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 2:5, caude 1:5, tarsi 0°95, rostri a rictu 0:9. (Descr. maris ex Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Angostura * and Valza (Carmiol); Panama, Lion Hill (*Leannan! 25),

Chepo (Arcé ®).

This is a species of restricted range, being confined to the Colombian State of

Panama and to Costa Rica; but in the former district we have only seen specimens

from the Panama Railway, and from Chepo forty miles south of it. Its nearest ally is

C. phecocephalus, an Ecuadorean species which has also occurred at Remedios, in the

State of Antioquia*. From this it differs in having the belly cinereous, instead of

chestnut like the throat. C. musicus of Guiana has also a cinereous belly, but is again

distinguishable by having distinct black and white streaks on the side of the neck, of

which there are no traces in the present bird.

Cyphorhinus lawrencii was one of M‘Leannan’s discoveries, specimens of it having

been included in the first collection sent to Mr. Lawrence from the isthmus of Panama.

These were at first supposed to belong to the C. musicus of Guiana, = C. cantans

(Gm.)!—an error poiuted out by Mr. Sclater, to whom Mr. Lawrence submitted his

specimens ?.

We have no account of the habits of C. dawrencii; but from its resemblance to

species owning the suggestive names C. musicus and C. modulator, it is doubtless a

good songster.

* Sclater and Salvin, P. Z.8. 1879, p. 492.

10*

76 TROGLODYTIDA.

MICROCERCULUS.

Microcerculus (section of Cyphorhinus), Sclater, Cat. Am. B. p. 19 (1862); Baird, Rev. Am. B. i.

p. 113 (1864). (Type Turdus bambla, Bodd.)

This name was first used by Mr. Sclater to designate a section of Cyphorhinus, and

afterwards employed in a generic sense by Prof. Baird, who, however, was unable fully

to describe some of the characters, owing to the imperfection of his specimens.

Like Cyphorhinus, Microcerculus has a compressed bill, high at its base, but not so

high or so much compressed as in that genus. The form of the nostril is quite diffe-

rent, being partially covered by a membrane; the nostril itself touches the lower edge

of the nasal fossa, and is comma-shaped, the tail of the comma pointing forwards. No

septum or division is visible externally ; and therefore the nostril appears single, and

not double, as supposed by Prof. Baird. ‘The tail in Mtcrocerculus is very short, hardly

exceeding half the wing.

In general dimensions this genus is considerably less than Cyphorhinus, differing,

too, in the prevailing dark brown colour of its plumage.

Six species of Microcerculus are now known. These are distributed as follows :—

Guiana has M. bambla peculiar to itself; in Eastern Ecuador MV. albigularis is alone

found ; Peru and Colombia share WZ. marginatus; whilst to the interior of Venezuela,

near the Colombian frontier, JZ. sguamatulus appears to be restricted; then we have

our two Central-American species, J/. luscinia of the Colombian State of Panama and

M. philomela of Northern Vera Paz. Microcerculus, like Cyphorhinus, is absent from

South-eastern Brazil.

1. Microcerculus philomela. (Tab. V. fig. 3.)

Ruisefior, Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 144°.

Cyphorhinus philomela, Salv. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 202°; Ibis, 1861, p. 352°.

Microcerculus philomela, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 114° (partim).

Supra brunneus, plumis anguste nigro marginatis, pileo et uropygio obscurioribus; subtus fuliginosus, plumis

medialiter nigris et nigro terminatis, gula pallidiore, hypochondriis brunneis nigro transfasciatis ; alis

caudaque nigris, alarum tectricibus majoribus macula parva subapicali ochrascenti-alba notatis; rostro

nigro; pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 23, caude 1-0, tarsi 0°85, rostri a rictu 0°8. (Descr. exempl.

typ. ex Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. GuateMata, Choctum 22, forests above Lanquin!, forests between Cahabon and

San Luis (0.8. & FD. G.).

This interesting little species seems to be restricted to the vast forests of Northern

Vera Paz, which lie between the Coban highlands and the department of Peten. It

was during an expedition in search of Quezals, in the mountains above Lanquin, that

Salvin first came across it, hearing its remarkable song, but unable to secure speci-

mens!, These were afterwards obtained by a native collector between Choctum and

Chisec, and described in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’. ‘The bird was

MICROCERCULUS.—UROPSILA. 77

subsequently not unfrequently met with in the same districts, and often heard in the

forest country lying between Cahabon and San Luis. The song of MM. philomela is

remarkable for its sweetness and for the high notes of which it is composed. It is clear

and melodious, without having much variation. The bird appeared well known to the

native hunters under the name of “ Ruisefior” (or Nightingale), a title its vocal

powers have gained for it. We only found it in the undergrowth of the virgin forest,

where, but for its song, it would be a most difficult bird to see, owing to its small size

and the sombre tints of its plumage. |

Some diversity of colour is observable in different specimens of this bird, the throat

of some being much lighter-coloured and the crescent-shaped marks of the under surface

paler. These examples may have been young birds,

2. Microcerculus luscinia, (Tab. V. fig. 4.)

Cyphorhinus bambla?, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 820° (nec Bodd.).

Cyphorhinus philomela, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 467° (nec Salv.).

Microcerculus philomela, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 114° (partim, nec Salv.).

Microcerculus luscinia, Salv. P. Z.S. 1866, p- 69 *, 1867, p. 184°,

M. philomele affinis, sed dorso haud transfasciato, gutture albido et corpore subtus haud fuliginoso lavato, rostro

quoque longiore differt. Long. tota 4-0, alee 2-2, caude 0-9, tarsi 0°85, rostri a rictu 0°85. (Deser. maris

ex Santa Fe in Statu Panamensi. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Santa Fé and Santiago (Arcé>), Lion Hill (M*Leannan ' 23),

This Wren was a discovery of M‘Leannan’s, who shot a female specimen on the

ground in the jungle, and sent it to Mr. Lawrence!, That naturalist at first referred

it with doubt to the Guiana I. bambla', but afterwards to the Guatemalan philo-

mela*. Prof. Baird, on examining this specimen and comparing it with one of JI.

philomela, considered it to be a more adult specimen of the last-named species?; and

it was only on the receipt of two additional examples that Salvin separated the species

under the name of MW. luscinia*. The two are doubtless nearly allied; but the differ-

ences seem constant and sufficiently recognizable. No accounts of the habits of this

bird have yet reached us.

Another near ally of IL. luscinia is M. albigularis, Scl., from the valley of the N apo

in Ecuador; but in that species the throat is of a purer white, the legs yellowish instead

of dark brown, and it is smaller in all its dimensions.

UROPSILA.

Uropsila, Sclater and Salvin, Nomencl. Av. Neotrop. p. 155 (1878). (Type Troglodytes leucogastra,

Gould.)

This genus contains but the type species, a bird which has been at different times

assigned to Troglodytes by Mr. Gould, to Cyphorhinus by Mr. Sclater, to Heterorhina by

78 TROGLODYTIDA.

Prof. Baird, and lastly to a separate genus, Uropsila. This bird has a resemblance to

Henicorhina in the proportions of its wings and tail, as well as its general coloration ;

but instead of the open nostril of the members of that genus, the nasal opening is

overhung by amembrane just as in Thryothorus. As it also has a compressed lengthened

bill and short tail, it may be conveniently placed next to Microcerculus.

The single species U. leucogastra is only known as an inhabitant of Southern Mexico.

1. Uropsila leucogastra.

Troglodytes leucogastra, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1836, p. 89°.

Uropsila leucogastra, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. pp. 7, 155°.

Cyphorhinus pusillus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 372°.

Heterorhina pusilla, Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 119°.

Murino-brunnea, loris et superciliis posticis albis; secundariis extus et cauda nigro obsolete transfasciatis ;

regione auriculari albo variegata; subtus alba lateraliter cinerascenti tincta, hypochondriis, ventre imo et

crisso pallide brunneis ; rostri maxilla plumbea, mandibula albida ; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota

3:5, ale 1°75, caude 1:1, tarsi 0-75, rostri a rictu 0-7. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. P. L. Sclater.)

Hab. Mxxico, Tamaulipas (fide Gould), Playa Vicente (Boucard *).

Of this small species but little is known. Mr. Gould’s description of a bird from

Tamaulipas was long unrecognized or misapplied to the Mexican race of Thryothorus

bewicki; and it was not until 1873 that its right title was restored to it?, Mr. Sclater having

in the meantime redescribed the species in 1859 under the name of Cyphorhinus pusillus °.

When describing C. pusillus Mr. Sclater had four specimens before him, all from Playa

Vicente, on the eastern side of the mountains of Oaxaca. One of these seems to have

come afterwards into the possession of the Smithsonion Institution*. Besides these we

have a single specimen said to be from Mexico, but without exact locality. A sixth is

Mr. Gould’s type, the fate of which is not known. These, so far as we are aware, are

all the specimens that have been obtained up to the present time.

HENICORHINA.

Heterorhina, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 115 (1864) (nec Westwood, 1845, Coleop.). (‘Type Scytalopus

prostheleucus, Scl., = Cyphorhinus leucostictus, Cab.)

Henicorhina, Sclater & Salvin, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 170, vice Heterorhina, Baird.

Prof. Baird first separated this small genus of Wrens from Cyphorhinus, with which its

species had been perhaps more frequently associated than with any other; but the name

chosen by him having been unfortunately previously used, Henicorhina was substituted

for itin 1868. The open nostril lying at the anterior extremity of the nasal fossa,

without any trace of an operculum, removes the genus at once from Cyphorhinus and

also from Microcerculus and Thryothorus, and places it close to Thryophilus, in which

genus the form of the nostril is quite similar. The very short tail, hardly exceeding

HENICORHINA. 79

an inch in length, separates Henicorhina from Thryophilus, with which genus it might

be not improperly placed as a section.

Only two species are now recognized of this species, both being found at different

altitudes over nearly the same area from Mexico southwards. J. leucosticta, however,

spreads eastwards into Guiana, and H. leucophrys southwards into Peru. The form is

absent from South-eastern Brazil.

1. Henicorhina leucosticta.

Cyphorhinus leucostictus, Cab. Arch. f. Naturg. Jahrg. xiii. 1, p. 206"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii.

p- 820’, ix. p. 92°; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 13‘.

Microcerculus leucostictus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 345°.

Thryothorus leucostictus, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 184°.

Heterorhina leucosticta, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 1177; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 545 * (partim).

Henicorhina leucosticta, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 181°.

Scytalopus prostheleucus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 290°.

Cyphorhinus prostheleucus, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, pp. 63",.96”, 1859, pp. 863°, 372“; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1860, p. 397”.

Heterorhina prostheleuca, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 116“.

Supra brunnea, dorso postico rufescente, superciliis elongatis albis, capitis lateribus albo nigroque variegatis,

tectricibus alarum apicibus albo maculatis; subtus alba lateribus cinereis, ventre imo et crisso castaneis ;

alis et cauda fusco-nigris, extus rufescente brunneo transvittatis; rostro nigro; pedibus corylinis, Long.

tota 4:2, alee 2:1, caudee 1:0, tarsi 0-9, rostri a rictu 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Vera Paz. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico’, Papantla+, Cordova (Sallé1°), Jalapa (de Oca1*), Orizaba (Sumi-

chrast®), Llano Verde and Playa Vicente (Boucard +), Mirador (Sartorius 1°),

Tierra Caliente (le Strange), Guichicovi, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast +); GUATEMALA,

Choctum ", forests between Cahabon and San Luis, Barranco Hondo and Savana

Grande, Pacific slope (0. S. & FD. G.); Cosra Rica, Angostura and Turrialba

(Carmiol?), Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama, Boqueti de Chitra and Cordillera del

Chucu °, Santa Fé ®, Calobre (Arcé), Lion Hill (d/‘Leannan ?°).—Cotomsia ; VENE-

ZUELA; Ecuapor !!; Guianal.

When first describing this Wren, D1. Cabanis had before him specimens from

Guiana and from Mexico, which he considered to be identical. Subsequent investiga-

tions have detected the species in almost every intermediate locality, showing that it

enjoys an uninterrupted range over this wide arca. On the receipt of the first Mexican

specimens from M. Sallé, Mr. Sclater compared them with Scytalopus griseicollis, and,

perceiving their difference, described the Wren as S. prostheleucus'4. He soon 1! 12

discovered that it was not a Scytalopus at all, but a very near ally of Cyphorhinus

leucostictus, if not identical with it. The bird, however, retained this uncertain position

for some years, until the gradually increasing materials enabled us to state in 18645

80 TROGLODYTIDA.

and again in 1867 ° that we were unable to distinguish it from Henicorhina leucosticta :

and from this time we have always looked upon the species as indivisible. Prof.

Baird? 16, in his ‘ Review of American Birds,’ took the opposite view and granted each

full specific rank; but when the characters he relied upon, such as the greater purity

of the white colour of the under surface in the southern race, its smaller size, and the

difference of the number and size of the spots on the shoulders and neck, are examined

by the light of a large series of specimens, it will be seen that they cannot be considered

of specific value.

Southern Mexico seems to be the limit of the northern range of H. leucosticta, where

it is doubtless restricted to the lowland hot forests of the district. Prof. Sumichrast

indeed speaks of it as found in the hot, temperate, and alpine regions of the State of

Vera Cruz; but we have no doubt, from our knowledge of the ranges of this species

and of H. lewcophrys in Guatemala, that he here has looked upon both as one, and that

the birds noticed by him in the alpine region were of the latter species. In Guate-

mala we only found it in the low-lying forests of Northern Vera Paz, and also on the

Pacific side of the mountains in the forests covering the slopes of the volcanos of

Agua and Fuego. It is thoroughly Wren-like in its restless movements, keeping to

the undergrowth of the virgin woods.

2. Henicorhina leucophrys.

Troglodytes leucophrys, Tsch. Arch. f. Naturg. J ahrg. x. i. p. 2837.

Heterorhina leucophrys, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 118.

Cyphorhinus leucophrys, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 92°.

Henicorhina leucophrys, Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 181+.

Troglodytes guttatus, Hartl. Syst. Verz. d. Ges. Mus. p- 28°,

Cyphorhinus prostheleucus, Salv. & Scl. Ibis, 1860, p- 272° (nec Sclater).

Heterorhina prostheleuca, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545" (partim).

Cyphorhinus griseicollis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 397° (nec Lafr.).

Heterorhina griseicollis, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 117° (nec Lafr.),

H. leucosticte similis, sed corpore subtus plumbeo nec albo et tectricibus alarum immaculatis distinguenda.

(Deser. exempl. ex Volean de Agua. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (de Oca®), Moyoapam, Vera Cruz (Sumichrast "); GUATEMALA,

Volcan de Agua®®, Volcan de Fuego, Totonicapam (0. 8. & F. D.G.); Cogra Rica,

San José (v. Frantzéus®), Volcan de Trazu (Rogers); Panama, Mina de Chorcha,

Cordillera del Chucu, Chitra, Calobre, Calovevora (Arcé *).—Cotomp1a; VENEZUELA;

Ecvapor; Perv}; Bonrvia.

Though described in 1844 by Tschudi from specimens obtained by him in Peru,

where it has since been found by Jelski *, this species was many years before it found

* Taczanowski, P. Z. 8, 1874, p. 504.

HENICORHINA.—THRYOPHILUS. 81

a final resting-place under Tschudi’s name. Mexican and Central-American specimens

were referred to the allied species H. leucosticta®? and even to Scytalopus griseicollis, a

member of the Pteroptochide*®. A new name, Troglodytes guttatus, was also pro-

posed for Colombian examples of the same bird®. Then, again, Prof. Baird at one

time ?° considered that there were two recognizable species of this form, which he

called Heterorhina leucophrys and H. griseicollis, the ranges of which overlapped.

This view was opposed by Salvin in 1870; and since then the bird seems to have

settled down into the quiet possession of its title. We have now a large series of speci-

mens, which prove that the slight amount of variation observable between them cannot

be traced to any definite locality.

Henicorhina leucophrys is, so far as we know, a strictly highland species, being found

in Guatemala in upland forests as high as 10,000 feet, but descending as low as

4000 feet or perhaps less. It is not uncommon in the forests of the volcanoes, where

it takes the place of its near ally H. leucosticta, a lowland form. In Mexico it does

not seem to be so well known; but in writing of ZH. leucosticta we have no doubt

Prof. Sumichrast * refers to this species when he speaks of the alpine bird found at

Moyoapam at an elevation of 6600 feet. Here he found its nest, which he describes

as formed of mosses woven with great skill, the interior being lined with the red

feathers from the breast of Trogon mexicanus. The nest was suspended to the branches

of a shrub, and so skilfully disguised as to be easily mistaken for a bunch of moss.

Salmon, who obtained its eggs at Frontino, in the Cauca valley of Colombia, describes

them as either white or spotted with a few minute red spots *.

It is somewhat remarkable that this bird, being an ‘inhabitant of highland forests,

and whose range is therefore interrupted at several points, should have retained its

specific features with such faithfulness. But such is the case; for it is quite as constant

in its characters as its near congener /7. lewcosticta, whose lowland and therefore more

unbroken range has doubtless assisted to keep it specifically true.

THRYOPHILUS.

Thryophilus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 127 (1864). (Type Thryothorus rufalbus, Lafr.)

This genus was separated from Thryothorus by Prof. Baird chiefly on account of the

difference it shows in the disposition of the membrane surrounding the nasal opening.

In Thryophilus the nostril is situated at the extremity of the nasal fossa, and is oval

in shape, with no membrane or scale overhanging it. The members of the genus thus

restricted are larger birds and have considerably longer tails than the species of

Henicorhina ; but the two genera are closely allied, having the same form of nostril.

Thryophilus contains fourteen or fifteen species, which are spread over a wide area,

extending from Western Mexico to South Brazil. The greater part of the species are

* Sclater and Salvin, P. Z.S. 1879, p. 493.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, April 1880. 11

Vinaral

My \Coy

82 TROGLODYTIDA.

found within the limits of Central America and Mexico, our list containing eleven of

the whole number; and of these only three pass beyond our borders into the southern

continent, viz. the widely ranging 7. rufalbus, T. leucotis and T. nigricapillus, two

southern species which penetrate as far north as the State of Panama. ‘The remaining

eight species are all locally distributed, Costa Rica and Panama claiming the larger

part.

A. Caput fere dorso concolor.

a. Subtus immaculate.

a’. Crissum nigro transfasciatum.

1. Thryophilus rufalbus.

Thriothorus rufalbus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 337°.

Thryothorus rufalbus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 140°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 8°; P. Z. 8S. 1864,

p. 345'; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 408°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. pp. 5°, 175"; v. Frantzius,

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 291°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 181°.

Thryophilus rufalbus, var. rufalbus et var. poliopleura, Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 128”.

Thryophilus rufalbus, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 92"; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1880, p. 116”.

Thryothorus longirostris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 820" (nec Vieillot).

Troglodytes cumanensis, Licht. Nomencl. p. 34, fide Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 408”.

Supra lete castanea pileo paulo obscuriore, alis extus et cauda nigro frequenter transfasciatis ; superciliis

distinctis et capitis lateribus albis, his nigro striolatis; subtus albus hypochondriis fuscescentibus, crisso

nigro late transfasciato ; rostro corneo mandibula albicante; pedibus flavescentibus. Long. tota 6:2,

alee 2°8, caudee 2:3, rostri a rictu 1°0, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. Specimina ex Guatemala hypochondriis grisescentioribus differunt, unde var. poliopleura, Baird "*.

Hab. Guaremaua, Volcan de Fuego, Duefias, Savana Grande, San Diego, Escuintla,

Retalhuleu, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.); Cogra Rica®, San José (v. Frantzius*),

Volcan de Irazu (Rogers), San Mateo (Cooper), Bebedero (Arcé); Panama, David

(Bridges*, Hicks’), Boqueti, Chitra, Castillo, Calovevora (Arcé®), line of railway

(M‘Leannan!, O. S.4)!.—Cotomsta, Obispe (0. S.) 14; VENEZUELA; TRINIDAD.

Thryophilus rufalbus is subject to a slight amount of variation at various points of

its wide range, which extends from Guatemala in the north to the South-American

continent, where it is found in the countries lying along the northern shore. ‘These

variations have been fully described by Dr. Cabanis® and by Prof. Baird 1°, and consist

chiefly in the smaller size and more chestnut flanks of the southern as compared with

the Panama bird, and in the greyish cast of the white of the under plumage of Guate-

malan examples—differences observable, it is true, but so slight that we hesitate to pro-

nounce the possessors of them to be distinct races. ‘Though Lafresnaye stated that the bird

upon which he bestowed the name 7. rufalbus came from Mexico 1, a more southern

origin for his type has latterly been attributed to it ° \—a supposition which is probably

correct, seeing that the bird has not been detected in Mexico by recent travellers.

THRYOPHILUS. 83

In Guatemala this Wren is a common bird, as we found it abundant at all seasons in

the neighbourhood of Duefias and even as high as Calderas in the Volcan de Fuego, at

an altitude of over 7000 feet. It is also found equally abundant in the low-lying

country bordering the Pacific, in the neighbourhood of towns and villages, at as low an

elevation as 1000 feet above the sea. Specimens obtained on the line of the Panama

Railway were found at a much lower elevation than this.

Its place of resort is usually moderately thick forest, choosing trees of dense matted

erowth rather than thickly grown underwood. Its song is powerful and melodious,

but with no great variation.

2. Thryophilus sinaloa.

Thryophilus sinaloa, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 180°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2687.

T. rufalbo affinis, sed multo minor, corpore supra fuscescentiore et hypochondriis brunnescentioribus differt.

Long. tota 5:2, ale 2°2, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi0°9. (Descr. maris ex Mazatlan, Mexico [Smiths.

Inst. no. 34016]. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson!?, Xantus +), Sinaloa (Grayson ?), Colima (Xantus 1).

This species may be considered to represent Thryophilus rufalbus in Mexico, where,

however, it has a limited range, which does not appear to'.pass beyond the western

coast of that country. Here its presence was detected by the two naturalists Grayson

and Xantus, to whose exertions our knowledge of the ornithology of Western Mexico

is almost entirely due. The following short note by the former traveller is the only

account we have of the bird :—‘ This little Wren is common from Sinaloa to Tehuan-

tepec. Its nest is usually built in the drooping branches of a thorn tree, thus giving

the abode of the young some protection against the innumerable ants and other insects

that would otherwise infest it. Most of its congeners build their nests in hollow logs,

among roots of trees, &c. ‘The nest is partly suspended from the branches, and built

of fine grass. The eggs are usually five in number, and marked with small specks of

a brownish colour.”

b’. Crissum immaculatum.

3. Thryophilus modestus.

Thryothorus modestus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 409*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 5°; Sel.

& Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 346°, 1870, p. 836%; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 205°; P. Z. 8. 1870,

p. 181°.

Thryophilus modestus, Baird, Rev. Am. B, i. p. 181’; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 92°; v. Frantzius,

J. £. Orn. 1869, p. 291’.

Thryothorus felix ?, Salv. & Scl. Ibis, 1860, p. 397° (nec Sclater).

Thryothorus leucotis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 8320" (nec Lafr.).

Thryothorus albipectus, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 20, partim”* (nec Cabanis),

11*

84 TROGLODYTIDZ.

Supra obscure brunneus, pileo paulo cinerascentiore, alis caudaque rufescentioribus ; cauda nigro transfasciata,

alis obsolete transfasciatis ; capitis lateribus albis nigro variegatis ; superciliis elongatis, gutture et ventre

medio albis ; hypochondriis, ventre imo et crisso rufescentibus ; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5-2,

ale 2-4, caude 2-2, rostri a rictu 0°9, tarsi 1:1. (Descr. exempl. ex San José, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guaremana, Volcan de Fuego, Duefias’, Savana Grande, Escuintla’?’, Retal-

huleu, Coban® (0. 8. é F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. IM. Whitely*);

Costa Rica, San José, Quebrada Honda (Hoffimann'), San José (v. Frantzius' *),

Guaitil (Carmiol’), San Mateo (Cooper®); Panama, Bugaba (Arcé®), line of

railway (M‘Leannan??"),

Costa Rica furnished Dr. Cabanis with the types of this species, the range of which

has since been traced to Guatemala in the north and to Panama in the south. Guate-

malan examples agree very closely with the Costa-Rica bird; but those from the

Isthmus are decidedly paler beneath, especially on the flanks, which are hardly tinged

with the rufous so conspicuous in the Costa-Rican form—a point already noticed by

Prof. Baird’. Except as regards size, the Panama bird approaches closely to 7. zeledoni,

the form of 7. modestus found in the lowlands of the Atlantic side of the mountains of

Costa Rica.

In Guatemala this Wren inhabits nearly the same districts as 7. rufalbus, ranging

from an elevation of 1000 to 5000 or 6000 feet. It is also distributed over a wide

tract of country. It is, however, not quite so common a bird as 7. rufalbus, nor are

its notes so melodious.

After its first discovery in Central America, by Dr. Hoffmann in Costa Rica and by

ourselves almost at the same time in Guatemala, it was several years before 7. modestus

came into quiet possession of its name. Our Guatemala birds were at first doubtfully

referred to Thryothorus felix , and afterwards to T. albipectus *; and M‘Leannan’s

examples from Panama were put under the name of 7. lewcotis 4. An examination of

all these specimens, in Mr. Lawrence’s, Mr. Sclater’s, and our own collections, has

enabled us to determine that they all belong to 7. modestus.

4. Thryophilus zeledoni.

Thryophilus zeledoni, Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 252 * (ex Lawrence, MS.).

7’. modesto similis sed major, colore omnino grisescentiore et fasciis caude nigris latioribus et distinctioribus

distinguendns. Long. tota 5-4, ale 2°5, caude 2:1, rostri a rictu 0°95, tarsi 1:0. (Descr. maris ex

Costa Rica. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 64689.) .

Hab. Costa Rica, lowlands bordering the Atlantic (J. Zeledon),

We are indebted to Mr. Ridgway’s kindness for the loan of the only specimen of this

Wren that has as yet come under our notice. The species is considered by its describer

a well marked one, and allied to 7. modestus, whose place it would appear to occupy

in the low-lying lands bordering the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica, 7. modestus being

THRYOPHILUS. 85

from the higher mountainous interior of the country. 1. zeledoni has a close resem-

blance to the Panama race of 7. modestus in its pale colour; but the Panama bird is

smaller, not larger, than 7. modestus. As regards the ranges in altitude of these species

ascribed to them in Costa Rica!, no deduction of much value can be drawn; for in

Guatemala we found 7. modestus at elevations varying as much as 5000 feet and at less

than 1000 feet above the sea-level. It is therefore hardly likely to be restricted in Costa

Rica to the highlands. On the whole, we think that the relationships of 7. modestus

and the Panama race of it to 7. zeledoni require further investigation; and we only

regret that our materials are not sufficient to enable us to attempt an explanation of

them.

5. Thryophilus leucotis,

Thriothorus leucotis, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 8338+; Bp. Consp. i. p. 221°.

Thryophilus leucotis, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 6°.

Thryothorus galbraithi, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 820°.

Thryophilus galbraithi, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 181’.

Thryothorus albipectus, Cab. in Schomb. Guiana, iii. p. 673°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 3457.

Thryothorus, sp.?, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 193°.

Supra rufescenti-brunneus, uropygio cinnamomeo tincto; alis anguste, cauda late nigro transfasciatis ; super-

ciliis distinctis, gula et genis sericeo-albis; subtus pallide fusco-cinnamomeus, gulam versus albicantior ;

rostro corneo, mandibula albicante ; pedibus obscure fuscis. Long. tota 50, alee 25, caudee 1-9, rostri

a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1: 0. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab, Panama, Lion Hill (M/*Leannan*), Turbo, Isthmus of Darien (Schott’).—

CoLomBIA!; VENEZUELA; GurANA®,

This species has a very limited range in Central America, where it has not been

detected beyond the limits of the State of Panama. Here it was discovered by

M‘Leannan and Galbraith, Mr. Lawrence describing the bird under the name of the

latter naturalist’. A careful examination of Central-American examples with others

from the northern parts of the South-American continent has convinced us? that no

definite points of distinction can be traced between them, and that all should bear the

name 1’, /eucotis, bestowed upon a bird from Colombia or Mexico (the latter locality

doubtless an error, but repeated by Bonaparte?) by the late Baron Lafresnaye}, of which

T. albipectus is a synonym®, In Western Ecuador a distinct race appears to exist,

which Mr. Lawrence has called 7’. superciliaris, basing his characters upon specimens

from the island of Puna in the Gulf of Guayaquil.

At first sight 7’. dewcotis has a general resemblance to 7. modestus, but may readily

be distinguished by the distinct dark bars on the wings.

86 TROGLODYTIDA.

b. Subtus striati aut fasciatt.

oc. Guttur totum album nigro longitudinaliter striatum.

6. Thryophilus thoracicus. (Tab. VI. figg. 1, 2.)

Thryothorus thoracicus, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 580", 1867, p. 184°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p 93°.

Thryothorus brunneus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 179°.

Supra cinnamomeo-brunneus, pileo cinerascentiore, uropygio rufescentiore ; capitis collique lateribus cum gula

et pectore albis, plumis singulis undique nigro marginatis; alis extus, cauda et crisso brunneis nigro trans-

fasciatis ; ventre brunneo, lateribus rufescentioribus ; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4-6, ale 2-4,

caude 1-7, rostri a rictu 0-85, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. typici ex Tucurriqui, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaracua, Greytown (Holland*); Costa Rica, Tucurriqui (Arcé1, Zeledon’*),

Santa Rosa (Carmiol®) ; Panama, Santiago de Veraguas (Arcé?).

At first sight this species bears a strong resemblance in coloration to T’hryothorus

maculipectus, but differs in many respects, in having barred wings and in the distinct

character of the markings of the chest. At one time! we considered these two species

to belong to the same group of Wrens; but a closer examination shows that, while

T. thoracicus has the open nostril of Thryophilus, T. maculipectus has the nostril with

overlying membrane, as in true Thryothorus.

Through Mr. Lawrence’s kindness we have had an opportunity of examining

his type of Thryothorus brunneus*, and found that it is undoubtedly an immature

example of the present species. We have figured this type ; and the plate will, we think,

show the correctness of our views respecting it. Thryophilus thoracicus seems to be by

no means a common species, as but few specimens have come under our notice. Our own

types, one of which we now figure, were obtained by Arcé near Tucurriqui in Costa Rica.

c. Subtus corpus plus minusve nigro transfasciatum.

7. Thryophilus pleurostictus.

Thryothorus pleurostictus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 30’; P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 551°; Scl. Cat. Am. B.

p- 21, t. 4°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 13°.

Thryophilus pleurostictus, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. ix. p. 92’.

Umbrino-brunneus, alis extus et cauda nigro transfasciatis ; superciliis distinctis et corpore subtus albis, capitis

collique lateribus albis nigro variegatis, hypochondriis et crisso late nigro transvittatis ; rostro plumbeo,

mandibule basi albida; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5:2, ale 2°5, caude 22, rostri a rictu

0-95, tarsi 1:0. (Descr. exempl. ex Bebedero, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, San Juan del Rio (Rébouch 2), Santa Efigenia, Guichicovi, Tapana (Sumi-

chrast®); Guatemaua (Skinner 1); San Satvapor, Conchagua (0. S.); Nicaragua,

Corinto (Baxter), San Juan del Sur (0. S.) ; Costa Rica, Tempate, Bebedero (Arcé).

For several years this species was only known to us from the single specimen in Mr.

Sclater’s collection®, which once formed part of one of the large series of bird-skins

THRYOPHILUS. 87

transmitted by Mr. Skinner to Mr. Gould from Guatemala. In our description of this

specimen its origin is put down as Vera Paz; but we now think that it more probably

came from that part of Guatemala which borders the Pacific Ocean. We have,

however, never seen a second Guatemalan example; and our surmise as to the

origin of the type is derived from the fact that neither in Mexico nor in more southern

countries has the species ever been found far from the Pacific, it having been fre-

quently met with on the shores of that ocean.

In Mexico, 7. pleurostictus, though never observed in the eastern parts of the

country, nor yet in Oaxaca, was obtained near San Juan del Rio by M. Rébouch in

some numbers”; and at Tehuantepec it would appear to be by no means uncommon *.

Prof. Sumichrast, who describes its habits, speaks of its activity and tameness. Its nest,

he says, is made of the fine stems of dry grasses, which are woven into the shape of a

retort, and lined with hair and the seeds of a Bombax. ‘This structure is placed in a

bush, or in the fork of two branches. The eggs, three to five in number, are of a beau-

tiful greenish-blue colour. It first came under our observation near La Union, when

descending the volcano of Conchagua. A pair were then observed in the brushwood

skirting the town of La Union. It was afterwards seen at San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua,

in the thin scrub on the shores of the bay. Other Nicaraguan examples examined by

us were in the possession of General Baxter, at one time American Minister to Central

America, who obtained them near the port of Corinto. The Costa-Rican specimens in

our possession were obtained by Arcé on the shores of the Gulf of Nicoya, and are

those alluded to by Mr. Lawrence in his list of Costa-Rican birds®.

8. Thryophilus nisorius.

Troglodytes nisorius, Licht. Mus. Berol. et Nomencl. p. 34° (descr. nulla).

Thryothorus nisorius, Scl. P.Z. 8S. 1869, p. 591, t. 45 *,

Supra lete rufus, alis caudaque nigro regulariter transfasciatis, superciliis elongatis albis, capitis lateribus

albis nigro variegatis; subtus albus nigro ubique transfasciatus, tectricibus subalaribus albo nigroque

variegatis ; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 5:5, ale 2°7, caude 2°2, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. Sclateriana

exempl. ex Real Ariba, Mexico. Mus. Berol.)

Hab. Mexico, Real Ariba (Deppe ! 2).

This Wren is a near ally of 7. pleurostictus, from which it mainly differs in having

the under surface barred throughout with black, instead of only on the flanks and

crissum as in its near relative. This difference, though sufficiently apparent in the

type, is not great; and an examination of a larger series of specimens may prove that

the two species are not really separable. At present the single example obtained by

Deppe, and now in the Berlin Museum, is the only one we have met with. This stood

for many years under an unpublished name of Lichtenstein’s, until Mr. Sclater described

and figured it in 1869.

88 TROGLODYTIDZ.

9, Thryophilus semibadius. (Tab. VI. fig. 3.)

Thryothorus semibadius, Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 181°.

Supra intense castaneus, fronte et capitis lateribus albis, plumis singulis nigro marginatis ; alis et cauda nigris,

extus badio transfasciatis, tectricibus alarum minoribus albo transvittatis ; subtus albus, a pectore usque

ad caudam nigro transfasciatus, gula pure alba, hypochondriis postice castanco lavatis; rostro corneo,

mandibula pallidiore ; pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota 5:3, alee 2°6, caudee 2°0, rostri a rictu 0:9, tarsi

0-9. (Descr. maris ex Bugaba, in Statu Panamensi. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Bibala (Arcé ').

This Wren is only known to us from specimens sent to us from the neighbourhood

of Chiriqui by our collector Arcé. The species is a very distinct one, allied to 7. cas-

taneus and T. nigricapillus on the one hand, and 7. pleurostictus on the other—differing

from the former in having the top of the head of the same rich chestnut as the back,

and from the latter in the colour of the back and in the numerous cross bands of the

under surface.

B. Caput nigrum, dorsum castaneum.

10. Thryophilus castaneus.

Thryothorus castaneus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 821°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 346°;

Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 184°.

Thryophilus castaneus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 183°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 93°.

Thryothorus nigricapillus ?, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 293° (nec Sclater).

| Supra late castaneus, pileo toto cum capitis lateribus nigerrimis, regione parotica sericeo-alba ; alis et cauda

nigris castaneo frequenter transfasciatis; subtus gula et pectore antico albis, stria mystacali nigra,

abdomine toto castaneo, hypochrondriis et crisso nigro transfasciatis ; rostro nigricanti-corneo, mandibula

pallidiore; pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 5:4, ale 2°8, caude 2:3, rostri a rictu ll, tarsi 1-1. (Descr.

maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. In speciminibus ex Costa Rica fascize abdominis nigre carent, gula quoque nec pectus alba est. Forsan

species alia.

Hab. Costa Rica, Pacuar, Angostura (f. Carmiol®), Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama, Santiago

de Veraguas (Arcé *), Lion Hill (A/‘Leannan 1? *°®),

This is a beautiful species allied to 7. nigricapillus, but differing from it in having

the underparts deep chestnut instead of barred with black and white. Mr. Lawrence,

on first receiving specimens from M‘Leannan, thought they might belong to T. nigri-

capillus®; but he soon afterwards described the bird under its present name!. All

the Panama birds we have seen have the underparts more or less barred with obsolete

black transverse bands. Costa-Rica specimens, on the other hand, so far as we know,

have the belly of a rich unbarred chestnut colour, and the white of the throat much

more restricted in extent. We thus have indications of the existence of two races of

this bird in Central America—the Panama bird, if our specimens indicate the normal

coloration, being somewhat intermediate in colour as well as in locality between the

one found in Costa Rica and that of Western Colombia and Ecuador which bears the

name 7. nigricapillus.

THRYOPHILUS.—THRYOTHORUS. 89

11. Thryophilus nigricapillus.

Thryothorus nigricapillus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 841; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p- 193°.

Thryophilus nigricapillus, Scl. & Salv. P.Z. 8. 1879, p. 493 *.

Thryophilus schottii, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 183 *.

ZT’. castaneo similis, sed corpore subtus albo nigro transfasciato, superciliis albis et capitis lateribus albis nigro

variegatis differt. Long. tota 6:0, ale 2°8, caude 2-2, rostri a rictu 1:1, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. maris ex

Remedios, Colombia. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Truando, Isthmus of Darien (Schott 2+).—Cotomsia 3; Ecuapor }.

Thryothorus nigricapillus just enters our region, specimens having been obtained by

Dr. A. Schott during Lieut. Michler’s exploration of the Isthmus of Darien 2. These

specimens were considered to belong to 7. nigricapillus by Cassin, but were afterwards

described by Prof. Baird as 7. schottii, on account of the throat being barred with

black instead of being pure white, as is usual in the Ecuadorian bird. But the acqui-

sition of a better series of specimens of this species shows that this character is variable

and therefore not of much value; we have accordingly reunited the Darien bird to

T. nigricapillus. Fraser, the discoverer of the species at Nanegal in Ecuador }, says

that the irides are red, the bill black above, blue below, the legs and feet lead-colour,

and that the gizzard of his specimens contained insects. Salmon, who obtained it at

Remedios and Santa Elena, in the Colombian State of Antioquia, describes the nest as

made of soft dry grass and placed in a low bush®.

THRYOTHORUS.

Thriothorus, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 45 (1816). (Type Troglodytes arundinaceus, Vieill., = Sylvia

ludoviciana, Lath.) Cf. Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 120.

The nostril in birds of this genus is covered by a thickened overhanging membrane,

leaving the nasal opening an elongated slit, lying along the anterior portion of the

lower edge of the nasal fossa. This nostril is very different in shape from that of

Thryophilus, in which genus it is an oval and open, without any covering. The tail is

long, wide, and rounded, differing in these respects from that of Microcerculus.

The species comprised in Thryothorus are rather various inform. One group, having

very strong arched bills, has been treated by Prof. Baird as a separate genus, Pheugo-

pedius; whilst the birds with slender bills, the opposite of Pheugopedius, have been

placed in another genus, Thryomanes. These distinctions are completely broken

down by such birds as 7. hyperythrus and T. maculipectus, linking Pheugopedius to

Thryothorus; and as the rest of the members of Thryothorus show more diversity

between one another than exists between some of them and 7’. dairdi, we have thought

it best to retain all under one genus, Thryothorus, distinguished by its well-developed

tail and by the form of the nostrils. In splitting up the genus into minor sections

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, Apri] 1880. 12

90 . TROGLODYTID ZA.

we have employed slight characters which serve to group the species into what appear

to be natural groups.

About eighteen species are now known of the genus; of these, nine are found within

our borders. Four out of eleven belong to the Pheugopedius section, three of which

are peculiar to Central America and Mexico, viz. 7. maculipectus to Mexico and

Guatemala, 7. atrogularis to Costa Rica, and 7. hyperythrus to the State of Panama—

the fourth, 7. fasciativentris, ranging from Costa Rica to Colombia. Of the more typical

Thryothori, T. felix is peculiar to Mexico and T. lawrencii to the Tres-Marias Islands ;

T. beriandieri just enters our north-eastern border, and 7. albinucha is peculiar to

Yucatan. Of the small-billed section Thryomanes, T. bairdi is found throughout

Mexico, and ranges beyond our northern border into the adjoining frontier territories.

No true Thryothorus is found in the South-American continent ; but three species are

peculiar to the Lesser Antilles.

A. PHEUGOPEDIUS.

Uropygium immaculatum.

a. Rostrum valde robustum, gula immaculata.

1. Thryothorus fasciativentris.

Thryothorus fasciato-ventris, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 837°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 3467,

1879, p. 493°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 92°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 180’.

Cyphorhinus fasciato-ventris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 320°.

Pheugopedius fasciato-ventris, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 184".

Cyphorhinus albigularis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1855, p. 76, pl. 88°.

Supra rufescenti-brunneus, alis extus obsolete nigro transfasciatis ; cauda nigra brunneo transvittata ; capitis

lateribus nigris, superciliis posticis et gutture toto pure albis, pectore late nigro, abdomine crissoque nigris

albo transfasciatis ; rostro nigricanti-plumbeo, tomiis pallidis; pedibus obscure nigricantibus. Long. tota

5°6, ale 2°7, caude 2-4, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus.

nostr.)

Juv. subtus rufescentior, gula cinereo-albicante et abdominis fasciolis albis nullis, rostri mandibula flava.

(Descr. exempl. ex Chiriqui. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, San Mateo (J. Cooper*); Panama, (Delattre*), Bugaba®, Bibalé

(Arcé), Lion Hill (/‘Leannan ? 67).—Corompta! 37,

Though skins of this Wren are occasionally sent in collections from Bogota, it is in

the valleys stretching northwards from that city that the bird is found, no trace of it

having as yet been met with in the upper waters of the affluents of the Orinoco and

Amazon. In the Cauca valley Salmon found it at Remedios and Neche 8, whence it

spreads northwards through the State of Panama to Costa Rica. A specimen from

Colombia furnished Lafresnaye with the description of his 7. fasciatoventris1, the

name Cyphorhinus albigularis having been given by Mr. Sclater to a Panama bird

THRYOTHORUS. 91

obtained by the French traveller Delattre. Both these names are now admitted to

apply to the same species. We have examined many specimens from the State of

Panama, and find them to vary slightly in the width of the black pectoral band and in

the number of the white cross bars of the underparts. In none, however, is the former

So narrow or the latter so wide as in Mr. Wolf’s representation of T. albigularis 8,

Nothing has been recorded of the habits of the species, which appears to be strictly

confined to the low-lying hotter districts of the countries in which it occurs. Remedios,

the elevation of which is a little over 2300 feet, is probably at the limit of its range in

altitude ; thence it descends to the level of the sea.

2. Thryothorus atrigularis. (Tab. VI. fig. 4.)

Thryothorus atrogularis, Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 580; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 92”.

Pheugopedius atrogularis?, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 179°.

Castaneus, pectore, gula et capitis lateribus nigris, his cum superciliis obscure albo maculatis; alis et cauda

fuscis, illis extus castaneis, hac aliquando septem fasciis pallidis transvittata ; tectricibus subcaudalibus et

campterio alari nigris albido transfasciatis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5:3, alee 2°9, caude 2°4,

rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. exempl. ex Tucurriqui, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaracua, Greytown (Holland)? Costa Rica, Tucurriqui (Arcé 12),

Three specimens of this Wren were included in a large collection of bird-skins

formed by Enrique Arcé at Tucurriqui and elsewhere in Costa Rica. These are all the

examples that have come under our notice; for Mr. Lawrence, in including the species

in his list of Costa-Rica birds, refers to Arcé’s specimens, none having at that time

reached the Smithsonian Institution, upon whose collections the list was founded. The

species is included with doubt in Mr. Lawrence’s list of the collection of birds made

near Greytown by Mr. H. E. Holland?.

T. atrigularis has no near allies that we are acquainted with, being a remarkably

distinct species, having an appearance recalling certain Formicariide. Of its habits

nothing has been as yet recorded.

b. Rostrum mediocre, gula nigro maculata.

8. Thryothorus hyperythrus, sp. n.

Thryothorus rutilus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 320'; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 134, 1870, p- 181°

(nec Vieillot).

Supra murino-fuscus, capite paulo rufescentiore, alis dorso concoloribus, cauda nigro regulariter transfasciata ;

capitis lateribus et gula nigris albo distincte variegatis ; subtus ferrugineus, pectore paulo rufescentiore,

crisso albicante nigro transfasciato; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 2-3, caude 2:0, rostri

a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0-9. (Deser. exempl. ex Paraiso, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. T’. rutilo affinis, sed abdomine medio ferrugineo nec albo distinguendus.

Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Boqueti, Chitra, Calovevora, Santa Fé, and Santiago (Arcé 2 3),

line of railway (J/‘Leannan'), Paraiso station (Hughes).

This Wren is a near ally of Thryothorus rutilus, Vieillot, under which name it has

12*

92 TROGLODYTIDA.

hitherto stood. An examination of a number of specimens of both forms shows that

the under plumage of the present bird is of a nearly uniform rusty red, instead of

having the middle of the belly white, as is universally the case in Venezuelan examples

of the older form. In Colombia a third race is found; a single skin of Bogota make

having a very restricted red patch on the throat, and the rest of the under plumage,

including the flanks, russet-grey. This bird we propose to call Thryothorus hypospodius*.

Thus restricted, 7. hyperythrus appears to be confined in its range to the Colombian

State of Panama, whence we have received many specimens.

4. Thryothorus maculipectus.

Thryothorus maculipectus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 3387; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 290°, 1859,

pp. 863°, 372°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 30°; P.Z.S. 1870, p. 836°; Lawr. Bull. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18”.

Pheugopedius maculipectus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 135°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

i. p. 545°.

Supra rufo-brunneus, pileo paulo rufescentiore alis dorso concoloribus, cauda nigro regulariter transfasciata ;

superciliis albis, capitis lateribus nigro et albo striolatis; gutture toto et pectore albis nigro frequenter

maculatis, ventre imo et hypochondriis rufescente brunneis, crisso indistincte nigro transfasciato ; rostro et

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°3, caude 2°0, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex

Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico}, Cordova (Sallé?), Orizaba (Sumichrast ®, le Strange), Jalapa (de Oca?),

Teotalcingo (Boucard*), Guichicovi (Sumichrast"); GuaTeMaLa, Vera Paz (Skinner®),

Choctum, Cahabon § to San Luis, Savana Grande (0. S. & F. D. G.); Brrrisn Hon-

purRas, Corozal (oe) ; Honpuras, San Pedro (G. MW. Whitely®).

Originally described from Mexican specimens 1, 7. maculipectus has since been met

with by most of the collectors who have worked in the southern parts of that country.

Prof. Sumichrast ® says it belongs to the hot and temperate regions, not extending its

range above the elevation of about 4000 feet, or the altitude of Orizaba, where it

becomes a somewhat rare species. In Guatemala it is also an inhabitant of the low-

lying forest-lands, being common at Choctum and throughout the forests of Northern

Vera Paz. We also found it in smaller numbers on the slopes of the Volcan de Fuego

at an elevation of about 3000 feet and less. The bird also occurs on the Atlantic side

of Honduras®; but it has not yet been traced in any of the other Central-American

States, nor yet in Panama.

In Colombia a closely allied race is found differing from the Central-American species

in having grey instead of russet flanks. In this respect it approaches the Peruvian

* TuryorHorvs Hypospoprus, sp.n. J’. rutilo affinis, sed abdomine toto cum hypochondriis griseo-fuscis,

pectore solo plaga magna rufa notato et corpore supra rufescentiore differt. Long. ale 2-4, caudee 2:0,

rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0:9.

Hab, CoLompra (mus. nostr.).

THRYOTHORUS. 93

bird recently described by Taczanowski as 7. sclateri, and is probably inseparable from

that species.

Guatemalan specimens exhibit considerable diversity in the number of the black

spots of the under plumage, some having the throat pure white, which in others is

spotted like the breast. The example from Northern Yucatan shows the greatest

divergence, being of a much greyer cast of plumage above, especially on the tail.

B. 'THRYOTHORUS.

Uropygium maculis celatis albis notatum.

c. Rostrum mediocre.

5. Thryothorus felix. (Tab. VII. fig. 1.)

Thryothorus feliz, Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, p. 371"; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 268° (partim).

Pheugopedius feliz, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 186°.

Supra murino-fuscus, pileo antico rufo ; loris et capitis lateribus albo nigroque striatis; alis dorso concoloribus,

cauda nigricanti regulariter transfasciata; subtus cinnamomeo-rufescens, ventre medio albicante, gutture

albo, crisso albo nigro transfasciato; rostri maxilla nigricante, mandibula et pedibus plumbeis. Long.

tota 5:5, ale 2°4, caudee 2°6, rostri a rictu 0:9, tarsi 0°95. (Descr. exempl. ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico, Mazatlan (Grayson ?), Juquila (Boucard 1).

M. Boucard discovered this Wren in May 1859 in the Mexican State of Oaxaca!;

and it has since been traced as far north as Mazatlan 2, one of M. Boucard’s specimens

having been compared with another from the latter place, and pronounced by Prof.

Baird to agree in all essential respects °.

Nothing is recorded of the habits of this Wren; but it may be assumed to resemble

in this respect the following species, as Grayson’s note on 7’. awrenctt was made under

the supposition that the birds of the Tres Marias Islands and Mazatlan were identical,

which is now proved to be not absolutely the case. We have figured one of Boucard’s

Oaxaca specimens, the same as the one which furnished Prof. Baird with his description

of the species in the ‘ Review of American Birds ’®.

6. Thryothorus lawrencii.

Thryothorus felix B. lawrencii, Ridgw. Bull. Nutt. Orn, Club, 1878, p. 10'; Salv. Ibis, 1878, p. 196’.

Thryothorus feliz, Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 278° (nec Sclater).

TJ’, felici affinis, sed corpore subtus fere albo, hypochondriis vix rufescenti tinctis differt; superciliis distinctis

albis, genis immaculatis albis, et rostro graciliore magis incurvo quoque diversus. Long. tota 5-3, ale

2:3, caude 2-2, rostri a rictu 0°95, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex inss. Tres Marias, Mexico. U.S,

Nat. Mus. no. 50818.)

Hab. Mexico, Tres Marias Islands (Grayson 1%).

Grayson® describes this Wren as a little larger than the one of the mainland, but

with similar notes. He adds that it is very common in the Marias, where it is a

94 TROGLODYTIDA.

constant resident, and the only species of Wren found there, where its lively song

chimes in with those of the other songsters of the woods at all hours of the day.

We are indebted to Mr. Ridgway for his kindness in lending us the type specimen

of this bird, which, compared with one of M. Boucard’s typical examples of 7. feliz,

presents the differences pointed out above. ‘The island habitat of 7. lawrencii renders

it extremely improbable that these distinctions will be broken down by intermediate

links; and we are therefore of opinion that 7. /awrencii should be kept apart.

7. Thryothorus berlandieri.

Thryothorus berlanderi, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 362, t. 83. f. 1° (ex Couch, MS.); Rev. Am. B. i.

p 124°. |

Thryothorus ludovicianus, var. berlandieri, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 144°; Merrill,

Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 121+.

Thryothorus ludovicianus berlandieri, Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 8°.

Supra rufescenti-brunneus, alis et cauda vix nigro transfasciatis, uropygio maculis celatis albis ornato ; super-

ciliis albis, supra nigro marginatis ; cervicis lateralibus nigro maculatis; subtus rufescens, gula et abdomine

medio albicantioribus; hypochondriis obsolete fusco transfasciatis; rostro et pedibus corylinis. Long.

tota 5°7, ale 2:4, caude 2-1, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. P. L.

Sclater.)

Hab. Norta America, Rio Grande valley (Sennett®, Merril/*)—MeExico, Boquillo,

Nuevo Leon and San Diego (Couch 12).

The original specimens of this race of the Carolina Wren (T. ludovicianus) were

obtained by Lieut. Couch at Neuvo Leon and San Diego, in Mexico; and it has since

been found in abundance in the valley of the lower Rio Grande. Its distinctness from

T. ludovicianus is not very pronounced; and Dr. Coues, in examining Mr. Sennett’s

specimens °, speaks of them as being rather puzzling, owing to their being intermediate

between TZ. ludovicianus proper and the full development of 7. berlandieri. He

decided, however, to associate them with the latter bird, which, according to Messrs.

Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway *, bears to the former about the same relationship that

Harporhynchus longirostris does to H. rufus.

Mr. Sennett procured several nests of this Wren during his stay on the lower Rio

Grande. These were found near the ground, in hollow trees, stumps, and even in dead

limbs lying on the ground. The eggs are described as being of a white or pinkish

colour, with brown and purple specks and blotches distributed over the whole surface.

We have no record of the occurrence of the species in Central or Southern Mexico.

8. Thryothorus albinucha, (Tab. VII. fig. 2.)

Troglodytes albinucha, Cabot, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2587.

THRYOTHORUS. . 95

Thryothorus albinucha, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 149; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 191°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.

N. Y. ix. p. 199%.

Thryothorus petenicus, Salv. P. Z.S. 1868, p. 187°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 125°

Supra brunneus, uropygio paulo rufescentiore et maculis celatis albis notato; alis vix nigro transfasciatis, loris

et superciliis albis, regione postoculari brunnea ; capitis et colli lateribus albis nigro vix vittatis ; cauda

nigra, rectricibus duabus extimis albo irregulariter punctatis, duabus mediis fusco-brunneis, his et reliquis

nigro fasciatis; subtus albus, hypochondriis brunneo lavatis, crisso nigro distincte transfasciato ; rostri

maxilla cornea, mandibule basi albicante ; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5:1, alee 2°3, caude 2:0,

rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Sakluk, Peten. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Yalahao! and Merida*, Yucatan (Cabot!, Schott‘); Guatemata, Sakluk,

near Peten (0. 5.5%).

This species is one of very restricted range, being confined to the promontory of

Yucatan and the adjoining district of Peten. Dr. S. Cabot first discovered it during

his travels in Northern Yucatan, where it has since been obtained near Merida by

Dr. Schott. When at Sakluk near Peten, April 1862, Salvin shot a single specimen of

this Wren on the outskirts of a thicket in the open savannas in which the village is

situated. This bird was afterwards described as 7. petenicus, but found to be in-

separable from Dr. Cabot’s bird when compared with it by Prof. Baird 2.

We have figured the type of 7. petenicus.

d. Rostrum debile.

9. Thryothorus bairdi.

‘Thryothorus bewicki, var. leucogaster, Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 127° (nec T. leucogaster, Gould) ;

Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 147°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 268°;

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 14 *.

Thryomanes bewicki leucogaster, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 169°.

Thryomanes bewicki, var. leucogaster, Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 121°.

Thryothorus bewicki, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 3727; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189°; Sennett, Bull. U.S.

Geol. Surv. iv. p. 9°.

Murino-brunneus, cauda nigro indistincte irrorata, rectricibus externis extus albo variegatis ; loris et super-

ciliis distinctis albis, stria postoculari murina; capitis lateribus et corpore subtus sordide albis, crisso

indistincte fusco transvittato; rostro et pedibus fuscis, mandibule basi pallidiore. Long. tota 4-7, alee

2-1, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0-6. (Descr. exempl. ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America, Colorado5 and Rio-Grande valleys °®.—MeExico, Tamaulipas

and Nuevo Leon (Cowch 1), Guadalaxara (Grayson *), Guanajuato (Dugeés >), valley

of Mexico (le Strange), Oaxaca (Boucard’), Puente Colorado (Sumichrast *).

This Wren is a race of 7. bewicki, found in Mexico and the border lands of the Rio-

Grande and Colorado valleys, having two near allies in the northern continent—one,

T. bewicki, belonging to the south-eastern States and as far west as Texas, and the

96 TROGLODYTID 2.

other, 7. spilurus, in California. The differences between these three forms were first

set forth by Prof. Baird in his ‘Review of American Birds’!; and his views have been

confirmed by subsequent writers?®. These forms are stated to be strongly marked

geographical varieties separable by quite constant characters °, necessitating, in our

opinion, the use of a specific name for each, the fact of this constancy of character

rather than the amount of the difference between them requiring this recognition.

In differentiating these races, Prof. Baird thought that he recognized in the Mexican

bird the Troglodytes leucogastra of Gould, and hence properly called it Thryothorus

bewicki, var. leucogaster. But Mr. Gould’s name has since been found to apply to a

very different species, which now stands as Uropsila leucogastra*. This being the case,

it is obviously undesirable to retain the name leucogaster for the present bird as well

as for the Uropsila ; we therefore suggest that the former should stand as Thryothorus

bairdi. |

Of T. bairdi in Mexico little is recorded beyond its occurrence at several places

as far south as the State of Oaxaca’ and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec®; but good

accounts of it are given by Mr. Sennett ® and Dr. Merrill ®, who observed it on the Rio

Grande, and also by Mr. Ridgway? and Dr. Coues®. All these observers bear

testimony to the excellence of its song and the great variety of its notes. Dr. Merrill

describes its nest as placed in various situations, such as an old Woodpecker’s hole,

between joints of a prickly pear, or amongst twigs of dense thorny bushes. The eggs

are described as varying considerably, some having very fine inconspicuous markings,

others heavy marks of reddish and lilac. Our thanks are due to Mr. Ridgway for

lending us for comparison a specimen of the true 7. dewicki from Brazos in Texas.

This, with the good series of 7. spilwrus in the Museum of the University of Cam-

bridge, formerly in Hepburn’s collection, and specimens of the Mexican bird in our

own and Mr. Sclater’s possession, have enabled us to compare the three races of this

Wren together, and to confirm, as far as our materials go, the observations of American

writers.

TROGLODYTES.

Troglodytes, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. ii. p. 52 (1807). (Type 7. aedon, Vieill.)

No well-marked characters distinguish Troglodytes from Thryothorus, though the

small size, more slender straighter bill, and shorter tail of the more typical members

of Troglodytes render them not difficult of recognition when compared with any of the

sections of Thryothorus, into which the species of that genus have been grouped. Still

such birds as the West-Indian Thryothorus martinicanus and its allies are so inter-

mediate in their characters that the passage from one to the other genus isyalmost

complete.

The classification of the races of Troglodytes allied to T. aedon, owing to the great

amount of variability observable amongst them, offers one of those difficult questions

* Anted, p. 78.

TROGLODYTES. 97

for solution which are not unfrequently met with in ornithology, and in dealing with

which no method of nomenclature has yet proved altogether satisfactory. Before

treating the Central-American races separately, it will be convenient here to view the

relationship of all the forms collectively.

Throughout the two continents of America and some of the adjacent islands(the Antilles

alone excepted), Wrens of the Lroglodytes aedon group are found. These seem at once to

be tolerably sharply divisible into two species:—7’. aedon of North America, which also

occurs in Mexico; and a southern form, subject to great local variation, which spreads

from Mexico over the whole South-American continent to Cape Horn. Of 7. aedon three

races have been set up, none of which do we think can be maintained, for reasons stated

below. Of the southern form, 7. insularis of the island of Socorro seems fairly separable;

and on the mainland the following names have been proposed :—T. intermedius for the

Central-American bird, which ranges from Southern Mexico to Costa Rica; T. inguietus

for the Panama bird; J. striatulus for the Bogota bird; TZ. tessellatus for that of

Western Peru. The Guiana bird is 7 furvus, the Brazilian 7’ equinoctialis* ; the

bird of the extreme south is 7. magellanicus +, and the Chilian 7. hornensis f. It is

with all these local forms that our great difficulty lies. Characters which in some

places seem definite, gradually disappear on the confines of the range of what at

first sight is an apparently distinct form; so that it would seem that no diagnostic

features exist by which to separate all these various races.

The Central-American 7. intermedius perhaps comes nearest the South-Brazilian |

bird, differing in being rather more deeply coloured below, in having the crissum (in

the adult bird) more strongly banded, and in the tail being shorter. The Panama

Wren passes southwards through Colombia to Peru, no tangible difference being

evident between 7. inguietus and T.. tessellatus. The typical bird of this race is dis-

tinguished by the pale colour of its under surface, the flanks alone being tinged with

rufous, and by its having the feathers of the back more or less strongly barred across

with fine blackish bands. These characters are also present in the Guiana 7. furvus,

though the upper plumage is a shade more rufous and the markings of the back less

distinct. Examples from the island of Tobago and others from the vicinity of Bogota

in Colombia are not separable ; but in Trinidad and Venezuela specimens seem to be of

a deeper rufous above, and the dorsal marks are obsolete. This latter form passes to

Santa Marta, to the Amazons, Ecuador, and to the vicinity of Lima in Peru. Thus no

definite boundaries, in accordance with the generally recognized rules of the distri-

bution of South-American birds, can be set to these variable birds ; and, failing them,

the only course open to us is to call them all Lroglodytes furvus as a comprehensive

name, including the true 7. furvus of Guiana, and the aberrant 7. tessellatus of

Western America, from Panama to Peru. The bird of South-eastern Brazil has a

* Sw. Orn. Draw. t. 13. 7 Gould, P.Z.8. 1836, p. 88.

¥ Less. Journ. l’Inst. 1834, p. 316, et Navig. aut. d. Globe de ‘La Thétis,’ ii. p. 327.

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, April 1880. 13

98 TROGLODYTIDZ.

strong rufous tint beneath; this is more particularly evident in Bahia examples,

where the throat alone is whitish; the crissum, too, of these birds is spotless. In Rio

examples the crissum has a few black marks; and this form extends southwards to the

Argentine Republic and Patagonia. Nor does the Chilian bird differ appreciably in

coloration; but the tail seems to be always longer than in birds from the eastern side

of the continent. This character also fails to be of much service, as the length of the

tail is found to be gradually less as one proceeds northwards from Patagonia and Chili.

Of these southern birds, those from Bahia are most readily distinguishable at first sight

by their brighter rufous under surface and spotless crissum ; but the points of distinction

between Rio birds and others already referred to from Venezuela &c. are so imsig-

nificant as to be hardly capable of recognition with certainty. But the Venezuela

bird passes into 7. furvus of Guiana, and thence into 7. tessellatus; so that the

passage between the extreme forms, the birds of Bahia and Peru, seems almost complete.

The geographical inter-relationship of the extremes and means is so complicated that

a reasonable explanation as to how the present state of things has come about has not

suggested itself to us. Still we see, in the apparent rapprochement of the Central-

American and Brazilian birds, an example of a law of distribution of which we now have

many examples.

In treating of the forms of Troglodytes within our boundaries our difficulties as

regards their discrimination are much less. TZ. aedon and TL. insularis are easily

defined; and the relationship of 7’. intermedius to the Panama race of T. furvus, as we

are now constrained to call the bird of the southern continent, is not too close to

prevent their recognition.

Altogether six species or races of Troglodytes are found within our borders,—one,

T. aedon, being the intrusion of a northern bird into Mexico; another, 7. furvus, the

extension of a southern form into the State of Panama; a third, 7. solstitialis, is a

bird of the Andes found in Costa Rica; two others are local modifications of the

southern 7. furvus; and 7. brunneicollis a species without near allies.

1. Troglodytes aedon.

Troglodytes edon, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. ii. p. 52, t. 107’; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 138”.

Troglodytes parkmanii, Aud. Orn. Biogr. v. p. 310°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 140°.

Troglodytes edon, var. parkmanni, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 153°; Coues, Birds N.W.

p- 82°.

Troglodytes domesticus parkmani, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 171" (ex Bartram).

Troglodytes americanus, Aud. Orn. Biogr. ii. p. 452°.

Troglodytes edon, var. aztecus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 189°.

Troylodytes aztecus, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545".

Supra murino-brunneus, uropygio paulo rufescentiore ; dorso, alis et cauda nigro transversim fasciatis ; subtus

griseo-albidus fusco vix irroratus, hypochondriis et crisso leviter fusco transfasciatis, rostri maxilla

TROGLODYTES. 99

brunnea, mandibula et pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:4, ale 2+1, caudwe 1-9, rostri a rictu 0-65,

tarsi 0-7. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 26368.)

Hab. Nortu America, whole of the United States and part of Canada > ®—Mexico,

Charco escondido, Tamaulipas (Couch ®), Orizaba (Sumichrast®), Mirador (Sar-

torius®), Jalapa (de Oca®),

The differences said to subsist between the races of 7. aedon found in the Eastern

States, the Western States, and Mexico, called respectively 7. aedon, T. parkmani, and

T’. aztecus, are of so slight a nature that we do not see how the sort of quasi recog-

nition that has been accorded to them can be long maintained. These differences are

concisely stated by Prof. Baird to be as follows :—

TL. aedon. First primary nearly half the longest; colour above dark brown,

rufous towards the tail.

L. aztecus. Wing similar ; above paler brown.

I’. parkmant. First primary half the second ; above paler brown.

Of these characters the colour of the plumage above is very variable in intensity,

and we do not believe it possible to distinguish specimens with any thing approaching

certainty by this test,

As regards the length of the first primary, there does not seem to be any appreciable

difference between any of these races; but the difference of its proportion to the rest

of the wing is due to western specimens generally having a rather more lengthened

wing than eastern ones’. But a Florida example does not differ in this respect from

western birds, though Prof. Baird states the contrary was the case in the specimens

he examined ; so that here again is no certain test by which to discriminate these races.

Troglodytes aedon, as we prefer to call all these slight varieties, is a very well-known

bird in the United States; and its habits and economy are fully set forth in recent

works on North-American ornithology. Its range in Mexico seems strictly confined

to the eastern side of the country, where it extends to the environs of Orizaba and

Jalapa. Further south, in Yucatan and Guatemala, its place is occupied by its close

ally 7’. intermedius, of which we give an account below.

As will be seen above, the name this little bird should bear has been much. disputed.

That of Troglodytes aedon will satisfy perhaps all ornithologists, except those who, with

_ Dr. Coues, urge the acceptance of the names introduced by Bartram ’.

2. Troglodytes insularis.

Troglodytes insularis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p..3 (ex Baird, MS.)', et Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p. 268°; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 299°.

Supra griseo-murinus, dorso leviter fusco irrorato; alis et cauda fusco-nigro transfasciatis ; subtus albidus,

crisso vix fusco notato; superciliis elongatis distinctis; rostro et pedibus corylinis, mandibule basi

13*

100 TROGLODYTIDZ.

albicante. Long. tota 4:4, ale 1:9, caude 1-7, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 08. (Descr. maris ex ins. Socorro.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 58259.)

Hab. Mexico, Socorro Island (Grayson * ? *).

In the tint of the upper plumage this Wren resembles 7. wedon; but the back is

rather greyer in colour. Beneath it is nearly white, without dusky markings. T. inter-

medius is altogether a browner bird both above and below; and from it, and also from

T. aedon, T. insularis differs in its long slender curved bill and in the greater distinct-

ness of the superciliary line.

Grayson, the only naturalist who has seen it, describes the Socorro Wren as the

commonest bird on the island, where its song is to be heard throughout the day,

either amongst the trees or brush-covered rocks that crop out everywhere. Like all

the indigenous birds of the island, it was very tame, and would climb about old logs

or creep over the trunks of standing trees, and even turn over leaves at his feet in

search of food, every now and then stopping to utter from a twig a cheerful song of

considerable volume for so small a bird?. He adds that he often saw it feeding on

dead land-crabs, crustacea being eaten more or less by all the birds of the island except

the Parrots and Pigeons ®.

Grayson describes! the iris of the living bird as brown, the bill brown above, the

mandible paler, the feet brown with black nails.

3. Troglodytes intermedius.

Troglodytes intermedius, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p.407'; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 142°; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N. Y. ix. pp. 93°, 199%.

Troglodytes aedon, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 9°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 202° (nec Vieillot).

Troglodytes hypaedon, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1861, p. 128", 1862, p. 18°.

Troglodytes, sp.?, Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, p. 372°.

Troglodytes inquietus, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 93° (nec Baird).

Supra brunneus, alis et cauda fusco-nigro frequenter transfasciatis ; subtus pallidior, hypochondriis vix, crisso

distincte nigro transvittatis, rostri maxilla brunnea, mandibula et pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:5,

ale 2:1, caude 1-75, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mrxico® °, Totontepec and Capulalpam (Boucard®), Merida, Yucatan (Schott 4,

Gaumer); GUATEMALA, Duefias, Panajachel, Quezaltenango, Coban, &c., and in all

villages throughout the country (0. 8S. & Ff. D. G.); Costa Rica, San José and

Quebrada Honda (Hoffmann 1), San José and Barranca (Carmiol *).

This is the common House-Wren of Guatemala and Costa Rica, being doubtless

found in the intermediate country. It also spreads northwards to Yucatan and the

Mexican State of Oaxaca, though we have as yet no record of it from Tehuantepec nor

yet from Western Mexico. In Eastern Mexico its place seems to be taken by 7’ aedon;

TROGLODYTES. 101

¥ «

and southwards of Costa Rica the Andean race of 7. furvus appears. From both of

these T. intermedius differs in its rufous-brown colour, though in this respect it

approaches the Brazilian form of 7. furvus, the tail, however, being shorter and the

crissum more strongly banded.

After being for some time doubtfully referred to 7. aedon®, or left unnamed ®, it was

described from Costa-Rica specimens as 7. intermedius 1 by Dr. Cabanis, and the follow-

ing year as T. hypaedon by Mr. Sclater? from Mexican and Guatemalan examples.

Subsequently Prof. Baird compared Mexican and Costa-Rican birds, and pronouncing

them to agree in general appearance, placed both under Dr. Cabanis’s name 2.

In Guatemala T. intermedius is a very familiar species, being found in villages and

towns throughout the country irrespective of elevation, as we observed it at various

places from 8000 feet to the sea-level. Its favourite resort is the thatch or tiled roofs

of houses, where it lives a restless life in pursuit of food. Its song is lively, but short,

and of no great power or compass. It frequently utters a kind of scolding note, which

has doubtless gained for it the name of “ Curuchichi,” which not inaptly expresses it.

A nest found at Buenaventura, on the Lake of Panajachel, was in a hole in a bank, the

eggs being exactly like those of 7. aedon, pinkish white, thickly freckled with red spots.

4. Troglodytes furvus.

Motacilla furva, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 994".

Troglodytes furvus, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 23°; Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotrop. p. 7°.

Troglodytes tecellata, D’Orb. & Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1837, Cl. ii. p. 25%.

Troglodytes tessellatus, Salv. P. Z. 8.1867, p. 135°; Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 312°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S.

1879, p. 4937.

Thriothorus striatulus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 338°.

Troglodytes hypaedon, Lawr. Ann. Lyc.N. Y. vii. p. 820°; Sel. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 846” (nec

Sclater).

Troglodytes inquietus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 143 (ex Lawr. MS.) ; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vill,

p. 174°, ix. p. 93.

Thyothorus equinoctialis, Sw. Orn. Draw. t. 18 ™.

Troglodytes hornensis, Less. Journ. l’Inst. 1834, p. 316”.

Troglodytes magellanicus, Gould, P. Z. 8S. 1836, p. 88°.

Supra brunneus, dorso, alis et cauda fusco-nigro transfasciatis; subtus sordide albus, hypochondriis obsolete,

crisso conspicue nigro transfasciatis ; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula et pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4-4,

alee 2-1, caudee 1°5, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, David (Hicks !?), Chitra, Calovevora (Arcé), Obispo (0. S.), Lion Hill

(M‘Leannan °° ).—Cotompia’®; Ecuapor?; Guiana!; Brazit, &c.—And gene-

rally throughout Sourn America in imperfectly segregated races.

We have already spoken of the difficulty we have experienced in attempting to

trace differences between specimens of the races of this Wren from various points in

South America, and of the conclusion into which we have been forced that they are

102 TROGLODYTIDA.

inseparable as species, owing to the gradual passage of even the most diverse of the

forms from one into another by insensible gradations.

In the ‘Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium’ a somewhat similar conclusion was

arrived at?. Two southern species were there admitted, 7. furvus and T. tessellatus,

under the latter name being included all the birds from the Andes and Panama, the

former embracing the rest of the South-American Wrens of this form. We now find

that the birds of Guiana, the origin of the types of T. furvus, are not separable from the

Wren of Panama, and that 7. furvus and T. tessellatus blend insensibly together. On

the other hand, slight differences in the Central-American 7. intermedius seem to justify

its separation. |

The Panama bird which Prof. Baird distinguished by the name of T. inguietus 1},

besides agreeing with the Guiana Wren, does not differ materially from the birds of

Antioquia’, Bogota’, and Peru+, At Santa Marta it passes into the Trinidad and

Venezuela form, in which the marks of the back are less distinct, and is thus connected

by insensible degrees with the Wren of the Amazons, Brazil, and Chili. Its northward

extension seems tolerably defined, not passing the limits of the State of Panama. In

Costa Rica 7. intermedius takes its place, though 7. inguietus appears in Mr. Lawrence’s

list 1° of the birds of that country on our authority.

When crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1863 we noticed that the notes of the

Wren found there differed from those of the Central-American bird, with which we were

then well acquainted. It frequented similar places, being a constant attendant about

houses and walls of old buildings. Salmon took its eggs at Medellin, in Colombia.

These exactly resembled those of 7. aedon, being thickly freckled with red.

5. Troglodytes solstitialis.

Troglodytes solstitialis, Scl. P. Z. 8.1858, p.550*; Scl. & Salv. Ex. Orn. p. 45, t. 28. £.1°; P.Z.S.

1879, pp. 493°, 593"; Tacz. P.Z. 8. 1874, p. 5055,

Supra saturate brunneus, alis et cauda nigro distincte transfasciolatis, striga postoculari distincta fulva; capitis

lateribus et corpore subtus dilute fulvis, abdomine medio albicantiore, crisso nigro transfasciato ; rostro fusco,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 3:8, ale 1-8, caude 1-2, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0-7. (Deser. exempl. ex

Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

_ Hab. Costa Rica (Rogers).—Cotompia2 2; Ecuapor!; Perv®; Borrvia‘.

The smaller size, the distinct superciliary stripe, the darker and more uniform tint of

the plumage above, and the whiter belly distinguish this species from all the forms of

T. furvus, it being, in fact, readily distinguishable from that bird. It has an extensive

- range in the Andes, being found from Bolivia to Antioquia in Colombia, and also in

Costa Rica, whence we have recently received three specimens from Mr. Rogers.

Tf’. solstitialis was one of Fraser’s discoveries in Ecuador, where he met with it in

June 1858 near Matos and Pinipi, villages situated on the eastern slope of the Andes,

TROGLODYTES. 103

not far from Riobamba't. Mr. Buckley’s recent collections from the same country also

contained examples. From Ecuador it has since been traced southwards to Peru® and

Bolivia *, and northwards to the Colombian State of Antioquia?, and now to Costa Rica.

It seems to enjoy a considerable range in altitude, as Fraser’s specimens were obtained

a little under 10,000 feet above the sea, Salmon’s in Antioquia at a much lower eleva-

tion, and some of Mr. Buckley’s at Puna Island, almost at the sea-level. Salmon found

its nest, which he describes as placed in a hole in a wall or bank, or any convenient

spot, being made of soft blades of grass with an entrance at the side. The eggs are

white, spotted with small red spots, but not nearly so profusely as those of 7. aedon.

6. Troglodytes brunneicollis,

Troglodytes brunneicollis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p..297', 1859, p. 3872”, 1862, p. 18°; Cat. Am. B. p. 23°;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 273°; Ex. Orn. p. 46, t. 23. f. 2°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 1447;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545%.

Troglodytes aedon?, Scl. P.Z. 8. 1859, p. 363° (nec Vieillot).

Troglodytes hyemalis, Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 29019?

Supra fusco-brunneus, dorsi plumis plerumque fasciolis nigris transvittatis; superciliis et capitis lateribus

rufescentibus his leviter fusco vittatis; stria postoculari brunnea; uropygio maculis celatis albis notato ;

alis extus et cauda fasciolis nigris transvittatis ; subtus clare fulvo-rufescens, abdomine medio pallidiore ;

hypochondriis, ventre imo et crisso nigro anguste transfasciatis; rostro nigricante, mandibulz basi albi-

cante; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 4°5, ale 2:1, caude 1:8, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0°85.

(Descr. maris ex Capulalpam, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, t El Jacale (Sailé'°), La Parada’ (Boucard??%), Cinco Sefiores (Boucard?),

Jalapa (de Oca*®), Alpine region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast’*®); GuaTEMALa,

forests of Volcan de Fuego (0. S. &. Ff. D. G.°).

This is a well-marked Wren belonging to the group containing 7. aedon and its

allies, being of about the size of that species, and having a tail of similar proportions.

In colour, however, it somewMfat recalls the North-American 7. hyemailis, its longer tail,

larger size, and clear fulvous colour of the under surface distinguishing it from that

species. We suspect, however, that the first specimens obtained by M. Sallé at

El Jacale 1°, and called T. hyemalis by Mr. Sclater, were really 7. brunneicollis. These .

birds have now been lost sight of and cannot be traced; but as they are the origin of

the only reference to T. hyemalis in Mexico, we think that they were very likely mis-

named.

The first recognition of this Wren was based upon specimens obtained in December

1857 at La Parada by M. Boucard. This village is in the highlands of Oaxaca, and

stands at an elevation of about 10,000 feet above the sea. T7'. drunneicollis has since

been traced to many other parts of Southern Mexico, being, according to Prof. Sumichrast,

one of the commonest species of the alpine region of Vera Cruz at an elevation of from

5000 feet to 6500 feet above the sea ®.

104 TROGLODYTID-.

In Guatemala we never found it much below 6500 feet, in the Volcan de Fuego,

where its chief resort is the deep ravines of the mountain and the belt of forest up to

between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. It is also not unfrequently met with in the lower

part of the tract of pine trees which clothe the upper 3000 feet of the cone. These

Wrens are usually seen in small flocks of five or six individuals, which move restlessly

amongst grass and shrubs near the ground. ‘They keep carefully out of sight, uttering

a rather clear Wren-like call-note.

CISTOTHORUS.

Cistothorus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 77 (1850). (Type Zroglodytes stellaris, Naum.)

This little genus is structurally not far removed from Troglodytes, having a similar

nostril with a covering membrane. Its tail is very rounded, the bill short and rather

strongly curved. In coloration it is somewhat peculiar, the dorsal feathers in all the

species, and those of the head also in some, being conspicuously striated longitudinally.

Its habits, too, are also peculiar, as it seems to be found exclusively in marshy spots,

frequenting the long rank grass and reeds which usually grow in such places.

In addition to Cistothorus Dr. Cabanis proposed a second generic name, Telmatodytes,

for C. palustris; but the differences between the two are too slight to be admissible.

The number of species in the genus is not well ascertained, owing to the difficulty of

determining the limits of some of them. Seven or eight names have been suggested at

various times, which are perhaps referable to four or five species. Of these, two come

within our limits, Cistothorus palustris, a northern bird which finds its way into Southern

Mexico, and C. elegans of Mexico and Central America. ‘The last named bird has a

close ally in North America, and does not seem to be separable from a species of wide

range in the southern continent to which the name C. polyglottus, Vieill., has been

applied.

1. Cistothorus palustris. *

Certhia palustris, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 58, t. 12. f. 47.

Troglodytes palustris, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 290°.

- Cistothorus palustris, Scl. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 172°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 147*; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 161°; Coues, B. of N.W. p. 84° ;«B. Col. Vall. i. p. 1787.

Cistothorus palustris, var. paludicola, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p.148°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

ll. p. 268°.

Supra fulvescenti-brunneus, pilei lateribus et dorso nigris, hoc albido longitudinaliter striolato ; alis et cauda

nigro variegatis ; superciliis elongatis albis; genis, hypochondriis et crisso fulvis ; corpore subtus reliquo

albido; rostri maxilla fusca, mandibula et pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 4, ale 2°0, caude 1:6,

rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr. )

Hab. N. Amurica, throughout the temperate portions > ¢7.—Mexico, Mazatlan (Gray-

son*), Tomatlan (Sallé*), near the city of Mexico (White?).

CISTOTHORUS. 105

This common North-American Marsh-Wren is widely distributed in the United

States, occurring as a summer visitor in New England, and even straggling to Green-

land; thence it appears to spread over the whole country to the Colorado basin, and

passes southwards to Southern Mexico. It breeds throughout this wide area, and

is probably only migratory in the northern parts of its summer range, as it has been

observed in winter as far north as the Columbia river on the west and in the Carolinas

on the east coast®. In Mexico we know but little of it; but in all probability it is

resident there. Guatemala has been included in the range of C. palustris, apparently

from an incidental statement in Prof. Baird’s ‘Review of American Birds’4, where

that author speaks of Sclater and Salvin’s first article on Guatemala birds as including

the mention of a form of C. palustris which was unknown to him. This reference is

to C. elegans; yet all recent works on North-American birds include Guatemala, some-

times with doubt, sometimes without, as within the range of C. palustris.

Prof. Baird, in the work just quoted *, separates the western from the eastern bird,

distinguishing the former by the name of var. paludicola. But as the species, as

Dr. Coues says’, is subject to a good deal of difference in details of coloration which

cannot be satisfactorily correlated with any special sex, age, or season, the difference of

race does not seem to be capable of definition with certainty. Dr. Coues keeps both

together under the single name Cistothorus palustris, which, so far as we can see, is the

right way of treating the species. A Mexican specimen in our possession has the

scapulars and lower back of a tawny rather than a light brown colour; but this differ-

ence may well come within the limits of individual variation.

C. palustris was first brought into general notice by Wilson, who described it as

observed by him in Pennsylvania, and figured it in his great work !; but it was noticed

by Bartram several years before, and mentioned in his ‘ Travels through Carolina &c.,’

under the name of Motacilla palustris’.

The habits of the species, as well as its mode of nidification, are fully described by

Brewer ® and Dr. Coues °.

2. Cistothorus polyglottus. (Tab. VII. fig. 3.)

Todo voz, Azara, Apunt. 11. p. 29. no. 1511, undé

Thryothorus polyglotius, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. N. xxxiv. p. 59’.

Cistothorus polyglottus, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 48°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z. 8. 1879, p. 593%.

Cistothorus elegans, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 8°, 1860, p. 30°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 1467;

Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 182°.

Cistothorus stellaris, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 22°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545 (nec

Naum.).

Cistothorus equatorialis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p. 3"?

Cistothorus graminicola, Tacz. P.Z.S. 1874, p. 180?

Supra fulvescenti-brunneus ; alis et cauda (dorso imo quoque obsolete) nigro transversim fasciatis ; pilei et inter-

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, August 1880. 14

106 TROGLODYTIDZ.

scapulii plumis nigris, medialiter sordide albo striolatis; subtus fulvido-albus, gula et abdomine medio

fere albis; crisso obsolete nigro notato; rostri maxilla fusca, mandibula et pedibus pallide corylinis.

Long. tota 4:3, ale 1°75, caude 1-75, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. femine ex Duefias, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast ') ; GUATEMALA, Lake of Duefias®® and grassy

summit of Volcan de Agua (0. S.& F. D. G.); Panama, Chiriqui (Arcé 8) —

Ecuapor 12, Parvu 122, Bonivia‘, Braziu?, Paraguay 1.

The question of the value of the differences between the North-American Cistothorus

stellaris and the Guatemalan bird called C. elegans has long been in dispute. After

being a party to the separation of the latter in 1859, Mr. Sclater in his ‘ Catalogue of

American Birds,’ published in 1862, united it to C. stellaris, a course of proceeding

Prof. Baird in 1864 pronounced to be hasty, and accordingly granted C. elegans full specific

rank. In 1874, however, the same writer, with due deliberation and with apparently

the same materials before him, followed Mr. Sclater’s footsteps of 1862. The facts of

the case appear to be as follows:—After making considerable allowance for variation in

the size of the bill and in the amount of the striation of the feathers of the head, there

still seems to remain as a tolerably permanent difference between the two birds the

colour of the lower back and rump, which in C. stellaris are marked with longitudinal

streaks like the back, and in C. elegans are more or less uniform fulvous-brown, occa-

sionally crossed with transverse bars*; the flanks, too, of the southern race are destitute

of any bars or spots, and the tarsi seem to be always longer. Guided by these tests we

trace C. elegans to Bolivia, whence we have a single specimen which has been already

called C. polyglotius*, raising the further question whether C. elegans is not after all

the southern C. polyglottus, a bird described by Azara! and named by Vieillot?. Of

the latter bird we have a Nattererian specimen before us, obtained at Villa de Castro in

1820, and a Brazilian example belonging to the National Museum at Washington

agreeing well together. The latter has already been set down, with doubt, as C, elegans.

The only difference of any note between these two birds and C. elegans is in size, the

wing, and especially the tarsi, being shorter in the Brazilian specimens. As the colour

of the flanks and lower back is the same in both, we are inclined to think that the

difference in dimensions is not sufficient to be considered of specific value. We are

further of opinion that C. @quatorialis of Lawrence !! and C. graminicola of Tacza-

nowski * are very probably referable to the same species, filling-in, as they do, links in

its wide range. Lastly, with regard to the name of this Wren, if, as it seems to us by

no means improbable, the North-American bird should be united with the southern (as

has been already done by writers on North-American birds), C. polyglottus, proposed by

Vieillot in 1819, has several years priority, and under this title all the rest should sink

to synonyms.

* These are exaggerated in the Plate.

CISTOTHORUS. 107

Of this species in Mexico we know but little. Prof. Sumichrast mentions it casually

as having been obtained by him in Orizaba. In Guatemala it is of very local distri-

bution, owing, doubtless, to scarcity of grassy swamps, its chief resort. On the western

border of the small lake near Duefias it was always present in the rushes and coarse

grass which surround the margin of the open water. This spot was the abode of a

good many pairs. Its shy skulking habits make it a bird difficult of observation, and

it is only by remaining motienless in a place near to where a bird has made its presence

known by its note that an occasional glimpse of it may be obtained. The original

specimen of C. elegans was thus secured on the Ist of February, 1858; but others were

subsequently shot at the end of July and of August, one obtained on the latter date

being a young bird in its first moult. The specimen from the Volcan de Agua was

found in the long grass which, with scattered pines, clothes the peak of the mountain

from 10,000 feet above the sea and upwards. It was at an elevation of 11,000 feet

that this bird was shot, in sight of the Lake of Duefias, but 6000 feet above it, and far

from any water. This bird differs in no way from the Duefias ones, except that its

bill is very short, hardly exceeding that of C. stedlaris.

Of Chiriqui examples we have now seen several: in none are the strie of the head

very distinct; but they show no other peculiarities.

The figure is taken from a Duefias specimen, the type of C. elegans.

Fam. MOTACILLIDA.

ANTHUS.

Anthus, Bechstein, Naturg. Deutschl. ii. p. 704 (1807).

The genus Anthus has been divided into a number of sections, which have been

treated as genera or subgenera according to the views of different ornithologists. In

its comprehensive sense Anthus contains perhaps fifty species, which are spread over

nearly the whole world with the exception of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Of

these, if we exclude A. pratensis, which only appears as a straggler in Greenland, eight

species occur in America, two in the northern and six in the southern continent. The

northern birds, on account of their longer and more pointed wings, have been sepa-

rated from the southern; and each section has been again divided into two—slight

differences in the formation of the point of the wing and in the proportions of the

tarsus, toes, and hind claws furnishing characters for their separation. ‘These divi-

sions, however, are barely recognizable, and may all be merged in the genus Anthus

without difficulty.

In Central America only two species of Anthus occur, viz. Anthus ludovicianus,

which spends the winter months in the highlands of Mexico and Guatemala in small

numbers, and A. rufus, a southern species of wide range, which just enters our fauna

14*

108 MOTACILLID #.

in the State of Panama, where it is found in scanty numbers in the more open savannas,

nowhere very extensive in this district.

1. Anthus ludovicianus.

Alauda ludoviciana, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 793°.

Anthus ludovicianus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 293°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 9°; Baird, Rev.

Am. B. i. p. 153°; Dugés, La Natur.i. p. 140°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 171°;

Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2687; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mas. no. 4, p.14°; Coues, B. N.W

p- 40°; B. Col. Vall. i. p. 193; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 1221.

Supra olivaceo-brunneus, plumis singulis medialiter obscure fuscis ; alis fuscis albido limbatis; cauda fusca,

rectricibus duabus utrinque extimis gradatim albo terminatis, rectricis extimee pogonio externo utrinque

fere omnino albo ; superciliis et corpore subtus sordide brunneo-albidis ; cervicis lateribus, pectore et hypo-

chondriis fusco-nigro distincte maculatis ; rostro nigricante, mandibule basi albicante ; pedibus obscure

corylinis. Long. tota 6, ale 3:2, caude 2°6, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex Duefias,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Whole of Norta America °° 1°, Texas 1.—Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson™), Guana-

juato (Dugées°), Cordova (Sallé*), valley of Mexico (le Strange), Orizaba (Sumi-

chrast *), Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast*®); Guaremaa, Duefias (0. 8. & F. D. G.?).

This Pipit is found at one season or another throughout the continent of North

America, even as far as Greenland ; and stragglers have been detected in Bermuda and

Heligoland*. It is a strictly migratory bird, passing the winter months in the southern

part of its range, and breeding in the far north, Labrador 9, and in the highest peaks of

the mountains of Colorado ,

In Texas Dr. Merrill describes it as very abundant from October to March !!; and in

Mexico’ and in Guatemala it has only been observed at the same time of year. In

the latter country it is by no means common; and we only occasionally met with birds

of this species, in small flocks of ten or twelve individuals, from December to February

in the open land near Duefias. Guatemala, therefore, is probably the southern limit

of the winter range of Anthus ludovicianus. Prof. Baird, however, speaks 4 with doubt

of its extension to Peru; but we have no evidence to confirm this statement.

The habits and breeding of this species are fully described in works on North-

American ornithology ° 9.

2. Anthus rufus.

Petite Alouette de Buenos Ayres, D’Aub. Pl. Enl. 788, £. 1), undé

Alauda rufa, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 798°.

Anthus rufus, Lawr. Aun. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 822°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 1564; Sel. Ibis, 1878,

p. 360°.

Anthus (Notiocorys) parvus, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 106°.

Anthus parvus, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 185%.

Anthus chit, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 69 (nec Spix) °.

Anthus peruvianus, Nicholson, P. Z. 8. 1878, p. 890°?

ANTHUS. 109

Supra fuscus, capitis et dorsi-plumis pallide fulvo marginatis, alis et cauda fuscis fulvido limbatis ; cauda fusco-

nigra, rectricibus duabus utrinque externis gradatim fulvo-albidis; subtus cum superciliis sordide albus

fulvo (preecipue in pectore) tinctus, pectore fusco-nigro distincte maculato; rostro corneo, mandibule basi

albicantiore ; pedibus flavidis. Long. tota 45-5, alee 2°4, caudee 1°8, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi0°8. (Descr.

' maris ex Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Santa Fé (Arcé"), line of railway (Galbraith? *)—South America

generally to Peru ®® and Braziu°&.

When endeavouring in 1867 to determine the proper name for a Veraguan specimen

of this little Anthus", we were quite unable to detect any valid differences between it

and Amazonian and Brazilian examples of a bird we believe to be the Anthus rufus (Gm.).

Since then we have had opportunities of examining other specimens, which have tended

to confirm our opinion that all belong to a single species. This, too, is Mr. Sclater’s

verdict, who has recently carefully investigated the subject®. We believe, too, that

Anthus rufus may be used as the name of the species; for though it does not extend

its range to Buenos Ayres, as D’Aubenton’s name would imply, the figure can hardly

have been drawn from a specimen of any other South-American Pipit. If, however, it

can be shown that the name Anthus rufus is not strictly applicable to it, Mr. Lawrence’s

title A. parvus may be used without doubt for the Central-American bird.

Of the habits of this species little information has reached us. Mr. Galbraith

found it on the savannas near Panama, where it builds its nest on the ground, the

male ascending above the nest and remaining singing in the air for a long time.

Mr. Wallace ® observed it in tolerable abundance on the open dry plains in the island

of Mexiana at the mouth of the Amazons; and Natterer obtained ® specimens near Rio

Janeiro at pools in the road and in the swamps.

Fam. MNIOTILTIDE*.

Subfam. MNIOTILTINA F.

MNIOTILTA.

Mniotilta, Vieillot, Anal. p. 45 (1816). (Type Motacilla varia, Linn.)

Mniotilta, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 180.

This genus contains but a single species, which differs from the other genera of this

* In the arrangement of this family we have to a great extent followed the system elaborated by Prof:

Baird in his ‘ Review of American Birds,’ and used again in the ‘ History of North-American Birds.’ Dr. Coues

has also followed the same general plan in his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley,’ where, however, he has reduced

Prof. Baird’s four subfamilies to three, introducing thereby greater simplicity of arrangement. The family

itself is on all hands confessedly one of arbitrary rather than natural limits; but materials are not ripe for

a satisfactory recasting of it and the obviously allied groups Coerebide, Taunagride, &e. .

+ Cf. Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 203.

110 MNIOTILTID 2.

group in the elongation of the toes (especially the hind toe), enabling the species to

creep about the trunks of trees much like the Certhiide or Sittide. The single species

isa common North-American bird, which passes the winter months in large numbers

in Mexico and Central America.

1. Mniotilta varia. a

Motacilla varia, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 833°.

Mniotilta varia, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 118°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, pp. 140°, 291*, 1858, p. 298°,

1859, pp. 863°, 3737, 1864, p. 172°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 10°; P. Z.S. 1864, p. 347”;

Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 828%; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 822”, viii. p. 174, ix. p.93™;

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 269"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.15°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865,

p. 476"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 167°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 185”, 1870, p. 182”;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 546"; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 292”; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 180”; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 204%; Gundl. Orn. Cub.

p- 63”; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 122”.

Supra nigra, dorso toto albo striato, stria verticali et altera utrinque per oculos ducta albis ; alis nigris, fasciis

duabus albis notatis, remigibus primariis anguste, secundariis late albis ; cauda nigra, rectricibus extimis

versus apicem albo notatis; subtus alba, gutture toto et hypochondriis nigro pervittatis; rostro corneo ;

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4:8, ale 2°7, caude 2, rostri a rictu 0-65, tarsi 0-6. (Descr. exempl. ex Vera

Paz, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q aut avis junior subtus multo albicantior, genis, pectore et hypochondriis nigro sparsim vittatis. (Descr.

femine ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Hastern NortH America 73 °4, Texas 17 26—_Muxico, Mazatlan (Grayson ™), Colima

(Xantus), valley of Mexico (White’), Cordova (Sallé+), Jalapa (de Oca®),

Orizaba (Sumichrast*', le Strange), La Parada®, Juquila, and Totontepec (Boucard"),

Guichicovi, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast °); British Honpuras, Belize (0. 8.) ;

GuaTEMALA (Velasquez), Retalhuleu 18, Patio Bolas, Escuintla, Duefias 1°, Volcan

de Agua, Voican de Fuego, San Gerénimo, Tactic, Coban, and Choctum (0. 8. &

FF, D. G.); Costa Rica (Hoffmann"), Punta Arenas (Dow 18), Barranca, Juiz,

San José, and Angostura (Carmiol™), San Juan and Candelaria Mountains

(Frantzius**); Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges *, Hicks 18, Arcé 2°), Santa Fé !, Chitra,

Cordillera del Chucu, and Calovevora (Arcé?°), line of railway (M‘Leannan 121°),

—CoLomBia *4; VENEZUELA 4; and ANTILLES | 24, Cuba” &c.

This is one of the commonest of the migratory Mniotiltide in Central America

during the autumn and winter seasons, arriving there about the middle of August, and

leaving ugain in April. During these months it spreads over the whole country from

the sea-level to an altitude of some 7000 or 8000 feet. In its winter migration it

passes into South America; and specimens not unfrequently occur in collections made

near Bogota. This is, perhaps, the most southern point of its range; but it extends

eastwards through Venezuela and Trinidad. In the Antilles it has been noticed in all

the larger islands, and as far eastward as the island of Santa Cruz; but it has not been

MNIOTILTA.—PROTONOTARIA. 111

recorded from the Windward Islands, which, doubtless, lie to the eastward of its route of

migration. In Jamaica it is said that a few remain to breed 2°; but in Cuba none have

been observed to do so 5. . .

The range of Mniotilta varia in North America is extensive ; but the bird is said to

be nowhere abundant. It does not pass the Rocky Mountains, and reaches the Pacific

at no point north of Mazatlan. In the States, except perhaps in Texas, it is essentially

a summer Visitant, and it breeds throughout the country from Texas (where Heermann

found its nest) northwards. Its habits are well described by Brewer 2? as resembling

those of a Creeper (Certhia) in its constant practice of climbing along the limbs and

stems of trees in search of food. In its winter quarters a sharp call is the only note

it utters; but in the breeding-season its song is described as sweet and pleasing though

not powerful.

The nest is always built upon the ground.

PROTONOTARIA.

Protonotaria, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 239 (1858). (Type Motacilla citrea, Bodd.)

Protonotaria, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 183.

A single, peculiar-looking species constitutes this genus—a bird with a long bill and

long wings, and remarkable for the purity of the yellow colour of its head and under-

parts. The species is a scarce one in Central America, visiting Yucatan, Costa Rica,

and Panama during the winter months, and passing the summer in the Southern

States. |

1. Protonotaria, citrea. ”

Figuier & ventre et téte jaunes de la Louisiane, D’Aub. Pl. Enl. 704, f. 21, undé

Motacilla citrea; Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 44”.

Helminthophaga citrea, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 85°.

Protonotaria citrea, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 173*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. pp. 94°, 200°;

Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 2927; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 780°, 1879, p. 494°; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 184°; Coues, B. N.W. p. 47"; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 62”.

Supra olivaceo-virescens, uropygio, alis extus et cauda (rectricibus duabus mediis) cwrulescenti-cinereis ;

capite toto et corpore subtus letissime flavis, subalaribus et crisso albis ; rectricibus (preter duabus mediis)

albis, pogonio externo et apicibus nigris; rostro corneo, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5, ale 2-8,

caude 1-8, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Veraguas, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, South-eastern States !° '.—Mexico, Merida, Yucatan (Schott *) ;

Costa Rica, Punta Arenas (J. M. Dow*>, v. Frantzius’); Panama, Veraguas (Arcé),

line of railway (Mus. G. NV. Lawrence).—Co.omBia®; VENEZUELA’ ; Cusa 2,

In its summer quarters the Prothonotary Warbler is restricted to the southern

region of the eastern section of the United States, being chiefly found in Kansas,

112 MNIOTILTIDA.

Southern and Central Illinois, Missouri, and in Kentucky; but stragglers are occa-

sionally met with as far north as Washington and even New Brunswick. Dr. Woodhouse

also observed it in numbers in Texas, where, however, recent observers do not mention

its occurrence. Its time of residence in these districts extends from April to October,

during which it breeds. ‘The rest of the year it spends within the tropics, its line of

migration nearly coinciding with that of Geothlypis philadelphia. It is found in

Northern Yucatan ; but nowhere else in Mexico or Central America until we come to

Costa Rica, where, and in the State of Panama, a few specimens have been obtained.

In the Southern continent its range seems confined to the north-western coast, as

specimens have reached us from the State of Antioquia®, the neighbourhood of Santa

Marta, and from near Merida in Venezuela’. In its spring migration it is occasionally

(but rarely) met with in Cuba in the month of April12, but not elsewhere in the

Antilles.

The bird is described as being one of the shyest and most silent of all the Warblers.

Its place of abode is usually in bushy swamps on the margin of stagnant pools. Its

nest is placed in a hollow snag, a Woodpecker’s hole being often chosen for its site 1°.

HELMINTHOTHERUS.

Helmitherus, Rafinesque, Journ. de Phys. lxxxviii. p. 417 (1819) (fide Baird). (Type Motacilla ver-

mivora, Gm.)

Helmitherus, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 186.

Two not very closely allied species are usually placed in this genus—H. vermivorus,

the bird treated of below, and ZZ. swainsoni, a rare species of which little is known, a

few specimens only having as yet been met with in the South-eastern States and in

Cuba and Jamaica. For the latter bird a separate generic name* Helinaia was proposed

by Audubon. Helminthotherus, though differing greatly in coloration, is structurally not

far removed from Protonotaria, and has a long bill like that bird, and the middle toe

about equal to the tarsus. The bill, however, is rather stouter, the culmen somewhat

depressed, and the rictal bristles more fully developed. H. vermivorus is a strictly

migratory species, spending the winter in Mexico and Central America.

1. Helminthotherus vermivorus.”

Motacilla vermivora, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 951}.

Helmitherus vermivorus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.11°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 863°; Cab. J. f.

Orn. 1860, p. 328*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 179°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. pp. 94°,

200"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p. 187°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 63”.

Helmintherus vermivorus, Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 185"; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p- 293”; Coues,

B. Col. Vall. i. p. 211”.

Vermwvora pennsylvanica, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 150 (ex Sw.).

HELMINTHOTHERUS.—HELMINTHOPHAG A. 118

Supra olivascenti-viridis, alis et cauda concoloribus ; capite toto et corpore subtus pallide ochraceo-fuscis, illo

fasciis quatuor nigris ornato, duabus verticis utrinque ductis a naribus ad nucham et duabus postocula-

ribus ; abdomine medio albicante ; rostro corneo, mandibula et pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 2:8,

caude 2:2, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Hastern Norra America, from New England States southwards? 13. M EXxIco,

Jalapa (de Oca *), Mountains of Orizaba (Sumichrast *), Merida, Yucatan (Schott?) ;

GUATEMALA *, Duefias, Tactic, Coban, Khamkal, Choctum (0. S. & F. D. G.);

Costa Rica (Hoffmann), San José (v. Frantzius 12, Carmiol °); Panama, Boquete

de Chitra, Santa Fé" (Arcé).—Cusa ©; Jamaica “4.

Helminthotherus vermivorus is a winter visitant to South-eastern Mexico, Guatemala,

Costa Rica, and a portion of the adjoining State of Panama, arriving in September and

leaving again in April or May. It is also found during the same season in Cuba and

Jamaica, but does not reach any part of the continent of South America, the most

southern point of its range yet recorded being Santa Fé in the State of Panama. In

Guatemala it is by no means uncommon during the months it remains in the country,

and is pretty generally distributed everywhere, preferring the woods of the highlands of

Duefias and Coban—not exclusively, however, as we obtained many specimens from

Choctum and its neighbourhood in the hot forests about 1200 feet above the sea.

Like other members of the family, it is restless, but is rather slow in its movements

and not shy.

In its summer quarters in the United States it is spread over a wide area in the

eastern section of the country, but nowhere abundantly. It probably breeds through-

out its summer range, building a nest on the ground composed of dry leaves and lined

with fine mosses 9.

Bibliographical references to this species are fully given in Dr. Coues’s recent work 13,

HELMINTHOPHAGA.

Helminthophaga, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 20 (1850-51) (type Motacilla chrysoptera, Linn.)

Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 191.

A short, delicate, sharply-pointed bill, without any notch, forms one of the chief

characters of this genus. The tarsus is long, compared with the middle toe; and the

rictal bristles are not perceptible. Five out of the ten species that are now known

occur within our limits as winter visitants. The remaining five, all more or less rare

species, do not, so far as is yet known, pass beyond the limits of the United States,

The species of Helminthophaga can be divided into two groups, to be recognized by

the presence or absence of a conspicuous white patch on the tail.

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, August 1880. 15

114 MNIOTILTID 2.

a. Cauda albo conspicue maculata.

1. Helminthophaga chrysoptera. “a

Motacilla chrysoptera, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 333°.

Helminthophaga chrysoptera, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 397°; P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 847°; 1879, p. 494°;

Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 828°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 293°; ix. p. 94°; Baird, Rev.

Am. B.i. p.175°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 185°; 1870, p. 182"; Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 293"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 192; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 216”;

Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 63; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 123”.

Sylvicola inornata, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 484”.

Supra grisea, dorso medio et alis extus oleagineo lavatis, capite summo et tectricibus alarum letissime flavis ;

capitis lateribus et gula tota nigerrimis ; subtus alba, hypochondriis griseo tinctis ; rostro et pedibus brun-

nescentibus. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2:4, caude 2, rostri a rictu 0:6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Choctum,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Femina mari similis sed capite summo olivaceo nec flavo et alis fasciis duabus flavis notatis ; capitis lateribus et

gula cinereis nec nigris distinguenda. (Descr. femine ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America, Eastern province !*, Canada 1°, Texas .—Mextco (Bullock 1°) ;

GuatTeMALA, Coban, Choctum 2? (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica (Hoffmann®), Bar-

ranca (Carmiol"), Candelaria Mountains (v. Frantzius 11), Dota Mountains (Carmio/),

Trazu (Rogers); Panama, Chiriqui, Santa Fé°®, Calovevoral? (Arcé), Lion Hill

(MLeannan © *).—Cotomsia 4; Cusa 4.

Though found in spring in Texas”, this species appears to avoid Mexico in its migration

southwards, the only record of its occurrence in that country being Swainson’s reference

to it under the name Sylvicola inornata’’. In Guatemala it only came under our notice

in Vera Paz in the neighbourhood of Coban and Choctum; and here it is not by any

means common in winter. It is not until we come to Costa Rica that H. chrysoptera

is found in abundance ; but there, as well as in the adjoining State of Panama and in

‘the north-western portions of the continent of South America, considerable numbers

pass the winter. The furthest southern point reached by it is the neighbourhood of

Bogota, whence we have received several specimens. In Cuba Dr. Gundlach says that

it is of accidental occurrence in the vicinity of Havana during its passage northwards in

April ¥.

In the north it is described as nowhere a common species, and as distributed

over a comparatively small extent of country, comprising Georgia, Massachusetts,

New Jersey, Missouri, and Wisconsin, but straying outside these limits!2. Little is

recorded of its habits beyond the description of its nest and eggs—the former being

composed outwardly of dry leaves interwoven with roots, strips of bark, &c., and Jined

with fine leaves, grasses, and roots. This nest is usually placed in a low bush or on

the ground in a tussock of grass 1”.

Dr. Coues gives full references to the literature of this species 18,

HELMINTHOPHAGA. 115

2. Helminthophaga pinus.

Certhia pinus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1877.

Helminthophaga pinus, Scl. & Saly. Ibis, 1859, p.11?; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p.174°; Baird, Brew.

& Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 195*; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 214’; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat.

Mus. i. p. 123°.

Salvia solitaria, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 109, t. 15. f. 4.

Vermivora solitaria, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 484°.

Helmitheros solitarius, Scl. P. Z.8. 1856, p. 291°.

Supra olivaceo-viridis, alis et cauda cinereis, illis fasciis duabus albis notatis ; vertice antico et corpore subtus

flavis, loris nigris, crisso albo; rostro et pedibus brunnescentibus. Long. tota 4°5, ale 2:4, caudee 1:9,

rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

flab. Norrtu America, Eastern States+®, Texas ®—Mexico%, Vera Cruz (Bullock 8)

Jalapa (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), Cordova (Sallé®); GuaTEMALA”, Retalhuleu, Coban °,

Choctum, Teleman (0. S. & F. D. G.)

Helminthophaga pinus is by no means a common bird in either Mexico or Central

America in winter, the only time of year it is to be found there. Besides being included

in Swainson’s list of Bullock’s birds, the evidence of its occurrence in Mexico is almost

confined to the appearance of its name in the first list of Mons. Sallé’s birds®, to the

existence of one of Deppe’s specimens in the Berlin Museum, and to the mention of

a Mexican specimen in the Smithsonian Institution®; the bird seems to have been

unnoticed by de Oca, Sumichrast, and other assiduous collectors in Mexico. In Guate-

mala it occurs most frequently in the neighbourhood of Coban; but, besides being

found in this mountain-region, we obtained it almost at the sea-level in the Polochic

valley and at Retalhuleu, less than 1000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Like so many

of its family, it is to be found in the neighbourhood of cleared ground.

In the States, though it occurs in Texas %, it is almost exclusively an eastern bird.

Here it spends the breeding-season, remaining from the early part of May to September

or October*. Its nest is described by Wilson’; but his account of it does not tally

with that of Mr. Ridgway, who found several near Mount Carmel in Illinois, where the

bird is plentiful. The latter authority says that the nest is a very loose open structure,

composed chiefly of broad thin flexible strips of bark.

The synonymy of this bird has been much involved with that of Dendreca pinus, a

very different species. The difficulties connected with this question have been carefully -

unravelled by Dr. Coues°.

b. Cauda uniformis, macula alba nulla.

8. Helminthophaga ruficapilla.

Sylvia ruficapilla, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 120, t. 27. £.3%.

Helminthophaga ruficapilla, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 298°; 1859, p. 373°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i.

15*

116 MNIOTILTIDZ.

p- 175‘; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 546°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.

i. p. 196°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 15%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 224°;

Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 12°; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. p. 123"; Salv.

Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 89”.

Helmitheros rubricapillus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 291".

Helminthophaga rubricapilla, Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, p. 363”.

Supra flavido-olivacea, uropygio paulo flavescentiore ; capite cinereo, vertice castaneo plus minusye obtecto ;

loris et oculorum ciliis albis; subtus late flava, ventre imo albicante; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long.

tota 4:5, ale 2-4, caude 1:85, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. exempli ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Norvn America’, Eastern province especially °°, Texas? !°, and Arizona’.—MExIco,

Cordova (Sailé 12), Jalapa (de Oca !8), Orizaba (Sumichrast°), La Parada (Boucard *),

Oaxaca (Boucard?), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec (Swmichrast’); GUATEMALA

(Constancia”).

A well-known winter visitant to Southern Mexico, where it has been noticed by

many collectors. In Guatemala it never came under our own observation or that of

any of the bird-hunters employed by us; but as long ago as 1848, and again in 1851,

the late Don José Constancia sent specimens to Strickland from Guatemala, which are

still in his collection at Cambridge". The bird has never been traced south of this

point, nor is there any record of its occurrence in the West Indies.

Under the name of the Nashville Warbler, H. ruficapilla was long considered a rare

species in the States and confined in its range to the Eastern province. Within the

last few years, however, it has been traced throughout a much wider area, and found to

occur in many parts of the Middle province, at Fort Tejon in California, in Arizona,

and in the north, as a straggler, even in Greenland®. Its breeding-quarters, as far as at

present known, lie chiefly in the New-England States, especially Massachusetts*; but

Dr. Coues thinks that it may be found nesting much further south, in the Alleghany

Mountains, in the Rocky Mountains, and in the sierras of California ®.

4. Helminthophaga celata.

Sylvia celata, Say in Long’s Exp. i. p. 169°.

Helmitheros celatus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 212’.

Helminthophaga celata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 298°, 1859, p. 873*, 1862, p. 19°; Baird, Rev. Am.

B. i. p. 176°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546"; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol.

Surv. iv. p. 12°; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 123°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 226”.

Helminthophaga celata, var. celata, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 202".

Supra flavido-olivacea, uropygio paulo flavescentiore ; capite dorso concolori, vertice fulvo plus minusve celato ;

superciliis, loris et corpore subtus flavescentibus; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 4°3, ale 2:3,

caude 1:8, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex Chimuy, Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America generally, but especially the Middle and Western provinces,

HELMINTHOPHAGA. 117

Colorado valley 1°, Texas 8 9.—Mexico °, Orizaba (Botteri 2, Swmichrast’), La Parada

(Boucard**), Oaxaca and Cinco Sefiores (Boucard +); GuatemMaLa, Chimuy, Vera

Paz (Sarg).

This species has come under the notice of most of the collectors in Southern Mexico,

where it appears to pass the winter months. It is found in the mountainous parts of

the country, being apparently absent from the low-lying lands adjacent to the two

oceans. In Guatemala it never came under our own notice; but a short time ago we

obtained a skin from Herr Schneider, of Basle, to whom it had been sent by Mr. Sarg

from Chimuy, a place in the vicinity of Coban, Vera Paz. This proves that the bird

sometimes wanders thus far in its winter migration.

Beyond our frontier it has been noticed during the colder months in Texas ®°%.

Thence it spreads throughout the States and northwards to the Yukon river and the

Great Slave Lake. In the eastern States it is rare and of uncertain occurrence, but

yet has been met with in various places from Florida to Massachusetts 1°.

H. celata breeds in the Arctic regions and in the higher mountains of Colorado,

building on the ground a nest composed outwardly of fibrous bark and inwardly of

grasses and moss and sometimes with a lining of some kind of fur 1°,

The species seems subject to some variation in the colour of its plumage. This in

the countries bordering the Pacific takes a more decided character ; hence these birds

have been separated as a race and called H. celata, var. lutescens*.

5. Helminthophaga peregrina.

Sylvia peregrina, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 88, t. 25. f. 2°.

Helminthophaga peregrina, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 373°; Cat. Am. B. p. 29°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860,

p- 31’; P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 347’, 1870, p. 836°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 85"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.

N. Y. vii. p. 822°, viii. p. 174°, ix. p. 94"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.15"; Salv. P.Z.S.

1867, p. 185", 1870, p. 182"; Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 293"; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871,

p. 322"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 205"°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. 1. p. 230";

Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 63"; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 1283”; Salv. & Godm. Ibis,

1880, p. 117”.

g supra olivaceo-virescens, alis et cauda fuscis viridescenti limbatis ; capite summo cinereo ; loris, superciliis

et corpore subtus albidis, pectore vix ochraceo tincto ; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2:7,

caudee 1°8, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0-65. (Descr. exempl. ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

@ (et av. juv.) mari similis sed capite summo dorso concolori et corpore subtus preter abdomen medium plus

minusve viridi lavato. (Descr. femine ex San José, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, chiefly eastern parts, west to Colorado !’, Texas °.—Mexico 2%,

Jalapa (de Oca*), Santa Efigenia (Sumichrast™); GuaTeMaLa®, Duefias, Coban 4,

Lanquin? (0. S.& F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G@. M. Whitely°); Costa

* Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 204.

118 MNIOTILTIDA.

Rica 7, San José and Grecia (Carmiol °), Dota Mountains (v. Frantzius 4); Panama,

David (Hicks ®), Volcan de Chiriqui, Calovevora (Arcé 1°), Lion Hill (I ‘Leannan®?),

—Co.omsia ) 79,

In its southern migration this species barely touches Mexico, though it has been

several times reported from that country?°. In Cuba it is even more rare, as Dr.

Gundlach tells us that only two specimens have as yet come under his notice !8. In

Guatemala, especially in the vicinity of Coban, and thence southwards to the isthmus

of Panama, the bird is a common one in the winter months; and here it must be that

most of the birds rest during that season. In South America its presence is only known

at the extreme north-western end of the continent. Here Mr. Simons obtained examples

near Minea in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta *°, and Mr. Wyatt others in the valley

of the Magdalena ©.

In the States this species is known as the ‘“ Tennessee Warbler,” it having been dis-

covered by Alexander Wilson in that State ; but in all but the most northern States it

is a bird of passage, breeding in comparatively high latitudes". Its range and habits

are given by Dr. Brewer 1°, who also describes its nest as being a nearly flat bed of dry

matted stems of grass, less than an inch in thickness, and three inches in diameter.

PARULA.

Parula, Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 20 (1838) (type Parus americanus, Linn.); Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B.1. p. 207.

Compsothlypis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1. p. 20 (1850-51).

In this genus the bill is acute as in Helminthophaga; but a subterminal notch is

faintly shown, and the rictal bristles are distinct and strong though short; the tarsus

is longer than the middle toe; the more typical species have a triangular patch of

olive-green on the back, and white spots on the tail. P. superciliosa and P. gutturalis

have the tail without spots—the former with the back entirely olive-green, and the latter

with a black triangular dorsal patch. Six species of the seven constituting the genus

are included in this work, of which P. americana, the only strictly northern bird, enters

our limits as a winter immigrant. JP. inornata, P. insularis, and P. nigrilora are all

slight modifications of the southern P. pitiayumi; the first-named ranging from Guate-

mala to the State of Panama, the second peculiar to the Tres Marias islands and Socorro,

and the last to the Rio-Grande valley. P. superciliosa is restricted to the highlands of

Southern Mexico and Guatemala, and P. gutturalis to the mountains of Costa Rica and

the adjoining parts of the State of Panama.

PARULA. 119

a. Cauda albo maculata.

1. Parula americana. “a

Parus americanus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 841°.

Sylvicola americana, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 202°.

Parula americana, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 10°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 169*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.

N. Y. ix. p. 200’; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 15°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H.i. p. 5467; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 208°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 62°;

Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 11"; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 123"; Coues,

B. Col. Vall. i. p. 208 ”.

3 supra cerulescenti-grisea, dorso medio olivaceo, loris nigris, maculis ciliaribus albis, alis albo bifasciatis,

cauda extus albo notata; subtus gula et abdomine antico flavis, pectore torque ceruleo-nigricante ornato,

abdomine postico albo; rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula flava; pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4:5,

alee 2°35, caudee 1-7, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Washington, U.S. Smiths. Inst. no.

28266. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra undique olivaceo tincta, torque pectorali nullo. (Descr. feminz ex Progreso, Yucatan. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern Norra America’, westwards to the foot of the Rocky Mountains ¥,

Texas 1° ..—Mexico, Tlacotalpam (Sallé?), Orizaba (Sumichrast’), Santa Efigenia,

Tehuantepec (Sumichrast °), Merida, Yucatan (Schott ®), Progreso (Gaumer) ; Gua-

TEMALA 8, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.).—CuBa® and NorrHEern ANTILLES 4.

Parula americana is the only strictly migratory species of its genus. It passes the

breeding-season in the more northern States and Canada, and the winter months in

Florida !2, Mexico, Guatemala, and the Northern Antilles. In the intervening country

it is known as a bird of passage during its spring and autumn migrations. In Mexico

it touches the Pacific coast only in the extreme south, being absent from the western

coast generally. On the eastern side it appears in the vicinity of Orizaba and in

Northern Yucatan, and thence passes southwards to Coban in Guatemala, the only

place in that country where we ever met with it. Here it was not uncommon

from November onwards through the winter; and specimens used to be brought to us

by the Indian boys, shot by their blowpipes in the outskirts of the town. Full-plumaged

males, however, are seldom secured; and the same is the case in Cuba—because, as

Dr. Gundlach says, they migrate at the period of assuming their breeding-dress. In

the Antilles, from Cuba to St. Thomas and St. Croix, P. americana is very abundant in

the winter months; but it does not pass southward of these islands, and is quite

unknown on the southern continent.

The chief resort of this species is high woods, where it searches for its food amongst

the higher branches. Its song, according to some authorities, is barely worthy of the

name, as its notes are feeble and few; others describe it as consisting of a varied and

pleasing series of notes’. The nest is sometimes fastened to the trunk of a tree, but

is more usually suspended from a branch some six or eight feet from the ground and

120 MNIOTILTID A.

surrounded by long hanging mosses. Its shape varies from the simple weaving of the

surrounding moss, in which a small hole leads to a cup-shaped chamber, to a globular

pensile nest without lining and having an entrance in one side ®.

Though a well-marked species without any near allies, the synonymy of Parula ame-

ricana is a long story, the intricacies of which Dr, Coues has unravelled with great care

and patience !”.

2. Parula inornata. (Tab. VIII. fig. 1.)

Parula inornata, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p.171!; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 937; Salv. P. Z.S.

1870, p. 182°.

Parula brasiliana, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 397 (nec Licht.) *.

Supra ceerulescenti-schistacea, plaga magna dorsali oleaginea; fronte, loris et genis nigricantibus; alis dorso

concoloribus ; subtus flavissima, crisso albo; cauda utrinque albo notata; rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula

flava; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 43, alee 1-9, caude 1:55, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. exempli

ex Choctum, Vera Paz. Mus. nostvr.)

Obs. Specimina queedam ex statu Panamensi maculas alares albas serie singula nec duplici positas habent.

Hab. GuatemaLta, Choctum (0. S. & F. D. G.1%); Costa Rica, Barranca and Dota

Mountains (f. Carmiol 7), Angostura (J. Carmiol); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui,

Boquete de Chitra, Calobre (Arcé *).

It is questionable if P. inornata is really specifically distinct from its southern ally

P. pitiayumi, from which the typical bird differs in the absence of the two white wing-

bars so conspicuous in the southern race.

The Guatemalan bird which Prof. Baird described has a plain-coloured wing with

only faint indications of the distal wing-bar; but in specimens from the State of

Panama this bar is clearly shown, the proximal bar being just indicated by obsolete

spots. ‘These birds, therefore, are distinctly intermediate between the unbanded P.

imornata and the double-banded P. pitiayumi, and might almost as well be placed with

one as with the other.

In Colombia the true P. pitaywmi appears, and thence spreads over nearly the whole

of South America as far as the Argentine Republic and Bolivia. Throughout this wide

area birds do not appreciably differ.

_ As already stated P. inornata was first described from a Guatemalan specimen. This

is still in our collection, and is the bird now figured. In Guatemala the species is a

rare one, and very few specimens have come under our notice; its range is probably

restricted to the forest-region of Vera Paz. In Costa Rica and Panama it is much more

abundant, and we have received an abundant supply of specimens from those countries ;

but from the line of the Panama railway it is apparently absent, as M‘Leannan never

met with it during the years he worked at the ornithology of that district.

PARULA. 121

3. Parula insularis.

Parula insularis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p. 4+; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. 1. p. 269 2; Grayson,

Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. pp. 278 *, 300°.

Supra sordide cinerea, plaga dorsali oleaginea notata, genis clare cinereis ; alis albo bifasciatis ; caudee rectri-

cibus utrinque extimis in pogonio externo albo maculatis; subtus sordide flava, crisso albo; rostri maxilla

nigra, mandibula flavida; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4-4, ale 2:1, caudee 1°85, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi

0-75. (Descr. exempli ex Socorro Island, Smiths. Inst. no. 50798. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Tres Marias islands ! 2, Socorro island? +4 (Grayson).

This species was discovered by the late Col. A. J. Grayson; and all references relate

to his specimens, no other collector having met with it. The bird is allied to P. piti-

ayumi and P. inornata: like the former it has two white bands on the wing; but it

differs in the more ashy tint of the blue of the upper plumage, and in the abdomen

being dull.instead of clear yellow*. In both respects it differs from P. inornata, which

bird also is distinguished by the almost total absence of the white wing-bars.

The Tres-Marias and Socorro birds are said to belong to the same species, only dif

fering in the latter being a little larger. It is common in both localities, and in the

Marias may be seen and heard in every tree busily searching amongst the foliage for

insects, and often repeating a delicate little song?. PP. insularis has not yet been

detected on the mainland; and, strange to say, none of the allied species are found within

five or six hundred miles of its home: of these the nearest, P. nigrilora, comes from the

valley of the Rio Grande, P. inornata from Guatemala, and P. pitiaywmi from Colombia !

The specimen described is not quite adult, and the plumage of the upper and under

surfaces probably duller than in the mature bird.

4, Parula nigrilora.

Parula nigrilora, Coues, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 11 1. B. Col. Vall. i. p. 2077; Sennett, Bull.

U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 11’, v. p. 384°; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 128 ,

“* 3 subcxrulea, dorso medio virenti-flavo, alis albo bifasciatis, palpebris nigris immaculatis, loris lineaque

frontali nigerrimis ; subtus flava, Jugulo aurantiaco, abdomine infimo, hypochondriis crissoque albis.

Long. tota 4:5, alee 2°0-2°2, caudee 1:8-1-9, rostri a naribus ‘38-4, tarsi -62—"65, dig. med. *4.” (Coues,

L. s. 6.”)

Hab. Valley of the Rio Grande, Hidalgo 17%, Lomita + (Sennett), Fort Brown (Merrill °).

Though the claim of this bird to Mexican citizenship has not been established, it can

hardly be doubted that it is to be found at least in the north-eastern parts of that country

and on the south as well as on the north of the Rio Grande, where alone it has been

met with up to the present time. Mr. Sennett, the discoverer of this species at Hidalgo

* In the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ (i. p. 207) the abdomen of P. inmsularis is stated to be wholly

white. This does not agree either with Mr. Lawrence’s description or with the typical specimen before us.

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Zool., Aves Vol. 1, August 1880. 16

122 MNIOTILTID.

in Texas, gives a full account of its habits as observed by him during two visits to its

haunts in the valley of the Rio Grande? 4. He describes it as a bird of the forest,

where it frequents the tops of the tallest trees, its presence being chiefly detected by its

song, which can be heard at a considerable distance, and is easily distinguished from

that of any other bird. Mr. Sennett only obtained one nest, which he describes as very

peculiar. It was placed in an orchid (? mistletoe) very common on the Rio Grande,

which grew at the end of a drooping branch of a brazil-tree some ten feet from the

ground. The nest was of simple construction, formed partly of the grey leaves of the

orchid, and thrust into its centre from the side; the bottom and sides of the nest were

lined with short cotton-like wood-fibres. Dr. Merrill also found a nest®; but this was

in a bunch of Spanish moss (Z%lJandsia) about eight feet from the ground. <An egg

obtained by Mr. Sennett he describes as very like that of P. americana, of a dull white

ground and spotted, chiefly in a zone near the larger end, with spots of lilac and brown.

b. Cauda tmmaculata.

5. Parula superciliosa. (Tab. VIII. fig. 2.)

Conirostrum superciliosum, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 2157.

Parula superciliosa, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 2997; 1859, p. 873°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 104;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 171°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545 °.

Parula mexicana, Bp. Consp. i. p. 8107 (ex Lichtenstein).

‘Compsothlypis mexicana, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 21°.

Supra olivaceo-viridis ; capite, genis, alis et cauda cinereis ; superciliis elongatis, macula suboculari et subalaribus

niveis; subtus lete flava, pectoris lateribus olivaceo tinctis; abdomine postico cinereo, medio cum crisso

albis ; macula pectorali lunata castanea ; rostro nigricante, mandibule basi pallida ; pedibus corylinis. Long.

tota 4:7, ale 2-5, caude 1°85, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico™® (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), Orizaba and Moyoapam (Sumichrast®), Tierra fria

(le Strange), Talea® and La Parada? (Boucard); Guaremaua!4, Quezaltenango,

Volcan de Fuego, ridge above Chuacus, Santa Barbara (O. 8S. & F. D. G.).

This beautiful species is restricted in its range to the mountainous parts of Southern

Mexico and Guatemala, and was first described from specimens sent from the latter

country. In Mexico Prof. Sumichrast says it is found in the forests of oaks and pines

at elevations of between 6000 and 8200 feet. In Guatemala we found it in similar

districts, but chiefly in the oak-forests, especially those of the Volcan de Fuego, where

it was common. In the hills surrounding the plain of Salama it was also not uncom.

monly met with, but at the lower elevation of between 3000 and 4000 feet. So far as

we could observe, P. superciliosa has quite the habits of other Mniotiltide. It frequents

the tree-tops, and searches branches and leaves diligently for insects. Of its breeding

nothing is as yet known.

PARULA.—DENDRECA. 123

6. Parula gutturalis. (Tab. VIII. fig. 3.)

Compsothlypis gutturalis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 329%.

Parula gutturalis, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 1722; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 93°; v. Frantzius,

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 292*; Salv. P.Z. S. 1870, p. 182°.

Supra cinerea, capitis lateribus paulo obscurioribus, dorso medio nigerrimo; subtus gula et pectore aureo-flavis,

ventre albido-cinereo, hypochondriis pure cinereis: rostro nigro, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4:8, ale 2°5,

caudee 1-9, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Ivazu (v. Frantzius14, J. Cooper, Rogers), Rancho

Redondo (J. Carmiol); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé 6).

This pretty species was first discovered in the volcano of Irazu by Dr. von Frantzius,

who sent to the Berlin Museum the single specimen which formed the type of

Dr. Cabanis’s description. This specimen seems to have been a female bird, or one in

immature plumage, as its describer speaks of the back being faintly spotted with black,

an indication only of the peculiar conspicuous black crescentic spot which is so marked

a feature in the adult bird.

The species does not appear to be at all a common one, its range being restricted to

the higher mountains of Costa Rica and the adjoining volcano of Chiriqui. Here it

probably seldom descends below an elevation of 6000 feet, the height at which Dr. von

Frantzius found it*. It has no near allies, but comes next, perhaps, to P. superciliosa of

Mexico and Guatemala.

Our figure is taken from a specimen in our collection from Chiriqui.

DENDRCCA.

Dendroica, G. R. Gray, List Gen. B. App. p. 8 (1842) (type Motacilla coronata, Linn.) ; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p, 215.

This genus contains more species than any other of the family, some six and twenty

being now included in it; of these, twenty-two are recognized inhabitants of the United

States, all but six of which pass the winter months within our border. In addition

to these we find two, D. vieillott: and D. decora, which probably reside throughout the

year, making a total of eighteen belonging to Central America and Mexico at one time

of the year or another.

The members of Dendreca vary much in colour, which, however, serves to group the

species into more or less natural sections. Some of the leading characters which are

used to define the genus as a whole are :—the more or less depressed bill, which is less

acute than in Helmintherus, Helminthophaga, and Parula, and notched near the tip.;

the rictal bristles are fairly developed; the middle toe is short as compared with the

tarsus ; the wings much longer than the tail, the first and second primaries being the

longest ; the tail is nearly even, and always blotched with yellow or white.

The groups into which the genus has been divided in the * History of North-American

16*

124 MNIOTILTIDA.

Birds’ rest on peculiarities of colour. ‘They seem fairly natural; and we adopt them

here.

A. Cauda macula magna flava in pogonio interno aut flavo late intus marginata.

1. Dendreca xstiva.

Motacilla estiva, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 996".

Rhimamphus estivus, Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 1417, 1857, p. 202°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 3264.

Dendreca estiva, Scl. P. Z. 8.1859, p. 363°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.11°; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 3477,

1870, p. 836 °, 1879, p. 494°; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p.191°°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y.

Vii. p. 822", viii. pp. 174°, 179”, ix. pp. 94, 200"; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 269";

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 15; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 195; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867,

p-. 186%, 1870, p. 183”; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547"; v. Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 293”; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 222%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i.

p. 252,

¢ flava, dorso viridescente, gastro toto castaneo striato ; alis et cauda fuscis, extus et intus flavo limbatis ; rostro

plumbeo, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2°5, caude 1-9, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris

ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norrn America generally ?3.\—Mextco, Mazatlan (Grayson 1°), Colima (Xantus 16),

Jalapa and San Andres Tuxtla (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca®), Orizaba (Sumi-

chrast 71), Merida, Yucatan (Schott !°), Barrio, Chihuitan, Guichicovi, and Santa

Efigenia (Swmichrast"); GuateMaLa®, Duefias, Retalhuleu, San Geronimo, Tactic,

Coban, Cahabon (0. S. & F. D. G.); San Satvapor, La Libertad (J. MM. Dow 38),

La Union (0. S.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. MM. Whitely®); Nicaragua, Greytown

(Holland 3); Costa Rica*, San José (v. Frantzius**, Carmiol 1+), Candelaria

Mountains (v. Prantzius**); Panama, David (Bridges, Hicks }*), Bugaba, Cordillera

del Chucu, Chitra, Calovevora, Calobre, and Santa Fé (Arcé °°), line of railway

(M‘Leannan''"), Turbo (W. S. Wood 1°).—CotomB1a®, Ecuapor, GUIANA, ‘TRINIDAD.

The Summer Warbler or Summer Yellow-bird, by which names this species is known

in North America, is one of the commonest of Mniotiltide, and in the summer season

spreads itself throughout the whole North-American continent, and breeds over an area

extending from the confines of the Arctic Ocean to the frontier of Mexico, and from the

Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans?3. During the winter months it passes southwards to

Mexico, Central America, and the whole of the northern portion of South America from

Guiana to Ecuador, and is one of the most abundant of its family in Guatemala and

elsewhere at this time of year, ranging from the sea-level to a height of 5000 or 6000

feet. D. westiva has not yet been detected in any of the West-India Islands (except

Trinidad), not even as a bird of passage, though many of these islands lie directly in the

path the birds of the Eastern States must take when flying to the northern part of

South America. We can only suppose that the presence in these islands of a number

DENDRG@CA. 125

of allied forms all related to D. petechia (Linn.) renders them undesirable as places of

abode to D. estiva during the winter months.

The habits of the species in North America are fully set forth by Brewer ?*; and the

vast number of references to its literature and synonymy are elaborated in Dr. Coues’s

recent work *4.

2. Dendreca vieilloti.

Dendreca vieilloti, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 1921; Salv. Ibis, 1864, p. 380 *, 1866, p. 192°;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 203*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. pp. 94°, 200°; Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. ii. p. 270"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 293°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am.

B. i. p. 217°.

Sylvicola vieilloti, Finsch, Abh. naturw. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870, p. 329”.

Rhimamphus ruficeps, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 826".

Dendroica rufigula, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 204".

Dendroica vieilloti, var. rufigula, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 217.

Dendroica vieilloti, var. bryanti, Ridgw. Am. Nat. vii. p. 606"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.

i. p. 218”.

D. estive similis, sed capite undique castaneo distinguenda. (Descr. exempli ex Tempate, Costa Rica. Mus.

nostr.)

' Hab. Muxtco, Mazatlan+!° and Guadalaxara’ (Grayson), Caucun, Yucatan (Dr. 8.

Cabot *), Sisal, Progreso and Celestin, Yucatan (Schott, Gawmer); Britisa Hon-

puras, Belize (Dr. Berendt, Mus. Bost. Soc. N. H.; Blancaneaux), Walf-moon Cay

(O. 8.23); Costa Rica (Dr. Ellendorf'"), San José (v. Frantzius*), Tempate, Gulf

of Nicoya (Arcé? 4); Panama1, Veraguas (Arcé).—NortHEern CoLomsia } 114,

This species has been divided into two or three varieties by American authors, the

Western-Mexican and Yucatan bird bearing the name “var. bryant,” the Costa-Rica

and Panama bird “var. rujigula,” the original name of vieilloti being restricted to the

bird of Northern Colombia. The bird is by no means a common one; and it has taken

us some years to get together sufficient specimens to enable us to form any opinion as to

the distinctness or otherwise of the races that have been set up. So far as we can see, the

views of Mr. Ridgway and Prof. Baird are borne out in the main; but some specimens we

have are so strictly intermediate in the characters compared that we are obliged to treat

our specimens as belonging to one somewhat variable species. According to Mr. Ridgway?

the strongly pronounced streaks on the flanks of the southern birds is one feature which

distinguishes them from their northern representatives; but of five adult birds in our

possession that which has fewest streaks is from Northern Yucatan; next comes one

from the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica; next a bird from the coast of Belize, and lastly

two birds from Veraguas. As regards the extension of the chestnut colour of the throat,

the Yucatan bird has the best-defined and most restricted mark ; then come the Nicoya

126 MNIOTILTID A.

and Belize birds (which hardly differ in this respect), and lastly the two Veraguan

specimens.

From this it will be seen that a case for the separate distribution of these birds cannot

well be made out; and as they do not occupy distinct areas, the differences pointed out

are not sufficiently stable to enable their bearers to be known by different names.

With but few exceptions D. vieilloti has hitherto been found'at no great distance

from the sea. Our own personal acquaintance with it is limited to two occasions :—

one, when we met with it on Half-moon Cay, one of the coral islands off the coast of

British Honduras; and the other on the outskirts of the port of Punta Arenas in Costa

Rica. In habits the bird much resembles D. estiva, and, indeed, is hardly to be distin-

guished from it when moving restlessly in search of its food.

The records of the occurrence of the species inland are by Grayson, who observed it

near Guadalaxara, in Mexico’, and by von Frantzius, who saw it in May near San José

in Costa Rica. |

D. vieilloti is no doubt the continental representative of the Antillean D. petechia,

which, under certain slight modifications, is found in so many of the West-Indian islands,

and even in the Galapagos archipelago ; but from all these forms it is distinguishable

by its throat being chestnut as well as the head. Its head quarters is undoubtedly

Central America, as it only just penetrates into the southern continent. An allied

species is found in Western Ecuador, which is not separable, so far as we can see, from

the Galapagos bird, D. awreola, or, for that matter, from the Jamaican D. petechia itself.

B. Cauda intus macula magna alba notata aut late albo marginata.

a. Ale conspicue albo notate ; remiges ad basin albi.

3. Dendreca cerulescens. ~

Motacilla cerulescens, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 960}.

Dendroica caerulescens, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 186°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 254°;

Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 64%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 241°.

Motacilla canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 836 (nec p. 334) °.

Dendreca canadensis, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 4787; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 205°.

Syvicola pannosa, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 162°.

Dendreca, sp. inc., Salv. & Sel. Ibis, 1860, p. 273».

d supra schistaceo-cerulea, alis eb cauda fusco-nigris ceruleo limbatis, speculo alari albo, cauda albo utrinque

notata; capitis lateribus, gula et hypochondriis nigerrimis ; abdomine medio niveo ; rostro nigro, pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2°6, caude 2, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex Washington,

U.S., Smiths. Inst. no. 28286. Mus. nostr.)

2 sordide fusca; alis et cauda concoloribus, subtus medialiter dilutior, speculo alari albido sicut in mare.

(Deser. feminse ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern States of Norta America from Canada southwards 3°, Texas 7.—GUarTE-

MALA, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.8 ©) —Greatrer ANTILLES, Cuba‘, Jamaica 9, &c.

DENDRECA. 127

Though a common bird during the winter season in the West Indies, D. cerulescens

has but a slender claim to a place in the Central-American fauna. The only example

from that country that ever came under our notice was killed, in November 1859, near

Coban, and is still in our collection, This bird, a female, was at first supposed to be

probably the same as Sylvicola pannosa © of Jamaica; but it was afterwards § called

D. canadensis, both of which names are now known to apply to D. cwrulescens. The

record of the capture of this Central-American specimen has been overlooked by the

careful compilers of the literature relating to this species °°, all of whom state that the

bird is not known in Mexico or Central America.

A full account of D. cerulescens in its summer quarters is given by Brewer ?; and

Dr. Coues has brought together its synonymy and the references to its literature with

his usual care °.

b. Ale conspicue albo notate ; remiges unicolores ; uropygium flavum.

al. Vertex flavus.

“a

4. Dendreca coronata.

Motacilla coronata, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 333 '.

Sylvia coronata, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vig. p. 2; cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57°.

Rhimamphus coronatus, Scl. P.Z. 8. 1856, p. 291°.

Dendreca coronata, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 363; Scl. & Salv. This, 1859, p. 11°; P.Z.S. 1864,

p. 347 °, 1870, p. 8367; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 187°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 6°,

ix. p. 94"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p-151'; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 547"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 293 }3; Duges, La Nat. i. p. 1404; Baird, Brew.

& Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 227%; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 65*"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 278 7,

Supra ceruleo-cinerea, capitis lateribus nigris, superciliis albis, dorso nigro striato ; vertice, pectoris lateribus et

uropygio lite flavis ; subtus alba, pectore et hypochondriis nigro dense striatis ; alis albo bifasciatis; cauda

albo utrinque maculata ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5, alee 3, caudse 2-4, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi

0-75. (Descr. exempli ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis, sed corpore supra fuscescente nec cinereo et coloribus magis indistinctis distinguenda. (Descr.

exempli ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortn America, chiefly in the Eastern province, but in the north across the conti-

nent to the Pacific ¥ 1.—Mzxtco, Guanajuato (Dugés 4), Cordova (Sallé *), Mirador

(Sartorius *), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Swmichrast 2), Alvarado and Temascal-

tepec (Deppe *, Mus. Berol.), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast 11); Britisy

Honpvuras, Belize (Blancaneaur) ; GuaTeMALA, Escuintla, Duefias, San Gerdnimo,

Coban, Cahabon (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. I. Whitely*) ;

Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 3), Angostura (Carmiol ); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui

(Arcé), line of railway (I‘Leannan 6°).—AntiuLes, Cuba 16, Jamaica 8, &e.

Dendreca coronata is a common bird during the autumn and winter months throughout

128 MNIOTILTIDA.

Mexico and Central America, its southern migration extending to the Isthmus of

Panama, but not beyond it, as hitherto we have not met with any instance of its

occurrence on the mainland of South America. In many of the West-Indian Islands

too it is common at this season; and it also reaches Bermuda. In Mexico its presence

has not been noticed on the west coast until we come to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec;

but on the east side it is abundant, occurring everywhere, according to Prof. Sumichrast,

in the neighbourhood of Orizaba *. In Guatemala we also found it in all parts of the

country up to an elevation of 5000 or 6000 feet. It frequents the more open districts,

where scattered bushes grow, rather than the denser underwood. A bird in summer

dress is rarely met with in Central America; and the same may be said of Cuba, where

Dr. Gundlach says that the birds begin to moult just before leaving for the north, and

that he has never obtained a fully moulted bird in the island. In Jamaica, however,

it has been stated, on the good authority of the late Mr. March, that it occasionally

breeds ; and skins and eggs of it were once sent to the Smithsonian Institution by that

gentleman ®.

The United States also afford winter quarters to D. coronata. ‘Thence it migrates

northwards to breed, and passes this season in the high north, a few pairs remaining in

northern New England and Nova Scotia. Of its nesting-habits not much is known.

Brewer describes a nest from Nova Scotia, which was taken from a horizontal branch of

a tree, as composed of fine stalks of grass, slender twigs, and roots, the latter forming

the rim; the lining was of soft grasses, downy feathers, and fine hair. Nests taken by

M‘Farlane on the Anderson River were generally built in low spruce-firs or on the

eround. The eggs are white, sometimes with a bluish shade, and blotched and spotted

with several shades of brown, reddish brown, and purple.

A very full account of the nomenclature of this bird will be found in Dr. Coues’s

work 1,

5. Dendreca auduboni.

Sylvia auduboni, Towns. Journ. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 191°.

Dendreca auduboni, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 298°, 1860, p. 250°, 1864, p. 172°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1860, p. 273°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1. p. 188°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 5477; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 269°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p. 229°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p-. 271”.

Similis D. coronate, sed gula flava, plaga alba alarum magna, capitis lateribus cinereis nec nigtis, maculis cilia-

ribus nec superciliis albis distinguenda. (Descr. exempli ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ° }°—Mexico, Mazatlan

(Bischoff'*), Tepic (Grayson®), Tonila and Jalisco (Xantus®), valley of Mexico

(White*), Tierra fria (le Strange), Orizaba (Sallé*), Tecamaluca near Orizaba

(Sumichrast "), Oaxaca (Deppe, Mus. Ber.), La Parada (Loucard 7); GUATEMALA,

ridge above Totonicapam and San Gerdnimo® (0. S.).

DENDRGCA. 129

Like D. coronata, this species visits Mexico and Central America in winter, but,

being a western bird, occupies a rather different area during that season. As in similar

cases the western form hangs more strictly to the Pacific side of Mexico, and does not

migrate nearly so far south as its eastern congener. Not uncommon in collections from

Southern Mexico, D. auduboni hardly penetrates beyond that district ; for we only twice

met with it in Guatemala:—once in November in company with D. coronata at San

Gerénimo, 3000 feet above the sea, where both species were feeding on the ground

together; the second time in February, when a solitary bird was shot in an open

glade of the pine-forest which clothes the mountains above Totonicapam, 10,000 feet

above the sea. Both these birds are in winter dress; but birds in summer plumage

occur in Mexico’. In the north Andubon’s Warbler is well known throughout the

Rocky Mountains; and there seems good reason to believe that it breeds in most of the

higher ranges from Arizona to British Columbia. A nest taken in Vancouver's Island

by the late Mr. Hepburn is described? as built outwardly of coarse strips of bark, long

leaves of dry grass, and stalks of plants mingled with finer grasses, pieces of cotton

cloth and other materials, and inwardly of fine grasses, feathers, lichens, mosses, fine

roots, &c. all felted together and lined with fur and feathers. The eggs are pure white,

spotted chiefly at the larger end with red markings. |

Dr. Coues’s account of this species is very full, both as to synonymy and as to the

range and habits of the bird.

b!. Vertex haud flavo notatus.

6. Dendroeca maculosa. a

Motacilla maculosa, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 984".

Sylvicola maculosa, Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. vii. p. 110°.

Dendreca maculosa, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 11°; 1864, p. 347"; Scl. P. Z. 8.1859, pp. 363°, 374°;

1862, p. 19"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 3228; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16°;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 206"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 282"; Gundl. Orn.

Cub. p. 66"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 290”.

Capitis lateribus, dorso, tectricibus supracaudalibus et cauda nigerrimis; superciliis, plaga alari magna et

maculis caude utrinque albis; capite summo et alarum marginibus cinereis; uropygio et corpore subtus

flavis, pectore et hypochondriis maculis nigris magnis notatis ; crisso albo; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long.

tota 4°7, alee 2°5, caude 2, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°7. (Deser. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Eastern Province! 1°—Mexico, Jalapa (de Oca*), Playa.

Vicente (Boucard®), Cosamaloapam (Boucard’), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec

(Sumichrast®), Izalam, Yucatan (Gaumer); British Honpuras, Belize (Llancaneauz);

GUATEMALA 3, Retalhuleu, Duefias, Coban, Choctum (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Panama,

Lion Hill (1/‘Leannan**).—Cusa ? ; Banama IsLanps?.

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Zool., Aves, Vol. 1, February 1881. | ly

130 MNIOTILTID 2.

The distribution of this species in winter in Central America is peculiar. It has been

found in the southern provinces of Mexico, Vera Cruz, Oaxaca, and Tehuantepec, and

immediately to the southward over a wide district of Guatemala, extending across the

country ; but beyond this we lose all trace of it until we come to the State of Panama,

where it occurs not unfrequently on the line of the Panama railway. This is its most

southern limit. In Cuba it is of rare occurrence, appearing sometimes in the month of

April on its passage northwards!*. It also occurs in the Bahamas?, but not in any

other of the West-India Islands.

In summer it spreads over the Eastern States northwards to Labrador, Hudson’s Bay,

Great Slave Lake, &c., and westwards to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, breeding in

the New England States and northwards !°,

Its song is described as clear and sweetly modulated, surpassing in quality those of

most of the family. It frequents low woods, searching for its food amongst the

branches and running up and down the trunks of trees in pursuit of insects and their

larve. It also catches insects on the wing, and takes them from open flowers. The

nest is usually placed in a fir tree a few feet from the ground; it is described as a rather

loose shallow structure, made almost entirely of slender grasses, fine stems of plants,

a little moss or spruce-twigs, and lined with fine black roots of herbaceous plants. The

eges are cream-colour or ashy white, sparingly spotted with lilac and umber !1.

Full references are given by Dr. Coues ¥.

c. Uropygium haud flavum.

14 ce. Gula alba.

7. Dendreca cerulea.

Sylvia cerulea, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 141, t. 17. f. 5°; Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2° (cf. J. f.

Orn. 18638, p. 57).

Dendreca cerulea, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 822°; ix. p. 200°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 191°;

Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 847°; 1870, p.836"; 1879, pp. 494°, 594°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870,

p. 183”; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 285 “; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 65” ; Coues, B.

Col. Vall. i. p. 267"; Tacz. P. Z. S. 1874, p. 508; Allen, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 25”.

Cerulea, dorso medio et verticis lateribus indistincte nigro striatis; alis albo bifasciatis; cauda utrinque albo

notata; subtus pure alba, hypochondriis nigro striatis; rostro nigricante; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota

4-4, ale 2°5, caude 1:7, rostri a rictu 0:5, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern North America, to the Rocky Mountains, Canada! 1°.—Muxuxico

(Deppe*), Merida, Yucatan (Schoté*); GuaTema.a (Mus. G. V. Lawrence®), Coban

(fide Verreaua®); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely’); Costa Rica, Irazu

(Rogers); Panama, Calovevora (Arcé?°), Lion Hill (J/‘Leannan * °).—CoLomsia§ ;

Ecuapor; Peru *; Bourvia®; Cuba.

With the exception of Yucatan, where D. cwrulea appears to be a regular winter

visitant, this species can hardly be said to touch Mexico in its southern migration, the only

DENDRECA. 131

record of its appearance in that country being Lichtenstein’s, on the authority of Deppe’s

specimens captured some fifty years ago. In Guatemala we never met with it; and

the only notices we have of its occurrence in that country are those given by Prof. Baird

in his ‘ Review of American Birds’>. Though obtained at San Pedro, in Honduras, by

Whitely, this place would appear to be still out of the usual line of its winter migration ;

for it has hardly been noticed in either Nicaragua or Costa Rica, and it is only in the

State of Panama that we find it in any numbers. Here it would appear to be not

uncommon. In the southern continent its range is very wide, and skins of it may not

unfrequently be seen in collections made as far south as Bolivia. In Cuba its appearance

is casual and chiefly confined to the north coast *. The line of migration of D. cerulea

seems to pass almost directly from the United States to Panama, a few individuals being

tempted to the promontory of Yucatan and to a few points on the east coast of

Central America. Striking the southern continent in the State of Panama the migrants

disperse, spreading over the countries lying between Colombia and Bolivia.

In the north it has a rather wide range, being most abundant in the Mississippi

valley ; thence it spreads to the Rocky Mountains, to the Atlantic States, though in small

numbers, and northwards to Canada west !°.

The species does not appear to be well known to American ornithologists generally ;

and Brewer’, in compiling his account of the bird, quotes no later authority than

Audubon when describing its nesting-habits and its eggs. According to this writer, the

nest is placed in the fork of a low tree, and is composed of fibres and stalks with slender

roots intermingled, and lined with fine dry fibres of Spanish moss (T7i/landsia). The

eggs, five in number, are pure white, with a few reddish spots at the larger end. More

recently Mr, Allen!® has been enabled to describe the nest and eggs of this species;

and his account differs somewhat from Audubon’s, the eggs being creamy white, thickly

covered with blotches of reddish brown.

8. Dendreeca pennsylvanica.

Motacilla pennsylvanica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 833}.

Dendreca pennsylvanica, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 273°; P. Z.S. 1864, p. 347°; 1870, p. 836‘;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vil. p. 822’, ix. pp. 94°, 2007; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p.191°; Salyv.

P. Z.S. 1867, p. 186°; 1870, p. 182”; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 293"; Baird, Brew.

& Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 245”; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 244; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol.

Surv. v. p. 387“.

Motacilla icterocephala, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 384”.

Sylvicola icterocephala, Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. vii. p. 110°.

Dendreca icterocephala, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 3637", 374°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 328 19.

Supra nigra, dorsi plumis, alis et cauda flavescenti-cinereo limbatis ; capite summo lete flavo ; loris, superciliis

et genis anticis nigris; regione parotica, cervicis lateribus et corpore toto subtus albis, hypochondriis lete

castaneis ; alis flavido-albo bifasciatis; rectricibus externis utrinque tribus intus plaga alba gradatim latius

notatis ; rostro nigro; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4°5, ale 2°6, caudee 2°0, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°65.

(Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

@ supra lete olivacea fere immaculata, subtus alba genis cinereis. (Descr. femine ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

17*

132 MNIOTILTID ZA.

Hab. Nortu America, Eastern States 1°, Texas 1*.—Mexico, Jalapa (de Oca"), Playa

Vicente (Boucard 18), Merida, Yucatan (Schott"); Guatemaua (Delattre!), Duefias,

Coban 2, Choctum, Telemans (0. 8S. &@ F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. WM.

Whitely*); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius™), Grecia and Barranca (Carmiol °),

Angostura (Carmiol); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Chitra, Calovevora (Arcé !),

Santa Fé (Arcé®), Lion Hill (AZ Leannan ° *).—Banama Isianps 1,

Very little is known of Dendreca pennsylvanica in Mexico; for though both de Oca

and Boucard found it in the State of Vera Cruz 1" 18, Prof. Sumichrast omits to mention

it, nor do we find its name included in the lists of the birds of Western Mexico. In

Guatemala it is not a common species in the winter months, though we found it dis-

persed over a wide area; but in Costa Rica and the adjoining State of Panama it is

abundant, judging from the number of specimens that have been sent us from there.

Here a large proportion of the emigrants from the north must pass the winter; and in

seeking these countries from the Eastern States they omit to stop on any of the West-India

Islands on their route, with the exception of the Bahamas, where Bryant found this

bird 16, The line of the Panama railway seems to be the limit of its wanderings, as we

have no record of its passing into the southern continent.

In the north its range extends almost exclusively to the Eastern States and Canada ®,

and it breeds abundantly in New England !*. Its nest is described as being constructed

of strips of red-cedar bark, well lined with coarse hair, and placed in the fork of a

low bush four or five feet from the ground. ‘The eggs are white, blotched and dotted

over the entire surface with profuse markings of lavender and dark purple intermixed

with lighter spots of reddish brown }.

For full references to the literature of the species Dr. Coues’s work had best be

consulted 8.

9, Dendreca castanea.

Sylvia castanea, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 97, t. 14. £41.

Dendreca castanea, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 11°; P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 347°; 1879, p. 494°; Cassin,

Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 193°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 822°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 15"; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 189°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 322°; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 251°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 2431.

Supra dorso medio nigro, plumis singulis pallido badio limbatis; uropygio cinereo, tectricibus supracaudalibus

in medio nigris ; capite summo, gula tota et hypochondriis lete badiis ; fronte et capitis lateribus nigris ;

alis et cauda fusco-nigris, cinereo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis, hac in pogonio rectricum duarum externarum

interne plaga alba notata ; subtus abdomine medio albo vix badio tincto; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis.

Long. tota 4°6, alee 3, caudze 2:2, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Veraguas in Statu Pana-

mensi. Mus. nostr.)

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Eastern Province, north to Hudson’s Bay !°4.— Mexico, Tehuan-

DENDRECA. 133

tepec city (Sumichrast™); Guatemata (Skinner *); Panama, line of railway

(M‘Leannan ? °), Chepo (Arcé), Turbo, Truando (A. Schott ® §).—CoLomsra 4 ®.

Of the Bay-breasted Warbler little is known in either Mexico or Central America

except in the Colombian State of Panama, where it would appear to be not uncommon

during the winter months. In Mexico the sole record of its occurrence is Professor

Sumichrast’s’; and in Guatemala it is equally rare; for though we were able to include

it in the list of the birds of that country *, we have never since seen a single specimen

from there amongst the thousands of bird-skins we have examined. In Costa Rica it

has not yet been detected at all. In its migration to and from its winter quarters,

D. castanea, like several of its congeners of the Eastern States, passes the West Indies

without stopping, barely touches Mexico or Guatemala, but makes straight for the

Isthmus of Panama and the north-western parts of South America. In the latter

district it isnot uncommon; and Messrs. Wyatt and Salmon both met with it, the former

at Naranjo, in the Magdalena valley, and the latter at Remedios, in the adjoining Cauca

valley.

For its summer quarters D. castanea makes for Northern New England, and thence

spreads to the shores of Hudson’s Bay“, in which district it breeds. Southward of this

it is known as a bird of passage as far west as the great plains.

The nest is described by Brewer” as large for the size of the bird, and composed

outwardly of fine twigs mingled with long hanging mosses; the lining neatly and

smoothly made of black fibrous roots, seed-stalks of mosses, and a few hairs. The eggs

he describes as bluish green, thickly spotted with brown, and generally with a ring of

confluent blotches of brown and lilac round the larger end.

d’. Gula flava aut aurantiaca.

10. Dendreca blackburniz.

Motacilla blackburnie, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 977".

Rhimamphus blackburnia, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 143°; 1858, p. 64°.

Dendreca blackburnia, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 863 *; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.11°; Cab. J. f. Orn.

1860, p. 828°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 4687, ix. p. 94°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4.

p. 15°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p.189"; Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 186; 1870, p. 183; Ibis,

1872, p. 314°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn.

1869, p. 293"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 237%; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus.

i. p. 123'7; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 284°; Tacz. P.Z. S. 1874, p. 508”.

Sylvicola blackburnie, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434”; Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. vii.

p. 110”.

Supra nigra, uropygii plumis fusco vix limbatis; alis et cauda fusco-nigris cinereo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis,

hujus rectricibus tribus externis intus plaga alba gradatim latius notatis ; capite summo, superciliis, macula

suboculari et gutture toto lete aurantiacis; loris et genis nigerrimis, abdomine et crisso albis; hypochondriis

134 MNIOTILTIDA.

nigro striatis; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:6, alee 2°6, caudee 1°8, rostri a rictu 0°55,

tarsi 0-65. (Descr. maris ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra nigra olivaceo striata, coloribus sicut in mare distributis sed colore aurantiaco multo flavidiore et plumis

nigris undique flavescenti-olivaceo limbatis. (Descr. femine ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America, Eastern States 1°, westward to Utah and New Mexico 18, Texas 2”.

—Mexico, Vera Cruz (Bullock?°), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast '4),

Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast®); GuatemaLta’, Duefias, Coban, and Choctum

(O. S. & F. D. G.); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt 1°); Costa Rica ® San José,

Atirro, and Barranca (v. Frantzius , Carmiol®); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui,

Cordillera del Chucu, Chitra, Calovevora, Calobre (Arcé 17), Santa Fé (Arcé™), line

of railway (1‘Leannan *).—Cotompia 2; Ecuapor?; Psru!®; Banama IsLanps 2},

Though the Blackburnian Warbler has been traced to Utah and even to New Mexico

during its spring migration !*, it cannot be considered otherwise than an eastern bird

during its summer residence in the North-American continent. Its northward range

extends to the British provinces, and even to Greenland. In passing south in its autumn

migration it takes a rather peculiar line, missing the West Indies entirely, with the

exception of the Bahama Islands. In Mexico it is only known in the southern provinces,

and only on the Pacific side of that country in the vicinity of Tehuantepec®. In Guate-

mala and elsewhere in Central America it is generally distributed and common throughout

the winter months; and it appears to be equally abundant in the north-western portions

of South America as far as the central provinces of Peru!®. In Guatemala its range

in altitude is considerable, extending from 1000 to 5000 or 6000 feet. In Colombia,

according Mr. Wyatt, who observed it in the Magdalena valley, it keeps to the oak-

forests below the Paramo, seldom descending to a lower elevation than 5000 feet 1%. It

is frequently represented in Bogota collections.

Though Dr. Coues speaks of this bird as a well-known and abundant species in the

United States 18, the account of it given by Brewer ® is chiefly compiled from the

observations of Audubon and his contemporaries. He also describes the nest and eggs,

but admits that their authenticity is not free from doubt.

Though D. blackburnie can always be readily distinguished from any other of its

family, the variation of the plumage, due to season, sex, and age, is considerable. Full-

plumaged males are more often obtained in the winter at the southern end of its range

than in Mexico or Guatemala, where immature or winter-plumage birds prevail.

11. Dendreca dominica,”

Motacilla dominica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 3847.

Dendreca dominica, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 209?; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 200°; Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. it. p. 270*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547°; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 240°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 677; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p, 247°.

Dendreca dominica, var. albilora, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16°.

Motacilla superciliosa, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 43°.

DENDRGCA. 135

Dendreeca superciliosa, Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, pp. 8363", 374°; 1862, p. 868; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860,

p. 274"; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 478”.

Motacilla flavicollis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 959*°.

Sylvia flavicolls, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 43477.

Motacilla pensilis, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 960”.

Sylvicola pensilis, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 156”; Sallé, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 231”.

Rhimamphus pensilis, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 291”.

Dendreca pensilis, Scl. P.Z. 8S. 1858, p. 295 ”.

Supra cinerea, alis et cauda fusco-nigris cinereo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis, hujus rectricibus tribus utrinque

externis plaga alba gradatim latius notatis; pileo, capitis et cervicis lateribus nigris, plumis ad nucham cinereo

limbatis ; gutture toto lete flavo; superciliis (interdum flavo tinctis), macula suboculari et abdomine toto

albis, hypochondriis nigro striatis; rostro et pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2°5, caudee 1:9,

rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex Totonicapam, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Eastern States ° §, Texas *.—Muxico (Sallé?1), Tepic (Grayson *),

Colima (Xantus?+4), Coahuayana (Xantus*), Tamaulipas (Couch®), Vera Cruz

(Bullock “), Jalapa (de Oca1!), Orizaba (Sumichrast*), Oaxaca (Boucard '),

Gineta Mountains, Chiapas (Sumichrast °), Merida, Yucatan (Schott *), Valladolid,

Yucatan (Gaumer); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GUATEMALA,

Totonicapam, Duefias , Choctum (0. S. & Ff. D. G.).—AntitiEs, Cuba’, San

Domingo !8 2°, Jamaica! ¥, &c.

My. Ridgway, in the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ ®, divided Dendreca dominica

into two races, distinguishable by the colour of the lores, the bird of the Atlantic States

and the Greater Antilles having the lores yellow, that of the middle region of North

America, Mexico, Yucatan, and Guatemala having the same part white. The difference

at most is very slight; and its value is further diminished by the fact of Guatemalan

specimens having a slight yellowish tinge on the lores, breaking down the chief point

of distinction between Mr. Ridgway’s races.

The limit of the southern migration of D. dominica, so far as is at present known, is

Guatemala, where, however, it is a common bird during the winter, and is found at

various elevations between 1200 feet and 9000 or 10,000 feet. It does not, so far as

we know, stop in the country during the whole year, as has been stated to be the case

with the Jamaican bird®. But it arrives early, and abounds near Duefias from the

middle of August till the following spring.

In its summer quarters this species spreads over the whole of the Eastern States as

far north as Washington and New York, the race with white lores extending further

west to the Mississippi region up to Lake Erie. It doubtless breeds throughout this

district ; but its nesting-habits seem but imperfectly known, the accounts of Nuttall

and Audubon, as given by Brewer %, not agreeing as to its mode of nidification, and

more recent information being very scanty on this subject.

The references, however, to the literature of the species are very numerous, occupying

a closely-printed page and a half of Dr. Coues’s work °.

136 MNIOTILTID A.

12. Dendreeca decora. (Tab. X. fig. 1.)

Dendreca gracie, var. decora, Ridgw. Am. Nat. vi. p. 608’; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p- 2407; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 292°.

Dendreca gracie, Salv. Ibis, 1873, p. 428°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16°.

Dendreca decora, Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 92°.

Supra cinerea, pilei antici plumis in medio nigris; alis et cauda fusco-nigris cinereo limbatis, illis vix pallide

cinereo bifasciatis, hujus rectricibus tribus utrinque externis plaga alba gradatim latius notatis; superciliis a

naribus, ciliis ipsis, macula suboculari et gutture toto lete flavis; corpore reliquo lactescenti-albo, hypo-

chondriis cinerascentibus vix nigro striatis; rostro nigricante, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4, ale 2:2,

caude 1°8, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. exempl. ex Guatemala. Mus. Acad. Cantabr.)

Hab. Mexico, near Zapotitlan (Sumichrast >); British Honpuras, Belize (C. Wood !*),

GuaTEMALA (Constancia ®, Mus. Soc. Econ.*).

Dendreca decora is a near ally of D. graciw, a species of New Mexico and Arizona

discovered some years ago by Dr. Coues. The differences observable between the two

birds are slight, and have been treated by American ornithologists as indicating that

their possessors are varieties only one of another and not distinct species. This may

prove to be the case ; but at present no intermediate links have been discovered blending

the two races, nor do we think it very probable that such now exist ; and for this reason

we prefer to treat D. decora as distinct.

Though D. gracie has been fully described by the eloquent pen of Dr. Coues 3, nothing

is known of its relative beyond the bare record of the capture of specimens. Its presence

in Central America was first noticed by Mr. Ridgway, who described Belize specimens

obtained by Mr. C. Wood!. About the same time we discovered a stuffed specimen in

the Museum of the Sociedad Economica de Guatemala‘. But long before (in 1848)

these notes were published, the late Sefor J. Constancia had sent to Strickland a

specimen from Guatemala, which is still in his collection at Cambridge, and is the bird

from which our figure has been drawn.

e. Gula nigra aut nigro niata.

13. Dendreca nigrescens.

Sylvia nigrescens, Towns. Journ. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 191°.

Sylvicola nigrescens, Bp. Consp. i. p. 808°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 141°.

Dendreca nigrescens, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 298*; 1859, p. 374°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 186°;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p.547"; Baird, Brew. & Ridg. N. Am. B. i. p. 258°;

Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 263°.

Supra cinerea, interscapulii et uropygii plumis in medio nigris, capite cum gula nigris; loris flavis, super-

ciliis posticis, stria utrinque gule et abdomine medio albis, hypochondriis nigro striatis; alis et cauda

nigricantibus cinereo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis, hujus rectricibus utrinque tribus externis parte apicali

DENDRECA. 137

gradatim latius albis; rostro et pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota 4:8, ale 2°5, caude 2°2, rostri a

rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Parada, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis, sed coloribus magis fuscescentibus gula quoque alba distinguenda. (Descr. exempl. ex

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Rocky Mountains to the Pacific—Muxtco, Guanajuato (Dugeés 3),

Tierra fria (le Strange), Orizaba (Sumichrast®), Real Ariba (Deppe, Mus. Berol.),

La Parada (Boucard *), Oaxaca (Boucard*®, Fenochio).

This species of western North America spreads southwards in winter over Central

Mexico as far as the State of Oaxaca, beyond which it has not yet been noticed. It

would seem to be restricted to the higher districts, specimens occurring in collections

from the tablelands of Mexico and the higher mountain-ranges of Oaxaca up to 10,000

feet; but in Orizaba it is rare, according to Prof. Sumichrast; and it was not included

in any of M. Sallé’s earlier collections, nor yet in those of de Oca.

The first specimens of D. nigrescens that reached Europe were doubtless those

(still in the Berlin Museum) obtained at Real Ariba in Mexico by Deppe. But the

first description of it was by Townsend 1, who found the species some years afterwards

in the forests of the Columbia river, where it was abundant. Since then it has been

observed in California and the Rocky Mountains by many collectors, and was redis-

covered in Mexico by M. Boucard in 1858.

It probably breeds in the Rocky Mountains from Arizona northwards to the limits

of its range. Nuttall describes its nest as made of fibrous green moss, and as suspended

between two small twigs in the upper branches of an oak ?.

Dr. Coues gives a good epitome of the habits of D. nigrescens, drawn partly from his

own observations of it at Fort Whipple, Arizona °.

14. Dendreca virens. c

Motacilla virens, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 985°.

Sylvia virens, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2° (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57).

Rhimamphus virens, Scl. P. Z.8. 1856, p. 291°.

Dendreca virens, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.11*; P.Z.S. 1864, p. 347°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 363 °,.

373"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vil. p. 293°, ix. p. 94°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 15%;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 182"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 546°; v. Frantzius,

J.f. Orn. 1869, p. 293"; Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 182"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.-Am. B. i.

p- 261”; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 64"; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 124; Coues, B. Col.

Vall. i. p. 240%; Newton, P. Z.S. 1879, p. 552”.

Supra olivacea, maculis celatis nigris notata, capitis lateribus late flavis, stria per oculos ducta dorso concolori,

gula tota cum pectoris lateribus nigris, hypochondriis nigro striatis, corporis subtus reliquo albo; alis et

cauda nigris cinereo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis, hujus rectricibus tribus externis pro majore parte albo

eradatim latius notatis ; rostro et pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota 4:4, ale 2°5, caude 2-0, rostri a

rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. 1, February 1881. 18

138 MNIOTILTID.

Hab. Nortn America, Eastern Province 18, Canada, Texas!”.—Mexico (Sallé3),

Lagunas, Alvarado, and Cuernavaca (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), State of Vera Cruz

(Sumichrast ), Jalapa (de Oca®), Talea and Playa Vicente (Boucard"), Mira-

dor (Sartorius1!), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast 1°); Guaremana,

Duefias+, San Gerénimo, Tactic, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica, Grecia,

Barranca, and Rancho Redondo (Carmiol®), Candelaria Mountains (v. Frantzius'*) ;

Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé'+), Lion Hill (M/‘Leannan® §).—Cvsa?®;

JAMAICA 19,

In Guatemala Dendreca virens is one of the commonest species of Mniotiltide during

the winter months, but is more abundant in Vera Paz and on the eastern side of the

country than about Duefas, where its place is to some extent, though not entirely, taken

by D. townsendi. It frequents, like the rest of its family, the second-growth woods, and

may always be found during the period of its stay in the outskirts of plantations, its

only note during this season being a sharp call. In Mexico it would appear to be

equally abundant in winter, as all cellectors seem to have met with it, and Prof. Sumi-

chrast speaks of it as found everywhere in the State of Vera Cruz. On the Pacific side

of the country it only appears in the neighbourhood of Tehuantepec. In Costa Rica

it is also common in winter, but in the State of Panama perhaps less so, though several

specimens have been sent us from the line of railway. In Cuba it is rare, Dr.

Gundlach having seen it but few times!®, In Jamaica it was unknown until quite

recently, when Mr. E. Newton discovered it in the island and sent home several

specimens !,

In North America D. virens is essentially a bird of the Eastern Province, extending

westwards to the edge of the plains and northwards to the temperate portions cf the

British possessions. Beyond these limits it has been known to stray to Greenland, and

even to Heligoland 18! It breeds in the northern portion of its range and in the New-

England States. The nest is described by Brewer ! as a small, snug, compact structure

built on a base of fine strips of bark, bits of leaves, and stems of plants; the lining

consists of fine down and silky stems of plants. The eggs have a white or purplish-

white ground, and are blotched and dotted with markings of reddish and purplish

brown diffused over the whole surface, but especially at the larger end.

15. Dendreeca occidentalis.

Sylvia occidentalis, Towns. Journ. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 190°.

Dendreca occidentalis, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 1837; Scl. Ibis, 1865, p- 89°; Salv. Ibis, 1866,

p. 191°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546°; Baird, Brew. & Ridg. N.-Am. B.

1. p. 266°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 2587.

Dendreca chrysoparia, Scl. P. Z.S. 1862, p. 19° (nec Scl. & Salv.).

Dendreca niveiventris, Salv. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 187, t. 24. f. 2°.

DENDRG&CA. 139

Supra nigra, dorsi plumis cinereo limbatis, uropygio fere pure cinereo ; pileo antico flavo, plumis nigro termi-

natis ; fronte et capitis lateribus lete flavis ; alis et cauda nigris, extus cinereo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis,

hujus rectricibus tribus utrinque externis albo pro majore parte notatis ; subtus gula nigra, corporis reliquo

cum hypochondriis pure albis; rostro et pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota 4:9, alee 2°7, caudex 2:2, rostri

a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. maris ex San Gerénimo, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari similis, sed supra magis cinerascens, gula nigra absente. (Descr. femine ex Volcan de Fuego, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Rocky Mountains to Pacific Ocean from the Columbia river

southwards ° ’.—Muxico, Moyoapam (Sumichrast °), La Parada (Boucard ®); Guatn-

MALA, Volcan de Fuego, San Gerdnimo, Alotepeque (0. 8S. & F. D. G.+°).

So little was known of this species in 1862 and 1863 that specimens that then came

into our possession were in one case referred to a different species® and in another

described as new ®, errors which were soon afterwards corrected 3, and Mexican and

Guatemalan examples referred to the bird discovered by Nuttall and Townsend on the

banks of the Columbia river in 1835. Since then D. occidentalis has been found in many

parts of the Rocky Mountains and in Arizona’. In Mexico its range seems quite

confined to the higher districts, Professor Sumichrast having obtained it at an eleva-

tion of 8200 feet above the sea. In Guatemala, though it was perhaps most abundant

in the belt of pine trees of the Volcan de Fuego which covers the mountain above

10,000 feet, we nevertheless found it at much lower elevations, having shot specimens

in the hills surrounding the plain of Salama about 3500 feet above the sea, and near

the mines of Alotepeque at a similar elevation. The bird is always found in the pine-

forests ; but the trees being of moderate height, specimens were not difficult to obtain.

Its habits are similar to those of D. virens; and throughout the day it searches restlessly

for food in the outer branches of the trees.

Of its breeding nothing has as yet been recorded. In Guatemala and Mexico it is

doubtless only a winter visitant ; and in the southern part of its range in North America

it has only been observed on passage ; but, as Dr. Coues remarks’, it may yet be found

to build in the higher pine-belts of the Colorado watershed. The northern part of

its range is its summer quarters; and here it no doubt breeds.

16. Dendreca chrysoparia.

Dendreca chrysoparia, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1860, p. 298'; Ibis, 1860, p. 273°; Scl. Ibis, 1865,

p. 89°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 477"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p.183°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw.

N. Am. B. i. p. 260°; Salv. in Rowley’s Orn. Mise. ii. p. 181. t. 237; Purdie, Bull. Nutt.

Orn. Club, iv. p. 60°; Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 77’.

Supra nigra, dorsi plumis aureo limbatis ; capitis lateribus late flavis, stria per oculos ducta nigra; alis et cauda

nigricantibus, illis albo bifasciatis, hujus rectricibus tribus utrinque externis albo pro majore parte notatis ;

subtus gutture toto cum pectoris lateribus nigris, hypochondriis nigro striatis; rostro et pedibus nigricanti-

corneis. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2:5, caude 2:2, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex Tactic, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.).

Obs. D. virenti affinis, dorso nigro primo visu distinguenda.

18*

140 MNIOTILTIDA,

Hab. Nort America, Texas **’®.—Guatemaa, Alta Vera Paz, near Tactic (0. 8.1).

The early history of this rare species is given as follows by Salvin in Rowley’s ‘ Orni-

thological Miscellany : ’—

“The only time that I met with this bird was during my first visit to Vera Paz, in

Guatemala, in 1859. I was riding to Coban, the chief town of Alta Vera Paz, on the

4th of November, and had just surmounted one of the ridges of the mountainous road

that leads to the village of Tactic, where I intended passing the night, when two birds

attracted my attention, and I secured both. On examination at home they proved to

belong to an undescribed species; and the name of Dendreca chrysoparia was bestowed

upon it by Mr. Sclater and myself.

“The altitude above the sea where I shot these birds is about 4500 feet, or a little

more. ... The birds were, after the manner of their congeners, hopping about the

lower branches of the forest-trees, which are there not very high. But I was too intent

upon securing the specimens to observe much of their movements and habits.

“A few years after this (in 1863-64) Mr. Dresser, during his stay in Texas, obtained

a single specimen of Dendreca chrysoparia. THe did not shoot it himself, but received

it with other Mniotiltide from a man of the name of Ogden, who shot it at Howard’s

rancho on the river Medina.”

The three specimens obtained up to 1876 were all figured in the work just quoted 7.

In the ‘Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club’ for 1879 (vol. iv.) we find two

further references to this species, the latter account going a long way to complete its

history. In April 1878 Mr. G. H. Ragsdale obtained a male specimen in Bosque county,

Texas. This example is now in the United-States National Museum ; but no particulars

of its capture are given®. Mr. Brewster, in the same Journal °, fully describes the

breeding-habits of the species as furnished to him by Mr. Werner, who writes that

whilst on a collecting-tour in the mountainous district of Comal County, Texas, he

noticed these Warblers, and describes their habits as very similar to those of D. virens,

being very active and always on the alert for insects, examining every limb of a tree for

them, and now and then darting after them while on the wing. He found them

invariably in cedar timber. On the 13th May, after some search, he found a nest

containing three eggs, and one of the Cow-Bunting. Three other nests also were

discovered, all similar in construction and placed in the forks of perpendicular limbs of

Juniperus virginianus, at a height of from 10 to 18 feet from the ground. The outside

of the nest is composed of the inner bark of the above-mentioned tree, interspersed with

‘cobwebs well fastened to the limb, and in colour resembling the bark of the tree on

which it is built, rendering it difficult to detect at a little distance.

Mr. Brewster describes the nest, more fully, as being in general character and appear-

ance like that of D. virens, only twice the size. The interior is beautifully lined with

the hair of different animals and numerous feathers, those of the Cardinal Grosbeak

DENDRECA. 14]

being conspicuous by their scarlet colour. The eggs Mr. Brewster describes as peculiar,

having a white ground, more or less thinly but evenly covered with fine but distinct

spots of light reddish brown. Other eggs have much heavier markings.

17. Dendreca townsendi.

Sylvia townsendi, Towns. Journ. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 191' (ex Nuttall).

Dendreca townsendi, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 2987; 1859, p. 3742; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 11*;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 185°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 265°; Coues, B.

Col. Vall. i. p. 260”. :

Sylvia melanocausta, Licht. in Mus. Berol. °.

Supra olivacea, interscapulio maculis celatis nigris notato, capite toto cum gula nigris, superciliis elongatis,

macula suboculari et stria lata cervicis utrinque flavissimis ; alis et cauda nigris, cinereo limbatis, illis

albo bifasciatis, hac sicut in speciebus affinibus albo notata; subtus abdomine antico flavo, postico albo;

hypochondriis et crisso nigro striatis. (Descr. maris ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari similis, pileo et genis dorso concoloribus, hypochondriorum striis obsoletis. (Descr. femine ex Dueiias,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America, Rocky Mountains to the Pacific from Alaska? southwards 67.—

Mexico, N.W. Mexico (J. G. Bell®), Oaxaca (Deppe, Mus. Berol.), La Parada 2,

Totontepec * (Boucard); Guatnmata, Duefias 4, Volcan de Fuego and Coban (0. S.

& F.D. G.).

Though no mention is made of this species by Lichtenstein in his published list of

Deppe’s Mexican collections, the specimens now in the Berlin Museum standing under

the manuscript name of Sylvia melanocausta were doubtless the first obtained by any

naturalist. A few years afterwards it was again discovered by Nuttall and Townsend

during their memorable journey to the Pacific in 1835.

Within our territory it is only known as a winter visitant, the Mexican records being

almost confined to its occurrence in the State of Oaxaca, where Deppe discovered it and

where Boucard afterwards met with it. In Guatemala it is more abundant on the

slopes of the mountains bordering the Pacific than elsewhere, though we have specimens

captured at Coban in Vera Paz. In the Volcan de Fuego we found it at elevations

ranging from under 5000 to 10,000 and 12,000 feet, the latter altitude including the

pine-clad summit of the mountain. In its habits it resembles D. virens and its imme-

diate allies.

Of its breeding nothing is as yet known. In the western States it has usually

been observed in autumn, and then migrating. Its summer quarters are probably as

far north as Alaska, where it was obtained by Wahlberg?; but Dr. Coues thinks

that the pine-belts of the mountains of New Mexico and Arizona may shelter some

birds during the breeding-season ’.

142 MNIOTILTID 2.

C. Ale haud albo notate.

; v

18. Dendreca discolor.

Sylvia discolor, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. ii. p. 37, t. 987.

Dendreca discolor, Baird, Brew. & Ridg. N. Am. B. i. p. 276°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 67%; Coues,

B. Col. Vall. i. p. 246 *.

Supra flavo-olivacea, dorso macula badia partim celata notato; capitis lateribus et corpore subtus flavissimis,

loris et stria genali nigris, hypochondriis nigro striatis; alis et cauda fusco-nigris, olivaceo limbatis, illis

immaculatis, hujus rectricibus tribus utrinque externis albo notatis; rostro et pedibus nigricanti-corneis.

Long. tota 4°3, alee 2:1, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex Jamaica. Mus.

nostr.)

Q aut ¢ juv. mari similis, sed coloribus supra multo fuscescentioribus, subtus quoque obscuriore striis hypo-

chondriorum fere obsoletis. (Descr. exempli ad fines Honduras capti. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Eastern States?4—At sea near Swan Islands, Bay of Honpuras

(O. S. & F. D. G.).—AntILLEs, Cuba? to Virgin Islands 4.

Though this well-known species is perhaps not strictly entitled to a place in this

work, its abundance in the West-India Islands in winter and the capture at sea of a

young bird not far from the Swan Islands early in September 1861 make it more than

probable that a few individuals, during their autumn migration, may reach the coast

of Honduras and there pass the winter.

D. discolor breeds throughout its range in the United States. A full account of its

nest and eggs is given by Dr. Brewer in the ‘ History of North-American Birds.’

PEUCEDROMUS.

Peucedramus, Coues, apud Henshaw, U.S. Expl. west of 100th Merid. V. Zool. p. 201 (1876) ;

Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 232. (Type Sylvia olivacea, Giraud.)

The position of the single species constituting this genus was for some time questioned

before Dr. Coues separated it from Dendreca, where it had long stood. Prof. Baird,

in his ‘ Review of American Birds,’ pointed out many of its characteristics ; and to these

Dr. Coues added others when formally describing the genus. The chief points in which

it differs from Dendreca are its peculiarly slender bill and straighter culmen, its more

linear nostrils and unusually long wings, and somewhat peculiar coloration, no portion

of its body being streaked as is usual in the members of Dendrwca. On the whole,

we think Dr. Coues justified in making the separation.

1. Peucedromus olivaceus.

Sylvia olivacea, Giraud, B. Texas, p. 14, t. 7. f. 2!; Scl. P. Z.S. 1855, p. 66°.

Rhimamphus olivaceus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 291°.

PEUCEDROMUS. 143

Dendreca olivacea, Scl. P.Z.S. 1858, p. 298*; 1859, p. 863°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 205°;

Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 191°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546°.

Peucedramus olivaceus, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 233°.

Sylvicola teniata, Du Bus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2. p. 104”.

Supra cinereus, capite toto cum collo fulvo-aurantiacis, area oculorum nigra; alis nigris albo bifasciatis et

secundariis interioribus flavo extus limbatis, remigibus reliquis albo marginatis, speculo alari albo; cauda

nigra cinereo marginata, rectricibus duabus extimis pro majore parte albis; subtus gutture toto fulvo-

aurantiaco; abdomine cinerascente medialiter albicante; pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 5:2,

alee 2°9, caudee 2:1, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr.)

mine albicantiore distinguenda. (Descr. feminz ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Arizona *.—MeExtco!? (Sallé?), near the city (le Strange), alpine

region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast*), Popocatepetl (Verreaua*), Jalapa (de Oca),

La Parada (Boucard*); GuateMaLa, Volcan de Fuego’, Volcan de Agua, Chilasco

(0.8. & FD. G).

Though described as a bird of Texas by Giraud in 1841, it was many years before

P. olivaceus obtained a satisfactory footing within the limits of the United States.

Its presence, however, in Arizona was fully established by Mr. W. H. Henshaw in

1874; and the bird now takes its place in the North-American fauna without further

question. Soon after its first discovery it was found in Mexico and described under the

name of Sylvicola teniata by the late Viscount Du Bus?!, a name shown by Mr.

Sclater to belong to the same bird as Giraud’s Sylvia olivacea*. The bird is now well

known in Mexico, and is included in the lists of nearly every collector who has worked

in the southern parts of that country. It seems, however, to be strictly confined in its

range to the high mountains of the interior, where it is a characteristic species between

5000 and 10,000 feet ®. In Guatemala it is also a denizen of the highest districts,

being common in the upper pine-belts of the volcanos above the elevation of 10,000

feet. We also met with it in the pine-tracts of Chilasco, in Vera Paz, at about 6000

feet above the sea.

Mr. Henshaw describes the habits of this bird as resembling those of Dendreca

pinus, the ‘“ Pine-Creeper,” as it creeps actively over the large limbs of the pine-trees,

after the manner of that species. In the places where we found the bird the pine

trees are of no great size, and we did not notice any thing peculiar in the method in

which it searched for its food. Besides frequenting the pines, we also saw it in the

scanty bushes found scattered throughout these high districts.

Nothing is as yet known of its nesting-habits, nor yet of its migrations. Our own

observations of it extend only to the winter months; but we are strongly of opinion

that it remains in its upland home throughout the year.

144 MNIOTILTIDZ.

SIURUS.

Seiurus, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 171 (1827). (Type Motacilla aurocapilla, Linn).

Enicocichla (rectits Henicocichla), Gray, List Gen. B. p. 31 (1841).

This genus has much in common with Dendreca, differing chiefly in the style of the

coloration of its members, their habits and actions. ‘The rictal bristles are short,

the wings long and pointed, and the tail nearly even, its undercoverts being fully

developed. .

Three species constitute the genus, all well-known birds; in addition to these a large

race has recently been described from the Black Hills, Wyoming, as Stwrus nevius

notabilis*. The others are regular migrants, spending their winters in Mexico, Central

America, the Antilles, and the northern parts of South America, and their summers in

North America, where they breed.

A. Vertex fusco-aurantiacus, supercilia alba nulla.

1. Siurus auricapillus.

Motacilla aurocapilla, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 884°.

Seiurus aurocapillus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. pp. 94°, 200';

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 214°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 547°; Frantz. J.

f. Orn. 1869, p. 293"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 280°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. |

p- 68°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 269"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 14%.

Siurus auricapillus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.9”; Moore, P. Z.S. 1859, p.55™; Coues, Bull.

Nutt. Orn. Club, ii. p. 31%; B. Col. Vall. i. p. 297”.

Henicocichla aurocapilla, Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 293°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 847; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 180%; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 886"; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 183”.

Turdus auricapillus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vogel, p. 2 (ct. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 57”).

Supra olivaceus, alis et cauda concoloribus, pileo fusco-aurantiaco nigro circumcincto; subtus albus, pectore toto

et hypochondriis nigro guttatis, stria rictali nigra ; oculorum ambitu albido; rostri maxilla cornea, mandi-

bula albicante ; pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5-1, alee 2:9, caude 2:1, rostri a rictu 0:6, tarsi 0-8. | (Deser.

maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortn AMERICA, eastwards of the Rocky Mountains, Alaska® °.—Merxico (Deppe ®,

Sallé ©), Mazatlan (Grayson 1°), Tableland? (Bullock *), Orizaba &c. (Sumichrast® 6),

Guichicovi, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast 11), Merida, Yucatan (Schott +); GuaTeMaLa,

Escuintla, Savana Grande, Duefas !, Tactic, Coban, Choctum (0. 8. & &. D. G.);

Honporas, Omoa (Leyland *), San Pedro (G. MZ. Whitely©); Nicaragua, Greytown

(Holland 48); Costa Rica, San José (v. Frantzius’), Barranca (Carmiol®); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé *°),—Brrmupa®; ANTILLES °°.

* Ridgway, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1880, p. 12.

SIURUS. 145.

This is one of the commonest of the winter visitants to Mexico and Central America,

being found throughout the country at that season from Mazatlan to Chiriqui. It does

not, however, appear to reach the southern continent in its southward flight; nor have «

we even seen specimens from the line of railway in the State of Panama. Near

Mazatlan Grayson only met with it between November and April in the densest woods,

where it was shy, solitary, and silent 1°. Further south its habits are much of this

character; but in Costa Rica it has been noticed as early as August’. In Cuba,

Dr. Gundlach gives the end of August and the beginning of September as the time of

its arrival, and states that it remains in the island in great numbers till the following

April®. It is a bird of solitary habits, and frequents woods at elevations ranging from

nearly the sea-level to 5000 feet, living mostly on or near the ground, where it seeks its.

food consisting chiefly of insects, seeds, and small shells.

In North America, though generally a bird of the Eastern Province, in high latitudes.

it spreads across the continent, and has been found in Alaska’. It usually arrives

from its winter quarters about the beginning of May, and remains far into September.

During this time it breeds. Its nest is a domed structure, placed on the ground in a

bank under the shelter of a projecting root or in a thick clump of bushes. It is made

externally of wood, mosses, lichens, and dry leaves, with a few stems and broken frag-

ments of plants. The entrance is strongly built of stout twigs; its upper portion is

a strong framework of fine twigs, roots, stems, mosses, dry plants, &c.; and the lining is

of finer materials of the same kind®. ‘The song of the male during the mating-season

is described as being of excellent quality ®.

The eggs are stated to vary considerably ; the normal colour is creamy white, marked

chiefly at the larger end with mingled dots and blotches of red, reddish brown, lilac,

dark purple, and ferruginous, these spots in some cases being collected in a crown round

the large end of the egg °.

Dr. Coues © has taken great pains to collect the references to the literature of this.

species.

B. Vertex dorso concolor, supercilia alba.

2. Siurus noveboracensis.”

Motacilla nevia, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 47* (ex D’Aub. Pl. Enl. 752. f. 1).

Siurus nevius, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 299”.

Motacilla noveboracensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 958°.

Siurus noveboracensis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 10*; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 363°.

Sciurus noveboracensis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 322°; ix. pp. 947, 200°; Bull. U. S. Nat.

Mus. no. 4, p. 14°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 215; Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 293";

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p.547°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. 283%;

Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 68",

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Aves, Vol. 1, February 1881. 19

146 MNIOTILTID.A.

Henicocichla noveboracensis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 824"; Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 25 *; Sel. & Salv.

P.Z. 8. 1864, p. 346%; 1870, p. 8836"; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 183”.

Seiurus tenuirostris, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369”.

: Supra olivaceo-fuscus, alis caudaque unicoloribus; stria superciliari et corpore subtus albidis flavo leviter

tinctis, genis, pectore toto et hypochondriis fusco-nigro striatis, gula et abdomine medio fere immaculatis,

rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2:9, caude 21, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris

ex Belize, British Honduras. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America generally 2.X—Mexico, Tableland? (Bullock), Jalapa (de Oca’),

Mirador (Sartorius °), Orizaba, &c. (Sumichrast 1°), Tapana, Tehuantepec (Sumi-

chrast°), Merida, Yucatan (Schott®); British Honpvuras, Belize ( O. 8.4); Guate-

MALA, Coban, San Gerénimo, Duefias, Patio Bolas, Retalhuleu (0. S. & F. D. G.);

Honpuras, San Pedro (G. Jf. Whitely 18); Nicaracua (J. M. Dow !°); Costa Rica,

San José (Frantzius? 1), Angostura (Carmiol’ ™); Panama, Bibala, Calovevora

(Arcé), line of railway (M‘Leannan ® ™")—Antitizs 1 14, and northern parts of

Sourto Amurica 1 16,

This bird is best known by Gmelin’s name Motacilla noveboracensis, which was almost

universally applied to it until Dr. Coues? argued that Boddaert’s title 7. nevia ought

to supplant MW. noveboracensis, both names having the same basis and the former several

years priority. But as Boddaert had previously applied the same name to the well-

known European Warbler Locustella nevia, Gmelin’s designation must be retained.

The only other synonym that has been applied to this bird from our region is Seiurus

tenuirostris, Sw.; and this can belong to no other species than S. noveboracensis. Hlse-

where, in its wide range, a host of other names have been given to it; these have been

carefully collected by Dr. Coues?, and, with the references to the literature of the species,

occupy one and a half closely printed pages of his work.

Like so many Mniotiltide, Sturus noveboracensis is a winter visitant to the countries

lying beyond the borders of the United States. Throughout Mexico and Central

America it is a very common bird at this season, and is found everywhere from the sea-

level up to an elevation of 5000 or 6000 feet. It utters no song during the period of

its stay in these countries; but its clear sharp call-note is easily reorgnized amongst

those of its allies. In Guatemala it may usually be seen near running streams, or

by the side of pools and in open places rather than in the forest.

The breeding-quarters of this species extend over nearly the whole of North America ?;

but during the season of nesting these birds are more retiring than during the winter.

The song is described by several writers as of good quality, but not so powerful as

that of S. motacilla.

The nest is a beautiful structure placed on or close to the ground, and is composed of

loose moss (Hypnum) intermingled with dead leaves and stems; the lining is composed

of the fruit-stalks of the moss thickly felted together 1°.

SIURUS. 147

The eggs are white, more or less marked, especially round the larger end, with lines,

dots, and dashes of various shades of umber-brown 2°,

3. Siurus motacilla.”

Turdus motacilla, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. ii. p. 9, t. 65°.

Henicocichla motacilla, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1857, p. 240°.

Siurus motacilia, Coues, Bull. Nutt..Club. ii. p. 33°; B. Col. Vall. i. p. 299*; Sennett, Bull. U.S.

Geol. Surv. iv. p. 13’. .

Turdus ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biogr. i. p. 99°.

Siurus ludovicianus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 363, 373°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 273°.

Sciurus ludovicianus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 217%; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 94%; Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 269"; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4,p.15"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw.

N. Am. B.i. p. 287**; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 68”.

Henicocichla ludoviciana, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 25°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 183".

Henicocichla major, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 16 ™.

Similis praecedenti, sed rostro longiore et colore corporis subtus lactescenti-albo nec flavido distinguendus. Long.

tota 5:4, alee 3-25, caudee 2°1, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Alotenango, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortn Americal, Eastern States 414, Texas®.—Mexico, Tamaulipas (Couch '*),

Mazatlan (Grayson '!2), Colima (Xantus! 1), Yuantepec (Deppe, Mus. Berol.),

Mirador (Sartorius !°), Jalapa 18 (de Oca’), Orizaba (Botteri 1°), Totontepec (Bou-

card’), Barrio, Santa Efigenia (Suwmichrast}*); GuateMaLa, Retalhuleu, Alotenango”,

Volcan de Fuego, Coban®, Choctum (0. S. & &. D. G.); Costa Rica, Barranca

(Carmiol 1); Panama, Bugaba (Arcé !").—Antinies, Cuba ? , Jamaica 1°, &c.

The application of Vieillot’s name Turdus moticilla has long been a matter of doubt,

and was always so treated by American writers until 1877, when Dr. Coues ® satisfied

himself that it was really meant for the bird usually known under Audubon’s title

Siurus ludovicianus. In taking this course he followed the opinion of Bonaparte and

Cabanis 2 on this point.

Siurus motacilla, as it is now the fashion to call this species, has very much the same

range in our territory as S. noveboracensis, except that it does not penetrate beyond the

district of Chiriqui, and hence falls short of the extended range of its congener in the

southern continent. It is nowhere so abundant as that species, though found in places

of considerable differences of altitude, ranging from 5000 feet to nearly the sea-level.

In Guatemala we usually found it in the forest in the bed of a dry watercourse or the

bottom of a ravine, S. noveboracensis seeking rather the more open running streams.

Our earliest specimens were obtained in August and September; and it probably stays

in the country until the following April. Its habits closely resemble those of its

congener; and in the winter season its note is a clear sharp call. Grayson speaks of

19*

148 MNIOTILTID ZA.

its being not common near Mazatlan, where it frequents stagnant pools or solitary

brooks.

In North America, where it is only known as a summer visitant, its chief resort is

the Southern and South-western States, appearing only as a straggler in more northern

districts. It is one of the earliest Warblers to arrive, and may be heard in full song

from the end of February. Its song is distinguished by the richness and power of its

note 4, Not much seems to be known of itsnest and eggs, as Brewer’s account of them

is taken from Audubon #4, .

As in the case of the two preceding species, its literature is fully given in Dr. Coues’s

volume 4.

OPORORNIS.

Oporornis, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 246 (1858). (Type Sylvia agilis, Wils.)

The members of this genus much resemble some of the next following, the style of

colour being much the same. They have, however, the wing pointed and longer than

the tail, in which character they agree with Siwrus. The bill has a distinct notch, the

rictal bristles very short, the tail nearly even, the feathers acuminate, and the under

coverts long. The tarsi are long, and the claws large.

Two species are known of the genus, whereof one, O. formosa, enters our fauna as

a winter visitant. Of the other, 0. agilis, the history is by no means complete. It is

not known to have occurred beyond the borders of the Eastern States; and though not

uncommon at certain seasons in Massachusetts, its breeding-haunts have not yet been

detected.

1. Oporornis formosa.

Sylvia formosa, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 85, t. 25. f. 3%.

Oporornis formosa, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 10°; P.Z.S. 1864, p. 847°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1862,

p. 19*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 468°, ix. p. 94°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 167;

Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 218°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 477°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 186”;

Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869,"p. 293"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 293"; Gundl. Orn,

Cub. p. 68; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 809 ™. .

Supra olivaceus, alis caudaque concoloribus; capite summo loris et genis nigris, illo olivaceo transfasciato ;

superciliis, oculorum ambitu parte postica et corpore toto subtus flavis; rostro corneo, mandibule basi

flavicante ; pedibus carneis. Long. tota 4°8, alee 2°75, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-9. (Deser.

exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis, colore nigro capitis absente. (Descr. feminw ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Eastern States from the Mississippi valley eastwards ? 14, Texas ®.

—Me_xico, Playa Vicente (Boucard*), Guichicovi (Sumichrast’); GusTEMALA 2,

Duefas, Calderas, Coban, Choctum (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica !, Angostura,

OPORORNIS. 149

Dota Mountains (Carmiol*); Panama, Chiriqui, Santa Fé (Arcé?°), Lron Hill

(MU Leannan **), Chepo (Arcé).—Cusa ®.

This species appears to be of rare occurrence in Mexico, as only two instances are

recorded of its having been observed in that country47. In Guatemala, however,

during the winter months it is far from uncommon, and is generally distributed from

an elevation of 1200 feet up to 7000 feet above the sea, frequenting both the forests

of the lowlands and the second-growth woods of higher altitudes. Southwards of

Guatemala it probably occurs everywhere in winter as far as Chepo in the isthmus of

Panama, though our records only establish its presence in Costa Rica, the adjoining

part of Veragua, and a little beyond the line of the Panama railway. In Cuba it is,

according to Dr. Gundlach, a very rare bird 12, Hence we may conclude that the line

of the migration of this species from the Eastern States to Central America is rather

a narrow one, extending from the State of Vera Cruz to the eastern coast of

Yucatan.

In its summer range Oporornis formosa occupies the eastern portion of the United

States, and goes as far north as Washington and Chicago, and westwards to the Kansas

river *, In Texas, where Mr. Dresser observed it near San Antonio °, it is migratory,

passing through the country in spring and autumn.

The nest is described by Brewer” as a clumsily-made structure, placed on the

ground, consisting outwardly of dead leaves, and lined inwardly with fine roots.

The eggs are white, sprinkled all over with fine dots of red and reddish brown, espe-

cially at the larger end.

The song of this species is described by Mr. Ridgway as a very pretty fine whistle,

resembling that of Cardinalis virginianus, but finer in tone, though not so powerful.

To Dr. Coues we are indebted for a full list of the references to the literature of

this bird “.

GEOTHLYPIS.

Geothlypis, Cabanis, Arch. f. Naturg. i. pp. 316, 349 (1847) ; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p. 295.

Trichas, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 167 (nec Gloger).

Twelve species and races are now recognized of this genus, whereof elght occur

within the limits of the Central-American fauna. Of these, three spend the winter in

the country as migrants from the north, three are peculiar to Mexico, one is found

in Guatemala and Costa Rica, and one is peculiar to the district of Chiriqui. Of the

extra-limital species, G. rostrata is peculiar to the Bahamas; G. semiflava, G. aequi-

noctialis, and G. velata are found respectively in Ecuador, in Guiana and Amazonia,

and in Brazil.

All the members of the genus have very short rounded wings. The rictal bristles

150 MNIOTILTID#.

are but slightly developed; the tail is long, compared with the wings, and rounded ;

the legs are stout. The general colour is olivaceous above, and yellow beneath, the

tail being without spots.

A. Gula flava.

a. Pileus summus in mare albus.

1. Geothlypis trichas.”

Turdus trichas, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 2931.

Geothlypis trichas, Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. pt. 2, Birds, p. 10°; Rev. Am. B.i. p. 220%; Sel.

& Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.10*; P. Z.S. 1870. p. 836°; Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, pp. 3638 °, 3737; Cab.

J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 84°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 200°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p. 269 ; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 2938"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140%; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 146 et seq."; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 297%; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 69"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 809”.

Sylvia marylandica, Wils. Am. Orn. i. p. 88, t. 6. f. 1%.

Trichas marylandica, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 148"; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 292”; Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc.

N. H. vii. p. 110”.

Trichas personatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 433 .

Supra olivacea, alis concoloribus, cauda paulo letiore, fascia pileum summum et cervicis latera occupante griseo-

alba, fronte, regione oculari et genis nigerrimis ; subtus gutture toto et crisso flavis, ventre ochracescente ;

rostri maxilla corylina, mandibula et pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 2-2, caudee 2:1, rostri a rictu

0-55, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari similis, capite et cervicis lateribus inornatis dorso concoloribus. (Descr. femine ex Choctum,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

flab. Nort America, United States generally °, Texas 2.—Mexico”, Mazatlan, Tepic

(Grayson '°), Guanajuato (Dugés"), Orizaba (Sumichrast™), Jalapa (de Oca®),

valley of Mexico (le Strange), near Vera Cruz (Bullock 22), Totontepec and Oaxaca

(Boucard"), Merida, Yucatan (Schott®), Progreso, Yucatan (Gaumer); GUATEMALA,

Chiapam, Retalhuleu, Escuintla, Duefias*, San Gerénimo, Coban, Choctum (0. 8.

& FD. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. MM Whitely*®); Costa Rica*, San José (v.

Frantzius *); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé).—AnTILLES, Bahamas ”!, Cuba *,

Jamaica’, &e.

Throughout Mexico and Guatemala the Maryland Warbler is one of the commonest

species of its family during the winter months, being found in numbers from the Rio

Grande valley and Mazatlan in the north to the confines of the republic of Honduras.

In the northern parts of Mexico, according to Grayson ”, it remains to breed ; he observes

that it is “acommon species from October until the latter part of June. They migrate

into the high central plains to breed. I have seen it in the month of July in the

vicinity of Tepic.” Southwards of this it seems to be much more rarely met with, as

we have on record only a single instance of its occurrence in Costa Rica”, and we

GEOTHLYPIS. 151

possess but a single male specimen from the Volcan de Chiriqui. In Guatemala we

found it at all elevations from the sea-level at Chiapam, on the shores of the Pacific, up

to the central tablelands of 5000 feet elevation. About Duefias it was especially

abundant, frequenting the reeds bordering the lake, and also in the bushes on the

banks of the Rio Guacalate.

In North America this species is one of the most widely spread, as well as familiar,

of the Mniotiltide. Its habits have accordingly been very fully described *. Its nest

is almost invariably placed on the ground, and is described as a large loose structure,

composed outwardly of leaves and dry sedges covering an inner framework of finer

materials more carefully woven, the lining being of fine grasses. ‘The eggs are clear

white, dotted and blotched round the larger end with purple, reddish brown, and dark

umber.

In the larger West-Indian Islands Geothlypis trichas is also very common in winter,

especially in Cuba and Jamaica”, where numbers are to be met with in all stages of

plumage. In Central America, too, birds in similar phases of plumage are usually

seen, females and young birds predominating, adult males in perfect feather being

rather rare. oe

Prof, Baird, in his ‘ Review of American Birds’ ®, describes at some length the differ-

ences observable in individuals of this species; but he comes to the conclusion that no

permanent characters are to be traced justifying its division into two or more races.

This view is confirmed by subsequent writers. |

2. Geothlypis melanops.

Geothlypis melanops, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 222; Scl.& Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 551°; Salv. Ibis,

1872, p. 146 et seq.’.

Similis preecedenti quoad coloris capitis distributionem, sed pileo summo lactescenti-albo, cervicis lateribus flavidis,

rostro nigerrimo et corpore toto subtus letissime flavo distinguenda. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2-4, caude 2°4,

rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempli ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

2 supra fusco-olivacea, alis et cauda concoloribus, loris pallidis ; subtus ochraceo-flava, hypochondriis fusce-

scentioribus ; rostro obscure corneo, pedibus corylinis. (Descr. feminz ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (U.S. Nat. Mus.), 8.W. Mexico (Rébouch 2).

Of this species but little is known at present, as it seems never to have come under

the notice of the many diligent ornithologists who have worked in Mexico. The only

specimen of which the precise origin is at all exactly known was obtained by M. Rébouch

near Putla or San Juan del Rio, on the western slope of the Cordillera, a little to the

north-west of Oaxaca. Several other examples have come under our notice, all of

them in collections of Mexican bird-skins, the precise origin of which cannot often be

traced.

- The bird is certainly like Geothlypis trichas, but can at once be distinguished by the

152 MNIOTILTIDA.

entire underparts being of a nearly uniform yellow, its black bill, and other minor

characters.

It is in all probability a resident species in Mexico, where alone it has been procured

up to the present time.

b. Pileus summus in mare niger.

3. Geothlypis speciosa.

Geothlypis speciosa, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 4471; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 546° ;

Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 146 et seq.’.

Saturate flavo-oleaginea; capite (precipue ad latera) cum regione auriculari nigris ; subtus vivide flava, hypo-

chondriis brunnescentioribus ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:3, ale 2:4, caudee 2°3, rostri

a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempli typici maris ex Mexico. Mus. P. L. Sclater.)

Q supra fusco-olivacea fere unicolor, subtus ochracea, hypochondriis fuscescentibus ; rostro et pedibus nigri-

cantibus. (Descr. exempli ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (de Saussure 4), mountains of Orizaba (Swmichrast 2).

But little is known of this pretty species, which was first obtained by M. de Saussure

during his travels in Eastern Mexico, and described by Mr. Sclater in 1858". Since

then the only specimen that we have met with is a female in our own collection, which

was picked out of a lot of Mexican skins, the precise locality where they were obtained

not being stated. Prof. Sumichrast refers to this species a bird found in the alpine

region of the mountains of Orizaba 2, and speaks of its being represented in the collec-

tion of the late Sefior Mateo Botteri.

The authors of the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ * throw great doubts on the

validity of this species and of G. semiflava of Ecuador, believing them to be referable

to G. trichas. A moment’s comparison of specimens of these three species is enough to

show that they are all three perfectly distinct from one another, as Salvin has already

pointed out®. The absence in the male of the white band across the head at once

separates G. speciosa and G. semiflava from G. trichas; and the black bill and ochre-

yellow tint of the under plumage of G. speciosa separate that species from G. semiflava,

which has the base of the mandible whitish and the under surface clear yellow.

Like G. melanops, G. speciosa would appear to be a sedentary species in Southern

Mexico.

c. Pileus summus in mare cinerascens.

4. Geothlypis chiriquensis. (Tab. IX. fig. 1.)

Geothlypis chiriquensis, Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 148°.

Supra olivacea, alis et cauda concoloribus ; capite postico cinereo, antico cum genis et regione auriculari nigris ;

* Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 296.

GEOTHLYPIS. 153

subtus omnino flava, hypochondriis olivaceis ; rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula cornea ; pedibus carneis.

Long. tota 5-0, ale 2-4, caude 2:1, rostri a rictu 0°62, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Volean de Chiriqui.

Mus. nostr.)

@ adhuc ignota.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé}).

This bird is a close ally of the Brazilian Geothlypis velata, and an interesting one on

that account, its relationship with that species being closer on the whole than with

G. equinoctialis, its nearest neighbour in point of locality. An attempt to account for

this peculiar distribution has already been made!; but as the question will have to be

discussed in a more general way in the introduction to this work, it would be superfluous

to refer to it here.

Like G. velata this species has the feathers of the postocular region grey ; but it differs

from its ally in the much greater extent of the black on the forehead. 4G. equinoctialis

has the postocular area olive-coloured, thus differing from both the above-named species.

Since describing the type, which was then unique, other specimens have reached us,

all of them bearing the distinctive characters of G. chiriquensis.

The type specimen is now figured.

5. Geothlypis caninucha. (Tab. IX. fig. 2.)

Geothlypis poliocephala, var. caninucha, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 296°.

Geothlypis polocephala, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 225, partim’; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 200°;

Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 114°.

Geothlypis equinoctialis, Salv. & Scl. Ibis, 1860, p. 278° (nec Gmelin).

Supra olivacea, alis et cauda concoloribus ; capite summo et regione postoculari griseis; fronte anguste, loris

et plumis subocularibus nigris ; subtus flava, hypochondriis ochrascescentioribus ; rostro robusto incurvo,

maxilla fusca, mandibula flavida ; pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5-7, ale 2°4, caude 2:6, rostri a rictu 0:6,

tarsi 0:93. (Descr. maris ex Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

aut ¢ juv. mari similis, sed capite inornato dorso concolori.

Hab. Mexico, Merida (Schott *)?; British Honpuras (Blancaneaux); Guatemana,

Retalhuleu, Patio Bolas, Duefias®, San Geronimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica

(J. Carmiol*).

Specimens of this bird were first obtained at Duefias in Guatemala; but they were

referred to the South-American G. equinoctialis*®, the differences between them not

being then recognized. Other examples were afterwards found in Guatemala in various

localities ranging in altitude from 800 to 5000 feet above the sea-level ; but it is not a

~common bird anywhere in that country. Its chief place of resort is in low scrubby

second-growth woods, and often near water, its habits much resembling those of

Geothlypis trichas.

Costa-Rica specimens agree accurately with Guatemalan ones; but, as already stated,

the Mexican bird is distinguished by its white eyelids.

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Aves, Vol. 1, August 1881. 20

154 MNIOTILTID A.

As to the Yucatan bird we cannot speak positively. Mr. Lawrence calls it

G. poliocephala*®; but that was when G. caninucha had not been recognized as a

distinct race. A specimen from British Honduras must be referred to G. caninucha,

and it is improbable that the Yucatan bird differs from it.

The figure is taken from a Costa-Rica specimen.

6. Geothlypis poliocephala. (Tab. IX. fig. 3.)

Geothlypis poliocephala, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 225+; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 147 et seq.’; Baird,

Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 296°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 269°.

Trichas delafieldi, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 293°?

Precedenti persimilis, sed ciliis albis forsan distinguenda.

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson 1°).

When Prof. Baird first described this species! he associated together the specimens

from North-western Mexico and from Guatemala, at the same time pointing out certain

differences between them. ‘The chief of these consisted in the former having white

eyelids, not observed in the Guatemalan bird. On the strength of these differences

Mr. Ridgway separated the two birds, calling the Mexican one G. poliocephala, and the

Guatemalan one G. caninucha®. After examining the types, which were kindly sent us

from Washington, we feel great doubts as to whether the two birds can be kept separate,

even as races. Some of our Guatemalan specimens have white feathers in the eyelids,

as we have already noticed 2; and thus one of the chief distinctions is not entirely trust-

worthy. Moreover the skins are none of them in good fresh condition, rendering a

comparison of their colours not altogether satisfactory. However, as Mr. Ridgway has

gone so far as to separate the two birds, we deem it best to follow in the lines of his

arrangement, giving a figure of each bird, the strong likeness between the two being, it

must be confessed, very obvious.

The only specimens of the true G. poliocephala that we have seen are the types

procured at Mazatlan by Grayson, one of which is now figured; but it is not improbable

that M. Sallé’s skins, called by Mr. Sclater Trichas delafieldi in his first paper on

Mexican birds®, really belonged to this species. TZ. delafieldi of Audubon is now

supposed to be the same as 7. eguinoctialis, the Mexican representative of which,

unrecognized in 1856, would be either G. poliocephala or G. caninucha, but more

probably the former.

B. Gula cinerea.

7. Geothlypis philadelphia.

Sylvia philadelphia, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 101, t. 14. f. 6°.

Geothlypis philadelphia, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. H. vii. p. 822’, ix. p. 94°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 476°;

Frantz. J. f. Orn, 1869, p. 294°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 322°; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 1497;

GEOTHLYPIS. 155

Ridgw. Am. Journ. Sc. 1872, p. 459°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 301°; Coues,

B. Col. Vall. i. p. 318"; Merrill, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 124"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1879,

p. 494°,

Supra olivacea, alis et cauda concoloribus ; capite undique cum gutture cinereis, loris paulo nigricantibus; gule

plumis intus nigris ; pectore plaga nigra ornato; abdomine toto flavo ; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula

flavicante; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°55, caudex 2:1, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°84.

(Descr. maris ex Angostura, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

? mari similis, sed coloribus valde dilutioribus, gutture vix cinerco tincto.

Hab. Nortu America, Eastern Provinces, British Provinces, and occasionally Greenland ®”,

Texas *™1.—Costa Rica, San José (v. Frantzius 5), Angostura and Dota Mountains

(Carmiol?); Panama, Chiriqui (Arcé), line of railway (M*Leannan?).—Co.omBIA,

Magdalena? and Cauca valleys 12.

Though Mexico has been included in the range of this bird, a further examination of

the specimens upon which the statement was founded has shown that they really belong

to G. macgillivrayi, the western representative of this species’. In Texas, however,

both Mr, Dresser4 and Dr. Merrill}! reeord its occurrence, the former stating that it

was common on passage early in May 1864.

In Costa Rica, the adjoining State of Panama, and throughout the northern portion

of Colombia, G. philadelphia is a common bird in the winter season ; but as it does not

touch on any of the West-Indian Islands, either during its flight southwards in autumn,

or during its return journey in the spring, the line of its migration doubtless lies

sufficiently to the eastward of the northern portions of the mainland to cause it to

avoid those regions, the Antilles not even being used as a resting-place en route. In

Costa Rica, and in the neighbourhood of Chiriqui, it is found in company with

G. macgillivrayi ; but in the rest of the State of Panama, and in Colombia, it entirely

supplants that species, the latter bird taking its place in Guatemala and Mexico.

In the United States, where this species spends the summer months, it is reported to

be rare in the Eastern Province, but more abundant in the Mississippi valley, breeding

in numbers in Minnesota and Eastern Dakota. It also breeds in the State of New York

and in New England?°. Brewer describes the nest as a massive structure placed about

a foot from the ground, and composed outwardly of small dry stalks and leaves, with a

very deep cavity lined with fine black roots. The eggs are pinkish white, marked with

dots and blotches of varying size of dark purplish brown ®.

8. Geothlypis macgillivrayi.

Sylvia macgillivrayi, Aud. Orn. Biogr. v. p. 75, t. 899. f. 4, 5°.

Geothlypis macgillivrayi, Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. pt. 2, Birds, p.10*; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 227°;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 10‘; Scl. P. Z.S. 1859, pp. 863°, 373°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861,

p. 84°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p.94°; Frantz. J. £. Orn. 1869, p. 294°; Salv. Ibis, 1872,

p. 152"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 803"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 3812”,

20*

156 MNIOTILTIDA.

Geothlypis philadelphia, 8. macgillivrayi, Ridgw. Am. Journ. Sc. ser. 3, iv. p. 459°; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 269"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 17.

Geothlypis philadelphia, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 27 (nec Wilson)”.

Sylvia vegeta, Licht. fide Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 310”.

Geothlypis, sp.?, Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 227”.

Precedenti similis, sed ciliis albis distinguenda, plaga pectorali quoque absente. (Descr. exempl. ex Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

fab. NortH America, Middle and Western Provinces! 12—Mxxtico!7, Monterey

(Couch”), Mazatlan (Grayson 1+), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast 3, Botteri'),

Choapam and Cinco Sefiores (Boucard °), Chihuitan and Tehuantepec city (Sumi-

chrast ©); Guatemala, Duefias 18, Coban? (0. 8S. & F. D. G.4); Costa Rica, San José

(v. Hrantzius®), Barranca (Carmiol*); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé”).

This species entirely takes the place of G. philadelphia in Mexico and Guatemala,

where it is found during the winter months widely distributed over those countries, but

chiefly hanging to the western or Pacific shore. In Southern Mexico it is found on

both sides of the Cordillera; but in Guatemala, though it occurs at Coban 5, we most

frequently met with it in the main range near Duefias, where it was abundant at an

elevation of about 5000 feet. Beyond Guatemala it passes to Costa Rica and Chiriqui,

where it is found in conjunction with its eastern ally G. philadelphia, in which

limited area only these species come into contact, and only here during the winter

months; for in summer the treeless plains east of the Rocky Mountains separate

them by a wide interval. ‘The lines of migration of these two birds are very different,

G. philadelphia taking a long flight over the ocean, G. macgillivrayi following in the

main the course of the Cordillera. |

Dr. Coues gives a good account of this species in his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley.’

In the States it is found only in the Middle and Western provinces, going as far north as

British Columbia. Its eastern range is determined by the limit of arboreal vegetation

along the Rocky Mountains. Throughout this range it breeds, its nest being built of

various materials, sometimes mosses and sometimes various soft fibrous materials, such

as bark-strips and frayed-out plant-stems with fine grasses, and lined with slender

rootlets". ‘The eggs are white, spotted and blotched with very dark brown, reddish

brown, and other markings of a neutral tint.

The bird described but not named by Professor Baird in his ‘ Review of American

Birds’ 1%, and attributed to a species of Geothlypis distinct from G. macgillivrayé, but

unknown to him, would now appear to be G. macgillivrayi after all. Salvin examined

the specimen at Washington in company with Mr. Ridgway in 1874; and this was the

conclusion they came to. Similar specimens are in our collection obtained in precisely

the same localities as fully plumaged birds, and associating with them.

ICTERIA. 157

Subfam. JCTERONA *.

ICTERIA.

Icteria, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. i. pp. iii, 85 (1807) (type Muscicapa viridis, Gm.) ; Coues, B. Col.

Vall. i. p. 816.

The position of this genus has long been a matter of doubt; and even now it cannot

be said to have found a final resting-place, as much of its internal structure has yet to

be examined and compared with that of the birds with which it has been associated.

For a long time it was placed with the Vireonide, of which it was obviously a very

abnormal member. Its relationship with the Tanagride has also been suggested. In

placing it here, in the midst of the Mniotiltidz, we follow, in a great measure, Prof.

Baird’s assignment of it, who dissents from its being placed in the Vireonide on account

of its deeply clett inner toe, the partially feathered tarsi, the lengthened middle toe, the

slightly curved claws, the entire absence of notch or hook in the bill, and the short,

rounded, nine-primaried wings. The genus comprises but a single species, divisible

into two ill-defined races. This ranges across the southern part of the North-American

continent during the summer months, and passes the winter season in Mexico and

Guatemala.

1. Icteria viridis.

Turdus virens, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, i. p. 171°.

Icteria virens, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 228°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 200°; Bull. U.S. Nat.

Mus. no. 4, p. 17*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 547°; v. Frantz. Journ. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 294°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 8077; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i.

p. 320°.

Muscicapa viridis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 986’.

Icteria viridis, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 111"; Cab. Journ. f. Orn. 1860, p. 403"; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864,

p. 173”; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 836; Dugés, La Natur. i. p. 140 “

Tanagra auricollis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2 (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57).

Icteria velasquezi, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 117"; Scl. P.Z. 8S. 1856, p. 298"; 1859, pp. 363°, 375";

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12”; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 202°

* The three subfamilies into which Dr. Coues (B. Col. Vall. i. p. 203) divides the Mniotiltide may be

briefly characterized as follows :—

Mytorritin& (anted, p. 109). Bill conical, slender; commissure but slightly curved; rictal bristles short or

absent.

Icreruna:. Bill compressed, high, very stout; commissure much curved; rictal bristles short.

SrropHacina. Bill broad, flattened; commissure slightly curved ; rictal bristles long, reaching far beyond

the nostril.

158 MNIOTILTID.

Icteria longicauda, Lawy. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vi. p.4”; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 10™

Rev. Am. B. i. p. 230.

Icteria longicaudata, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870, p. 331”.

Icteria virens, var. longicauda, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 271”.

Supra griseo-olivacea, alis et cauda extus concoloribus; stria utrinque rictali et altera superciliari a naribus

ducta albis, macula suboculari quoque alba; subtus gutture toto, pectore et subalaribus flavis, abdomine

reliquo albo, hypochondriis fusco lavatis, rostro nigro (vestitu hiemali ad mandibule basin albicante),

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 7-0, ale 3:3, caude 3-8, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Untrep Status, Eastern, Middle, and Western Provinces, Lower California 7 8,—

Mexico (Deppe, Sallé), Mazatlan >? and Tepic (Grayson 26), Nuevo Leon

(Couch *8), Guanajuato (Dugés |), valley of Mexico (White 12, le Strange), State of

Vera Cruz (Sumichrast*), Jalapa (de Oca }8), Playa Vicente (Boucard 19), Chihuitan,

Santa Efigenia (Swmichrast +), Merida, Yucatan (Schott *); Guavemana 16 20, Retal-

huleu, Volcan de Fuego, Savana Grande, Polochic valley, Coban and Choctum

(0. 8S. & FD. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. WM. Whitely!8); Costa Ricaé

(Hoffmann 11).

Through their adhesion to the names of the tenth edition of Linneus’s ‘Systema

Nature’ by American authors, this bird now usually with them passes as Icteria virens.

In Europe it is better known as Icteria viridis, Gmelin’s later but to us more lawful

appellation. Of other names bestowed upon it, Tanagra auricollis® seems certainly

synonymous, as proved by Deppe’s specimens in the Berlin Museum. The title

I. velasquezi, by which Bonaparte !* sought to distinguish the Guatemalan bird, also

falls under the same category, the difference in the colour of the mandible being almost

undoubtedly a seasonal feature. To the name Jcteria longicauda®2, bestowed in

1853 by Mr. Lawrence upon the bird of Western North America, more consideration

is due; for western specimens seem always to have a tail some four tenths of an inch

longer than eastern ones, and the upper parts of the former are usually greyer in tint.

For several years the two birds were considered quite distinct; but Dr. Cabanis, in

186011, united them, a step to which Prof. Baird subsequently demurred2. A few

years afterwards, however", the two races were partially united as “varieties” of one

species; and this is the position at present accorded to them4®. We here treat them

under one specific name, and its owner as a variable species, the tendency of the

western birds being to have longer tails and greyer backs than those from the eastern

portions of its range. As regards our territory, the eastern form seems to predominate,

the western being only found, according to Dr. Finsch and Mr. Lawrence, in North-

western Mexico *5 26,

In Southern Mexico J. viridis seems to be pretty generally distributed, spreading

across the continent from the shores of the Pacific at Tehuantepec to the Gulf of

Mexico. In Guatemala the same is the case, and we have records of its occurrence in

GRANATELLUS. 159

the neighbourhood of both oceans. It does not seem, as a rule, to seek the more

elevated regions of Guatemala, though we have evidence of its presence as high as

6000 feet in the Volcan de Fuego, and at Coban, about 4300 feet above the sea.

Southward of Guatemala it has barely been noticed—once only in Honduras, near San

Pedro, by Whitely 13, and once in Costa Rica by Hoffmann!', The species is almost

certainly only a winter visitant to Guatemala, and perhaps to Mexico, arriving in

September and leaving again in the following spring; our birds were all procured at

this season. As regards the colour of the bill, we may remark that black-billed birds

have never, to our knowledge, occurred in Guatemala, but in Mexico they are of not

infrequent occurrence. This character we take to be a seasonal one, as it is in some

other birds. The black-billed Mexican birds may pass the summer in that country.

In the north J. viridis is a well-known bird, but a summer visitant, arriving in April

and leaving again in September. In the Eastern province it is found from Florida to

Massachusetts, and in the Middle and Western provinces from the Upper Missouri region

to Colorado, Arizona, &c., and Lower California. Its habits are very fully described

by American writers®. Its nest is composed of interwoven leaves, bark of the grape-

vine, and stems of plants, and lined with fine, long, wiry stems and pine-needles’. The

eggs are white with a pinkish blush, and speckled all over with rich reddish brown.

GRANATELLUS.

Granatelius, DuBus, Esq. Orn. sub tab. 24 (1850?) ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 312 (1850) ; Baird, Rev.

Am. B. 1. p. 230.

This is a very peculiar genus, both as to its form and colour. It has always been

placed as an aberrant member of the Mniotiltide, though its alliance with such Tana-

grine genera as Nemosia and Tanagrella has been suggested. Prof. Baird, whose

general arrangement of the Mniotiltide we follow in the present work, considers its

position to be near Icteria, a suggestion prompted by its stout bill and the feeble

development of the rictal bristles. But there are many points of difference between

Granatellus and Icteria, so much so that their juxtaposition cannot be considered as

definitely settled. ‘The bill in Granatellus is broad and high at the base and scarcely

notched at the tip of the maxilla; the culmen and commissure are much curved, as well

as the upper edge of the mandible. The nostrils are circular, situated at the distal end

of the nasal fossa, the proximal end being covered with a membrane, up to which the

nasal feathers do not reach, the nostril being. thus completely exposed. The tarsi are

comparatively short, and the wings shorter than the rounded tail, the feathers of which

have rounded tips. |

There are four strictly congeneric species in this genus, of which three are found in

Mexico and the adjoining Tres Marias Islands, one of which extends its range to

Yucatan and Guatemala. Beyond this point all trace of the genus disappears until we

160 MNIOTILTIDA.

come to the great affluent of the Amazons, the river Madeira, where G. pelzelni occurs,

a species allied to those of Western Mexico. All the members of the genus appear to

be very rare, G. sallei, the least conspicuously coloured of them, being the commonest

and having much the widest range.

a. Capitis et cervicis lateres nigri; guttur album.

1. Granatellus venustus.

Granatellus venustus, Du Bus, Esq. Orn. t. 241; Bp. Consp. i. p. 3127; Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 607,

t. 37. f. 2%; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 2314; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 270°; Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16°.

Cerulescenti-plumbeus, fronte et capitis lateribus nigris torque pectorali nigro conjuntis; litura postoculari,

gula et hypochondriis pure albis; abdomine medio rosaceo-rubro; cauda nigra, rectrice extima utrinque

fere omnino alba, duabus proximis ad apices gradatim albis; rostro plumbeo; pedibus fuscis. Long. tota

5-4, alee 2:47, caude rect. med. 2:9, rect. ext. 2°55, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°77. (Descr. maris ex Sierra

Madre, Colima, Mexico. Mus. Smiths. no. 30169.)

Hab. Mexico”, Sierra Madre, Colima (Xantus*°), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec

(Sumichrast *).

This beautiful species is one of the rarest of Mexican birds, having a very restricted

range in the states bordering the Pacific Ocean from Colima to Tehuantepec. The

first (and for many years the only) known specimen was that in the Brussels Museum,

named and figured by the late Vicomte Du Bus in his ‘ Esquisses Ornithologiques.’

Whether this plate of this unfinished work was ever actually published is a matter of

doubt; but a copy of it (numbered 34) was accessible to Bonaparte when he drew up

his description of the bird in the ‘Conspectus Avium’?; and another was furnished to

Mr. Sclater, and copied in the ‘Proceedings’ of the Zoological Society for 1864 3.

An imperfect bird in the British Museum Mr. Sclater in 1859* referred to this

species; but this identification he subsequently * withdrew in favour of Granatellus

pelzelnt.

The only specimen we have seen is that obtained by Xantus, which is now in the

National Museum at Washington. Besides this, Prof. Sumichrast has also met with

the species on the isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Of the habits of this bird nothing is recorded; but they probably resemble those of

G. francesce (next mentioned).

G. venustus may at once be distinguished from its allies by its conspicuous black

pectoral crescent, not present in the other species. As regards the recorded colour of

the iris, statements do not agree—Xantus describing it as white, and Sumichrast as brown.

The latter colour agrees with that given of its allies G. francesce and G. pelzelni.

* P.Z.8. 1859, p. 375.

GRANATELLUS. 161

2. Granatellus francesce.

Granatellus francesce, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 2321; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 278?;

Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 807, t. 11°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2704.

Similis precedenti, sed cauda elongata et torque pectorali nigra nulla distinguenda. Long. tota 6°35, alee 2°51,

caude rect. med. 3-4, rect. ext. 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°61, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Tres Marias insulis.

Mus. Smiths. uo. 37,312.)

2 mari similis, colore rosaceo fere absente, capitis lateribus pallide fuscis nec nigro et albo ornatis, hypochondriis

quoque fuscis nec albis distinguenda. (Descr. femine ex Tres Marias insulis. Mus. Smiths. no. 37,314.)

Hab. Mexico, Tres Marias islands (Grayson, Forrer).

This species, which seems restricted in its range to the Tres Marias islands, is a close

ally of G. venustus, having the lateral tail-feathers tipped with white; but it lacks the

black pectoral collar, so that the two species are easily distinguished.

The late Col. A. J. Grayson first procured specimens of the bird, those in the National

Museum at Washington, of a pair of which we gave a drawing in ‘The Ibis’ for

1874. Mr. A. Forrer, who has recently visited these islands, also found it, and has

sent us specimens of both sexes. Grayson’s note on his discovery is as follows:—

“This handsome little bird is one of the new species discovered by me in the Marias.

I always met with it among the low underbrush in the dark recesses of the forest,

hopping about among the decayed logs and brush near and sometimes on the ground

busily searching for insects; at every move it has a peculiar way of jerking up and

spreading its pretty fan-shaped tail, at the same time the head motionless and bent:

towards the ground, the wings recumbent, as if intensely looking for some little beetle

or grub there concealed. Its notes are a feeble ?’cit, ¢cit. Its habits are solitary.”

b. Capitis et cervicis latera plumbea ; guttur quoque concolor.

3. Granatellus sallei.

Setophaga sallei, Bp. Compt. Rend. xlii. p. 9577.

Granatellus sall@i, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 292, Aves t. 120°; 1858, p. 97°; 1859, p.374*; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1860, p. 897°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 232°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 5467,

Cerulescenti-plumbeus, litura postoculari et hypochondriis albis, gula dorso concolori, abdomine medio cum

crisso lete rosaceo-rubris; rostro plumbeo, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 5-2, ale 2-4, caudex 2°3, rostri a

rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex Cahabon, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

albicantibus. (Descr. femine ex Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico”, Cordova (Sallé1*), Potrero (Sumichrast’), Playa Vicente (Boucard +),

Yucatan (Gaumer); Guatemata, Cahabon > (0. 8S. & F. D. G.), near Tactic (Sarg).

This pretty species, one of M. Sallé’s discoveries in Southern Mexico, was described

by Bonaparte as well as by Mr. Sclater in 1856, and called after its captor. The male

alone came under M. Sallé’s notice; but the female was afterwards discovered by

BIOL. CENT.-AMER., Aves, Vol. 1, August 1881. 21

162 MNIOTILTIDA.

M. Boucard at Playa Vicente, and described by Mr. Sclater in one of his lists of

Mexican birds*. Since then a few specimens have been obtained from the eastern

parts of Southern Mexico, where Prof. Sumichrast tells us it is an inhabitant of the hot

region and the warmer parts of the temperate region, he himself having obtained it at

Potrero, near Cordova, at an elevation of nearly 2000 feet above the sea. We have

lately received a specimen from Northern Yucatan, showing a considerable extension

of its range to the eastward. In Guatemala it appears to be as rare a bird as it is in

Mexico, but few examples of it having come under our notice. These all came from

different parts of Vera Paz, one of them from the vicinity of Cahabon, less than

1000 feet above the sea. Mr. Sarg also informs us that it has been obtained near

Tactic, a village lying at an elevation of about 4500 feet. We never actually observed

the bird ourselves; and no account of its habits has been published.

—Subfam. SETOPHAGINA™.

CARDELLINA.

Cardellina, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 25 (1850?). (Type C. amicta, DuBus, = Muscicapa rubrifrons,

Giraud.)

If we exclude the two species C. rubra and C. versicolor from the genus Cardellina,

in which they have usually been placed, a single species, C. rubrifrons, remains as its

sole representative. This is a peculiar bird, with a strong almost Parine bill, the

culmen of which is curved throughout. The rictal bristles are well developed, reaching

beyond the nostrils. The wings are long and pointed, the second, third, and fourth

quills being nearly equal and longest. The tail is nearly even, and shorter than the

wings. The feet are small, and the tarsi short. Compared with Ergaticus, the bill is

much stouter, the wings longer, and the tarsi shorter; and besides these characters

there is a marked difference in the style of the coloration of the plumage. The range

of the genus is that of its single species given below.

1. Cardellina rubrifrons.

Muscicapa rubrifrons, Giraud, Sixteen B. Texas, t. 7. f. 17.

Cardellina rubrifrons, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1855, p. 667; 1858, p. 299°; 1859, p. 374°; Baird, Rev. Am.

B. i. p. 264°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 192°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 8317.

Basileuterus rubrifrons, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 863 *.

Cardellina amicta, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 25°; Bp. Consp. i. p. 312”.

Parus erythropis, Licht., fide Bp. Consp. i. p. 312”.

Supra cinerea; nucha, uropygio et corpore subtus albis, illo vix rosaceo tincto; pileo postico et capitis lateribus

posticis nigris ; fronte, loris, ciliis et gula tota late rosaceo-rubris, alis albo unifasciatis; rostro fusco,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°7, caudex 2:3, tarsi 0°75, rostri a rictu 0°55.

* Anted, p. 157.

CARDELLINA.—ERGATICUS. 163

G mari similis, colore rosaceo paulo minus distincto. (Descr. maris et femine ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, 8. Arizona’—Mexico (Sallé*, le Strange), Jalapa (de Oca§),

La Parada ?, Cinco Sefiores* (Boucard); GuatEeMAua, Volcan de Fuego and Toto-

nicapam (0. S. & F. D. G.°).

The first published account of this pretty species is that by J. P. Giraud, who gave a

figure of it in his ‘Descriptions of Sixteen New Species of North-American Birds

collected in Texas’!; but it was probably discovered some ten years previously by

Deppe in Southern Mexico, as the specimens named by Lichtenstein Parus erythropis

in the Berlin Museum! were obtained, as were so many other Mexican birds,

by that energetic collector. Another name, Cardellina amicta, was subsequently

bestowed upon it by the late Vicomte DuBus, who figured it in his ‘ Esquisses Orni-

thologiques’®; and a description of it under this title was given by Bonaparte in his

‘Conspectus’?°, All these names are now acknowledged to belong to C. rubrifrons.

Giraud, as already stated, inserts C. rubrifrons as a bird of Texas; but whether it

really occurs in this border State is very questionable. In Southern Arizona, however,

the fact of its presence has been established by Mr. W. H. Henshaw, who found it in

several places in July 1874, when young birds were also observed. Southward of this point

we have no record of its occurrence until we reach Southern Mexico, where it has been

observed in the higher districts by several ornithologists. In Guatemala it is restricted

to the higher regions of the main cordillera and the forests of the volcanos. We never

observed it ourselves below an elevation of 7000 feet in the forest-belt of the Volcan de

Fuego, where it was common, and in the mountains above Totonicapam, at an elevation

of about 10,000 feet. In the former district we found it in damp forests of mixed trees,

and in the latter in pine-forests, its resort in Arizona, according to Mr. Henshaw.

In its habits it somewhat resembles the restless Paride; but it takes insects on the

wing and jerks its tail like a Setophaga.

In Southern Mexico and Guatemala C. rubrifrons is probably resident throughout

the year, though we observed it only during the dry winter months, the places frequented

by it during the rainy season being not easily accessible. In Arizona it may be migra-

tory; but on this point our information is incomplete.

The young have been described by Mr. Henshaw’; but its nest and eggs have not yet

been met with.

ERGATICUS. —

Ergaticus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1. pp. 237, 264 (1865). (Type Setophaga rubra, Sw.) Used as a

subgenus.

Ergaticus, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 11.

Though Prof. Baird went so far as to provide a subgeneric name for the following

21*

164 MNIOTILTIDA.

species, he did not use it in a full generic sense, but left them in Cardellina, following

previous custom.

The slenderer bill, the greater development of the rictal bristles, and the shorter and

more rounded wings of Ergaticus, as compared with Cardellina, as well as the pecu-

liarity of the style of its coloration, we think entitle the former to full generic rank ;

and we thus treated it in the ‘ Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium.’

Two species constitute this genus, one of which is peculiar to the uplands of Mexico,

the other to similar districts in Guatemala.

1. Ergaticus ruber.

Setophaga rubra, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 8368*; Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 1187?

Cardellina rubra, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 292°; 1858, p. 299*; 1859, pp. 363°, 374°; 1864, p. 173”,

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 264°; Dugés, La Natur. i. p. 140°; Sumichrast, M. Bost. Soc. —

N. H.i. p.546"°; Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870, p. 829”.

Sylvia miniata, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1836, cl. ii. t. 54”.

Parus leucotis, Giraud, Sixteen B. Texas, t. 4. f.1™.

Sylvia argyrotis, Ill., fide Bp. Consp. i. p. 8312™.

Ruber, alis caudaque fuscis rubro marginatis, genis et subalaribus sericeo-albis; rostro et pedibus pallide

corylinis. Long. tota 4:4, ale 2-4, caude 2-4, tarsi 0-7, rostri a rictu 0-5. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca»

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Juy. cinnamomeo-fuscus rosaceo vix tinctus, genis sericeo-griseis. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico, Mazatlan (Grayson |), Valladolid (Bullock 1), valley of Mexico ( White’,

le Strange, Dugés®), Mirador (Sartorius *), Orizaba (Sumichrast §), alpine region of

Vera Cruz (Sumichrast'), El Jacale (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca*), Llano verde ,

Totontepec ®, and La Parada * (Loucard), Oaxaca (Fenochio).

This species was first described by Swainson, in 1827, from a specimen sent from

Mexico by Bullock!; but it is quite possible that examples of the same bird, called

Sylvia argyrotis by Lliger, in the Berlin Museum, are of still older date. Lafresnaye,

who seems to have overlooked Swainson’s short but important paper, in 1836 re-

described and figured the bird under the name of Sylvia miniata, using the title

Swainson had chosen for the Setophaga which now stands as S. miniata. Again, in

1840 Giraud figured it, in his ‘ Descriptions of Sixteen New Species of North-American

Birds from Texas,’ as Parus leucotis, a name certainly applicable to E. ruber; but the

locality ‘“‘ Texas” remains as yet unconfirmed. In 1837 Bonaparte, using Swainson’s

name, applied it to a bird said to have been brought from Guatemala by Colonel

Velasquez”. This, we should have thought, would most probably have been the next

species, EL. versicolor; but the description “rubra, alis caudaque fuscis, genis albo

sericeis,” points rather to H. ruber than to £. versicolor. We hesitate, however, to

admit Guatemala within the range of £. ruber.

ERGATICUS.—MYIODIOCTES. 165

In Mexico this species is characteristic of the alpine regions, being common at eleva-

tions ranging between 6500 and 10,000 feet. Prof. Sumichrast speaks of it as fre-

quently met with in the pine-woods, which it enlivens by the brilliancy of its plumage

and the graceful vivacity of its movements!©, Though most collections from Southern

Mexico contain specimens, we have no further account of its habits, nor is any thing

known of its nidification. |

2. Ergaticus versicolor.

Cardellina versicolor, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 188, t. 24. f£. 1°; Ibis, 1866, p.192?; Baird, Rev. Am.

B. i. p. 265°.

Ergaticus versicolor, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 11*.

Ruber, uropygio et abdomine medio paulo dilutioribus; capite toto cum collo et pectore argentescenti-rubris ;

alis et cauda fuscis rubro marginatis, subalaribus albis; rostro nigricante, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota

4:5, ale 2-4, caude 2:3, tarsi 0°7, rostri a rictu 0°5. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis.

Hab. Guatemaa, Volcan de Fuego}, Solola, Totonicapam 1, and Chilasco! (0. 8. &

F. D. G).

The first specimen we obtained of this pretty species was shot during an excursion

to the forests of the Volcan de Fuego, when we were staying at Duefias, in October

1861. It was found in a patch of alder trees on the slopes of the mountain, at an

elevation of about 7000 feet. We subsequently met with it in the same forests, but

usually at a greater altitude, as high as about 10,000 feet, where the mixed forest

terminates and the pines commence. It frequents the lower vegetation rather than the

tops of the forest trees. It searches diligently for insects much after the manner of a

Setophaga; but it occasionally remains at rest on a twig, its brilliant red plumage

showing conspicuously amongst the green foliage of the surrounding trees. Of its

nidification nothing is as yet known. Besides meeting with F. versicolor in the Volcan

de Fuego we also found it in several other districts of Guatemala, such as the

neighbourhood of Solola, at an elevation of about 7000 feet, and in the mountains

above Totonicapam as high as 10,500 feet above the sea. In both these places it

frequented pine-forests. . versicolor has never to our knowledge been obtained by

the Coban bird-hunters; but we ourselves met with it in the high mountainous district

of Chilasco, at an elevation of about 6000 feet. Here, as in the Volcan de Fuego, it

resorted to the upland forests rather than the pines.

MYIODIOCTES.

Myiodioctes, Audubon, Synopsis, p. 48 (1839). (Type Motacilla mitrata, Gin.)

The members of this genus have the rictal bristles well developed, but not so much

so as in Setophaga. The bill is broad, and depressed rather than flattened, the tail

166 MNIOTILTIDA.

nearly even and of about the same length as the wings. Three species are included in

Myiodioctes at the present time; but a fourth was described by Wilson as Muscicapa

minuta, which has not since been recognized. All are of migratory habits, passing the

breeding-season in North America and the winter in Mexico and Central America, one

only at this season migrating as far south as Ecuador.

1. Myiodioctes canadensis.

Muscicapa canadensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 327°.

Myiodioctes canadensis, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1854, p. 111”, 1855, p. 143°; Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 11°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 468‘, ix. p. 95°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 239°; Dresser,

Ibis, 1865, p. 478"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.

i. p. 820°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 823”.

Euthlypis canadensis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 326%.

? Myiodioctes cerulescens (Gm.), Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4. p. 16”.

Supra cinereus, pilei plumis medialiter nigris; fronte, loris, cervicis lateribus et maculis pectoralibus nigris ;

stria utrinque ante oculos, oculorum ambitu, gula et abdomine toto flavis, crisso albido; rostro corneo,

mandibule basi et pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°6, caude 2:2, tarsi 0°75, rostri a rictu 0°58.

Q mari similis, sed supra fuscescentior et maculis fuscis nec nigris distinguenda. (Descr. maris et femine ex

Dueftas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern Nortu America, from Lake Winnipeg southwards® !°, Texas’.—Mexico?t

(Verreaux®), tBario, Guichicovi, Isth. of Tehuantepec (Swmichrast *); GUATEMALA®,

Retalhuleu, Alotenango, Duefias, Coban (0. S. & &. D. G); Costa Rica’, highlands

(Hoffmann “), Dota Mountains (Carmiol®); Panama, line of railway (J/‘Leannan *).

—CoLomBia?; Eouapor ?.

The presence of this species in Mexico is not fully established, though we have little

doubt that it was this bird that Mr. Lawrence called Myiodioctes cerulescens in his list

of Prof. Sumichrast’s Tehuantepec birds. The other Mexican reference, resting as it

does on the doubtful authority of Verreaux, requires further confirmation, as the bird

has hitherto escaped the notice of all the many good collectors who have worked in

Southern Mexico. In Guatemala I. canadensis is one of the well-known winter

visitants, where it is to be found from September to the following spring at elevations

ranging from 800 to 5000 feet above the sea, its chief resort being the second-growth

woods. In Costa Rica and in the Isthmus of Panama it is also known as a winter

immigrant ; but it passes at this season far beyond the limits of our fauna, being found

in Colombia ® and in the province of Loxa on the southern confines of Ecuador 2.

In North America it is known as a bird of passage in the eastern States during its

spring and autumn migrations. A few stop to breed in the State of New York and in

Massachusetts, the rest northward of these States; but the extension of the northern

range of the species is not ascertained, but probably coincides with the limit of trees,

or lat. 54° N.10,

MYIODIOCTES. 167

It builds about the beginning of June, making its nest in a tussock of grass in

swampy woods, concealed by the surrounding rank vegetation. The nest is usually

composed of pine-needles interwoven with strips of bark and dry leaves, grasses, &c.,

the lining consisting of fine black fibrous roots. The eggs, five in number, are of a

clear white, dotted and blotched with spots of brown, purple, and violet, chiefly grouped

in a wreath round the larger end 9.

For general references to this species Dr. Coues’s work must be consulted 1°.

2. Myiodioctes mitratus.

Motacilla mitrata, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 977°.

Myiodioctes mitratus, Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 291°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 11°; P.Z. 8S. 1864,

p- 347%; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 110°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 6°, ix. p. 200’;

Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 239°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 478°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H.i. p. 547"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 314"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. 1.

p. 824°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 71”.

Supra lete olivaceus, alis et cauda fuscis extus olivaceo limbatis, capite cum gula nigris; fronte late, capitis

lateribus et abdomine toto lete flavis; rectricibus tribus utrinque externis pro majore parte intus albis ;

rostro nigricante, mandibule basi pallida; pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5:0, alee 2°6, caude 2°4, tarsi 0°75,

rostri a rictu 0°6. (Descr. exempl. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

colori. (Descr. exempl. ex Belize, Brit. Honduras. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. North America, eastern provinces of United States!41°, Texas 9.— Mexico,

Cordova (Sallé?), Orizaba (Sumichrast 1°), Merida, Yucatan (Schoté"), Izalam

(Gaumer); British Honpuras, Belize (0. 8. &é F. D. G., Blancaneaux); GUATEMALA®,

Retalhuleu, Duefias, Coban, Choctum (0. S. & Ff. D. G.); Honpuras, Comayagua

(Taylor >); Panama, line of railway (J/‘Leannan 4 *).—Cusal®; Jamaica’.

Of this species little is known in Mexico, as it has as yet only been found in the

State of Vera Cruz near Cordova? and Orizaba!°, and it does not seem to reach any of

the States bordering the Pacific Ocean. It occurs, however, in Yucatan’; and in

Guatemala it appears to be pretty generally distributed during the winter months, as

we obtained specimens in the lowlands of both coasts, in Alta Vera Paz, and in the

highlands near Duefias. In Honduras Mr. Taylor only obtained a single specimen in

an orange-grove at Comayagua®. From Nicaragua and Costa Rica we have no tidings

of it; but on the line of the Panama railway M‘Leannan found it, and sent specimens

both to Mr. Lawrence ® and ourselves 4,

In the continent of South America it is not known to occur; but in Cuba Dr. Gund-

lach tells us 18 that he has observed it in certain years in the month of April. It is

also reported from Jamaica* and Bermuda!™. The winter abode, therefore, of this

species would appear to be chiefly restricted to South-eastern Mexico, Yucatan, and

Guatemala, beyond which a few birds wander as far as the Isthmus of Panama. It is

168 MNIOTILTIDA.

probably these latter that stop at Cuba and Jamaica in their northward journey in the

month of April. In Guatemala it resorts chiefly to the thick second-growth woods,

keeping to the underwood rather than the larger trees. It is of restless habits, con-

stantly jerking open its wings and tail.

The summer quarters of M/. mitratus are restricted to the more southern of the

eastern States; and here it breeds, making a nest in oak bushes four or five feet from the

ground. This is constructed outwardly of dry leaves and coarse grass, and lined with

horse-hair, pine-leaves, and slender grass. The eggs, usually four in number, are

described as white, with spots of a fine red, and a few markings of a subdued purple .

8. Myiodioctes pusillus.

Muscicapa pusilla, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 103, t. 26. f. 4°.

Myiodioctes pusillus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 291°; 1858, p. 299°; 1859, pp. 363*, 874°; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 11°, Baird, U. S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 107; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 240°; Cab.

J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 325°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 478°°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. H. ix. p. 95";

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 270”; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294°°; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547"; Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 183°; Dugés, La Natur. i. p. 140*°;

Baird, Brew. & Bidgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 817"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 826”.

_ Sylvia petasodes, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2 (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57”).

Motacilla pileolata, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. i. p. 497”.

Myjiodioctes pusillus, var. pileolatus, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.1. p. 319”; Lawr. Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16”.

Supra olivaceus, alis et cauda fuscis olivaceo extus limbatis; capite summo nitente nigro; fronte, capitis

lateribus et corpore toto subtus flavis, hypochondriis olivaceo indutis; rostro maxilla cornea, mandibula

carnea; pedibus pallide coryllinis. Long. tota 4°4, ale 2:2, caude 2:0, tarsi 0°73, rostri a rictu 0°45,

(Descr. maris ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

9 mari similis, pileo dorso concolori.

Hab. North America generally, Arizona1®, Texas!0—Muexico (Sallé?), Monterey

(Couch’), Guadalajara and Tepic (Grayson *), Colima (Xantus 12), Guanajuato

(Dugés 16), Santuario (Deppe*4), Mirador (Sartorius®), Velasco and Apam (le

Strange), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast \4), Oaxaca (Fenochio), La Parada?,

Totontepec® and Villa Alta® (Boucard), Guichicovi (Sumichrast 22); GUATEMALA,

Duefias ®, San Gerénimo, Coban (0. S. & F. D.G.); Costa Rica, Barranca and

Grecia (Carmiol 4), San José‘! and Volcan de Poas 1° (v. Frantzius), Irazu (Rogers),

Orosi (Kramer); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé 15).

Mr. Ridgway ?! recognizes two races of this bird:—one inhabiting the Pacific coast-

region of North America, and southwards to Western Mexico and Costa Rica, to which

he applies Pallas’s name pileolatus?°; and the other Eastern North America and

Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica, to which Wilson’s name pusid/us! is applicable.

The former is distinguished by the greater richness of the yellow of its plumage, the

MYIODIOCTES.—BASILEUTERUS. 169

forehead and chin being almost orange, by the greater brightness of the steel-blue

gloss of the cap, and other minor characters.

Dr. Coues 18, remarking on the distribution of these varieties, says that M. pileolatus

is not restricted to the Pacific coast region, and that his Arizona specimens are precisely

like Pennsylvanian ones. He therefore places both varieties under the same name; and

we follow him in so doing; for though we recognize both races in our Central-American

series of specimens, we are, like him, unable to trace their distribution definitely, and

consequently leave the species undivided. If any thing, the so-called western race is

most prevalent in Costa Rica and Panama—that is, at the extreme southern limit of the

range of the species. This is contrary to what we usually find; for when two species or

races inhabit the northern continent, it is the eastern and not the western form that has

the most extended range in the winter season.

Myiodioctes pusillus is a well-known Mexican and Guatemalan species in the winter

months, being distributed all over the country, from near the sea-level to an altitude

of 5000 or 6000 feet. At Duefias we used frequently to meet with it in second-

growth woods and in willow trees on the banks of the Rio Guacalate. In Costa Rica

Dr. v. Frantzius met with it between August and March, and as high as 7000 feet in

the Poas volcano. Some of Carmiol’s specimens were obtained as late as April ®.

In North America MW. pusillus is chiefly known as a bird of passage, its breeding-

quarters extending northwards of Massachusetts, except in the higher mountains of the

west 18. But little, however, has been recorded of its breeding-habits, and this long ago

by Audubon and Nuttall, the former naturalist having described a nest he found in

Labrador, and the latter one from Oregon. That this species breeds in the higher

mountains of Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona there can be no doubt, as the testimony

of Messrs. Ridgway and Henshaw, and also of Dr. Coues, indicates that it is found

during the summer months in these regions; but as yet no nests have been discovered

there 18. The eggs are described as white, finely sprinkled round the larger end with

brownish red and lilac 1”.

BASILEUTERUS.

Basileuterus, Cabanis in Schomb. Reisen Guiana, iii. p. 666 (1848). (Type “ Sylvia vermivora,

Vieillot,” auct.,= Basileuterus auricapillus (Sw.) apud Berlepsch, Ibis, 1881, p. 240.)

In having a narrow nearly even tail of about the same length as the wings, and a

broad depressed bill with well-developed rictal bristles, this genus resembles Myio-

dioctes; but the wings are more rounded, and the first primary shorter; the culmen,

too, is more curved. Moreover all the members of Myiodioctes are of migratory

habits, and spend the summer in North America, and the winter in Central America ;

whereas the species of Basileuterus are, so far as we know, of non-migratory habits, all

belonging to the Neotropical region.

Basileuterus is the largest genus of the Mniotiltide, containing more species than

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., October 1881. 22

170 . MNIOTILTIDA.

even Dendreca. We aré now acquainted with twenty-seven species, which are widely

distributed throughout Tropical South America, from South Brazil to Mexico. The

countries including the Andes possess the greater proportion of the species; but Central

America is well represented by eight species, only two of which (B. bivittatus and

B. mesochrysus) have been found outside our limits. Mexico has three species—

B. culicivorus, B. belli, and B. rufifrons; Guatemala the same number, B. delattrii

taking the place of B. rufifrons. Costa Rica and Panama have five species—the two

southern ones B. bivittatus and B. mesochrysus, B. melanogenys and B. leucopygius both

peculiar, and B. culicivorus in common with Mexico and Guatemala.

These eight species seem divisible into three groups, all of which are represented in

South America, where others are also found. Prof. Baird has divided the genus into

three subgenera, which he calls Bastleuterus, Idiotes, and Myiothlypis; but the lines of

demarcation between them are so indefinite that we prefer to retain the use of the

name Lasileuterus in its wide sense, and to group the species in sections.

a. Pileus medius flavus aut aurantiacus, utringue nigro marginatus; gene

nec nigre nec castanee.

1. Basileuterus bivittatus.

Muscicapa bivittata, d’Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. i. p. 51°.

Muscicapara bivittata, d’Orb. Voy. Am. Mér. Ois. p. 8247.

Basileuterus bivitiatus, Scl. P. Z. 8.1859, p. 187°; 1860, p. 85+; Salv. Ibis, 1870, p.108°; P.Z. 8.

1870, p. 183°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1879, p. 5947.

Myiodioctes tristriatus, Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 193, t. 12. f.1°.

Basileuterus melanotis, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 95°; Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 313°; v. Frantzius,

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294".

Supra olivacea, pileo medio aurantiaco-cinereo utrinque late nigro marginato, superciliis sordide albis, loris

posticis et regione parotica nigris; subtus sordide flavicante, hypochondriis nigris olivaceo indutis; rostri

maxilla corylina, mandibula albicante; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°5, caude 2°3,

rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. exempl. ex Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten), Cervantes (J. Carmiol®), Birris (v. Frantzius®); Panama,

Cordillera del Chucu (Arcé > °).—Cotomaia®; Ecuapor?4; Prru’; Borrvia!27,

This southern species is by no means common in Central America, where it has been

found in Costa Rica and in the State of Panama. ‘The first Costa-Rica specimens which

came into Mr. Lawrence’s hands were described by him as a new species under the name

B. melanotis® ; but on receipt of specimens from the State of Panama we were enabled

to compare them with South-American examples attributed to B. bivittatus, and found

them not separable®. Since then we have obtained a Costa-Rica example and a much

more extensive series from South America, including two from Simacu in Bolivia’, the

country of the true B. bivittatus. In this series there is a certain amount of variation

in the colouring of the central portion of the vertex, and in the amount of black

BASILEUTERUS. 171

behind the eye. Specimens from Ecuador and Venezuela have the black postocular

patch the smallest, and the palest and greyest crown. Costa-Rica and Panama

examples agree very closely with Colombian and Bolivian; but the crown is rather

more tinged with reddish orange. The difference is too slight to justify the separation

of these birds; and we prefer to look upon Basileuterus bivittatus as a widely ranging

somewhat variable species. Its range in altitude is probably not great, but restricted

to about 3000 or 4000 feet above the sea-level. As we have never yet received

specimens from low-lying land, the forests of mountain-slopes are its home. Fraser,

‘who obtained specimens at Nanegal (4000 feet)+ and elsewhere, says? that the irides

are white, the bill nearly black, the legs and feet flesh-colour, and that it is a pretty

songster. D’Orbigny, who found it at Carcuata in Bolivia, says that it inhabits the

wooded ravines of the eastern cordillera of La Paz, and that its habits somewhat

resemble those of the Tits (Paride). Tschudi, who met with it in the sugar-plantation

of San Pedro near Lurin, Peru, says that it has a short, intermittent, but loud song.

Of its habits in Central America we have nothing to record; several of our references

given above !0 11 merely refer to Mr. Lawrence’s description of B. melanotis.

2. Basileuterus culicivorus.

Sylvia culicivora, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2; cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57%.

Basileuterus culicivorus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 17°; Bp. Consp. i. p. 313°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i.

p. 245‘; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 95°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546°;

Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 183%.

Muscicapa brasieri, Giraud, Sixteen B. Texas, t. 6. f. 2°.

Basileuterus brasieri, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 66°; 1856, p. 292°; 1859, p. 874"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1860, p. 274".

Supra olivaceo-cinereus, pileo medio sordide aurantiaco-flavo, utrinque late nigro marginato, capitis lateribus

olivaceis cinereo vix tinctis, superciliis indistinctis flavido-olivaceis, ciliis ipsis flavis, loris pone oculos

nigris; subtus flavus, hypochondriis olivaceo indutis; rostro corylino, pedibus pallide carneis. Long.

tota 5:0, ale 2-4, caudee 2:0, rostri a rictu 0-52, tarsi 0°76. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Obs. Avis ex Costa Rica et Panama pileo medio paulo magis aurantiaco et dorso olivascentiore forsan distin-

guenda.

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (Deppe 122, Hoge), Cordova (Sallé'°), temperate region of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast *), Teotalcingo (Boucard™); Guaremata, Volcan de Fuego”,

Volcan de Agua, Coban, Khamkal, Choctum, and road from Cahabon to San Luis

(0. S. & F. D.G.); Costa Rica, Barranca, Guaitil, Grecia and Dota Mountains

(Carmiol®); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Calovevora’ (Arcé).

Though many of the sixteen birds described as from Texas by Giraud have been

found within the borders of the United States, B. cwlicivorus (included by that author

as B. brasieri) is not amongst them, and its Texan habitat remains to be confirmed. Its

northern range does not, so far as we know at present, extend beyond the temperate

22*

172 MNIOTILTID A.

regions of Southern Mexico, where it has been noticed by many collectors from Deppe

to the present time. In Guatemala it is also an inhabitant of the temperate forests of

both coasts, being abundant in the Volcan de Fuego as high as 6500 feet, and in Vera

Paz between 4500 and 1500 feet. We always found it in humid forest searching for

its food amongst the leaves, twigs, and bark of the stems of the trees, its habits being

much like those of the Mniotiltide in general. It does not occur beyond the spurs of

the higher mountains of the State of Panama, being absent from the line of railway,

and its place taken by allied species in the southern continent. |

As indicated above, southern specimens are more olivaceous on the back, and have

the middle of the vertex deeper orange. These differences have already been noticed

by Prof. Baird, who suggests that they may be merely seasonal, adding at the same

time that they indicate a closer relationship between B. culicivorus and B. bivittatus than

usually admitted, and that these birds may ultimately be referred to that species. The

absence of the distinct dark mark behind the eye separates the former from B. bivittatus ;

and it only remains to consider the relationship of the two Central-American races of

B. culicivorus, the Mexican and Guatemalan and the Costa-Rican and Veraguan. The

distinctions alluded to are of no great amount, and, moreover, not quite constant,

inasmuch as the colour of the crown in Guatemalan examples varies from yellow to

orange, apparently without reference to sex, and it is only the average colour of southern

specimens that is deeper orange. The colour of the upper surface of Costa-Rica examples

is hardly sufficiently different to justify their bearing a distinct name.

In his note on Giraud’s ‘ Birds of Texas,’ Mr. Sclater, while recognizing the identity

of Muscicapa brasieri of Giraud, and Sylvia culicivora, Licht., says that the bird should

be called Basileuterus brasieri (Giraud); and it thus passed for several years. In giving

this decision, however, he overlooked Lichtenstein’s short but recognizable description

of his S. culicivora }, published in 1830, the latter name having some ten years’ priority.

b. Pileus obscurus inornatus, supercilium fulvum.

3. Basileuterus leucopygius.

Basileuterus leucopygius, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 1561.

Basileuterus semicervinus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y, vii. p. 3227 (nec Sclater).

Balileuterus uropygialis, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 847°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 246*; Lawr.

Ann. Lye. N.Y. viii. p. 180°; ix. p. 95°; Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 1367; 1870, p. 183°;

Ibis, 1872, p. 813° (nec Sclater).

Saturate fuscescenti-olivaceus, pileo, alis et caudex apice nigricantibus; alarum marginibus dorso concoloribus ;

subtus medialiter albidus vix cervino lavatus, pectore et hypochondriis fusco perfusis ; uropygio et caude

dimidio antico cervino-albidis; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:2, ale 2°25, caudex 2°3,

rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab, Nicaragua, Greytown (Holland ® 8); Costa Rica (Carmiol}), Tucurriqui (Arcé 7),

Angostura and Juiz (Carmiol*), Panama, Bugaba, Santa Fé 7 (Arcé), line of railway

(Galbraith ?, M‘Leannan ?),

BASILEUTERUS. 173

In 1873 the Costa-Rica form of this Basileuterus was separated from B. uropygialis

under the name of B. leucopygius!, as it was then thought to be sufficiently different

from the Panama bird to warrant the distinction, A reexamination of the types now

convinces us that one of the chief differences relied upon, the pale colour of the rump,

is due to the worn and faded state of the specimens; so that we are driven to the

conclusion that the Costa-Rica and Panama birds belong to the same species. For

this we retain the somewhat inappropriate name Basileuterus leucopygius, for the

reasons stated below.

This bird was first known as an inhabitant of Central America from specimens

obtained by M‘Leannan and Galbraith 2. These were called B. semicervinus of Sclater

by Mr. Lawrence, an identification that was subsequently questioned, as the birds were

supposed to agree better with B. uropygialis of the same author ®, As some confusion

exists relative to these two species, we propose briefly to examine them.

The description of B. semicervinus was based upon specimens obtained near Nanegal

in Western Ecuador by Fraser*. We have since received examples from Santa Rita,

on the same side of the Andes of Ecuador; and we have also others, of Salmon’s

collecting, from Remedios in the Cauca valley, Colombia, which are correctly referred

to B. semicervinus +. It would thus appear that B. semicervinus is a bird of Western

Ecuador, extending northwards, as is so frequently the case in birds of that district, into

the Cauca valley.

Basileuterus uropygialis was described from a specimen with the vague locality

“ Brazil” attached to itt. ‘This bird we now recognize in specimens from Sarayacu in

Eastern Ecuador, Chyavetas in Peru, and Bogota, the latter probably obtained in the

upper valley of the Meta. Thus it appears that each of these birds has a very distinct

range, separated by the Andes. Their differences are described in, and both birds are

figured on a plate accompanying, a synopsis of the species of Basileuterus, published by

Mr. Sclater in 1865||. It will there be seen that B. semicervinus has a darker back,

and the underparts strongly tinged with fawn-colour, whereas B. wropygialis has an

olive back, and usually pale underparts.

Now, on reconsidering the position of the Central-American bird, we are of opinion

that it comes nearest to the bird of Western Ecuador, B. semicervinus, rather than that

of the upper valleys of the basin of the Amazons, B. uropygialis.

But as the present bird has the feathers of the breast more or less edged with brown,

and the sides of the neck and flanks not nearly so clear a fawn-colour as in B. semi-

cervinus, but decidedly browner, we keep B. leucopygius under a distinct name. At

the same time we admit that the relationship with B. semicervinus is very close, and

recognize the justice of Mr. Lawrence’s first application of this name to the Panama

bird.

* Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 84. T Sel. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 494. f Sel. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 128,

§ Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1873, p. 257, || P.Z. 8. 1865, p. 282 ed seq., t. 10.

174 MNIOTILTID A.

B. leucopygius does not appear to be a common bird, as but few specimens have

reached us. It, like many of its congeners, probably lives in forests up to an elevation

of about 3000 feet. M‘Leannan always found it on the banks of a brook in very

retired places in the forest®. Mr. E. Bartlett also says of B. uropygialis that it keeps

close to brooks, uttering at intervals a shrill note.

c. Pileus castaneus, gene aut nigre aut castanee.

4. Basileuterus melanogenys. (Tab. X. fig. 3.)

Basileuterus melanogenys, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 2487; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 95°; Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 183°.

Supra obscure olivaceus, pileo castaneo utrinque nigro marginato, superciliis elongatis albis, loris et capitis

lateribus nigris; subtus sordide albus, hypochondriis fusco-olivaceis; rostri maxilla corylina, mandibula

sordide albida; pedibus corylinis. Long tota 5:0, ale 2°4, caude 2-2, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°95,

(Descr. exempl. ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, San Jose (v. Frantzius12), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé*).

A very distinct species, without near allies, which is only known to us from specimens

sent in collections formed in the highlands of Costa Rica and in the adjoining district of

Chiriqui. Nothing is recorded of its habits.

5. Basileuterus belli.

Muscicapa belli, Giraud, Sixteen B. Texas, t. 4. f. 17.

Basileuterus belli, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1855, p. 65°; 1859, p. 874°; Cat. Am. B. p. 35%; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1860, p. 31°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 250°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546”.

Basileuterus chrysophrys, Bp. Consp. 1. p. 814 (ex Licht.)*; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 202°.

Supra olivaceus, pileo et genis lete castaneis, illo nigro utrinque marginato, superciliis elongatis et corpore

subtus flavis, hypochondriis olivaceo indutis; rostro obscure corneo, pedibus pallide carneis. Long. tota

5°0, alee 2°28, caude 2-2, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Real Ariba’, Lagunas (Deppe), Jalapa (Sallé°, Hoge), Orizaba (Botteri*),

temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast’), Llano Verde and Totontepec

(Boucard*); Guaremata, Volcan de Fuego, Coban >$ (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

This species, again, was described in 1840 by Giraud as from Texas, but has not since

been found nearly so far north; so that this locality requires further confirmation. The

first specimens ever obtained were doubtless those in the Berlin Museum, sent from

Real Ariba and Lagunas by Deppe before the year 1830, to which Lichtenstein attached,

unfortunately in manuscript only, the appropriate name of Sylvia chrysophrys. This

name remained unpublished until Bonaparte used it in his ‘Conspectus,’ in 1850, too

late for adoption, as Mr. Sclater long ago pointed out 2.

BASILEUTERUS. 175

In Mexico as yet we only know Basileuterus belli as an inhabitant of the temperate

highlands of the southern portion of the republic. Prof. Sumichrast records it from

the temperate regions of Vera Cruz, beyond the limits of which it passes into both the

alpine and hot regions; and he speaks of having met with it as high as about 6500 feet.

Its usual resorts are thickets, ravines, and dark woods’. In Guatemala we found it

common in the lower part of the belt of forest which surrounds the Volcan de Fuego

between 7000 and 10,000 feet, and in the wooded ravines as low as 6000 feet. It

here consorted with Basileuterus culicivorus, both species having very similar habits.

Nothing is known of its nidification.

6. Basileuterus rufifrons.

Setophaga rufifrons, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 294’.

Basileuterus rufifrons, Bp. Consp. i. p. 814°; Sel. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 291°; 1858, p. 299*; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. i. p. 248°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 546°; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2707; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16°.

Sylvia aurigula, Licht. Mus. Ber.’; cf. Bp. Consp. i. p. 314".

Basileuterus delattrii, Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 250* (nec Bp.).

Supra sordide olivaceus, capite summo et regione parotica castaneis, loris nigris, superciliis et stria infra oculos

indisdincta albis, gula tota et pectore flavis, abdomine albido, hypochondriis fuscescentibus ; rostro nigro,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2-1, caude 2-3, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex

Cinco Sefiores, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico 13, Sierra Madre (Grayson®7), Apam (le Strange), Real Ariba (Deppe®),

Jalapa (de Oca®, Hoge), Mirador (Sartorius ®), Orizaba (Sallé 4) 1, temperate region

of Vera Cruz (Swinichrast*), La Parada (Bouwcard*), Cinco Sefiores (Boucard),

Guichicovi (Sumichrast §).

This is another of the many discoveries of Herr Deppe in Mexico, whose specimens

were allowed to remain buried in the Berlin Museum until after the species was

described by Swainson in 1838. Reference was subsequently made to Deppe’s speci-

mens by Bonaparte in his ‘ Conspectus’?.

B. rufifrons enjoys a wide range throughout the temperate regions of Southern

Mexico, from the Sierra Madre, near Mazatlan, to the southern confine of the republic.

Prof. Sumichrast tells us it frequents, with B. culicivorus and B. belli, thickets, ravines,

and dark woods, and that, though chiefly found in the temperate region, it also extends

its range to the hot region and into the more alpine districts as high as 6500 feet.

Some doubt seems to exist as to certain specimens, both from Mexico and Guatemala,

whether they belong to B. rufifrons or to B. delattrit. Adult fresh-plumaged birds of

these two species are easily distinguishable; but younger birds of the two are not so

readily recognized, as in B. rufifrons a yellow tinge pervades the white of the under-

surface, and in B. delattrii the yellow of this part is of not nearly so decided a tint as in

old birds. It is probably birds of this stage of plumage that have been misnamed. On

176 MNIOTILTIDZ.

reexamining the question, we believe that B. rufifrons is strictly confined in its range to

Mexico, and B. delattrii to Guatemala, B. mesochrysus appearing again in the more

southern parts of Central America.

7. Basileuterus delattrii.

Basileuterus delattrii, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxviii. p. 883, et Notes Orn. p. 631; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1860, p. 2747; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 249°.

Basileuterus rufifrons, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 192°.

B. rufifronti valde similis, sed abdomine toto flavo distinguendus. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Agua, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemaua, Duefias?4, Volcan de Fuego, Volcan de Agua, Coban ?, Lanquin,

Cahabon (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Nicaracua (Delattre 1)?.

It is very doubtful if this species is found beyond the limits of Guatemala and,

perhaps, Nicaragua ; and we believe that all Mexican specimens attributed to B. delatiri

will prove to be somewhat immature examples of B. rujifrons, just as Guatemalan

birds called by the latter name are almost certainly of the present species. What we

take to be immature birds of both these species have the belly a yellowish white, which

in B. rufifrons becomes greyish white in the adult and in B. delattrii yellow, like the

throat. Regarding the occurrence of this species in Nicaragua some doubt must be

entertained, as it is very probable that Delattre’s specimens described by Bonaparte as

from that country were really obtained in Guatemala. In Costa Rica the place of

B. delattrii is taken by the more southern form B. mesochrysus.

In Guatemala we found this species in the forests of both volcanos, at elevations

ranging between 2500 and 5000 or 6000 feet, and in Vera Paz at several places in the

valley of the Cahabon river, between Coban and Cahabon. Its habits are similar to

those of B. belli add B. culicivorus. Of its nidification nothing has yet been recorded.

8. Basileuterus mesochrysus.

Basileuterus mesochrysus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 251'; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 250°; Salv. P. Z.S.

1867, p. 186°; 1870, p. 188*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 95°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn.

1869, p. 294°; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 117”.

Basileuterus delattrii, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 325°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 322° (nec

Bonaparte).

Basileuterus brunneiceps, Bp. Consp. i. p. 814” (nec d’Orbigny et Lafresnaye).

B. delattrii valde affinis, sed nucha cinerea, stria rictali alba magis extensa forsan distinguendus. (Descr.

exempl. ex Paraiso, Panama. Mus. nostr.

Hab. Costa Rica, San José (v. Frantzius®), Guaitil and Grecia (Carmiol®), Irazu

(Rogers); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Chitra‘, Calobre+ and Santa Fé? (Arcé),

line of railway (1/‘Leannan °®), Paraiso station (Hughes).—CoLomBIA, Sierra Nevada

de Santa Marta’, Bogota! ,

BASILEUTERUS.—SETOPHAGA. 177

In separating this bird from B. delattrii, Mr. Sclater speaks of the greater length of

its wings!; and this feature is also referred to by Prof. Baird? and by Salvin? ; but, with

a larger series of specimens now before us, we find that the length of the wing varies

from 2°04 to 2-4, specimens of B. delattrii and B. rufifrons having wings measuring

between these extremes. The length of the wing, therefore, of B. mesochrysus is

not a diagnostic character. The same may be said of the colour of the underparts

when full-plumaged adult birds are compared. The most trustworthy point of difference

is the presence in B. mesochrysus of a grey nape, that part of B. delattrii being olive

like the back.

B. mesochrysus was first described by Mr. Sclater, in 18601, from “ Bogota” speci-

mens, where the bird would appear to be not uncommon, judging from its frequent

occurrence in trade collections from Colombia. Bonaparte, too, seems to have seen it

from the same place, though he wrongly identified it with Setophaga brunneiceps 1°, so

Dr. Cabanis tells us’. We also know of its presence elsewhere in Colombia, as

Mr. Wyatt found it in the Magdalena valley, near Herradura, and Mr. Simons in the

Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, as high as 4000 feet above the sea.

In Central America it occurs at all elevations, from the low-lying land of the Panama

railway up to 4000 feet in the neighbourhood of San José de Costa Rica.

It is, like its allies, an inhabitant of the forests.

SETOPHAGA.

Setophaga, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 360 (1827). (Type Muscicapa ruticilla, Linn.)

Euthlypis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 18. (Type E. lacrymosa.)

In this genus the rictal bristles are more fully developed than in any other member

of the Mniotiltide, it being in this respect quite as well provided with bristles as the

majority of the Old-World Muscicapide. The presence of a nine- instead of a ten-

primaried wing, however, at once shows the true position of Setophaga. Basileuterus

is its nearest ally, from which Setophaga differs in having a bill rather wider in propor-

tion to its length, in the greater development of the rictal bristles, and in the style of

coloration of the tail-feathers. In a recent synopsis of the genus* Salvin recognized

fifteen species as belonging to Setophaga, which are mainly distributed over Mexico,

Central America, and the Andes of South America, as far as Bolivia. Besides these,

one migratory species ranges over most of Eastern North America and the Antilles, one

species is found in Venezuela, and another in Guiana. But Setophaga is unrepresented

in the valley of the Amazons, South-eastern Brazil, and in all the low-lying forest-

country of South America.

Returning to our region, we find Setophaga ruticilla, the single migratory species of

the genus, very abundant in the winter season from the sea-level to a height of 7000 or

* This, 1878, p. 302 et seq.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., October 1881. 23

178 MNIOTILTIDA.

8000 feet. S. picta just enters the United States, but is common in the highlands of

Mexico and Guatemala, countries which also have S. miniata in common, as well as

S. lacrymosa. Costa Rica and the State of Panama possess in common 8. aurantiaca

and S. torqguata—the former a local representative of the widely ranging 8. verticals

of South America, the latter a peculiar form without near allies.

In these six species all three of the groups into which the genus has been divided are

represented. ‘These may be seen under their respective headings.

A. Sexus dissimiles, ale longiores, rectricum lateralium apices nigre ; speculum alare

rubescens ; venter albicans.

1. Setophaga ruticilla.”

Muscicapa ruticilla, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 326°.

Setophaga ruticilla, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 868; Gosse, B. Jam. p. 164°; Cab. in Schomb.

Guiana, iii. p. 667‘; Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p.118°; Scl. P. Z.S.1854, p.111°; 1855, p. 144°;

1856, p. 292°; 1859, p. 374°; 1864, p. 172”; Sallé, P. Z.S. 1857, p. 231"; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 12”; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 347°; 1879, p. 494"; A. & E. Newton, Ibis, 1859,

p. 144%; Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. vii. p. 111"; x. p. 2517; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y.

vil. p. 822"; viii. p. 175; ix. p. 96”; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16”; Cab. J. f.

Orn. 1860, p. 825”; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 256”; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 479”; Salv.

P. Z. S. 1867, p. 186”; 1870, p. 183%; 1878, p. 305; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

i. p. 547™; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 323; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. i. p. 322°"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 887°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 70”.

Motacilla tricolora, Mill. Naturs. Suppl. p. 175 ** (ex D’Aub. Pl. Enl. 391. f. 2).

Motacilla multicolor, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 972% (ex D’Aub.).

Motacilla flavicauda, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 997”.

Nitenti-purpurascenti nigra; corporis lateribus, subalaribus, speculo alari et caude rectricibus quatuor externis

utrinque ad basin rufo-aurantiacis, ventre et crisso albis, hoc medialiter nigro ; rostro corneo, pedibus fuscis.

Long. tota 4°5, alee 2°5, caudex 2-4, tarsi 0:7. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra olivascenti-grisea, subtus albida ; subalaribus, speculo alari et caude basi (nisi in quatuor rectricibus

mediis) flavido-aurantiacis. (Descr. femine ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Eastern and Middle Provinces #! 32, Texas 2#.—Muexico (Sallé 5),

maritime parts (Bullock?), hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast*®), valley of

Mexico (White), Playa Vicente (Boucard®), Santa Efigenia (Sumichrast **) ;

British Honpuras, Belize (0. 8.12); GuatemMaLa®, Retalhuleu, Totonicapam,

Duefias, San Gerénimo, Coban, Choctum (0.8. & Ff. D. G.); Satvapor, Acajutla

(0. 8.); Costa Rica, highlands (Hoffmann **), Barranca (v. Frantzius °°), Turrialba,

Angostura (Carmiol?°); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Hicks °, Arcé), Calovevora *6,

Chitra 26, and Santa Fé5(Arcé), Lion-Hillstation (J/‘Leannan}3 18).—Co.oms1a! 14 39;

Ecuador *; Gurana 4 34 3; AnTILLES, Cuba ®*, Jamaica®, Haiti!!, Puerto Rico !’,

Bahamas !6, St. Croix 1°, &c.

SETOPHAGA. 179

This well-known species, the only migratory member of the genus, has a very wide

range in the winter months throughout Eastern Mexico and the whole of Central

America; and beyond these limits it extends its travels as far south as about the line of

the equator, being found at this season throughout the northern portion of the South-

American continent, and probably in all of the West-Indian Islands. Its limits in

Mexico seem confined to the eastern portion of the republic, as we have no tidings of it

from Western Mexico ; but as we approach the southern frontier it crosses to the Pacific,

and has been recorded from Tehuantepec by Professor Sumichrast 24. In Guatemala it

spreads from one ocean to the other, and in altitude to about 8000 feet. We find it,

however, at the sea-level near Belize and elsewhere; and it is more common in the hot

than in the colder country. In other parts of Central America it is equally abundant ;

and hardly a collection of birds made during the winter months in that country fails to

contain specimens,

Its habits have been very fully described by North-American writers, amongst whom

Dr. Coues may be specially mentioned *?. In Guatemala its chief resort is second-growth

woods and the edges of the older forests, where its search for insects is carried on with

incessant perseverance.

In the north it only resides during the summer, when the business of reproduction is

carried out. It there spreads over temperate North America, especially the Eastern

Province, its northern limit reaching Fort Simpson, and its western Utah 22.

Its nest is described as placed in a fork of a tree about five feet from the ground, and

as composed of varied materials, such as vegetable fibres, grass, strips of bark, &c.; these

are loosely woven and lined with fine grasses, pine-leaves, and horsehair. The eggs,

five in number, are white, blotched and dotted with purple, lilac, and brown *1,

B. Serus similes; ale breviores, magis rotundate ; rectrices laterales fere tote aut in

parte terminalt late albe.

a. Supra nitenti-nigra; speculum alare late album; abdomen coccineum.

2. Setophaga picta.

Setophaga picta, Sw. Zool. Til. ser. 2, i. t. 8°; Bp. Consp. i. p. 312°; Scl. P. Z.S. 1855, p. 66°;

1856, p. 292*; 1858, p. 299°; 1859, p. 374°, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12"; Baird, U.S.

Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 11°; Rev. Am. B.i. p. 256°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p.110*°; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546"*; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2707;

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 167°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 835"; Salv. Ibis, 1878,

p. 306”.

Muscicapa leucomus, Giraud, Sixteen B. Tex. t. 6. f. 1°.

Muscicapa tricolor, Licht. Mus. Berol.” (fide Bp. Consp. i. p. 312).

Nitenti-nigra ; macula supra et infra oculos, tectricibus alarum mediis et majoribus, secundariorum marginibus$

subalaribus et ventre imo albis, crisso albo ad basin nigro; abdomine medio coccineo ; rectrice extima

23*

180 MNIOTILTID.

utrinque fere omnino alba proxime parte basali nigra, tertia albo terminata, reliquis omnino nigris ; rostro

et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°6, caude 2:5, rostri a rictu 0-55, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex

Santa Barbara, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari similis, sed coloribus paulo obscurioribus.

Av. horn. sordide niger ; abdomine albido sordide brunneo maculato.

Hab. Nortn America, Arizona!4.—Mexico, Boquillo (Cowch®), Real del Monte

(Taylor1), Zacatecas”, Sierra Madre (Grayson }*), alpine region of Vera Cruz

(Sumichrast 11), near city of Mexico (Sallé*, le Strange), La Parada® and Cinco

Sefiores ® (Boucard), Gineta Mountains (Sumichrast *); Guatemata’, Volcan de

Fuego °, ridge near Chol, San Gerénimo, Santa Barbara, Chilasco, and Tactic

(0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Honpvras, Comayagua (Hdwards '),

This pretty Setophaga was first made known to science by Swainson, who described

and figured a bird sent to Mr. John Taylor from Real del Monte in Mexico; and for

the past five-and-twenty years it has become familiar to us from the number of specimens

sent from various parts of the Mexican highlands, where it enjoys a wide range, being

known from Arizona * and Nuevo Leon ° in the north to the Gineta Mountains in the

State of Chiapas 4°. Grayson, who observed it in Sierra Madre, near Mazatlan, speaks

of it as having all the habits of the Warblers, being always very busy, actively hopping

amongst the branches in-search of insects, uttering at the same time a chirping note.

The tail is often spread just enough to show distinctly the broad white tips of the outer

feathers 2, Prof. Sumichrast places it amongst the birds of the alpine region of Vera

Cruz, being found at elevations ranging between 4600 and 8200 feet; and most of the

other Mexican localities given above lie at a considerable elevation. In Guatemala,

too, it is a bird characteristic of the upland oak-forests, and we found it at various

places between 8000 or 9000 feet in the Volcan de Fuego, and 3000 feet near San Ger6-

nimo. As in Mexico it is a conspicuous species, soon attracting attention by its restless

movements, and its habit of opening its tail and showing the white tips to the outer

rectrices. Beyond Guatemala we know nothing of it, except the note of Mr. Taylor

that Mr. Edwards obtained a specimen near Comayagua in Honduras, indicating that

it probably occurs in the higher forest-clad mountains which lie between that State and

Guatemala.

Setophaga picta having been included in Giraud’s ‘Sixteen Birds of Texas’ under

the name of Muscicapa leucomus * 1®, has long had a quasi footing as a member of the

United-States fauna. Owing to its recent discovery in Southern Arizona, its status is now

established. Capt. Bendire met with it near Tucson in 1872, and Mr. W. H. Henshaw

in the two following years in different parts of Southern Arizona, where it was breeding 14.

According to the observations of the latter naturalist, S. pzcta leaves Arizona in the winter

months. We have no evidence of any migratory movement of the species in Guatemala,

where we believe it is found throughout the year, and where it certainly breeds, as we

have a specimen in first plumage from that country. This being the case, it would

SETOPHAGA. 181

appear that ‘during the winter a contraction of the area inhabited by the species takes

place along its northern border, rather than a shifting of ground by the whole of the

individuals.

Of the nest and eggs of this species nothing is yet known.

b. Supra schistacee, aliquando olivaceo tincte ; speculum alare nullum.

a’. Mentum et gula nigricantia.

3. Setophaga miniata.

Setophaga miniata, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 868°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 2927; 1858, p. 299°;

1859, pp. 363 *, 374°; 1864, p. 173°; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 249, t. 58. £17; Rev. Am. B.

i. p. 259°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 546°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

li. p. 270"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 16"; Saly. Ibis, 1878, p. 308 ”.

Muscicapa larvata, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2° (cf. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 58).

Muscicapa vulnerata, Wag). Isis, 1831, p. 529 ™.

Setophaga vulnerata, Bp. Consp. i. p. 813%; Sel. P. Z.S. 1855, p. 65°,

Muscicapa derhami, Giraud, Sixteen B. Tex. t. 3. f. 27,

Setophaga castanea, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 42 ™.

Setophaga flammea, Kaup, P. Z. 8.1851, p. 50"; Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12”; Baird, Rev. Am. B.

i. p. 259”,

Setophaga intermedia, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 5”.

Supra ardesiaca; alis, uropygio et cauda nigricantibus ; fronte, loris, verticis lateribus et gula tota nigris,

vertice ipso lete castaneo; subtus abdomine toto coccineo, subalaribus et crisso extus albis: caudex

’

rectricibus tribus externis gradatim albo terminatis, rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5:4, caude 2°6,

rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°73. (Descr. maris ex Parada, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico? 3 17, Sierra Madre (Grayson !), Valladolid (Bullock), Zacatecas \,

valley of Mexico (White ®, le Strange), Jalapa’ (de Oca‘), temperate and alpine

regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), Temascaltepec and Real Ariba (Deppe), Cinco

Sefores®, Totontepec®, and La Parada? (Boucard), Sierra Madre near Zapotitlan

(Sumichrast ); Guatemana !9 20, Quezaltenango, Volcan de Fuego, Duefias, Car-

rizal, Chilasco, and Coban (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

The Guatemalan and Mexican representatives of this bird were long considered to

belong to distinct species, the latter bearing Swainson’s name J. miniata, the former

one proposed by Kaup, S. flammea!. Having recently carefully examined this subject 12,

we came to the conclusion that the differences were too slight to justify the birds being

kept separate; sowe united them under the name S. miniata, proposed by Swainson for

the Mexican bird in 1827, the description being taken from a specimen obtained by

Bullock at Valladolid in the Mexican highlands!. The Guatemalan S. Jflammea 9 was

formerly said to differ in having the breast rather more orange-red and the tail somewhat

shorter and with less white on the outer feathers; but comparing specimens killed at

182 MNIOTILTID A.

the same time of year, the difference of the colour of the breast is not perceptible, and

the examination of a series of specimens shows some variability in the extent of the

white of the tail-feathers. So no really tangible difference remains by which to distin-

guish the two birds. Regarding the other synonyms given to this bird, Wagler’s name

S. vulnerata", no doubt, applies to it ; for though Wagler says his is very near Swainson’s

species, he does not say how they differ. Muscicapa larvata of Lichtenstein’, Setophaga

castanea of Lesson !8, and Muscicapa derhami of Giraud" also apply, without doubt, to

Setophaga miniata; but they all seem to have been proposed by their authors without

any reference to the work of their predecessors, and doubtless in ignorance of their

labours. Of S.flammea we have already spoken ; and, lastly, S. intermedia of Hartlaub

was proposed for the Guatemalan bird, and, with S. flammea, must be placed as a

synonym of S. miniata.

Though stated by Giraud to occur within the United-States border, S. miniata has

not since been found north of Mexican territory, though, like S. picta, it may still be

discovered in Southern Arizona. Its most northern limit in Mexico is the Sierra Madre,

near Mazatlan, where Grayson met with it, but where he says it is rare, only two or

three individuals having come under his notice high upin the mountains. He describes

its habits as resembling those of the Flycatchers, waiting quietly on its perch for passing

insects. Prof. Sumichrast speaks of it as inhabiting the alpine and temperate regions

of Vera Cruz, at altitudes ranging between 1600 and 8200 feet. In Guatemala we

never met with it so low down, the neighbourhood of Coban, 4300 feet, being the lowest

point where it occurs in abundance; but here it is a well-known bird. Above this, in

all suitable woods, it is common up to 8000 feet in the vicinity of Quezaltenango in

the Altos of Guatemala.

Like S. picta it is a restless species, constantly searching for its food amongst the

leaves and branches of the oak trees it frequents. In Guatemala it is probably a resi-

dent species, as we observed it at nearly every season of the year.

Of its nest and eggs nothing is yet known.

4, Setophaga aurantiaca.

Setophaga aurantiaca, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 261* ; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 9675 v. Frantzius,

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294°; Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 313°; 1878, p. 310°; P. ZS. 1870, p. 183°.

Setophaga flammea, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 85" (nec Kaup).

Supra schistacea ; fronte, capitis lateribus, gula tota et cauda nigricantibus ; plaga verticali castanea; abdomine

toto aurantiaco-flavo, crisso albo; rectricis utrinque extime dimidio apicali albo, duabus quoque utrinque

proximis albo terminatis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5:3, ale 2-6, caude 2-5, rostri a rictu 0-6,

tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex San José, Costa Rica, Mus. nostr.)

Av. horn. fusco-niger ; abdomine medio fulvescente.

Hab. Costa Rica’, San José}, Barranca!, Grecia?, and Dota Mountains 1 2 (Carmiol),

Candelaria Mountains (v. Frantzius?), Turrialba and Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui, Calovevora (Arcé °).

SETOPHAGA. » 183

Of the same style of coloration as S. miniata, from which it differs in having a yellow

instead of a red abdomen, SS. awrantiaca has its nearest ally in S. verticalis, a species of

wide range in the Andes from Colombia and Venezuela to Bolivia. From this it chiefly

differs in having the abdomen orange rather than lemon-yellow; and the outer rectrices

of S. verticalis have the white of greater extent than in the more northern bird, which

also has the dark markings of the head of a blacker hue. At one time we doubted

there being two recognizable forms*; but having had a larger series for examination, we

are now of opinion that the differences are constant, rendering the separation of the two

justifiable.

S. aurantiaca was described from specimens from Costa Rica 1, where it is a common

bird in the highlands, extending its range as low as 3000 feet. It is also abundant in

the higher mountains of the State of Panama, but is altogether absent from the low-

lying lands crossed by the line of railway. Its range, therefore, is not conterminous with

that of S. verticalis of South America, which, from all we hear of it, is also a bird of the

higher mountain-ranges.

S. aurantiaca is doubtless a sedentary species. It certainly breeds in the Volcano of

Chiriqui, whence we have a young specimen in first plumage which could only have

been barely able to fly when it was shot.

b’. Corpus subtus omnino aureo-flavum.

5. Setophaga torquata. (Tab. X. fig. 2.)

Setophaga torquata, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 261*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 967; Salv. P. Z. S.

1867, p. 136°; Ibis, 1878, p. 319°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294°.

Supra schistacea ; pileo undique, alis et cauda nigricantibus ; crista verticali castanea ; fronte, capitis lateribus

et corpore subtus flavis, torque pectorali dorso concolori; rectrice utrinque externa pro majore parte alba,

proxima dimidio apicali albo, tertia albo terminata; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5-4, ale 2-6,

caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, San José!?, La Palma?5 (v. Frantzius); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4,

Cordillera de Tolé 3 4, Calovevora # (Arcé).

This well-marked species is confined in its range to the mountain-districts of Costa

Rica and the adjoining State of Panama. In the former country it appears to be not

uncommon ; for though it did not fall to the lot of Dr. Hoffmann and his fellow-labourers

to discover the species, it has since been found by nearly every collector who has worked

in the country. It is probably equally abundant in the forests of the higher parts of

Panama, whence we have received a fair supply of specimens.

In the distribution of the colours of the head S. torguata differs from all its congeners ;

but the most striking distinction is the dark pectoral band from which it takes its name ;

this is not present in any other member of the genus.

Our figure is taken from a Costa-Rican specimen shot near La Palma by Dr. von Frantzius. ©

184 MNIOTILTIDZA.

C. Sexus similes; statura major; ale rotundate ; rostrum magis elongatum, robustius

cauda nigricans, rectricibus omnibus plus minusve albo terminatis.

6. Setophaga lacrymosa. (Tab. XI. fig. 2.)

Euthlypis lacrymosa, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 19°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 291°; 1859, p. 863°; Scl. &

Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 274*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p.546’°; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H.i. p. 270°.

Basileuterus lacrymosus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 814".

Setophaga lacrymosa, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 263°; Salv. Ibis, 1878, p. 320°.

Supra schistacea vix olivaceo tincta; fronte et superciliis, loris et regione suboculari nigris, macula lorali et

ciliis albis; pileo medio sulphureo; subtus ochraceo-flava, gula et abdomine medio flavescentioribus ;

hypochondriis olivaceis ; crisso flavescenti-albo; rectricibus omnibus albo terminatis ; rostro nigro, pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 3-0, caudee 2'8, tarsi 0°95, rostri a rictu0°7. (Descr. maris ex Alotenango,

Guatemala, Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico’, Mazatlan (Grayson °), Lagunas (us. Berol.'), temperate region of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast°), Cordova (Sallé?), Jalapa (de Oca*), Santa Efigenia, Tehuan-

tepec (Sumichrast); GuaTEMALA, Alotenango‘ and Savana Grande’ (0. S. & F. D. G.).

This peculiar and well-marked species, when first described by Dr. Cabanis 1, was

made the type of a new genus, Huthlypis, a position Bonaparte held that it ought perhaps

to occupy’. Prof. Baird, who paid considerable attention to the question when com-

piling his ‘ Review of American Birds,’ however, only granted Huthlypis subgeneric

rank, calling the present bird Setophaga lacrymosa. This seems to be its proper place®,

The bird is larger than any other species of Setophaga, and has a longer, somewhat

stronger, bill, in which respect it approaches Basileuterus. In having white tips to the

tail-feathers, which it displays in true Setophagian fashion, it seems rightly placed in

Setophagqa.

S. lacrymosa was first described from a specimen in the Berlin Museum, obtained

most probably by Deppe at Lagunas in Mexico, in which country it has since been

obtained by several collectors. Grayson, who found it at Mazatlan ®, describes it as unlike

the Flycatchers in its habits, never remaining quiet a moment, but constantly hopping

about over old logs, on the ground, in the brush and low branches of trees, with its tail

spread, its actions in this respect being not unlike those of Granatellus. He speaks of

it as a common species near Mazatlan, where he only met with it in the dark woods

near the river. All his specimens were procured in the winter months. Prof. Sumichrast®

includes it amongst the inhabitants of the temperate region of Vera Cruz, at elevations

lying between 1600 and 3300 feet. He says it isa rare bird, but that he obtained several

specimens in the woods covering the calcareous rocks of Penuela, near Cordova, at an

elevation of about 2300 feet above the sea. He describes its habits as different from

those of Setophaga, walking rather than hopping, and when on the ground to be

SETOPHAGA. 185

mistaken for one of the Formicariide. One specimen he killed was in the midst of an

innumerable column of Tepegua ants (Eciton mexicanum), upon which he says it was

doubtless feeding. |

In Guatemala its range is very.restricted; and we are not aware that it occurs

anywhere except in the forests which lie at an elevation of from 3000 to 4500 feet,

between the Volcanos of Agua and Fuego. In September 1859 a pair were watched

for some time, and afterwards secured, below the village of Alotenango in this district 4,

Their restless motions recalled those of Setophaga; and they had the curious habit of

expanding their tails and swaying them to and fro. Subsequently our Indian hunters

used not unfrequently to bring us specimens from the same district; but we are not

aware that the bird ever occurs to the bird-collectors of Vera Paz.

Southwards of Guatemala we have no record of its existence.

[Norz.—sSetophaga multicolor, briefly described by Bonaparte (Consp. Av. i. p. 312)

from a specimen in the Senckenberg Museum said to be from Mexico, has not since

been recognized as a Mexican bird. The adoption by Bonaparte of Gmelin’s name of

Muscicapa multicolor seems to indicate that the bird he described was a specimen of the

well-known Australian bird, the Red-bellied Flycatcher of Latham, which now stands

as Petreca multicolor (Gm.), to which a wrong locality had been attached. Anyhow

we must exclude Setophaga multicolor from the Mexican fauna until further evidence

of its existence in that country is forthcoming. (Cf. Salvin, Ibis, 1878, p. 321.)]

Fam. VIREONIDZ*.

VIREO.

Vireo, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 83 (1807) (Type Muscicapa noveboracensis, Gm.) ; Baird, Brew.

& Ridgw. N.-Am. B. i. p. 357; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 484.

Vireosylvia, Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 26 (1838). (Type Muscicapa olivacea, Linn.)

Phyllomanes, Cabanis, Arch. f. Nat. 1847, i. p. 321.

Lanivireo, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 345 (1866). (Type Vireo flavifrons, Vieill.) A subgenus.

Vireonella, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 369 (1866). (Type Vireo gundlachi, Lemb.) A subgenus.

Opinions have differed as to whether this genus should be used in a wide sense so as

to include Vireosylvia, or whether it should be so restricted as to leave that genus

to stand by itself. Prof. Baird, who closely studied these birds when compiling

his ‘Review of American Birds,’ admitted seven genera of Vireonide, keeping Vireo-

sylvia and Vireo distinct. The former he divided into two subgenera (Vireosylvia and

* We follow Prof. Baird (Rey. Am. B. i. p. 322) in the arrangement of this family, the members of which

are to be distinguished from the Mniotiltide either by the hooked bill or by the presence of a first spurious

primary, and by the basal phalanx of the toes being more united. Prof. Baird groups the Vireonide with the

Ampelide and Laniide, which seems to be their best location. So far as we know at present, the family has

no near allies in the Old World, its members being restricted to the two continents of America.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. 1., December 1881. 94

186 VIREONIDA.

Lanivireo), and the latter also into two (Vireo and Vireonella). The differences by

which these sections are distinguished are given below in the headings to each group

of species. The system here elaborated was, with slight modification, adopted in the

‘History of North-American Birds ;’ but there, though the names Vireosylvia, Lanivireo,

and Vireo are called subgeneric titles of Vireo, they stand at the head of each species

with full generic rank. Dr. Coues, in his various writings, and in his most recent one

the ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley,’ advocates the use of Vireo in its widest sense: and

the arguments put forward in favour of this view seem to us to be most worthy of

consideration. One of the chief, if not the only point of distinction between Vireo and

Vireosylvia (the presence or apparent absence of a spurious first primary) breaks down

on close examination ; for this feather proves to be always present, though sometimes

in a very reduced form. Moreover, in the case of V. flavifrons and V. solitarius (birds

whose general appearance is so much alike that they have almost always been placed

under the same generic head), the different state of development of the first primary

in each points to their separation.

In Vireo the legs are slender, the claws weak, and the lateral toes unequal. The

shape of the wings varies; in some of the more migratory species they are pointed, in

others more rounded. The bill is slender compared with such genera as Vireolanius

and Cyclorhis, and abruptly decurved at the end as compared with Hylophilus. The

first plumage of the young resembles that of the adult, and is destitute of spots either

above or below. This character applies to the whole family. Twenty species are now

known to occur within the limits of Mexico and Central America, of which nine are

immigrants from the north during the winter season, coming in autumn and leaving

again in spring. Of these, only two pass beyond our limits into the northern parts of

South America. Besides these migratory birds, there are eleven more or less sedentary

species, whereof one (V. hypochryseus) is peculiar to Western Mexico and the Tres

Marias Islands, one (V. ochraceus) is shared by Mexico and Guatemala, one (V. pallens)

by Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and another (V. carmiolt) by Costa Rica and Panama.

V. huttond, a northern species, is said to be resident in Mexico: and V. amauronctus is

also probably resident there.

In their summer quarters the members of this genus are during the breeding-season

cheerful songsters ; but in the winter they only utter call-notes.

A. Ale product, acute, cauda longiores ; remex primus minutus, aliquando

obsoletus. (Vireosylvia.)

a. Corpus attenuatum et elongatum ; rostrum debile, angustum, rectum ; pedes debiles.

a’. Remex spurius obsoletus.

a". Pileus cinereus utrinque fusco marginatus.

1. Vireo calidris, ”

Motacilla calidris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 3297.

VIREO. 187

Vireosylvia calidris, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 829°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1875, p. 234°; Lawr. Pr.

U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 486 *.

Vireo calidris, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.-Am. B. i. p. 859°.

Vireosylvia calidris, var. dominicana, Lawr. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. pp. 55, 486°.

Muscicapa altiloqua, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 67, t. 387.

Vireosylvia altiloqua, A. & E. Newton, Ibis, 1859, p. 145°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 348°.

Supra olivaceus, pileo cinerascente utrinque fusco marginato, superciliis sordide albis, loris et stria utrinque

rictali fuscis ; subtus albidus, hypochondriis et crisso vix olivaceo tinctis; rostro et pedibus corneis.

Long. tota 6-0, alx 3:2, caude 2°35, rostri a rictu 0-85, tarsi 0-75. (Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. North America, Florida>.—Panama, Lion-Hill Station (J/*Leannan).—VeEne-

ZUELA®; GUIANA; ANTILLES, Cuba, Jamaica?, San Domingo’, Windward Islands

generally 246,

This species is a well-known inhabitant of most of the West-Indian Islands, having

been figured as long ago as 1751 by Edwards* from specimens obtained in the island

of Jamaica. Upon this figure Linneus founded his description! Vieillot also described

it from San-Domingo specimens, giving it the name of altilogua’. The Cuban repre-

sentative of this form has sometimes been admitted to specific rank under the name

of V. barbatula; so also have those of the Lesser Antilles in several instances been

provided with names®; but, after examining a considerable series, it seems to us that

the points of difference are too slight and unstable to admit of any separation being

satisfactorily made.

The presence of this Vireo in Continental America has only recently been ascertained.

M‘Leannan in 1864 sent us a single specimen from Panama which we referred to this

species ®. ‘This is the only one we have seen from Central America ; and the correctness

of its determination was questioned by Prof. Baird?. But we have now obtained

authentic specimens both from Merida® and San Esteban in Venezuela, and from

Bartica Grove in British Guiana (the latter sent us by Mr. Whitely) ; and neither do

these nor does our Panama specimen differ from the Jamaican bird. Moreover it has

now become much more probable that the description by Vicomte DuBus of a bird from

Ocaiia in Colombia as Vireosylvia frenata was based upon an individual of V. calidris

captured in its winter quarters. Messrs. Newton ® and Mr. Ober® both suspected that

the birds observed in St. Croix and Dominica were migrants, arriving in the spring,

remaining to breed, and departing again before winter; and on this point we have

recently the positive testimony of Mr. Edward Newton, now residing in Jamaica, who

assures us that V. calidris is certainly a migratory species in that island. The presence

of the species on the continent of South America is thus satisfactorily explained; and

we include V. calidris in this work without further hesitation. The fact, too, of this

bird being migratory lessens very much indeed the probability of there being any

distinct island forms.

* Nat. Hist. B. iii. p- 121, t. 121. f. 2.

7 Bull. Ac. Brux. xxii. p. 150.

24*

188 VIREONID.

The nest of Vireo calidris is described by Mr. E. Newton ® as shaped like an inverted

cone, and composed outwardly of dried blades of grass, dead leaves, and wool, woven

round the twigs, to which it was attached, with spiders’ webs, lined inside with finer blades

of grass, and about three inches and a half in diameter and five in height. The eggs,

three in number, are white, with a few black spots of different sizes chiefly dispersed

about the larger end. This nest with its eggs was found on June 5th, 1858, in a man-

chioneel tree in the island of St. Croix, and was suspended to the leafy part of a bough.

2, Vireo olivaceus. ”

Muscicapa olivacea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 3277.

Vireosylvia olivacea, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1855, p. 1517; 1859, p. 863°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12°;

P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 836°; 1879, p. 495°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 3337; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N.Y. ix. p. 96°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.-Am. B.

i. p. 363"; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 16%. .

Phyllomanes olivaceus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 404°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 55”.

Vireo olivaceus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 480**; Coues, ‘B. Col. Vall. 1. p. 495”.

Vireo bogotensis, Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. vil. p. 227°.

Vireosylvia bogotensis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 6".

Supra olivaceus, pileo cineraceo utrinque fusco marginato, loris fuscis, superciliis sordide albis; subtus albus,

hypochondriis vix fusco-olivaceo indutis; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 5:0, alee 3-0, caude 2-0,

rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. exempl. ex Dueiias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. V. calidri similis, sine stria rictali fusca.

Hab. Eastern NortH America, north to Hudson’s Bay, west to the Rocky Mountains? 4,

Texas 1 *.—Mextco, Jalapa (de Oca?); Guatemata‘, Coban, Duefias (0. S. &

fF. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely®); Costa Rica, San José

(Carmiol®°), Dota Mountains (Carmiol); Panama, line of railway (IM*Leannan 17),

—CotomsBia 7616; Cupa®,

Prof. Baird recognized four species of this form in his ‘Review of American Birds’?;

but this number was reduced to two species, each with one variety, in the ‘ History

of North-American Birds’!°, Of these, V. olivaceus and V. flavoviridis have been

unanimously allowed to stand as species distinct from one another; but the others, to

which the names V. agilis and V. chivi have been applied, have experienced very varied

treatment. Dr. Finsch* considers that, putting aside V. flavoviridis, only one species

can be recognized, which he calls V. olivacea; the differences in the proportional lengths

of the primaries, upon which Prof. Baird placed so much stress, he looks upon as

individual variations not to be associated with the birds of any one district. Our

selected series of Vireos of the V. olivaceus type consists of twenty specimens; and

these are separable into two, perhaps three, races by the test of their wings. First we

have the true V. olivaceus with the outer quill about equal to or a little shorter than

the fourth. This is the North-American bird, which extends, probably in winter only, to

* P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 565.

VIREO. 189

Central America and Colombia as far as the neighbourhood of Bogota. In Guiana,

the Amazons valley, the province of Bahia in Brazil, and Eastern Bolivia we find a

rather brighter-coloured bird, whose wing has the outer primary shorter than the fifth.

This appears to be V. agilis or V. chivi, as it seems probable that these names apply to

the same bird. On this latter point our materials are incomplete, as we have only one

skin from Buenos Ayres, and this hardly differs from the more northern bird. On the

whole we are disposed to keep V. chivi (vel agilis) distinct from V. olivaceus, of which the

latter only immediately concerns us here. Prof. Baird, however, on the faith of a

single skin supplied him by Gould, traces V. agilis to Guatemala? 1; but, in the absence

of any other testimony, we hesitate to follow him in this point. Accurate records of the

localities of his specimens of birds was never a matter of much consequence to Gould ;

and it may easily be that a mistake occurred in this case.

Vireo olivaceus, as thus restricted, is a very common bird in the Eastern States of

North America, spreading westwards to the Rocky Mountains, and northward to the

shores of Hudson’s Bay, outlying stragglers having reached Greenland, and even

England. In its southern migration, though it occurs in Texas, it has only once been

recorded from Mexico®; and it is equally rare in Cuba", In Guatemala it, though

not common, has been more frequently met with, and as high as 5000 feet in the

Volcan de Fuego near Duefias. But it does not seek only a mountain retreat in

winter ; for the records of its occurrence in Honduras and Panama give places at or

near the sea-level where specimens have been obtained. In Costa Rica and Colombia

it again affects the mountains.

The pensile nest of V. olivaceus is well known in the States. It is placed between

twigs of a forest tree, and is composed of fine strips of bark, fibres of plants, webs of

spiders, &c. ‘These are woven into a compact nest, which is always dependent from

the twigs to which it is attached. The eggs are clear white, marked (chiefly at the

larger end) with widely diffused spots and dots of red-brown 2.

8. Vireo flavoviridis.

Vireosylvia flavoviridis, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. v. p. 153°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 298°; 1859,

p. 875°; Scl. et Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12‘; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 836°; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N.Y. vii. p.323°; ix. p. 96"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p- 17°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

li. p. 272°; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1867, p. 187"; 1870, p. 184%; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H.i. p. 547”; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.-Am.

B. 1. p. 366"; Tacz. P. Z. S. 1874, p. 509”; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p.125*°; Bull.

Nutt. Orn. Club, iii. p. 1527”.

Vireo flavoviridis, Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv., Zool., Birds, p. 12%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 490°.

Phyllomanes flavoviridis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 93”.

Vireosylvia agilis flavo-viridis, Ridgw. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 21, p. 19”.

V. olivaceo similis, sed hypochondriis et crisso multo letius olivaceo-flavis distinguendus. (Descr. exempli ex

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

190 VIREONIDA.

Hab. Nortu America, Texas !°17—Mexico (Sallé?), Monterey (Couch 18), Mazatlan

(Grayson ®), Tres Marias (Forrer), Rosario (Xantus®), temperate region of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast!*), Playa Vicente (Boucard*), Tapana and Santa Efigenia

(Sumichrast §), Northern Yucatan (Gaumer); GuaTEMALA (Constancia*), Retalhuleu,

Chisec (0. S. & F. D. G.); Nicaragua, San Juan (barruel+); Cosra Rica 13°, San

José (v. Frantzius’), Atenas (Cooper), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama (Bell 4),

Mina de Chorcha !!, Bugaba ™, Chitra 14, Cordillera de Tolé !°, Santa Fé ! (Arcé),

line of railway (J/‘Leannan®), Obispo station (O. S.), Paraiso station (Hughes).—

CoLomsBiaA; Ecuanor; Peru ?>; Upper AMAZONS.

The most recent opinion as to the position of this species is that given by

Mr. Ridgway *4, who treats it as an imperfectly segregated race of V. agilis, thus

differing from Dr. Finsch, who placed the latter name as a synonym of V. olivaceus.

The relationship of V. agilis to the other forms is somewhat intermediate, as it has the

olive crissum and flanks of V. flavoviridis, but to a less extent, and like V. olivaceus

shows a whiter belly. Compared with V. olivaceus, V. flavoviridis is obviously distinct,

and may be so treated in this work.

Though this species has only just a footing in the United States, having been found

on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, near Fort Brown '*, it seems to be generally

distributed throughout Mexico and Central America, having been observed, as will be

seen above, in nearly every section of this wide area. In South America, too, it has a

wide range, from Colombia to Peru 1°, and eastwards to Yquitos on the Amazons. From

the last-mentioned place we have a single female specimen, sent us by Mr.Whitely, which

was shot on the 16th October, 1878. It may thus well be that the birds observed in the

far south are there during the winter season only. In the north it has been observed

late in August at Fort Brown 1°, and at Mazatlan from April to August. Grayson says

it is not uncommon in the mangrove swamps near the last-named city, but that he did

not see any after the breeding-season 9.

Mr. A. Forrer has recently sent us a single skin of a male bird which he shot on

4th May, 1881, on one of the Tres Marias Islands. This, though generally resembling

the usual form of this bird, has but the faintest indication of the light superciliary

mark. In the absence of any other character, and having only one specimen for

comparison, we do not think more notice should be taken of it at present.

Regarding the range in altitude of V. flavoviridis, Prof. Sumichrast tells us he

observed it, at a height of 4600 feet, in the mountains of Orizaba!2; but our Guatemalan

specimens are all from a lower level. In Panama, too, whence Cassin’s original

specimens were obtained, it occurs in places but slightly elevated above the sea.

Nothing is known relative to the breeding of this species.

VIREO. 191

b’. Pileus immarginatus.

4. Vireo magister.

Vireosylvia magister, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. x. p. 20° (ex Baird, MS.) ; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw.

N. Am. B. i. p. 859”.

Major; supra fuliginoso-olivaceus, dorso postico magis virescente, pileo haud cinereo tincto, superciliis sordide

albis; subtus similis, sed pallidior medialiter albescens, crisso et subalaribus vix flavo tinctis ; remigibus

intus albis. Long. ale 3:05, caude 2°25, rostri a rictu ‘85. (Descr. maris ex Belize. Mus. Smiths.

exempl. typ.)

Hab. British Honpuras, Belize (C. Wood !, Berendt).

Of this species we describe the type specimen kindly lent us for that purpose by

the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution, the only other example we have seen

being one in the Museum of the Boston Society of Natural History. They evidently

belong to a distinct species, which we have not met with ourselves. In the original

description Mr. Lawrence compares it to V. olivaceus and the southern form of it

V. agilis; but in the ‘ History of North-American Birds’? it is compared to V. phila-

delphicus, on account of the absence in both species of a dusky line on the sides of the

crown. From V. philadelphicus it differs in its larger size and in not having any ashy

tinge on the crown.

It exceeds even V. olivaceus in size, from which it differs also in not having an ashy

crown. In some respects it resembles V. calidris, from which, however, it may be

known by the absence of the rictal streak and the browner tint of the under-

surface.

The presence of a distinct local species of this genus in British Honduras is some-

what remarkable; and we look forward with interest to the receipt of additional

specimens.

5. Vireo philadelphicus.

Vireosylvia philadelphica, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. v. p. 153'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12°; Baird,

Rev. Am. B. i. p.340°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y.ix. p.96*; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295°;

Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 184°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 3677.

Vireo philadelphicus, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 492°.

Vireosylvia cobanensis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 463°.

Supra plumbescenti-olivaceus, pileo pure plumbeo, superciliis et ciliis ipsis albis; subtus flavescenti-albidus,

abdomine medio albicante ; rostro corneo, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°8, ale 2°65, caude 1:9, rostri a

rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°7. (Deser. exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern Nortu America to Hudson’s Bay? 8, Philadelphia 1.—Guaremaa 2,

Coban °, Tactic °, Retalhuleu, Volcan de Agua above San Diego (0. 8. & F. D. G.);

Costa Rica®, San José? 4, Grecia 4, Dota Mountains* (Carmiol); Panama, Volcan

de Chiriqui, Chitra ® (Arcé).

192 VIREONID &.

Described in 1851 from a specimen obtained by Cassin near Philadelphia}, this

Vireo has gradually but slowly become known as an inhabitant of the whole of the

eastern portion of North America from Hudson’s Bay southwards, the valley of the

Mississippi being the area where it is most abundant and through which its main line

of migration passes. As yet its presence has not been detected in Mexico, though it

probably occurs in the southern States of that republic. In Guatemala it is abundant

in the winter months, chiefly in Alta Vera Paz; but it is not confined to that portion of

the country, as we have specimens obtained near Retalhuleu and on the slopes of the

Volcan de Agua, and therefore in sight of and not far from the Pacific Ocean. Thence

the species spreads to Costa Rica and the adjoining parts of the State of Panama.

The Guatemalan specimens obtained by us prior to 1860 were descrjbed by Mr. Sclater

as V. cobanensis®, under the impression that the species was distinct from V. philadel-

phicus, with which they had previously been associated?._ Their identity was subse-

quently proved by Prof. Baird, who had ample opportunity for comparing ‘the two

birds 3.

Vireo philadelphicus probably breeds throughout its North-American range; but up

to 1874 neither nest or eggs had been discovered’.

b!. Lemex spurius obvius.

6. Vireo gilvus.

Muscicapa gilva, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 65, t. 84+.

Vireo gilva, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 3027; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 480°.

Vireosylvia gilva, Scl. P. Z.S8. 1856, p. 298*; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 342°; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. 1. p. 548°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 3687; Salv. Cat. Strickl.

Coll. p. 112°.

Vireosylvia gilva, var. swainsoni, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 17°.

Vireo gilvus swainsoni, Coues, B. Col. Vall. p. 501”.

Obscure olivaceus, pileo cinerascentiore, capitis lateribus pallide fuscis; superciliis et corpore subtus gilvo-

albidis, hypochondriis vix ochraceo-flavicantibus, alis (immaculatis) et cauda dorso fere concoloribus ;

rostro corneo, mandibula pallidiore, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°8, ale 2-8, caude 2°05, rostri a

rictu 0°7, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex San Pedro, Mexico. Mus. Ac. Cantabr.)

Hab. Temperate NorrH Americal, Texas*, Arizona !°.—Muxico (Sallé*), San Pedro

(Galeotti ®), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast °), Oaxaca (Boucard ?), Santa Efigenia

(Sumichrast °).

Two races of this species, an eastern and a western, have been recognized by many

writers on North-American birds, the eastern race being the true V. gilvus, and the

western V. swatnsoni, or, according to some recent nomenclature, V. gilvus swainsont.

The western bird is a trifle smaller and greyer above, the underparts being whiter,

hardly tinged with buff. But the differences are exceedingly slight, so much so that

Dr. Coues expresses himself as without much confidence in the reality of the distinction

VIREO. 193

which has been sought to be maintained, though he separates the references to the two

races under their respective heads. So far as Mexico is concerned, there can be no

doubt that the true V. gilvus occurs there, as the specimen obtained by Galeotti at

San Pedro (a male, shot in December 1844, and now in the Strickland collection at

Cambridge §) is precisely like one, also a male, shot by Prof. Baird at Carlisle, Penn-

sylvania, in May 1847. The western race also occurs in Mexico; for not only is it

found on the immediate frontier, but Mr. Lawrence has recognized it in specimens sent

from the isthmus of Tehuantepec by Prof. Sumichrast®. Vireo gilvus, however, seems

to be nowhere common in Mexico in either of its forms; nor does it pass southwards

into Guatemala or any other of the Central-American States.

In North America it is known as the Warbling Greenlet, from the fine quality of its

song in the breeding-season ; and it may be heard from May to July throughout the day

in places frequented by it. It is a very familiar species in the Eastern States, and may

be seen and heard even in the large towns wherever clumps of large trees grow. Both

Brewer‘ and Dr. Coues !° give full accounts of its habits and of its nest and eggs. The

nest, whilst resembling those of its congeners in the nature of its materials and in its

pendent position, is, as a rule, more carefully built. It is suspended at a height of

thirty to fifty feet from the ground, and sometimes even in the top of a large elm.

The eggs are, like those of other Vireos, crystal-white with a few scattered spots of

dark brown and others of a lighter shade ’.

7. Vireo amauronotus, sp. n.

Vireosylvia gilva, var. josephe, Ridgw. in Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 360, note’.

V. gilvo similis, sed capite summo haud cinereo, dorso brunneo fere concolori distinguendus, a V. josephe capite

dorso fere concolori nec nigricanti-brunneo et abdomine fere albicante quoque differt. (Descr. exempl. ex

Orizaba, Mexico. Mus. Smiths. no. 54262.)

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast 1).

It is not without considerable hesitation that we describe this bird, which presents

characters intermediate between V. gilvus on the one hand and / josephe on the other,

but which cannot well be placed with either. Mr. Ridgway in referring to the single

specimen described above, and which he has kindly sent to us for examination, looks

upon it as justifying the treatment of V. gilvus and V. josephe as imperfectly segregated

races of the same form!. This may prove to be the case; but when we consider that

V. gilvus is a migratory species, reaching Southern Mexico at furthest in winter, and

the obvious differences that it possesses from V. josephe, for any thing we know to the

contrary a resident species in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador, and that the two

birds have not yet been shown to come within 1000 miles of one another, this seems to

be a rather sweeping generalization. We therefore incline to what appears to be a more

probable solution of the difficulty by considering the Orizaba bird as belonging to

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1881. 25

194 VIREONID.

another resident form of this group of Vireos, and therefore give it a distinct name.

At the same time it is highly desirable that more specimens should be sought for and

examined to place the bird on a settled footing.

8. Vireo josephe.

Vireosylvia josephe, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 187, t. 154°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 344°; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 96°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am.

B. i. p. 860’; Tacz. P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 509°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 495"; Salv. Cat.

Strickl. Coll. p. 112°.

Supra fuscescenti-olivaceus, pileo multo saturatiore, uropygio paulo dilutiore, alis et cauda intus nigricantibus

extus dorso concoloribus, superciliis distinctis albis, capitis lateribus cinereis; subtus gula alba, corpore

reliquo flavescente, subalaribus albis flavo perfusis; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula pallida; pedibus

plumbeis. Long. tota 4°9, ale 2°6, caude 2°05, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. maris ex Barranca,

Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica‘, Barranca?3, Rancho Redondo ?, Dota Mountains23 (Carmiol) ;

Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé).—Cotomsia?78; Ecuapor!; Perv ®.

Fraser is the recognized discoverer of this species, as his specimens, obtained near

Pallatanga, in Ecuador, were the types of Mr. Sclater’s description!; but an example

from Bogota has been lying in the Strickland collection since the year 18448. We

also possess specimens from Jima, in Ecuador, and from the vicinity of Pasto, further

north. Skins of it may also be found in trade collections from Bogota; and it has been

traced still further north in Colombia by Salmon, who sent specimens from the neigh-

bourhood of Medellin, in the Cauca valley. In Central America we only know it from

Costa Rica and the adjoining parts of the State of Panama; and from this we infer that

the bird affects mountainous districts of moderate elevation, where it is most probably

resident, and that it does not frequent low-lying lands near the sea-level.

As already stated, in tracing the alliances of this species, Mr. Ridgway, in the ‘ History

of North-American Birds,’® refers to a specimen in the National Collection at Wash-

ington, sent from Orizaba by Prof. Sumichrast, which is quite intermediate between

V. gilvus and the present bird. He therefore places V. josephe as a “variety” of

V. gilvus. The two birds in their normal dress are so different that we hesitate to

follow this course. The ranges of the two birds are separated, so far as our present

knowledge goes, by a very wide interval; and it seems to us unlikely that a complete

intergradation takes place between the two in any locality hitherto ornithologically

unexplored.

b. Corpus robustum ; rostrum breve, robustum ; pedes robustiores. (Lanivireo.)

c. Remex spurius obsoletus, oculorum ambitus et gula flava.

9. Vireo flavifrons. “

Vireo flavifrons, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 85, t. 54°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 2277; 1860, p. 251°;

VIREO. 195

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12*; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 323°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 17°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 324°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. 1. p. 493°; Gundl. Orn.

Cub. p. 56°.

Vireosylvia flavifrons, Baird, Rev. Am. B. 1. p. 846"; Salv. P.Z.S. 1870, p. 184"; Salv. & Godm.

Ibis, 1880, p. 118”.

Lanivireo flavifrons, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 96”; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295”;

Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.1. p. 379”.

Supra lete flavo-olivaceus, dorso imo et tectricibus supracaudalibus plumbeis; alis et cauda nigris, extus albo

limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis; striis a naribus oculorum ambitu conjunctis et corpore subtus usque ad

medium ventrem lete flavis, loris ipsis nigricantibus, abdomine imo et crisso albis; rostro et pedibus

plumbeis. Long. tota 5:0, alee 2:9, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Sun

Gerénimo, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Eastern Unitep States and British Provinces §.-—Mexico, Santecomapam

(Boucard?), Orizaba (Sallé*), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec, Gineta Mountains

(Sumichrast®); GuatTeMALa*, Coban, Choctum, Lanquin, San Geronimo, Duejias,

Volcan de Fuego, San José de Guatemala (0. 8S. & FD. G.); Costa Rica

(v. Frantzius*, Endres), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers), Grecia? (Carmiol), Punta

Arenas (Dow), San José (Carmio/l 1%); Panama, Volcan de Chiriquil', Calove-

vora 4, Chitra (Arcé), line of railway (J/-Leannan®), Paraiso station (Hughes).—

Cotomsia! ; Cua ®.

Many birds whose summer quarters are in the eastern section of the North-American

continent are absent from Western Mexico in winter, are not common even in the

Southern States of that country, and only become abundant in Guatemala and the

countries lying further south. Thus the well-known eastern bird Vireo flavifrons

has only been recorded from the State of Vera Cruz, in Mexico, till we come to the

Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where it would appear to be more numerous. In Guatemala

it spreads over the whole country, being equally abundant in Costa Rica. In the State

of Panama, too, it is frequently found in collections made in that country in the winter

months. In Colombia it would appear to be less common, but we have records of it

from Minca, near Santa Marta !*, and from Pirico, in the Magdalena valley’; we have

also a trade skin from the neighbourhood of Bogota in our collection, the most southern

point we know of its occurrence. Dr. Gundlach speaks of having frequently met with

V. flavifrons in Cuba®; but he is uncertain whether it is a sedentary species or a

migrant. In Guatemala, as already stated, it is common in the winter season. We

observed it as early as September 10th, and thence till March. In the environs of

Coban it is to be found more abundantly than elsewhere, frequenting the borders of the

plantations and the trees of the gardens in the outskirts of the town.

In the United States it is a very familiar species; and Brewer gives a full account of

its habits15, Like other Vireos it builds a pendent nest, which, however, may be

distinguished by the profusion of lichens and mosses with which the outer portion is

25*

196 VIREONID&.

adorned. The eggs when fresh have a roseate tint to the white ground-colour; and

they are more or less boldly marked with blotches of dark roseate brown ©,

d’. Remex spurtus obvius, oculorum ambitus et gula alba.

10. Vireo solitarius. ~

Muscicapa solitaria, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 148, t. 17. f. 67.

Vireo solitarius, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 298°; 1859, pp. 363°, 8754; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 31°;

Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 481°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2727; Coues, B. Col. Vall.

i. p. 505°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 56°.

Vireosylvia solitaria, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p.347"°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 548".

Lanivireo solitaria, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 873%; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 18”.

Lanius solitarius, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2™ (cf. J. Orn. 1863, p. 58).

Vireosylvia propinqua, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 848" ?

Supra flavo-olivaceus, pileo et capitis lateribus plumbeis; alis et cauda nigris albido limbatis, illis albido bifas-

ciatis, striis a naribus oculorum ambitu conjunctis albis; subtus albus, hypochondriis flavis; rostro et

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 2°85, caude 2-0, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex

Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Unirep Srarss generally and Canada’, Texas *.—Mextico (Deppe © 4, Sallé 2),

Mazatlan (Grayson), Jalapa (de Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast 1°14, Botteri),

Talea (Boucard *), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec, Gineta Mountains (Sumichrast 1°) ;

GuateMALA, Coban®, Cahabon, Volcan de Fuego, Volcan de Agua (0. 8. &

fF, D. G.).—Cusa®.

A winter visitant to Mexico and Guatemala, beyond which latter country it does not

appear to pass. Here, however, it is common in the mountainous parts at elevations

varying from 7000 to 8000 feet in the great volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, to 4300 feet

at Coban, and even to the low level of Cahabon, which lies at an elevation of less than

1000 feet above the sea. In the neighbourhood of Coban it is very abundant, and is

one of the birds that falls a prey to the blowpipes of the boys of the town, the outskirts

of which it frequents.

The occurrence of this species in Cuba is confined to a single instance, when

Dr. Gundlach shot a specimen near Cardenas at the end of March 1844.

In North America V. solitarius is very widely distributed; but in the more southern

States it is known only as a bird of passage, though Dr. Coues thinks that some retire

to the higher mountains of Colorado to breed. But its breeding-quarters lie chiefly to

the north of the fortieth parallel of latitude 8.

Brewer describes several nests taken in Massachusetts, which varied considerably in

their structure, some being loose and others more compact, but all suspended to the

twigs to which they were attached, as is usual with the members of this family of

birds. The eggs, like those of other large Vireos, are pure white speckled with reddish,

VIREO. 197

sometimes over the whole surface, but oftener chiefly at the larger end’. Brewer

describes its song as peculiar, being a frequent repetition of the same notes.

Regarding the bird from Coban, in Guatemala, described by Prof. Baird as Vireo-

sylvia propingua °, we are in some doubt as to its position, as we have never seen a

second specimen presenting the same differences from Vireo solitarius that Prof. Baird’s

type does, which we have again before us for examination. These differences are as

follows :—The grey of the head is more restricted, the olive colour of the back extending

over the nape and to behind the ears; the upper tail-coverts are ashy instead of olive;

the sides of the throat are yellow instead of white; the flanks are white tinged with

olive, not olive-green tinged with yellow; the anal region is white, not yellow; the

spurious primary is much smaller, and the second quill longer instead of shorter than

the fifth ; the wing is slightly longer, and the bill broader at the base. These are the

differences pointed out by Prof. Baird; and we find that they are all as he describes

them. They are all small individually, but taken together are certainly remarkable ;

and it is noteworthy that they nearly all are slight divergences from the typical

V. solitarius in the direction of V. flavifrons! Have we here the remains of some cross

between these two birds? The type of V. propinguus was obtained with numbers of

the true V. solitarius and V. flavifrons at their winter quarters near Coban; and the

discrepancies from JV. solitarius were not noticed at the time, nor, indeed, till Prof.

Baird pointed them out. ‘hata resident local race of V. solitarius exists in Guate-

mala !° we hesitate to believe until further evidence can be produced; and in the mean-

time we leave V. propinquus in an uncertain position, with the above suggestion as to

its origin.

11. Vireo cassini.

Vireo cassini, Xantus, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1858, p. 117’.

Lanivireo solitarius, var. cassini, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 376’.

Vireo solitarius cassint, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 514°.

Vireosylvia solitaria, Salv. Cat. Strick]. Col. p. 112* (partim).

V. solitarzo similis, sed pileo cinereo olivaceo tincto fere dorso concolori et pectore pallide fulvo perfuso vix

distinguendus. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. Ac. Cantabr.)

Hab. Norru America, California !?, Nevada, Arizona *.—Mexico (Galeotti *).

A single skin in the Strickland collection, sent from Mexico by Galeotti in 1845, we

recognize as belonging to this race, as it agrees with authentic specimens from Calaveras

county, California, recently forwarded to us by Mr. Ridgway. The bird would appear

to be not uncommon in the Gila valley, where Mr. Henshaw met with it at the end of

August and in September, in company with but rarer than JV. solitarius, the only

difference in the habits of the two birds being the preference of the former for

deciduous trees, the latter choosing the coniferous timber®. The appearance of these

198 VIREONID2.

birds here at this time of year indicates that they breed in some more northern locality,

which, however, has not yet been traced. The difference between V. cassini and

V. solitarius is but slight, and consists chiefly in the head of the former being almost

the same colour as the back instead of grey, and in the breast being tinged with fawn

colour. These differences are blended by intermediate specimens, according to writers

on North-American birds?; but the extremes are sufficiently varied to justify each

bearing a distinctive title.

12. Vireo plumbeus.

Vireo plumbeus, Coues, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 747; B. Col. Vall. i. p.515°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. ii. p. 272°.

Vireosylvia plumbea, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 349 *.

Lanivireo solitarius, var. plumbeus, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 877’.

Supra plumbeus, oculis albo conspicillatis ; alis et cauda nigris, extus albo limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis ; subtus

albus, hypochondriis plumbeo lavatis; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 3:3, caude 2:3,

rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°72. (Deser. exempl. ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Unitep States, Southern Rocky-Mountain region 2°, Arizona }.—Mexico, plains of

Colima (Xantus??*), Oaxaca (Fenochio).

The position of this bird appears to be not yet fully established, American orni-

thologists, to whom it is best known, differing as to whether it should be granted full

specific rank as V. plumbeus, which is Dr. Coues’s (its discoverer’s) view, or whether it is

still linked with V. solitarius, and should stand as V. solitarius plumbeus, as maintained

by Mr. Ridgway in his recent list of North-American birds (1881). Be this as it may,

the normal V. plumbeus is a bird easily to be distinguished from V. solitarius, and

therefore entitled to a name.

As already stated, Dr. Coues discovered this bird, near Fort Whipple in Arizona |,

where he found it in pine-woods during the summer, replacing V. solitarius at that

season of the year. It has also been traced to Laramie Peak 1, Colorado, New Mexico,

and Utah, thus embracing the southern portion of the Rocky-Mountain region. The

only recorded instance of its occurrence in Mexico is based upon a specimen obtained

by Xantus in the plains of Colima in February 1863224; but we now have to mention

a second Mexican locality some distance further south, a specimen having been sent us

some time ago from the vicinity of the town of Oaxaca by Don A. Fenochio. |

Little is recorded of the habits of V. plumbeus, which are said to resemble those of

V. solitarius. The nest and eggs taken by Mr. Aiken in Colorado are stated to be

substantially identical with those of its near ally.

VIREO. © 199

B. Ale breves, cauda via longiores aut paulo breviores; remex primus magnus. (Vireo.)

a. Ale acutiuscule.

a’. Pileus niger.

13. Vireo atricapillus.

Vireo atricapillus, Woodhouse, Pr. Ac. Phil. vi. p. 601; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv., Zool., Birds,

p. 12°; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 353; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 383+; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 272°; Deane, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 58°; Brewster, Bull. Nutt.

Orn. Club, iv. p. 997; Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 193, t. 1%.

“ Supra olivaceo-virescens, capitis lateribus et pileo nigris; alis et cauda supra nigricantibus olivaceo limbatis,

tectricibus alarum viridi-albo bifasciatis; oculis albo conspicillatis ; subtus albus, hypochondriis olivaceis ;

subalaribus et crisso(?) flavicantibus; rostro nigro, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°75, ale 2°12, caude

1-95.” (Descr. ex Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. i. p. 383, compilata.)

“© (potius av. juvenis). Capitis lateribus et pileo obscure schistaceis nec nigris; subtus ochraceo tincta.

(An avis alia?)” (Deser. exempl. ex Mazatlan, Mexico, ex Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. i. p. 383).

Hab. Nortu America, South-western Texas !??°7.—Muxico, Mazatlan (Grayson +5)?

The only actual claim of this species to a place in this work rests upon a specimen

obtained at Mazatlan by the late Col. A. J. Grayson. This is a female bird, differing

from the male in having the head dull slate-colour instead of black. At the time that

they placed this specimen here, the authors of the ‘ History of North-American Birds’

expressed a doubt as to their identification of it+, These doubts are much strengthened

by the fact, since brought to light’, that the sexes in this species do not materially

differ in colour. The Mazatlan bird, therefore, must either belong to a different

species, or be in a state of plumage not yet satisfactorily explained. That the true

V. atricapillus will be found along the northern frontier of Mexico can hardly be

doubted ; but as yet it has only been met with in a very limited district on the

Texan side of the Rio Grande valley. Up to 1879 hardly any thing was known of

V. atricapillus, some three or four skins being all that had been obtained during the

twenty-eight years that had elapsed since its discovery. But in that year not only were

more specimens obtained, but its nest and eggs were also discovered, and observations

made on its habits, which now render its history fairly complete. The original specimens

of this species were obtained on the Rio San Pedro near El Paso by Dr. Woodhouse! ;

and shortly afterwards another was shot by Mr. J. H. Clark of the Boundary Survey?

The recent acquisitions are from Messrs. Ragsdale and Norris, an account of whose

captures is given by Mr. Ruthven Deane °, and from Mr. Werner, to whom Mr. Brewster

acts sponsor’. Dr. Elliott Coues also reverts to the same subject, giving a plate of

two birds and their nest, the latter taken from a drawing by Mr. Werner’. The nest

is described as pendent, as usual in the members of this family, and composed of dried

leaves and grass woven together with spiders’ webs, and lined with fine grass and

rootlets. ‘The eggs are described as being pure white, without spots of any kind.

200 VIREONIDA.

b’. Pileus aut olivaceus aut cinereus; ale bifasciate.

al’, Subtus medialiter albus; hypochondria flava.

14. Vireo noveboracensis.

Muscicapa noveboracensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 9477.

Vireo noveboracensis, Scl. P. ZS. 1857, pp. 204°, 228°; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv., Zool., Birds,

p. 12*; Rev. Am. B.1. p. 854°; Jones, Nat. in Bermuda, p. 71°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860,

p. 2747; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 481°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 885°; Lawr.

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p.17*°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 56; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i.

p- 520”,

Lanius noveboracensis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2; ef. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 58”.

Supra olivaceo-virescens, oculis flavo conspicillatis; alis et cauda nigricantibus, illis flavido-albo limbatis et

bifasciatis, hac dorsi colore marginata ; subtus albidus, pectore fusco lavato, hypochondriis flavis; rostro

et pedibus plumbeis; iridibus (ave viva) albis. Long. tota 4°4, alee 2°3, caudee 1°85, rostri a rictu 0°65,

tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Kastern Unitep Status? 12, Texas 4 8,—Mexico 13, Real Ariba and Valle Real

Deppe), Jalapa (Sallé?), Santecomapam (Boucard*), Merida in Yucatan (Schott >),

(PP P Pp

Santa Efigenia (Swmichrast ©); Guatemaua, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.7); Hon-

DURAS °.—BERMUDA®; Cua’.

The “ White-eyed Vireo,” by which name this species is known in the United States,

visits Mexico and Guatemala during the winter months; but, though not uncommon in

the former country, it appears to be very rare in Guatemala, as we only obtained a

single specimen in November 1859, and none have since reached us from any other part

of the country. Prof. Baird gives Honduras as one of the localities of this species on

Mr. Sclater’s authority ; but the collector’s name is not recorded. In Cuba, Dr. Gundlach

tells us, its appearance is uncertain !!; and it is doubtless a bird of passage in this island ;

but in Bermuda it is not only a common bird, but a resident, breeding there regularly °.

A specimen in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, also from Mr. Sclater, is

marked as coming from “Colombia”>; but this locality requires confirmation, as we

have no other evidence of any thing like such an extension of its winter range.

In the United States it is one of the commonest and most widely diffused birds east

of the Rocky Mountains, breeding in all parts of the Union. Its familiar habits and

song are fully described by Brewer ® and Dr. Coues !2,

The nest is described as suspended from the ends of the twigs of low bushes, and as

composed of very varied materials, all wrapped with strong vegetable fibres, the lining

being finer stems of grass and dry needles of pine. ‘The eggs are clear crystal-white,

spotted about the larger end with fine dark purple and reddish-brown dots.

15. Vireo belli.

Vireo belli, Aud. B. Am. vii. p. 838, t. 4851; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 858°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865,

VIREO. 201

p. 481°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 389‘; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4,

p. 18°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 526°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 113%.

Supra olivaceus, pileo cinerascente, oculis albo conspicillatis ; alis et cauda nigricantibus, illis sordide albo

limbatis et indistincte bifasciatis, hac dorsi colore marginata; subtus albus, hypochondriis ochraceo

indutis ; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°6, alee 2-2, caude 1:9, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°8.

(Deser. exempl. ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. V. noveboracensi similis, sed inter alia oculis albo nec flayo conspicillatis distinguendus.

Hab. Norra America, Missouri river to the base of the Rocky Mountains +4, Arizona 8,

Texas *.—Mexico (Galeotti’), Mazatlan (orrer), Santa Efigenia and Tehuantepec

city (Sumichrast*).

This species is probably only a migrant to the isthmus of Tehuantepec, where

Prof. Sumichrast observed it in October and December®. From Guatemala we have as

yet no tidings of it, nor, indeed, from any other part of Mexico, except the single

specimen obtained by Galeotti in 1845, which is now in the collection of the University

of Cambridge’, and one recently sent us by Mr. A. Forrer from the neighbourhood of

Mazatlan. Just across the northern frontier of Mexico V. belli is not only common,

but remains to breed, at least in Texas?; and it was observed by Mr. Henshaw in the

Gila valley in September ®. Further north its head quarters in summer lie between the

Missouri river (where Audubon first discovered it) and the base of the Rocky Moun-

tains; and here it breeds. It will be seen that, the bird being scarce in Mexico, its

Winter quarters are not yet satisfactorily determined.

Mr. Dresser describes the nest as formed of fine grass, and hung from the twigs of a

tree. ‘The eggs, he says, are white, with an occasional reddish dot at the larger end °.

b". Subtus ere unicolor.

al”, Rostrum robustum.

16. Vireo ochraceus. (Tab. XII. fig. 1.)

Vireo ochraceus, Saly. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 188'; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 3667; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. ii. p. 272°.

Vireo semiflavus, Salv. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 188+.

Supra ochraceo-olivaceus, stria praoculari flavida; alis et cauda fusco-nigricantibus, illis albido marginatis et

bifasciatis, hac dorsi colore limbata; subtus ochraceo-flavidus, gula pallidiore; rostri maxilla pallide

cornea, mandibula albida. Long. tota 4:5, alee 2-2, caude 1:8, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°8. (Deser.

feminge ex San José de Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. Mas aut avis adultus corpore supra minus ochraceo et subtus flavescentiore differt.

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson? *), Merida in Yucatan (Schott 2), Progreso in Yucatan

(Gaumer); British Honpuras, Corosal (Roe); GuaTEMALA, Sakluk near Peten

(O. 8.4), San José de Guatemala (0. S.1).

When the specimens from San José de Guatemala and Sakluk were first examined

they were supposed to belong to two distinct species, as they presented not only

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. L., february 1882. 26

202 VIREONIDZ.

differences of colour, but also in the relative length of the spurious primary. They

were therefore described as Vireo ochraceus! and V. semiflavus* respectively.

Prof. Baird, however, to whom the types were submitted with the advantage of two

additional specimens for examination, came to the conclusion that the differences

observable were not greater than might be expected in birds shot, the one in January

and the other in April. He therefore united V. ochraceus and. V. semifiavus under

the former name*. We now possess two additional examples: one, from Progreso,

agrees with the type of V. semiflavus; the other, from Corosal in British Honduras, is

exactly similar to V. ochraceus. Any supposed difference in locality is therefore broken

down, and Prof. Baird’s view strengthened rather than otherwise. We therefore follow

him in placing V. semiflavus as a synonym of V. ochraceus; at the same time we may

remark en passant that the difference between the types is more pronounced than those

to be traced between such races as V. solitarius, V. cassini, and V. propinquus, or

V. gilva and V. swainsoni.

V. ochraceus is a little-known bird, and only twice came under our observation—

once in April 1862 in a copse in the savana country near Sakluk, in the Department

of Peten, and again in J anuary 1863 in the woods skirting the Pacific shore near the

Guatemalan port of San José. From this last bird, a female, our figure is taken.

17. Vireo pallens. (Tab. XII. fig. 2.)

Vireo pallens, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 1881; Ibis, 1866, p. 193°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 865°.

Supra obscure olivaceus ; tenia preoculari pallide flava; subtus sordide albus flavido vix tinctus; alis et cauda

nigricanti-fuscis, illis albido limbatis et bifasciatis, hac dorsi colore marginata; rostri maxilla pallide

cornea, mandibula albida. Long. tota 4:6, ale 2:3, caude 1°9, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°85. (Descr.

maris ex Punta Arenas, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaraeva, Realejo? (J. IM. Dow & O. 8.1); Costa Rica, Punta Arenas (J. UZ. Dow

& 0. 8),

Of this species nothing, so far as we know, has been noticed since the original

specimens were procured in March 1863 at Realejo (now called Corinto) and at Punta

Arenas by Capt. Dow and Salvin during a voyage from Guatemala to Panama. In

both cases the birds were found in the woods behind those seaport towns. In their

habits nothing of special note was observed. In its general appearance this bird is

not unlike V. pusillus of Arizona and Lower California, having hardly any olive-colour

in its plumage, the upper parts being ashy, and the under parts white, with but a very

faint shade of olive-colour*. It may be distinguished from V. pustl/us by the presence

of two white bands on the wings instead of only one, and in the wings being more

rounded. The shape and size of V. pallens is much that of V. ochraceus; but it wants

the colour of that bird, besides having a longer spurious first primary. The Punta

Arenas specimen, a male, is figured.

* The figure is rather too highly coloured.

VIREO. 203

bb". Rostrum debile.

18. Vireo huttoni.

Vireo huttoni, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. v. p. 150*; Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 302°; 1862, p. 19°; Baird,

Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Zool., Birds, p. 12*; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 357°; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 548°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 8877; Salv. Ibis, 1874,

p- 99°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 525°. —

Supra sordide olivaceus, pileo paullo cinerascente; oculis sordide albo conspicillatis ; alis et cauda fusco-nigris

dorsi colore limbatis, illis albido bifasciatis; subtus dilutior, abdomine medio albicantiore; rostro corneo,

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°6, alee 25, caudee 1:95, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°72. (Descr. maris ex

Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Californiat’.—Mexico, Monterey (Couch*), alpine region of

Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), valley of Mexico (de Strange), Cosamaloapam *, Cinco

Sefiores ?, and La Parada® (Boucard); GuaTEMALA, Volcan de Fuego (0. 8.8).

According to Prof. Sumichrast, Vireo huttoni is resident in the alpine regions of the

State of Vera Cruz in Mexico®; and the same is probably the case throughout its

Mexican range, and also in Guatemala. As to the latter country nothing positive can

be said on this point, as we only know of its existence in that country from a specimen

having been obtained by Salvin at Calderas in the Volcan de Fuego at an altitude of

about 7300 feet above the sea. This specimen was a male, and was shot on October

10th, 1873 8.

Vireo huttoni was first described by Cassin from specimens obtained near Monterey,

in California !; and it has since been found in that State in winter up to the 38th parallel ;

so that everywhere throughout its range this species would appear to be a much more

sedentary bird than is usual with members of its family.

Of its nest and eggs Brewer, when compiling his account of the bird’, was only able

to quote a note of Mr. Xantus, who says he found a nest with eggs on May 8th at

Fort Tejon, in California ; the former was a foot from the ground, loosely put together,

and suspended from three stems of weeds under the high trees.

19. Vireo carmioli., (Tab. XII. fig. 3.) |

Vireo carmioli, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 356*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 977; v. Frantzius,

J.f. Orn. 1869, p. 295°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 383%.

Supra olivaceus, oculis flayo conspicue conspicillatis, alis et cauda nigricantibus olivaceo limbatis, illis flavido-

albo bifasciatis; subtus lete flavus, gula albicantiore; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°5, ale

2°55, caude 1°85, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Volcan de Irazu, Costa Rica.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Dota Mountains (Carmiol!?), Volcan de Irazu (Rogers); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé).

Of this species but little is known. Two specimens obtained by Carmiol in the

26*

204 VIREONIDZ.

highlands of Costa Rica in 1864 formed the basis of Prof. Baird’s description!; and

these same specimens seemed to have been again referred to in Mr. Lawrence’s? and

Dr. von Frantzius’s lists*. They also furnished the characters in the table given of the

members of the genus by Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway 4, where the position of

the species in the genus is carefully defined. Up to the time of publishing our second

list of Veraguan birds* no specimen of Vireo carmioli had reached us; but we have

since received an example, which is now figured, from the slopes of the Volcano of

Chiriqui. We have also two specimens obtained by Rogers on the Volcan de Irazu,

in Costa Rica,

b. Ale rotundate, haud fasciate ; cauda elongata; rostrum valde robustum,

culmine alto.

20. Vireo hypochryseus.

Vireo hypochryseus, Sci. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 369, t. 46'; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 3707; Grayson,

Proc. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 281°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 272‘; Bull. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18’.

Supra flavicanti-olivaceus, alis et cauda fuscis, illis dorsi colore limbatis sed haud fasciatis ; fronte, superciliis

elongatis conspicuis et corpore toto subtus flavis, hypochondriis olivaceo vix tinctis ; rostro corneo, pedibus

plumbeis. Long. tota 5-4, ale 2°55, caudw 2-4, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex inss.

Tres Marias, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mextco!, Tres Marias Islands (Grayson?*4, Forrer), Quiotepec in Oaxaca

(Sumichrast *).

A peculiar species, both as to its coloration, its strong bill with sharp culmen, its

short wings, and long tail. It was first described and figured by Mr. Sclater from a

specimen supplied to him by M. Parzudaki of Paris from some part of Mexico, the

precise locality not being recorded}. The late Col. A. J. Grayson ¢ afterwards discovered

it in the Tres Marias Islands, where he says it is quite common, frequenting all parts

of the woods, uttering from time to time a cheerful little song. Mr. Forrer also

found it during a recent visit to these islands, and sent us a specimen. This Vireo,

however, is not confined in its range to these remote islands, but also occurs on the

mainland, as Prof. Sumichrast met with it in the State of Oaxaca 5, and sent a specimen

to the Smithsonian Institution, which, through the kindness of the authorities, we have

had an opportunity of examining. This was shot on August 8th, 1868, and Mr. Forrer’s

on April 18th, 1881.

Nore.—TIwo other species of Vireo probably occur in the unexplored parts of North-

western Mexico, but, as yet, are only known from Arizona, on the other side of

our frontier. These are V. vicinior and V. pusillus, species both discovered by the

energetic ornithologist Dr. Elliott Coues, and both fully described in his work on the

Birds of the Colorado Valley.

* P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 175 et seq.

NEOCHLOE.—HYLOPHILUS. 205

NEOCHLOE.

Neochloe, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 218. (Type N. brevipennis, Scl.)

Mr. Sclater proposed this genus for the peculiar South-Mexican species which at

present is its sole occupant. The form of the wings and tail are its chief distinguishing

characters. The former are very rounded, the second primary being much shorter than

the secondaries, and the third primary only about equalling them; the tail is about the

same length as the wings, and also rounded. The bill is slender, but hardly more so

than in V. huttoni; and the feet and legs resemble those of Vireo. ‘The coloration is

peculiar, and quite different from that of any other member of the allied genera.

1. Neochloe brevipennis. (Tab. XIII. fig. 2.)

Neochloe brevipennis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 213*; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p.372*; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. 1. p. 547°.

Cinereus, dorso murino lavato; loris nigris, capite summo, alarum et caude marginibus oleagineo-viridibus ;

campterio alari flavo; mento, abdomine medio et crisso albis; rostro nigricante mandibule basi cornea,

pedibus nigricanti-plumbeis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2°15, caude 2-1, rostri a rictu 5:5, tarsi 0°8. (Descr.

exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) |

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Botteri 12, Sumichrast*), Jalapa (de Oca).

This seems to be one of the rarest of Mexican birds, as at present we only know of

three specimens in collections. The type, which was obtained by Setior Matteo Botteri

near Orizaba on the 8th October 1856, is now in the British Museum ; another is in the

national collection at Washington, and was also received from the same naturalist.

The third, which we now figure, is in our own collection, and formed part of a series

of bird-skins sent to this country some years ago by Don R. Montes de Oca, the well-

known naturalist of Jalapa. Prof. Sumichrast, who worked so long in the State of

Vera Cruz, never met with it himself, but includes it in his paper on the birds of that

State on Botteri’s authority. Nothing whatever is recorded of its habits.

HYLOPHILUS.

Hylophilus, Temminck, Pl. Col. sub tab. 173 (1823). Types H. thoracicus and pecilotis.

Pachysylvia, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 809 (1850). Type Sylvicola decurtata, Bp.

This genus contains about a score of species, all very similar in form, and differing

from one another by no very marked characters of colour. ‘They are distributed

throughout Tropical America, from Southern Mexico to Brazil, none, however, being

found in the West-India Islands, except Trinidad and Tobago. North of the Isthmus

of Panama four species occur, all of which are found in the State of Panama itself, two

spreading thence to Southern Mexico. Guiana seems to be the metropolis of the

genus, where no less than six species have been discovered.

206 VIREONIDZ.

In Central America all the members of the genus belong to the lowland forests, none

being found more than 1500 feet above the sea.

The species of Hylophilus are shorter and stouter than those of Vireo, having short,

rounded wings, and a narrow tail of about the same length. The bill is more conical

than in Vireo, the culmen being but slightly curved towards the tip. The legs are

stronger and longer in proportion than those of Vireo, and the hind toe longer.

1. Hylophilus decurtatus.

Sylvicola decurtata, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 118°.

Pachysylvia decurtata, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 809”.

Hylophilus decurtatus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 880°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 1874; 1870, p. 184°;

This, 1869, p. 813°; 1872, p. 8147; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 886°; Lawr. Bull. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18°; Scl. Ibis, 1881, p. 298°.

Hylophilus cinereiceps, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 299"; 1864, p. 348”; Ibis, 1860, p. 397°.

Hylophilus pusillus, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 823™; viii. p. 179"; ix. p. 97"; Baird, Rev.

Am. B.i. p. 881”.

Hylophilus plumbiceps, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 823° (lapsu).

Helmintheros?, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 291”.

Flavicanti-olivaceus, pileo toto et capitis lateribus cinereis; oculorum ambitu et corpore subtus albidis, lateribus

et crisso flavicanti-olivaceis; rostro corneo, mandibule basi flavicante; pedibus obscure corneis. Long.

tota 3°7, ale 2:0, caude 1:4, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°62. (Descr. femine ex Choctum, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxtco1*, Cordova (Sallé !° 19), Chimalapa, Tehuantepec (Swmichrast °); GuATE-

MALA (Velasquez'), Choctum, Vera Paz (0. 8. & F. D. G.1118); Honpuras, San

Pedro (@. M. Whitely”); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt’), Hato Viejo (Baxter),

Greytown (Holland 1"); Cosra Rica, Dota Mountains and Angostura 1417, Santa

Rosa (Carmiol), Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama, Bugaba*®, Santa Fé4, Chitra,

Calovevora, and Castillo (Arcé), line of railway (M‘Leannan 1114), |

This was one of the birds described by Bonaparte in 1837 from a specimen obtained

by Col. Velasquez de Leon during his fortnight’s tour in Guatemala, in which country

we have since found it to be common, but only in the low-lying forest country of

Northern Vera Paz, whence our bird-hunters used to obtain us a plentiful supply

of specimens, and where we ourselves observed it in February 1862. These were

described under the name of H. cinereiceps", a simple synonym of ZH. decurtatus, as

Prof. Baird subsequently pointed out®. This Hylophilus doubtless also inhabits the

forests bordering the Pacific coast, as Mr. Lawrence includes it in his list of Prof. Sumi-

chrast’s Tehuantepec collections®. Northwards of this we have only one record of its

existence, M. Sallé having met with it at Cordova! ™; but southwards the above list

of localities shows that it is found in all suitable localities as far as the line of the

Panama railway. Specimens from the last-named district were named HZ. pusillus

HYLOPHILUS. 207

by Mr. Lawrence", and its range traced to Costa Rica!® and Nicaragua’; but

Prof. Baird, though he allowed H. pusillus to stand as a species !7, expressed himself

as not satisfied respecting its distinction from H. decurtatus; and on several other

occasions their identity has been insisted upon 4 !° 12,

In habits this species presents nothing peculiar so far as we have observed them. Its

constant occupation is the pursuit of insect food amongst the branches and leaves of

the forest-trees. Its nest and eggs are unknown.

2. Hylophilus aurantiifrons.

Hylophilus aurantiifrons, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 824'; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 3777; Scl.

Tbis, 1881, p. 303°.

Hylophilus hypoxanthus, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 1864; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 629°.

“Supra olivaceus, pileo et nucha brunneis, fronte aurantiaco tincta ; subtus pallide flavus, gutture albicantiore ;

-pectore interdum fulvo lavato; subalaribus et crisso flavidis ; rostro corylino, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota

4:5, ale 2-1, hujus rem. prim. 1:2, caude 1-8.” * (Sclater, 1. s.c.*)

Hab. Panama, line of railway (M‘Leannan1, Hicks *).— Vunuzvena®; Gurana3

AMAZONS VALLEY 4.

We do not possess any specimens of this bird from the State of Panama, whence

Mr. Lawrence’s type was derived!; but Mr. Sclater® having this specimen before him

recently found it to resemble so closely Venezuelan examples, which had been correctly

referred to H. hypoxanthus, Pelz., that he placed the latter name as a synonym of

H. aurantiifrons. Moreover, from Mr. Sclater’s remarks 3, it seems far from improbable

that the birds called H. acuticaudus and H. insularis (the former from Venezuela, and

the latter from Trinidad and Tobago), may ultimately be found to be inseparable from

Hf. aurantiifrons, in which case the name H. insularis should stand for the species,

were it not obviously inapplicable to a continental bird. It is, however, necessary that

a good series of specimens of these Hylophili should be examined to settle their

position; for even the Panama bird differs from the Venezuelan in having no tinge of

fulvous on the breast, a slight character usually seen in specimens from the latter

country.

H. aurantiifrons belongs to Section C of Mr. Sclater’s Monograph *, in which the

colour of the head spreads to a greater or less extent over the back.

8. Hylophilus ochraceiceps.

Hylophilus ochraceiceps, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 8375"; Ibis, 1881, p. 306°; Scl. & Saly. Ibis, 1860,

p. 897°; Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 376°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 97°; Salv. P. Z. 8S.

1870, p. 184°.

Olivascenti-fuscis, pileo toto rufescenti-ochraceo, alis nigricantibus pallido brunneo extus limbatis; cauda

208 VIREONIDA,

pallide brunnea; subtus flavicans, gutture grisescenti-albo, pectore et lateribus ochracescenti-fusas ;_ rostro

corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4-3, ale 2-2, caude 1-75, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0-65. (Deser.

maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente (Boucard'), Oaxaca?+; GuateMaLa, Choctum %, Chisec

(0.8. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica, Angostura (Carmiol*?); Panama, Bugaba (Arcé>),

H. ochraceiceps has a very similar range to that of H. decurtatus ; but, though probably

more common in the eastern parts of Southern Mexico, it has not yet been detected on

the isthmus of Tehuantepec, nor, indeed, on the shores of the Pacific anywhere in its

range until we reach its extreme limit on the slopes of the Volcan de Chiriqui. It was

first discovered by M. Boucard at Playa Vicente in 1859 1, and in the following year we

obtained several examples from the forests of Northern Vera Paz, and in 1862 observed

it ourselves in this district, the only one in Guatemala in which we know it to occur.

Here it frequents the same woods as H. decurtatus, the habits of the two birds being

quite similar.. The sexes are alike in plumage.

4. Hylophilus viridiflavus. (Tab. XIII. fig. 1.)

Hylophilus viridiflavus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 8247; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 3487;

Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 380°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 1387*; 1870, p. 184°; Scl. Ibis,

1881, p. 309°.

Supra saturate olivaceus, dorso medio dilutiore ; alis nigricantibus, extus dorso concoloribus; cauda fuscescenti-

olvacea unicolori; subtus pallide sulphureo-flavus, gula grisescente; subalaribus et remigum marginibus

internis ventri concoloribus ; rostro pallide corneo; pedibus flavicantibus. Long. tota 4:3, alee 2:3, cauds

2:0, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hiab. Panama, Bugaba®, Santa Fé 4 (Arcé), line of railway (M‘Leannan 12, Hicks).

This bird is very closely allied to a Colombian species, H. flavipes, Lafr..—so much so

that their distinctness is open to doubt. Mr. Sclater in his recent monograph 6

reluctantly kept them apart, stating at the same time that the only difference he could

detect consisted in the paler, more faded hue of the yellow belly of the Colombian

bird, a Venezuelan example of H. flavipes being still more difficult to distinguish.

With no additional materials to throw further light on the question, we follow

Mr. Sclater’s lead.

H. viridiflavus is easily recognized from the other Central-American species by its

yellow legs, which it has in common with H. flavipes. The back is wholly olivaceous,

also a distinguishing character so far as Central America is concerned.

This Hylophilus was discovered in 1861, by M‘Leannan and Galbraith, on the line of

the Panama railway, the latter remarking that it was rare, only one having been

obtained in the jungle. Since then Mr. Hicks also observed it®, and a few specimens

have reached us from our collector Arcé from more western parts of the State of

Panama ‘®,

VIREOLANIUS. 209

VIREOLANIUS.

Vireolanius, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 330 (1850) (ex Du Bus); Baird, Rey. Am. B. i. p. 395.

This genus, with the next, form a distinct section of the Vireonide, by reason of their

stout beaks and their more robust build. They approach the Shrikes (Laniide) ; and,

indeed, we think it not at all improbable that their more immediate relationship with the

African genus Laniarius, which they strongly resemble in many points of coloration, will

some day have to be reconsidered; but to do so here would lead us into a discussion

far beyond the limits of the present work. We may remark, however, that Swainson

placed the species he described in the genus Malaconotus, calling it M. leucotis, and in

the same genus he placed several species now considered to belong to Laniarius.

From Cyclorhis Vireolanius is hardly to be distinguished structurally; but, as

Prof. Baird remarks, the beak is not quite so strongly curved and not so deep at the

base.

Cyclorhis, however, is very homogeneous as now restricted, and to include Vireolanius

in it would be to introduce an aberrant element. Moreover we feel sure that the

alliance is not so close as appears at first sight, though the differences are not to be

satisfactorily stated at present.

Vireolanius contains four species, one of which, V. melitophrys, is restricted to the

highlands of Mexico and Guatemala. V. pulchellus, V. eximius, and V. leucotis are

probably all lowland species, and are distributed, the first throughout Central America,

the second in Colombia, and the last in Guiana and Upper Amazonia.

a. Subtus albus torque pectorali castaneo.

1. Vireolanius melitophrys.

Vireolanius melitophrys, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 26'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 3307; Scl. P. Z.S. 1857,

p. 213°; 1859, p. 363*; 1862, p.19°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 31°; Ex. Orn. p. 18,

t. 7"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 396°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 548°.

Lanius chrysophrys, Licht. Mus. Berol.? (fide Bonaparte”).

Supra olivaceus, capite summo et cervice postica plumbeis, superciliis lete flavis, stria per oculos a rictu ad

nucham extensa, altera angusta rictali nigris; subtus albus, pectore lete castaneo, hypochondriis eodem

colore lavatis; iride (ave viva) viridescente albo, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6:0, ale 3:0, caude 2-6,

rostri a rictu 0:9, tarsi 0°95. (Deser. maris ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q capite summo ochraceo tincto, striis capitis lateralibus fusco-nigris, subtus pectore castaneo dilutiore,

abdomine toto ochraceo lavato a mare differt. (Descr. feminee ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Muxico!? 1°, Orzaba (Botteri*), Jalapa (de Oca‘), Capulalpam (Bouwcard 5),

temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), valley of Mexico (le Strange) ;

GuaTEMALA °, Volcan de Fuego (0. S. & F. D. G." 8).

This species, which has no near ally in the genus Vireolanius, is restricted in its

range to the highlands of Mexico and Guatemala. In the former country it has been

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., March 1883. 27

210 VIREONIDZ.

met with by several travellers; and Prof. Sumichrast tells us ® that it is found in the

upper extremity of the temperate region at an elevation of about 5000 feet above the

sea. He further supposes that V. pulchellus, a bird he never met with himself, has a

similar range ; but in this he is doubtless in error, as will be seen in the account of that

species. In Guatemala we only found it in the oak-forests of the Volcan de Fuego at

an elevation of about 6000 to 7000 feet. Here it is by no means common, specimens

only now and then being brought in by our Indian hunters. From this source we

obtained the female described above, which shows that there exists a slight sexual

difference in the plumage in this species.

Vireolanius melitophrys probably was first represented in the Berlin Museum under

Lichtenstein’s MS. name Lanius chrysophrys!; but no description of it was published

till 1850, when Bonaparte gave its diagnosis, adopting the name proposed for it by

the late Vicomte Du Bus, who had a plate drawn of it from a specimen in the Brussels

Museum, which was to be the 26th plate of his unfinished ‘ Esquisses Ornithologiques’!.

b. Subtus viridis, gula flava.

2. Vireolanius pulchellus.

Vireolanius pulchellus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 12'; Ex. Orn. p. 15, t. 8°; Salv. Ibis, 1861,

p. 147°; 1872, p. 314°; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 184°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. H. vii. p. 468°,

ix. p. 97"; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 397°.

Lete psittaceo-viridis, abdomine flavescentiore, pileo cyaneo, gutture flavo ; rostro plumbeo, tomiis albicantibus ;

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5:5, ale 2-9, caude 1:9, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris ex

Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Femina mari similis coloribus forsan obscurioribus et stria infra oculos flavescente distinguenda. (Descr.

femina ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mirador (Sartorius 8); Guatemata (Skinner 1), Choctum 8, mountains of

Rasché *, Savana Grande, and Volcan de Agua above San Diego (0. 8. & F. D. G.);

Nicaracva, Chontales (Bel¢*); Costa Rica, Angostura (Carmiol’ §), Orosi (Carmiol) ;

Panama, Calovevora > and Calobre (Arcé), line of railway (M‘Leannan ? °),

As will be seen above, Vireolanius pulchellus has a wide range throughout our

region, being doubtless found wherever the warmer tropical forests extend. In such

situations in Guatemala all our specimens were obtained, the bird being very common

in the neighbourhood of the Indian rancheria of Choctum. The specimen from the

mountains of Rasché was obtained at an elevation of about 2000 to 3000 feet; and this

height is probably the extreme limit of the range of the species in altitude, whence it

descends to the sea-level in Nicaragua and Panama.

When the article on this species was published in ‘ Exotic Ornithology,’ it was

stated that the range of V. pulchellus in Guatemala was restricted to the eastern

forests; we have since discovered it in the forest-clad slopes which extend to the

CYCLORHIS. 211

shores of the Pacific Ocean. Doubts were also expressed as to the origin of the

specimens from the Isthmus of Panama; but the range of the species having been

proved throughout Central America into the State of Panama, we now think that

these doubts were perhaps hardly justified.

The first description of V. pulchellus was based upon a specimen in the British

Museum, sent there by the late George Ure Skinner from Guatemala.

Vireolanius pulchellus has two allies in the continent of South America. V. eximius —

is its representative in Colombia, probably in the forests of the valley of the Magdalena.

V. leucotis takes its place in Guiana and throughout the forests of the great basin of

the Upper Amazons. Concerning this last species some misapprehension has long

prevailed; but we believe that the materials received by us from Ecuador and Guiana

have placed the species on a proper footing, and that one bird, and not two, is found

over this wide area *.

CYCLORHIS.

Cyclorhis, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 162 (1828) (type Tanagra guianensis, Gm.); Baird, Rev.

Am. B, i. p. 384.

Cyclorhis has a stouter bill than any other genus of Vireonide, Vireolanius alone

approaching it in this respect; the legs too are stout and the claws strong. The first

primary is well developed, being about equal to half the second.

We are now acquainted with eleven species of Cyclorhis, all of which have a great

general resemblance to one another in colour. They may be divided into two groups

by the colour of the head. The typical section, to which both the Central-American

species belong, have the top of the head and nape grey, with an ochraceous tinge. Some

eight species compose this group, which belongs to the northern and eastern portions

of South America. The second section, of which C. virenticeps is a representative,

consists of three species which have the vertex and nape green, like the back. These

are found in western parts of South America, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

1. Cyclorhis flaviventris.

Cyclaris flaviventris, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 183'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 3802.

Cyclorhis flaviventris, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 299°; 1859, p. 363‘; 1864, p. 173°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1859, p. 13°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 3867; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 200°; Bull. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 548"°; Salv. Cat. Strickl.

Coll. p. 114".

Cyclorhis amaurophrys, Licht. Nomencl. Av. p. 11” (fide Bonaparte, ut supra ’).

Supra olivacea, pileo summo et genis plumbeis, his pallidioribus, superciliis ochraceo rufescentibus ; subtus

omnino flava, hypochondriis olivaceo indutis ; rostro et pedibus carneis, mandibule basi nigricante. Long.

* Cf. Salv. Ibis, 1878, p. 443; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1882, pp. 77, 78.

212 VIREONID.

tota 6°2, ale 3°1, caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 0°9, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr. )

Femina mari similis, capite summo forsan magis ochraceo tincto.

Hab. Mexico (Sallé*), Santa Cruz (Lafresnaye +), valley of Mexico (White *), temperate

region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 1°), Mirador (Sartorius’), Jalapa? (de Oca *, Hoge),

Guichicovi, Petapa (Swmichrast °), Merida in Yucatan (Salazar’, Schott §), Northern

Yucatan (Gaumer); Guatemata® (Constancia®"), Volcan de Fuego, 7300 feet,

Volcan de Agua above San Diego, Tactic, Coban, Choctum (0. 8S. & F. D. G.),

This, the most northern representative of the genus Cyclorhis, is a common species in

Southern Mexico and Guatemala, where it enjoys a considerable range in altitude,

being found in Mexico abundantly throughout the temperate region as high as 4300

feet ; so Prof. Sumichrast tells us!°. In Yucatan it is found almost at the sea-level.

In Guatemala its range in altitude is still greater; for it occurred to us in the Volcan

de Fuego at Calderas, an elevation of 7300 feet; and it is equally common in the low-

lands of Vera Paz, which are not more than 1200 feet above the sea.

Its usual resort is the outskirts of the forest or second-growth woods.

In Costa Rica and Panama its place is taken by the next species.

C. flaviventris was first described by Lafresnaye from Mexican specimens in his own

collection. This is the only name that has been applied to it, excepting Lichtenstein’s

undefined title Cyclorhis amaurophrys '*, which Bonaparte says refers to the same

species 2.

Judging from specimens the sex of which has been accurately determined, it would

appear that the crown of the head in the male is purer slate-colour than in the female,

which has this part tinged with ochreous. Prof. Baird has drawn attention’ to the varia-

tion in the black spot at the base of the mandible in this species. We also find some

differences. Mexican and Yucatan specimens all have this spot very distinctly marked.

In those from Coban and Tactic it is also plainly shown, but not so in our examples

from Choctum and Southern Guatemala. This feature seems here to be of less importance

than in the case of some of the allied South-American species.

2. Cyclorhis flavipectus.

Cyclorhis flavipectus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 4481; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 889°; Scl. & Salv.

Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 18°.

Cyclorhis subflavescens, Cab. J. £. Orn. 1860, p. 405°; 1861, p. 93°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 388°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 977; Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 313°; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 184°;

v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295 °°.

Cyclorhis flaviventris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 97".

C. flaviventri similis, sed ventre postico et crisso albis nec flavis distinguenda.

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius*), Barranca ®, Dota Mountains ®7 (Carmiol), San José

(v. Frantzius®"), Tucurriqui, Bebedero, Nicoya (Arcé), Irazu (Rogers); PANAMA,

Volcan de Chirqui (Arcé®),—CoLomBia!?; Vennzueta! 3; TRiipap ! 2; AmAzontra®,

LANIUS. 213

Some confusion exists regarding this bird, owing to its being subject to some variation

in Costa Rica, two (and even three) species having been stated to be found in that country.

The amount of yellow on the belly varies considerably in different individuals; those in

which the white of the underparts is most restricted have been called C. Jlaviventris,

and considered the same as the Mexican bird. Those with more white beneath are

C. subflavescens, whilst those in which the white extends to the chest have been considered

inseparable from C. flavipectus, the species of Colombia, Venezuela, &c. Finding all

these forms in Costa Rica, we do not see how any separation can be made: we therefore

call them by Mr. Sclater’s name, it being the oldest. The differences of size and colour

alluded to by Prof. Cabanis in his original description, and commented upon by Prof.

Baird, we do not see confirmed in the series before us. It must be noted, however, that

the true C. flaviventris does not occur in Costa Rica, as all specimens from that country

have the lower belly white.

C. flavipectus, though not uncommon in Costa Rica, does not appear to be found in

the State of Panama, except in the neighbourhood of Chiriqui. Absent from the

isthmus itself, it reappears at Santa Marta and near Bogota, in Colombia, and again in

Venezuela and Trinidad, whence Mr. Sclater’s types of the species were obtained!.

Fam. LANTIIDA*.

LANIUS.

Lanius, Linnzus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 184 (1766).

The genus Lantus is far more strongly developed in the Old World than in the New,

where only two well defined species occur in the Nearctic Region, one of them extending

its range over the whole of Mexico. In the Old World the range of Lantus and its

close allies includes the Palearctic, Indian, and Ethiopian Regions, the Australian

alone being outside its limits.

The strong raptorial bill of Landus distinguishes it from most of the Passerine birds.

This is used for the capture and destruction of small birds and the larger kinds of

insects, and is strongly notched near the curved and pointed end of the mandible. The

feet, though strong, are like those of ordinary Passeres; the tarsus is longer than the

middle toe, the lateral toes being nearly equal.

1. Lanius ludovicianus.

Lanius ludovicianus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 184'; Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 1127.

Collyrio ludovicianus, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 480°.

Collurio ludovicianus, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 443‘; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 418°.

Lanius eacubitorides, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 115, t. 84°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p, 1737.

* See anted, p. 185.

214 LANIID.

Collyrio excubitorides, Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 11°.

Collurio excubitorides, Baird, Rev. Am. B.1. p. 445°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.1. p. 548”.

Collurio ludovicianus, var. excubitorides, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. 1. p. 421"; Lawr. Bull.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18”; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 272”.

Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 561“.

Lanius carolinensis, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 57, t. 22. f.5°; Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser.1. p. 368";

Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2, ef. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 58.

Lanius mexicanus, Brehm, J. f. Orn. 1854, pp. 145, 148°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 375°; Dugés,

La Nat. i. p. 141”.

Supra ardesiaco-cinereus, uropygio paulo pallidiore ; capitis lateribus, alis et cauda nigris ; scapularibus griseo-

albis ; secundariorum apicibus, speculo alari, subalaribus, rectricibus quatuor gradatim lateralibus et corpore

subtus omnino albis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 8:0, ale 4:0, caude rectr. med. 4-2, rectr. lat.

3:4, rostri a rictu 0°9, tarsi 1:0. (Descr. exempl. ex valley of Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Exempl. altera, supra grisescentior, uropygio fere albo, loris nigris supra albo indistincte limbatis. (=L. eawcu-

bitorides, Sw., mas, ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus, nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Southern Atlantic and Gulf States® and Mississippi valley &c."4,

Western United States and northwards to Saskatchewan ® and Canada "4, Texas 3,

Mexican frontier §.—Mexico? 1’ 18, Charco Escondido (Couwch®), Mazatlan (Grayson,

Forrer), Presidio (Forrer), Colima (Xantus 918), Guanajuato (Dugés °), valley of

Mexico (White"), Tierra fria (le Strange), tableland (Bullock 1°), plateau, and

temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast '°), Mirador (Sartorius®), Oaxaca ®

(Loucard !°), Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast !*).

For some time it was the practice of ornithologists to consider the Shrikes of the

south Atlantic States and those of Western and North-western America to be separate

species—the former bearing Linneus’s name L. ludovicianus 1, the latter that proposed

by Swainson for a bird from the plains of the Saskatchewan, ZL. excubitorides. But

Dr. Coues, in his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley,’ says that he has gradually become

satisfied that no distinct line can be drawn between these two birds, and that the two

alleged species grade into one another by insensible degrees !4. Other authors hold

to these views, which we believe, so far as we can see with much more limited materials

at our disposal for forming an opinion, to be accurately true. We therefore consider

L. ludovicianus a variable species, with a tendency to become a dark race in the South-

eastern States and a lighter one in the West and North-west. In Mexico both races

occur; whether as residents or migrants we are unable to say. One of our specimens

from the valley of Mexico seems to be in every way a typical L. ludovicianus. Our

other Mexican specimens are more of the L. excubitorides type, but are not very constant

in the tint of the grey of the upper surface or in the purity of the white of the rump.

Though L. ludovicianus appears to be found throughout Mexico, it does not pass

beyond the limits of that country. It seems to be more common on the tablelands of

the interior; but near Mazatlan and Tehuantepec it approaches the coast, but perhaps

only in the winter season ; for Grayson found Shrikes in the former district from October

LANIUS.—AMPELIDA. 215

to April, and suggested that they migrated to the high central plains in summer ®,

Prof. Sumichrast speaks of this Lanius as probably resident in the plateau of Mexico ;

and in the State of Vera Cruz, he says, it is seldom found at a lower elevation than

3000 or 2600 feet. He adds that he did not remember ever to have met with a

single specimen in the hot region!°; but this was written before he found it near

Tehuantepec city 2.

There are no records of L. /udovicianus nesting in Mexico; but its breeding-habits in

North America are well known. On this point, and on the habits of American Shrikes

generally, as well as on the synonymy of the species, Dr. Coues has written an elaborate

account, which we recommend to our readers as well worthy of their study 14.

Fam. AMPELIDZ*,

AMPELIS.

Ampelis, Linnzus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 297 (type A. garrula, L.); Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 403.

The long wings, the first primary being almost obsolete, and the second nearly the

longest in the wing, the short tail, and the short prorect supernasal feathers, as well as

the peculiar wax-like elongation of the rhachis of several of the secondary quills, and

the silky plumage, serve to distinguish Ampelis from the genera which follow.

Ampelis cedrorum, the species which here concerns us, is peculiar to the Nearctic

Region, and only visits our country in winter. It has two strictly congeneric allies,

one of which, 4. garrula, is also found in the Nearctic Region, but is equally if not

better known as an inhabitant of the Northern Palearctic Region, and as an occasional

winter visitant to the British Islands. The third species, A. phwnicoptera, is peculiar

to Japan. .

1. Ampelis cedrorum. vo

Bombycilla cedrorum, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 88, t.57'; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 807.

Ampelis cedrorum, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 299°; 1858, p. 802°; 1859, p. 363°; 1864, p.173°; Baird,

U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p.117; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 407°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13°;

Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111"; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 480’; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N.H. i. p. 548"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 141"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 401";

Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4. p. 18%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 470".

Ampelis americana, Wils. Am. Orn. i. p. 107, t. 7. f.17”.

Bombycilla americana, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 1, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p.56™"; Jones, Nat.

in Berm. p. 29”.

Bombycilla carolinensis, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 337”.

Ampelis carolinensis, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 197”.

* The Central-American species of this family belong to Prof. Baird’s group B, containing his subfamilies

Ampeling and Ptilogonatine, the former comprising the genus Ampelis, the latter Ptilogonys and Phawnopepla,

to which we add Phaznoptila, an aberrant form.

216 AMPELIDA,

Sericeo-cinnamomeo-fusca, dorso paulo fuscescentiore, uropygio clare cinereo, alis et cauda purpurascenti-nigris,

illarum secundariis quinque aut sex rhachibus ad apices coccineo terminatis, hac flavo terminata, crista

elongata dorso concolori, fronte cum stria utrinque per oculos conjunctis nigris; subtus mento nigricante,

abdomine flavido, crisso albo, rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 6°7, ale 5-7, caudex 2-4, rostri a rictu

0-7, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Femina mari similis, secundariorum apicibus coccineis aut paucioribus aut absentibus.

Hab. Nortn AMEnrica generally to between 50° and 60° N. lat. 1°, Texas 11, Bermuda !9.—

Mexico '*, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon (Couch), Guanajuato (Dugés !8), valley of

Mexico ( White ®, le Strange), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast #2), Jalapa (de Oca5),

Cordova (Sallé*), La Parada (Boucard 4), Oaxaca (Fenochio), Tehuantepec (Sumi-

chrast °); GuaTEMALA (Skinner), ridge above Mixco, San Juan Sacatepeques,

Duefias, Savana Grande, Escuintla, San Gerdnimo, Tactic, Coban, Cahabon,

Choctum 8, Dolores near Peten (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, Siquatepeque

(G@. C. Taylor ).—Cusa2; Jamatca 21,

The Cedar-bird is a common winter visitant to Mexico and Guatemala, though

somewhat irregular in its movements, doubtless owing to the state of the seasons in

North America, its summer quarters. Though usually commoner in the highlands, it is

found at comparatively low elevations, both in Mexico and Guatemala. Prof. Sumi-

chrast has given Tehuantepec as one of the localities in the former country where it

occurs; and in the latter we observed it both at Escuintla, about 1500 feet above the

sea, and in the pine-ridge of Dolores, in the department of Peten, which is at a still

lower elevation. In the hills round the city of Guatemala it is to be seen in some

abundance from autumn to spring, flying in flocks or perched on some fruit-bearing

tree. In the neighbourhood of Coban it is also a common bird. Mr. Taylor’s is the

only record of the occurrence of A. cedrorum beyond the limits of Guatemala, he

having found it near Siquatepeque, in the Republic of Honduras 1°. Dr. Coues, indeed,

credits Dr. Hartlaub for the statement of its occurrence at Guayaquil; but the reference

under which this statement is said to be made only mentions Cuba as one of the places

to which the Cedar-bird strays; so that its appearance in South America has yet to be

recorded, notwithstanding the observation of Brewer, for which he gives no authority,

that the bird is abundant in the northern parts of South America and also throughout

Central America. As regards the Antilles, 4. cedrorwm can only be said to appear at

rare intervals in Jamaica and Cuba; Mr. Gosse quotes Hill’s authority for its occurrence

in Jamaica, a flock having been observed near Spanish Town in 1836. In Cuba also it

is quite a rare straggler; but when it does visit that island it appears in flocks and not

as single birds. Its line of migration would seem therefore, as a rule, to follow the

land to the westward, and not to cross any wide expanse of sea; but it has occurred

several times in Bermuda ?9,

In the United States and in Canada Ampelis cedrorum is a very familiar bird; and a

full account of its habits is given in the ‘History of North-American Birds.’ In its

AMPELIS.—PTILOGONYS. 217

migrations it is uncertain, often remaining throughout the year in places where the

winter happens to be mild. It is a late breeder, unhatched eggs having been found as

late as October. Owing to the depredations they make on the fruit-trees, great

numbers of these birds are yearly destroyed. But fruit is not their only food; for they

also consume quantities of insects, especially their larve, in the spring and early

summer. ‘The nest is usually placed in a low bush or a tree, not more than twenty feet

from the ground, and is composed of a strong framework of twigs, coarse vegetable

stems, and grasses; inside this is a compact structure of grasses, fibres of vine-stems,

&c., and a lining of leaves and fine rootlets. ‘The eggs, five or six in number, have a

ground-colour either slaty or stone, and are blotched with several shades of purple-

brown 1.

PTILOGONYS.

Ptiliogonys, Swainson, Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 368 (1827).

Ptilogonatus, Sw. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 164.

Ptilogonys, Bp. Consp. i. p. 335; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 410.

The wing, though pointed in this genus, has the secondary quills much longer in

proportion to the primaries than in Ampelis; the tirst primary is well developed; the

second and third, falling considerably short of the point of the wing, are acute, the

third being slightly curved outwardly towards the tip; the fifth is the longest, the

fourth and sixth being nearly equal; the tail is long, nearly square at the end in

P. cinereus, cuneate, with the central feathers much elongated, in P. caudatus; the bill

is short, the gape wide, the rictal bristles being moderately developed; the nostrils are

oval, the frontal feathers nearly reaching to the proximal edge of the nasal opening.

The plumage, though soft, is rather more open in texture than in Ampelis.

Of Ptilogonys, as now restricted, only two species are known—one inhabiting the

highlands of Mexico and Guatemala, the other the mountainous districts of Costa Rica.

The genus has no nearer ally than Phainopepla in North America; and in South

America nothing approaches it even remotely.

1. Ptilogonys cinereus.

Ptiliogonys cinereus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 868+; Zool. Ill. new ser. ii. t. 627; iii. t. 102°.

Ptilogonys cinereus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 335*; Scl. P. ZS. 1856, p. 299°; 1858, p. 302°; 1859,

363"; 1864, p. 173°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°; 1860, p.31°°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i.

p- 412"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 548"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 141”; Lawr.

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 273"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 147”.

Ptiliogonatus cinereus, Sw. Zool. Journ. iii. p. 164%.

Hypothymis chrysorrhoa, Temm. Pl. Col. 45277.

Hypothymis mexicanus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 58".

Cinereus, capite summo dilutiore, fronte, oculorum ambitu et mento albis; regione parotica et cervice postica

griseo-fuscis ; alis et cauda quadrata sericeo-cyanco, nigris, hujus rectricibus quatuor utrinque lateralibus

plaga quadrata magna alba notatis, hypochondriis olivaceo-flavis, abdomine imo et tibiis albis, crisso luteo ;

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., March 18838. 28

218 AMPELIDZ.

rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 8:0, ale 3°75, caude 4°15, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°65. (Descr.

maris ex Parada, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Femina fuscescens, subtus dilutior, fronte, mento et oculorum ambitu albis, abdomine imo et macula caudali

sicut in mare albis, crisso luteo. (Descr. feminse ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico*® (Deppe™, J. Mann), Tablelands (Bullock), Real del Monte (J.

Taylor *), Guanajuato (Dugés 8), Sierra Madre, near Colima (Xantus 1! 14), valley of

Mexico (White®, le Strange), Cordoval!, Orizaba (Botteri 11), Alpine region of

Vera Cruz and valley of Orizaba (Sumichrast }*), Jalapa (de Oca’), La Parada

(Boucard ®), Oaxaca (Fenochio); GUATEMALA (Constancia® *), Volcan de Fuego

(O. S.2°), Duefias (0. 8. & &. D. G.1"), Volcan de Agua, Sumpango (0. 8S. &

F. D. G.), Barranco Hondo and ridge above Totonicapam (0. S.).

This pretty species was first sent to Europe by Bullock, and was included, so Swainson

tells us”, in the list of the species characterized by him in ‘An Appendix to the

Catalogue of Bullock’s Mexican Museum,’ published in 1824. We have seen a copy of

this catalogue, but not the appendix. The first formal publication of the species was

probably that in Swainson’s paper in the ‘ Philosophical Magazine 7!, which was written

after, but published before, the article in the ‘ Zoological Journal’ 16 Soon after this

it was described and figured by Temminck, in the ‘ Planches Coloriées,’ under the title

Hypothymis chrysorrhoa “ ; and about the same time Deppe obtained the specimens now

in the Berlin Museum !®. Since then P. cinereus has been observed by most collectors

who have visited the highlands of Mexico, its northernmost recorded localities being

Guanajuato and the Sierra Madre, near Colima. In the State of Vera Cruz Prof.

Sumichrast says that, though it is found as low as 4000 feet in the valley of Orizaba,

it is by rights a bird of the alpine region, where it ascends to a height of nearly

10,000 feet. In Guatemala we found it in the tablelands of the interior, but only the

main cordillera and on the high volcanoes which stretch towards the Pacific *. Here

it occurs from an elevation of 10,500 feet in the mountain-ridges above Totonicapam,

in the Altos of Guatemala, down to an elevation of nearly 4000 feet between the —

volcanoes of Agua and Fuego. In the last-named mountain we used often to observe

it frequenting oak trees in the outskirts of an opening of the forest, where it would fly

after and seize insects in the air, and where also it doubtless feeds on the berries of the

different species of mistletoe which abound in such localities, as well as other fruits.

There is a slight difference between Mexican and Guatemalan specimens of P. cinereus

to be noticed in the plumage of adult male birds. ‘The latter have rather less white on

the chin ; the cinereous colour of the under surface is rather darker ; the flanks are rather

richer olive-colour; and there is, perhaps, a little less white on the lower belly. These

differences are worthy of note, but they are hardly sufficient for specific distinction.

Nothing is recorded of the breeding-habits of this species; but we have a bird in

* The locality “Coban,” given by Salvin’, on the authority of V. Constancia, we now believe to be erro-

neous, though the bird might well be found in the higher mountains of Vera Paz. |

PTILOGONYS.—PHAINOPEPLA. 219

first plumage shot on 6th July in the Volcan de Fuego, and so young that it had

doubtless been reared in the vicinity. In this bird there is no trace of a spotted first

plumage which is like that of the female; the belly is yellowish and the same colour

as the crissum, the wings and tail being coloured like those of the adult bird.

Accounts differ as to the colour of the iris of this species in the living bird. Xantus

gives it as carmine”; Don A. Fenochio as “ very dark.” Unfortunately we omitted to

note the colour ourselves.

2. Ptilogonys caudatus.

Ptilogonys caudatus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 4021; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 977; Baird, Rev.

Am. B. i. p. 413°; Scl. & Salv. Ex. Orn. p. 11, t.6*; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295°;

Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 185°.

Cinereus, collo undique cum crista et gula flavicantibus, oculoram ambitu aureo, pileo summo cinereco; alis

nitenti-nigris, tectrictbus extus cinerascentibus; caude rectricibus lateralibus graduatis, harum inter-

mediis elongatis, omnibus nitenti-nigris, quatuor utrinque externis macula alba in pogonio interiore

donatis ; hypochondriis olivascenti-flavis, crisso aureo; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 9:0, ale 3°8,

caude rectr. ext. 3°6, rectr. med. 5:2.

Femina olivascenti-cinerea fere unicolor, flavido mixta; pileo summo pure cinereo; annulo oculari aureo; alis

caudaque sicut in mare sed obscurioribus, cauda minus elongata. (Descr. maris et femine ex Volcan de

Cartago, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (v. Frantzius 15, J. Cooper), San José (v. Frantzius*, Rogers),

Rancho Redondo (Carmiol?*); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé ®).

This beautiful species takes the place of Ptilogonys cinereus in the highlands of

Costa Rica and the adjoining parts of the State of Panama. In its general coloration

and in the texture of its plumage it is very similar to its congener; but, besides differing

in details of colour, it has a cuneate tail, the central rectrices being much elongated.

Upon the strength of this difference, Prof. Baird went so far as to suggest a subgeneric

name Sphenotelus for P. caudatus ; but this we think hardly necessary.

Ptilogonys etrereus was one of Dr. von Frantzius’s discoveries, made in the month of

March in the mountains of Costa Rica, at an elevation of 8000 feet, near the summit

of the Volcan de Irazu®; and his specimens, on being sent to Berlin, were described by

Prof. Cabanis in his series of papers published on the birds of that country!. It has

since been sent in some numbers from Costa Rica, where it is probably not uncommon.

We have also received it from the Volcan de Chiriqui, in the State of Panama, our

excellent collector Arcé having met with it in that district®. Being a strictly mountain

bird, probably never descending below an elevation of 5000 or 6000 feet, it is not found

elsewhere in the State of Panama.

PHAINOPEPLA.

Phainopepla, Sclater, P. Z. 8.1858, p. 543 (type Ptilogonys nitens, Sw.) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 415,

The glossy black plumage and long occipital crest are obvious distinguishing

28*

Co vada TAS

* 4

Bee COV atm

wore

220 AMPELIDZ.

characters of this species, besides which the bill is more feeble and less depressed

than in Ptilogonys, the rictal bristles being much longer. The wings have a large,

broad spurious primary, the second and third being broad and rounded at their tips,

the fifth the longest in the wing, slightly exceeding the fourth and sixth. The frontal

feathers, though not covering the nostrils, have a few long bristles which reach over

three fourths the length of the culmen. The tail is long and slightly rounded; the

tarsi short as in Péilogonys and Ampelis.

This is a monotypic genus, its sole member, Phainopepla nitens, having a rather

wide range from the northern confines of Southern Mexico to the south-western and

south-middle States of the Union.

1. Phainopepla nitens.

Ptilogonys nitens, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 285°; Bp. Consp. i. p. 335°; Cass. Ill. B. Cal. & Tex.

p. 169, t. 29°.

Phainopepla nitens, Scl. P.Z.S. 1858, p. 543*; 1864, p. 173°; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds,

p- 11°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 4807; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 141°.

Phenopepla nitens, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 416°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 548°;

Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 4057*; Coues, B. Col. Vall. 1. p. 475 ,

Lepturus galeatus, Less. (1838) fide Bonaparte *’.

Ptilogonys aterrima, Licht. Mus. Ber.“

Nitens chalybeo-nigra unicolor, alarum remigibus pogonio interno medialiter albis, crista elongata corpore

concolori. Long. tota 8°0, ale 4:0, caude 4:2, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex urbis Mexico

vicinitate. Mus. nostr.)

Femina fusca, supra paulo saturatior, capite sicut in mare cristata, alis et cauda nigricanti-fuscis, illis et crisso

albo undique marginatis. (Descr. femine ex urbis Mexico vicinitate. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Southern, Middle, and Western States 12, Arizona &c.°, Texas’.

—Mexico !?, Coahuila (Couch ®), Guanajuato (Dugés§), plateau of Mexico, valley

of Orizaba and State of Puebla (Sumichrast '°), valley of Mexico (White ®), Sierras

of Mexico (le Strange), Cimapan (Deppe \*), Mirador (Sartorius °).

Swainson first described this species, in 1837, from male and female specimens

obtained in Mexico, where it has since been found throughout the central and

northern portions of that country, and thence across the frontier into Texas, New

Mexico, Arizona, Lower and Southern California, and Southern Nevada. It does

not, however, seem to be found much to the southward of the city of Mexico; for it

was not included in the collections of either M. Sallé or of M. Boucard. It appears to

be absent, too, from the western coast. Prof. Sumichrast says it is well distributed

throughout the plateau of Mexico, and, so far as he knows, but rarely reaches the

valley of Orizaba at an elevation of about 5000 feet !°. He adds that it is very common

at Tehuantepec, a village near the city of Mexico.

In the United States the habits of P. nitens have been watched by several excellent

PHAINOPEPLA.—PHAINOPTILA. 221

observers; and the fullest summary of their notes is given by Dr. Coues in his ‘ Birds

the Colorado Valley.’

Its food consists of insects and fruits, chiefly the berries of different species of

mistletoe.

The nest is described as a shallow structure, placed on a horizontal branch in a low

tree; it measures about four inches across, and is composed of fine sticks, fibres of

plants, and lined with a little cottonwood down and a stray feather. The number of

eges in a nest does not exceed two. These are of a ground-colour varying from greenish

white to lavender and greyish white, and are spotted all over with different shades of

brown. The spots are small, and most thickly scattered about the larger end of

the egg.

Lichtenstein’s unpublished title, Ptilogonys aterrima, belongs to this species, as the

specimens in the Berlin Museum testify. These latter were obtained by Deppe at

Cimapan, and are probably the first examples sent to Europe. According to Bonaparte,

Lesson gave it the name of Lepturus galeatus in 1838; but we have been unable to

find any reference to it in Lesson’s writings.

PHAINOPTILA.

Phainoptila, Salvin, P. Z. 8. 1877, p. 367.

The wings in the single species of this genus are rounded, the proportional lengths

of the primaries being much as in Ptilogonys; there is a long first primary, the second

being about twice its length; the fourth and fifth are about equal and the longest in the

wing; the bill is weak and narrow at the gape, and considerably depressed ; the nostrils

are open, and the rictal bristles short; the tarsi are longer and stouter than in any of

the preceding genera, and in having a single shield in front resemble the tarsi of a

normal Thrush.

On the whole, this genus seems best placed here in the family Ampelidee, at least for

the present, and until an examination of more of its structure than is represented by a

skin has been undertaken.

Phainoptila is a monotypic genus, its single species being found in the mountains of

Costa Rica.

1. Phainoptila melanoxantha. (Tab. XIV.)

Phainoptila melanoxantha, Salv. P. Z. S. 1877, p. 867°; Rowley, Orn. Misc. i. p. 439, t. 79°;

Boucard, P. Z. 8S. 1878, p. 53°.

Nitens nigra, pectore et abdominis lateribus cum crisso olivaceis, ventre medio ardesiaco; hypochondriis et

dorso postico luteis ; rostro et pedibus nigerrimis. Long. tota 9:0, ale 4:0, caudee 3°5, rostri a rictu 0-9,

tarsi 1:0. (Descr. maris ex San Francisco, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Femina obscure olivacea, capite summo nigro, gutture et abdomine medio ardesiacis, pectore et abdominis

lateribus olivaceis, hypochondriis luteis, rostro et pedibus nigris. (Descr. femine ex Irazu, Costa Rica.

Mus. nostr.)

222 HIRUNDINIDE.

Hab. Costa Rica, San Francisco, Irazu (Rogers), Navarro2%, and Rancho Redondo ?

(Boucard).

The first specimen of this singular bird was sent us by Mr. H. Rogers in 1877,

who was then in our employ collecting specimens in Costa Rica. We subsequently

received others from the same source. In the meantime M. Boucard during his

visit to Costa Rica obtained several examples at Navarro and Rancho Redondo, two

of which were figured by Keulemans for Mr. Rowley, and published in the second

volume of his ‘Ornithological Miscellany’. M. Boucard says that his specimens were

obtained in semitropical forests below the region of oaks, at an elevation of about

4000 feet*. He further states that the birds go in pairs along the courses of the

streams.

Section II. OSCINES LATIROSTRES.

Fam. HIRUNDINIDZA*.

PROGNE.

Progne, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 971 (type Hirundo purpurea, L.) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 271.

We are unable to recognize more than four species of this genus, though several

others have been described or indicated by Prof. Baird, who, when examining the

American Swallows for his ‘ Review of American Birds,’ carried the subdivision of this

genus to extreme limits. After closely comparing a large series of specimens from all

parts of America, and making the necessary allowance for differences of age, season,

and individuality, the four species we acknowledge are:—P. purpurea of North America

and a large portion of South America, in both of which continents it breeds ; P. domi-

nicensts, which is peculiar to the Antilles, being found in all the larger islands and some

of the Windward Islands+; P. chalybea, a resident species throughout Tropical America

from Southern Mexico to Paraguay; and P. tapera, which has also a wide range in

Tropical America, but which does not enter into our fauna. The two species which

concern us are P. chalybea, which is by far the commoner and more widely distributed,

and P. purpurea, which occurs in Mexico and British Honduras.

Progne may easily be recognized from all other American Hirundinide by its large

size and robust build. ‘The commissure of the mandible is sinuated ; the nostrils open

upwards and are nearly circular, the edges being rounded without any overhanging

membrane. The legs are stout, the tarsus equal to the middle toe without the claw ;

* The arrangement of the Hirundinide we follow here is that of Prof. Baird, who carefully investigated the

American genera when compiling his ‘ Review of American Birds.’ The Hirundinide form a more homogeneous

family than many others of the Oscines; and, at least so far as America is concerned, there are no genera

leading to other families, as we so frequently find to be the case.

+ Lawr. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 484,

PROGNE. 223

the tibio-tarsal joint is feathered, the lateral toes are about equal, the claws strong and

much curved.

1. Progne purpurea.

Hirundo purpurea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 344’; d’?Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. i. p. 687; Jones, Nat.

Berm. p. 34°.

Progne purpurea, Darwin, Zool. Voy. Beagle, ii. p. 38*; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 140°; Baird,

U.S. Bound. Surv. it Birds, p. 11°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 4797; Dugés, La Nat. i.

p-141°; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 16°; Hudson, P. Z. 8S. 1872, p. 605°.

Hirundo subis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 344”.

Progne subis, Baird, Rev. Am. B.1. p. 274°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547°;

Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 271™; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 329";

Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 445 **.

Chalybeo-cwrulea unicolor, alis et cauda nigris extus chalybeo nitentibus; plaga hypochrondriaca celata alba;

tectricibus subcaudalibus quoque ad basin albis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 7-7, alee 5:7, caude

rect. med. 2:2, rect. lat. 2°85, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0-6. (Deser. maris ex Brit. Honduras. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra mari similis, sed colore magis obscuro; subtus griseo-albidis, plumis singulis ad basin fuscis. (Deser.

feminze ex California. Mus. nostr.) .

Hab. Norta America! from the Arctic circle southwards in summer !4, Texas’,

Bermuda *.—Mexico, Coahuila (Couch®}*), Mazatlan, Guadalajara and Tepic

(Grayson *), Guanajuato (Dugés*), Alpine region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ') ;

British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux).—Boutvia?; Brazin®®; ARGENTINE

Republic 24 2°. |

Northern and Central Mexico seem to be the chief resort of this species within our

limits. Here Grayson found it breeding both in Tepic and in Guadalajura in

the month of May, making its nest under the eaves of the houses or in water-spouts ; at

Mazatlan he saw it but seldom, and then only accidentally during migration, flying very

high . The only naturalist who has observed the Purple Martin in Southern Mexico

is Prof. Sumichrast, who found it in the alpine region of Vera Cruz, where he says it

is resident 12. It never occurred to us in Guatemala, but we have a skin of a male

bird recently sent us from the neighbourhood of Belize by M. Blancaneaux. There

are no records of its occurrence elsewhere in Central America.

Regarding the South-American bird, we are quite of Mr. Sclater’s opinion 1°, that the

Swallow considered by writers previous to the publication of Prof. Baird’s ‘ Review

of American Birds’ to be Progne purpurea is really that species; for with numerous

specimens before us we are quite unable to detect any tangible evidence of the exis-

tence of more than one bird. Progne purpurea thus considered extends its range over

a large part of the South-American continent; but it is probably absent from the

western, north-western, and the extreme southern districts, as it is from the greater

portion of Central America.

Referring again to its Mexican range, it seems not improbable that this is merely an

extension of the area it inhabits during the summer months in North America, and

224 HIRUNDINIDZ.

that the Mexican birds accompany the more northern ones in their winter migration.

Against this theory is Prof. Sumichrast’s observation that this bird is resident in the

higher parts of Vera Cruz.

Our specimen from British Honduras has rather more white on the base of the

under tail-coverts than is the case in one we have from California; it may therefore

belong to the Cuban bird separated by Prof. Baird as Progne cryptoleuca; but the

difference is, in our opinion, of no specific importance.

The Purple Martin is a very familiar bird in North America; and a full summary of

the records of its habits is given by Brewer. It breeds in convenient places in

many of the public buildings in the towns and cities of the United States, and also in

suitable boxes placed for the purpose near their dwellings by all classes of people.

It also breeds in South America, as Darwin states that he observed females at Bahia

Blanca beginning to lay in September, having excavated deep holes in a cliff of

compact earth +.

An excellent account of it at this season is also given by Mr. W. H. Hudson !.

As P. purpurea is migratory at both ends of its range, and as it breeds both in the

northern and southern continents, the question arises whether the species raises two

broods in the year, one in the summer months in the north, and another in the winter

in the south, or do the birds of each extremity occupy alternately an intermediate

country in common t—questions only to be answered by the closest observation of the

movements of the birds themselves. |

2. Progne chalybea.

Hirundo chalybea, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 1026".

Progne chalybea, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 8187; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 402°; Scl. & Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1878, p. 258*, 1879, p. 495 ’.

Progne purpurea (non Linn.), Cab. in Schomb. Reise n. Guian. iii. p. 671°.

Progne dominicensis (nec Linn.), Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 141"; Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 201°; 1859,

p. 864° ; 1860, p. 292°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13”; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 110”;

Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 61°.

Hirundo domestica, Vieill. N. Dict. d’ Hist. N. xiv. p. 520 (ex Azara) ™.

Progne domestica, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 17”.

Progne leucogaster, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 280°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 203°"; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N.Y. ix. p. 96°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547°; v. Frantzius, J. £. Orn.

1869, p. 294°°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 569”; 1870, p. 888”; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat.

Mus. no. 4, p. 17.

Supra chalybeo-cerulea unicolor, alis caudaque nigricantibus chalybeo extus lavatis ; subtus fusca, abdomine et

crisso albidis, macula hypochondriaca celata alba; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 6°5, ale or,

caude rectr. med. 2°25, rect. lat. 2-9; rostri a rictu 0:9, tarsi 0-45. (Descr. maris ex San Geronimo,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.),

Q mari similis, sed colore corporis supra obscuriore. (Descr. femine ex Cahabon, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, San Andres Tuxtla (Sallé*'%), Jalapa (de Oca®), hot and temperate

regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), Tehuantepec (Grayson 2), Barrio (Sumi-

- PROGNE.—PETROCHELIDON. 225

chrast *°); GuaTEMALA (Skinner), Peten, Belize, Cahabon 16, Duefias, Escuintla,

Retalhuleu (0.8. & F. D. G.), San Gerdénimo (Owen); Satvapor, Acajutla

(J. M. Dow?*), La Union (0. S.); Honpuras, Comayagua (Taylor 12), San Pedro

(G. M. Whitely *); Cosra Rica”, San José (Hoffmann ®, v. Frantzius 18), Nicoya

(Arcé); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé), Lion Hill station (M*Leannan 2).

—CotomBia®; Vengzveta; Gutana!?; Amazons Vattey42!; Ecuapor 810;

Braziu? 15; Paraguay 4, |

This is apparently a resident species over the wide area indicated above, or at most

subject to very partial migration. We found it breeding in Guatemala, and Mr. Robert

Owen obtained its eggs at San Gerénimo in 186018; and, so far as we know, it is a

resident bird throughout the year in that country. In Mexico it is found, so Prof.

Sumichrast tells us °°, on the shores of both oceans, not extending into the department

of Vera Cruz further than an elevation of about 4000 feet. He adds that it nests

at Orizaba in the steeples of churches and old buildings. In Guatemala it is also

usually found in the low-lying districts; the greatest height at which we observed it

was near Duefias, nearly 5000 feet above the sea. In South America, E. Bartlett

found it breeding in Eastern Peru 4, and Natterer met with it at all seasons of the year in

Brazil 1°.

Regarding the names which have been applied to this bird, we have no hesitation in

using that of Gmelin, which was based upon the Guiana series, whence we have several

examples not to be distinguished from our Central-American birds, the true P.

leucogastra of Baird. Hirundo domestica is another name for the same species,

bestowed upon it by Vieillot from Azara’s description 4. We have a large series of skins

from all parts of South and Central America, and we are unable to detect any tangible

differences between them.

Mr. W. H. Hudson* has given a good description of the habits of P. chalybea as

observed by him in the vicinity of Buenos Ayres. The eggs of this species are

white 8,

PETROCHELIDON.

Petrochelidon, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 47 (1850) (type Hirundo melanogaster, Sw., = Petro-

chelidon swainsoni, Scl.) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 286.

There are four American species of this genus, three of which are found within our

limits, and whose range is given below. The fourth is P. ruficollaris, Peale, of Western

Peru, a bird unknown to us, but recognized by Prof. Baird. Other apparently con-

generic species are found in various parts of the Old World, such as P. nigricans of

Australia and P. spilodera of South Africa; so that Petrochelidon has a very extensive

range indeed.

* PLZ. 8. 1872, p. 605.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., May 1883. 29

226 HIRUNDINIDZ.

As in Progne, the nostrils open upwards without any overhanging membrane; but

the size and general coloration of the species is very different from that of the members

of Progne. The feathers of the forehead are erect and bristling, instead of lying flat

as in Progne; and the commissure of the maxilla is in a simple curve, and not

sinuated. ‘The tarsi, except just the proximal end, are bare, and the rump rufous.

1. Petrochelidon pyrrhonota.

EMirundo pyrrhonota, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. N. xiv. p. 519 '.

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl, Av. Neotr. p. 14°.

Hirundo americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1017 °?

Petrochelidon americana, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 47 *; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 17°.

Hirundo lunifrons, Say, in Long’s Exp. ii. p. 47°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 479”.

Petrochelidon lunifrons, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p.40*; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 817°; Baird, Rev.

Am. B.i. p. 288"; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 271"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N.

Am. B. i. p. 334°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 426™.

Supra chalybeo-cerulea, alis et cauda nigricantibus ; plumis dorsi medii albo marginatis, fronte lactescenti-alba,

nucha fusca, uropygio rufo; capitis lateribus cum gutture rufis, mento et plaga pectorali nigris ; corpore

subtus reliquo albo, pectore, hypochondriis et crisso pallide fuscis ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long.

tota 5°3, alee 4-15, caude 1-95, rostri a rictu 0-55, tarsi 0°5. (Descr. maris ex Washington, U.S. Mus.

nostr.) .

Q mari omnino similis.

Hab. NortH America generally 1%, Texas’-—Mexico (De Saussure®), Mazatlan and

Tepic (Grayson"); Panama (M*Leannan®?), at sea, off west coast of Central

America (J. M. Dow !°),—Brazin®; Paraguay !.

Dr. Coues !* has given an excellent account of the early history of this bird in North

America, tracing it from thefirst notice of the species in the paper published byJ.R. Forster

in the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ of 1772, to the time it was named Hirundo lunifrons

by Sayin1823. When compiling their ‘Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium,’ Sclater and

Salvin were unable to separate the South-American bird of this genus from that found in

North America, and, rejecting Gmelin’s title H. americana as of too uncertain application,

decided to adopt that of Vieillot, H. pyrrhonota, as next in date2. On reexamining the

question, we believe this view to be sound; we therefore use the name Petrochelidon

pyrrhonota as the common title of this North- and South-American species. It further

seems reasonable to suppose that the southern birds are only in Brazil and Paraguay

in the winter months, and migrate from one continent to the other according to

the season. This supposition is borne out by the fact that the ten specimens

obtained by Natterer in various parts of Brazil were all shot in the months

ranging from September to March®. Vieillot’s description was based upon that of

Azara, who obtained a single specimen of this Swallow in Paraguay, which he bought

in the month of April, and never met with another.

PETROCHELIDON. 227

Our knowledge of P. pyrrhonota in Mexico is almost confined to the observations of

Grayson, who found it breeding in the month of May in the banks of the Mazatlan

river, where he says it appeared to be a summer visitant, as he did not observe it in

the winter months". Mazatlan, therefore, may be considered the extreme southern

limit of its breeding-quarters ; but northward of this point, in the United States it is a

very familiar species, except in the Southern States. The only other records we have

of its occurrence in Central America are by Mr. Lawrence, who determined one of

M‘Leannan’s Panama birds to be of this species 9, and Professor Baird, who tells us that

another was obtained off the west coast of Central America by Capt. J. M. Dow 2.

The habits of P. pyrrhonota in North America are very fully given by Dr. Coues in

his ‘ Birds of the Colorado Valley,’ and especially its mode of nidification 18,

2. Petrochelidon swainsoni.

Hirundo melanogaster, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 366}.

Petrochelidon melanogaster, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 47°.

Petrochelidon swainsoni, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 296°; 1859, p. 376°; Cat. Am. B. p. 40°; Baird,

Rey. Am. B. i. p. 290°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 192%; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 547°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Mus. no. 4. p. 17°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 141”.

Hirundo coronota, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 58" (descr. nulla).

P. pyrrhonoie valde similis, sed fronte rufa capitis lateribus concolori distinguenda. (Descr. femine ex

Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico?°™, Guanajuato (Dugés!), Plateau of Mexico (Sumichrast®), Table-

land and Real del Monte (Budlock*), Mirador (Sartorius °), Totontepec (Boucard *),

Oaxaca (Boucard*+), Tehuantepec city (Swmichrast®); GUATEMALA, Dueiias’,

Godines (0. S. & F. D. G.).

Swainson’s inappropriate name (Hirwndo melanogaster) was the first given to this

species, the black pectoral spot doubtless having suggested a word not applicable to

another part of the bird. Mr. Sclater rectified this error by calling it Petrochelidon

swainsont; and this name has since been almost universally adopted. Had Lichtenstein

added a sufficient description when he called the bird Hirwndo coronata in 1831, this

name might have been substituted for Swainson’s; but we can only recognize it by

reference to the specimens in the Berlin Museum, which belong undoubtedly to

Swainson’s species.

P. swainsoni may be easily recognized from P. pyrrhonota by the forehead being of a

rich chestnut instead of creamy white. In this respect it resembles P. fulva, which

differs again in not having a black pectoral spot, and in the flanks and crissum being

strongly tinged with fulvous. Dr. Coues* treats these differences with less considera-

tion than they really deserve; for he looks upon P. fulva as scarcely, if at all, different

from P. lunifrons (=P. pyrrhonota), whilst P. swainsoni is placed asa simple synonym of

* B. Col. Vall. i. p. 426.

29*

228 HIRUNDINIDE.

that species. Seeing that the differences between all three birds are definite and that

each has its own peculiarities as regards migration and its distinct abode, we think

that to place them together not justifiable.

Though P. swainsont has been met with by many travellers in Mexico, we have

nothing recorded of it beyond certain localities where it occurs. Prof. Sumichrast says

it is peculiar to the plateau of Mexico, and that it rarely occurs elsewhere; still it has

been found in the State of Oaxaca, and, even by Sumichrast himself, subsequently near the

city of Tehuantepec, which is situated at but a slight elevation above the Pacific Ocean.

In Guatemala it only twice came under our observation—once when we found it flying

over the open land near Duefias, at an elevation of nearly 5000 feet above the sea, and

again near Godines, above the mountain-lake of Atitlan, as high as 7000 feet. On

both occasions the birds were flying low, hawking for insects after the manner of their

kindred.

3. Petrochelidon fulva.

Hirundo fulva, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 62, t. 307.

Petrochelidon fulva, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 40°; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 291°; Gundl. Orn. Cub.

p- 82%. .

Mirundo peciloma, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 64°.

Petrochelidon peciloma, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 292°.

Similis preecedentibus, sed pectore, hypochondriis et crisso rufis distinguenda ; macula quoque pectoralis nigra

abest. (Descr. exempl. ex Yucatan. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Northern Yucatan (Gawmer); Panama (MM*Leannan).—ANTILLES,

Cuba 34, St. Domingo 1, Jamaica 25 8,

This species, which can be distinguished from both the preceding Swallows by the

absence of the black pectoral spot and by its fulvous flanks and crissum, was first

described and figured by Vieillot from specimens obtained in the island of St.

Domingo.

It has since been traced to Cuba and Jamaica; for though the bird of the latter

island was separated by Gosse under the name of Hirundo peciloma®, and its distinct-

ness recognized by Prof. Baird®, we fail to appreciate any really tangible grounds of

distinction.

We now trace this Antillean bird to Yucatan, a specimen obtained there by Mr.Gaumer,

now in our collection, being absolutely like our Cuban examples. Mr. Gaumer says

that it is resident in Yucatan, frequenting the cave-like holes called “senotes.” And,

further, a single specimen, in bad condition, sent us by M‘Leannan from Panama, must

also be referred to P. fulva, and not to P. pyrrhonota, which has also been found there.

As M‘Leannan once had in his possession a few Cuban birds which he obtained in ex-

change, it is just possible that his specimen of P. Sulva may have come from Cuba, and not

from Panama; but, on the other hand, one of the island birds may have strayed thus far.

ATTICORA. . 229

Dr. Gundlach * says that in autumn P. fulva changes its localities in Cuba from the

northern to the more southern parts of the island; that it builds from March to June

in various places, such as houses, sheds, and caves, in great numbers, but not in all parts

of the island alike. It lays four or five white eggs covered with lilac spots, and others

of reddish brown. In Jamaica its habits are very similar, it being a very familiar

species, building in numbers in the houses attached to the old sugar-plantations.

ATTICORA.

Atticora, Boie, Isis, 1844, p. 172; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 305.

We recognize six species of this genus (a seventh, A. patagonica, being unknown to

us), of which the three mentioned below occur within our region. The others all

belong to South America—A. fasciata to Guiana and the valley of the Amazons,

A. melanoleuca to Eastern Brazil, and A. cinerea to Ecuador. Of the species belonging

to our district, A. cyanoleuca has a very extended range over the whole of Tropical

America from Paraguay to Costa Rica; A. tibialis is found in the State of Panama

and other parts of Colombia, and, it is said, Brazil; A. pileata is peculiar to Guate-

mala. ‘Thus the whole genus is a Neotropical one, no member of which reaches

Southern Mexico.

The bill is much more feeble in A¢ticora than in Petrochelidon, and the whole build

of the bird less robust. The tail is longer in proportion to the body and more forked.

The nostrils open upwards and are unprotected by a membrane. The tarsi are slender

and longer in proportion to the size of the bird than in Petrochelidon; and the toes are

weaker, The rump, moreover, is of nearly the same colour as the back.

Prof. Baird split up Atticora into four subgenera, of which A. cyanoleuca represents

Pygochelidon, in which the basal joint of the middle toe is less adherent than in the

other divisions, and the proximal end of the tarsus is feathered only on its inner

surface. Notiochelidon is represented by A. pileata, and has the middle toe more

united to the rest than in Pygochelidon ; the tarsus, too, is wholly bare. Neochelidon,

of which A. tibialis is the sole species, has the toe as in Notiochelidon; but the’

proximal end of the tarsus and the distal end of the tibia are densely feathered.

These characters are but slight, and the species possessing them are best left in Atticora,

where Prof. Baird placed them.

1. Atticora cyanoleuca.

Hirundo cyanoleuca, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. N. xiv. p. 5097.

Atticora cyanoleuca, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 147°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 401°; 1861, p. 92°;

Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 40°; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 18°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 1847; Sel. & Salv.

P. Z. S. 1873, p. 258°; 1879, pp. 495°, 595".

Aiticora cyanoleuca, var. montana, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 310"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix.

p. 96"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 294.

230 . HIRUNDINID A.

Supra chalybeo-cyanea, capitis lateribus, tectricibus alarum minoribus crisso et pectoris lateribus concoloribus ;

subtus alba, alis et cauda nigricantibus; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:5, ale 3-7, caudex

rectr. med. 1°5, rectr. lat. 2-1, rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0-45. (Descr. exempl. ex Costa Rica. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica*!, San José (Hoffmann ®, Carmiol™ 1), Barranca (Carmiol™ 12) ;

Panama, Calovevora (Arcé*).—Sourn AMERICA generally to Bolivia", Paraguay ’,

and the Argentine Republic 2°69”,

Vieillot first described this Swallow, using for his basis Azara’s “ Golondrina de los

timoneles negros” from Paraguay. We possess specimens from the adjoining provinces

of the Argentine Republic, which doubtless represent the bird of Paraguay; and these

do not differ in any important respect from our Costa-Rica examples, nor from many

others from intermediate localities, the bird being spread over the whole of Tropical

America. Prof. Baird, it is true, separated more northern individuals from those of

Brazil and the basin of the La Plata; but the differences are very slight indeed.

Aiticora cyanoleuca seems to be a common bird wherever it is found. It probably

breeds in Costa Rica; but the only evidence we have on this point is the skins of young

birds from that country in their first plumage. In Colombia” and Brazil it certainly

breeds *, laying white eggs. Of its nesting-habits in the Argentine Republic Mr. W.

H. Hudson has given us an account*. It appears there in September, and uses forsaken

holes and burrows for its nesting-place.

2. Atticora pileata. (Tab. XV. fig. 2.)

Atticora pileata, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 855"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 137; Baird, Rev. Am.

B. i. p. 807°. °

Supra obscure brunnea, uropygio paulo saturatiore, pileo et capitis lateribus nigris pupureo tinctis, alis et cauda

fusco-nigris ; subtus alba, gutturis plumis singulis fuscis albo marginatis, hypochondriis fuscis ; crisso

nigro; rostro nigro, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4:5, ale 3-6, caude rectr. med. 1°35, rectr.

lat. 2°0, rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0-45. (Descr. maris ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr. )

@ mari omnino similis.

Hab. Guatemata (Skinner+?), Coban (0. 8. & F. D. G.8), Quiché, Totonicapam,

Quezaltenango, Barranco de Los Chocoyos, Calderas, ridge above Barsinas, Villa

Lobos, Aceytuno (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

An interesting and peculiar species, only found, so far as we yet know, in the higher

parts of Guatemala, whence specimens were sent by the late G. U. Skinner to Gould,

who described them in 1858. Our first intimate acquaintance with this Swallow was

in February 1862, when staying at Coban, where it was a common species, frequenting

the great church of the town; and our specimens were secured as they flew round

over the courtyard of the house where we were staying, and which was close to the

church. Having thus become familiar with the bird, we frequently observed it

subsequently in the higher lands of the main Cordillera. Thus it was common at

several points on the road from the city of Guatemala to Antigua, and we also observed

* PZ. 8. 1872, p. 844,

ATTICORA.—HIRUNDO. 231

it in several parts of the Altos, at an elevation of at least 8000 feet above the sea.

In its habits and mode of flight we noticed nothing to distinguish it from other

Hirundinide.

3. Atticora tibialis.

Petrochelidon? tibialis, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. vi. p. 370°.

Microchelidon tibialis, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 39%.

Neochelidon tibialis, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. xvi*®; Sel. & Saly. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 347 *.

Aiticora tibialis, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 807°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 495°.

Fuliginosa, uropygio et corpore subtus paulo dilutioribus, tibiis plumosis albis, rostro et pedibus nigricantibus.

Long. tota 4:0, ale 3:3, caude rectr. med. 1°3, rectr. lat. 1-75, rostri a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0-4. (Descr.

exempl. ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, line of railway (MU‘Leannan 4 *).—CotomBia®; Brazin?2.

Cassin, who first described this peculiar Swallow, gave Brazil as its supposed habitat ;

but as it was subsequently obtained by M‘Leannan on the isthmus of Panama, the cor-

rectness of the statement of its being found in Brazil was doubted‘. It may, however,

be worthy of notice that there is a skin of this bird in the Swainson collection at Cam-

bridge with the locality “Brazil” on its label. On the other hand, no mention

whatever is made of A. tibialis in any of the chief works on Brazilian ornithology, those

of Prince Neuwied, Burmeister, Pelzeln, &c. That the bird does occur beyond the

limits of the State of Panama is proved by the specimen sent us from the State of

Antioquia by Salmon, who found it at Remedios, where it was breeding, the nest being

made of dry grasses and placed in the hole of a bank 6.

Atticora tibialis has no near allies, but in colour is not unlike A. cinerea. The

white tufts on the tibize are a very distinctive character.

HIRUNDO.

Hirundo, Linnzeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 343 (1766) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 293.

Only one species of true Hirwndo occurs in America, the nearest ally of which is

perhaps #. gutturalis, the eastern form of the well-known H. rustica of Europe.

The genus itself, as restricted, contains about twenty-five species, which are found

distributed over a large portion of the world.

Hirundo can readily be distinguished from Atticora by the nasal opening being over-

hung by a membrane in such a manner that the nostril opens laterally, instead of

directly upwards.

The same character is to be found in Tachycineta; but in that genus the tail is but

very slightly forked, whereas in Hirundo the lateral feathers are attenuated and twice

as long as the central feathers.

232 HIRUNDINID&.

1. Hirundo erythrogaster.

Hirundo erythrogaster, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 45°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 569°; Pelz.

Orn. Bras. p. 18°; Coues, B. Col. Vall. 1. p. 407 *.

Hirundo horreorum, Barton, Fragm. Nat. Hist. Penns. ‘i. p. 17°; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. i.

Birds, p. 11°; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 294"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13°; P. Z.S. 1864, p. 347°;

A. & E. Newton, Ibis, 1859, p.66*°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 317", viii. p. 98°; Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 17"; Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 271; Proc. U.S. Nat.

Mus. i. p. 455"; Scl. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 173°°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p- 547"; Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 184°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 339"; Dugés,

La Nat. i. p. 141; Gundl. Orn. Cub. i. p. 82%; Zeledon, Cat. Av. Costa Rica, p. 5”.

HMirundo rufa, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 1018”; Burm. Syst. Ueb. ii. p. 148 ™.

Hirundo fumaria, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vig. p. 2, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 58”.

Hirundo rustica, Jones, Nat. Berm. p. 34”.

Supra chalybeo-cerulea, alis et cauda nigris, fronte, gutture et crisso fulvo-rufis, subalaribus et abdomine paulo

dilutioribus, pectoris lateribus dorso concoloribus ; cauda furcata elongata, rectricibus omnibus prater duas

medias albo maculatis; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis, Long. tota 6-0, ale 4:5, caude rectr. med. 1:8,

rectr. lat. 3:1, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0-4. (Descr. exempl. ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. hornot. Subtus albescens, fronte, gutture et crisso vix fulvo tinctis, cauda minus elongata. (Descr. exempl.

ex Calobre, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortn America from Alaska and Greenland southwards4, Bermuda 26.—

Mexico **, San Diego in Nuevo Leon (Cowch®"), Guadalajara and Tepic (Gray-

son *), Guanajuato and Puebla (Dugés?°), valley of Mexico (White '°), Plateau of

Mexico (Sumichrast™), Tehuacan and Tehuantepec (Sumichrast!*), Yucatan

(Gaumer) ; GuaTEMALA, Duefias? ®, San Gerénimo, Yzabal (0. 8. & F. D. G.) ; Costa

Rica (Zeledon **) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Calobre (Arcé 18), Line of Railway

— (M*Leannan'®"), at sea off the west coast of Central America (J. I. Dow"), at

sea 100 miles north of Colon (0. S.).—AntILLEs, Cuba?!, Jamaica’, St. Croix 19,

Sombrero *, Guadeloupe ; SoutH America generally to South Brazil 23 24,

There can be little doubt that the Swallow of South America is the same as that of

the Northern continent, and that it visits the former country during the autumn,

winter, and early spring months, retiring northwards in spring to breed. All the

records that we can find of the date of the appearance of the bird in South America

range between September or October and April. In the West Indies, little is known

of H. erythrogaster in Jamaica; but in Cuba itis found in both autumn and spring

migration, appearing the first time in August, and again in May, but it does not

spend the intervening months in the island. Dr. Gundlach says that in the autumn

birds in perfect plumage are not to be found, but in spring all are in adult feather 2!.

In Mexico, Grayson says 14, it is very abundant in May and June at Tepic, where it breeds

under the roofs of houses, in the corridors; he adds ™ that it is only seen accidentally

on the sea-coast in September and October, when it is apparently migrating. It is also

said to breed in the Plateau of Mexico; and we have a note by Mr. le Strange

HIRUNDO.—TACHYCINETA . 233

that it resorts to the houses of the city of Mexico for this purpose. In Guatemala

we only know it as a migrant, arriving as early as the first days of September and

leaving again in April; but in the former month adult birds are to be seen with

young ones in their first plumage. The only record we have of its occurrence in

Costa Rica is from its name being included in Mr. Zeledon’s list of the birds of that

country **. From the State of Panama, however, we have many skins of both adult

and young birds. ‘The latest spring record we have of the appearance of this Swallow

in this district is the 7th May, when a bird was seen at sea by Salvin about 100

miles from Colon.

In North America Hirundo erythrogaster is a familiar summer visitant, at which

season it spreads over nearly the whole country, including the British Provinces and

Alaska, and even straying to Greenland and Bermuda?*. Its habits generally, as

well as its mode of nesting, are fully described in works on North-American Orni-

thology 41°.

TACHYCINETA.

Tachycineta, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 48 (1850) ; Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 296.

Iridoprocne, Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 412.

This genus was separated by Prof. Cabanis to contain Hirundo thalassina and a

second but aberrant form, //. bicolor; this last has since been placed in a distinct

‘subgenus by Dr. Coues, under the name of Jridoprocne; and with H. bicolor he asso-

ciated four other South and Central American species, leaving H. thalassina to stand

alone in Tachycineta. The difference between the last-mentioned species and the rest

consists chiefly in its somewhat peculiar plumage, which is soft and like velvet and

without metallic gloss. #. bicolor and it allies all have the upper plumage with a

rich shining metallic tint.

From Hirundo Tachycineta differs in the shape of the tail, which is not deeply forked,

but only slightly emarginate, the colour, too, of the under surface of all the species

is white.

Like Hirundo, the nostrils open laterally, being overhung by a membrane.

a. Ptilosis levis et velutina, colore metallico absente. (Tachycineta.)

1. Tachycineta thalassinus.

Hirundo thalassina, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 8661; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p.11?;

Rev. Am. B. i. p. 299°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 347 *.

Petrochelidon thalassina, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13°; Scl. P.Z. S. 1864, p. 173°; Dugés, La

Nat. i. p. 141”.

Tachycineta thalassina, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.1. p. 547 *; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i.

p- 419°.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. L., May 1883. 30

234 HIRUNDINIDA.

Supra virescens, purpureo precipue ad nucham tinctus, tectricibus caude superioribus quoque purpureis, alis et

cauda viridescenti-nigris, ilarum secundariis intimis interdum albo terminatis ; loris nigris, capitis lateribus

infra et post oculos et corpore subtus omnino albis; uropygii lateribus albis; rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis.

Long. tota 4°7, alee 4°5, caude rectr. med. 1°55, rectr. lat. 1°85, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°4. (Deser.

maris ex San Gerdénimo, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Middle and Western Provinces, Arizona and New Mexico 9.—

Mnxico, Saltillo (Couch 23), Tableland, Real del Monte (Morgan'), valley of

Mexico (White*%), Hacienda de Tupatero (Dugés"), Plateau, temperate and hot

regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ®), Orizaba (le Strange, Sumichrast?) ; GUATE-

MALA, Defias (O. 8.5), San Gerénimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.), Coban (Sarg).

This pretty Swallow enjoys the privilege of having only the single specific name

bestowed upon it by Swainson in 1827, when he described Mexican specimens obtained

on the tablelands and at Real del Monte by Mr. Morgan'. Since then Zachycineta

thalassinus has been found in the middle and western provinces of the United States

and in the adjoining provinces from British Columbia southwards.

In Mexico this species we believe to be only known as a winter visitant*, there

being no positive evidence that it remains during the summer months for the purpose

of breeding. It is almost certain, however, that the bird will be found to breed on the

confines of the United States frontier, as it is well known to do soin Arizona®. In

Guatemala we only observed it in the winter months, from November till March; it

was then common about the open lands near Duefias, and about the plains of San

Geronimo, at an elevation of about 3000 feet. We noticed nothing peculiar in their

flight; they were generally found associated with 7’. dccolor, hawking insects in the

same flock. Southwards of Guatemala it has not yet been noticed, nor yet in any of

the Antilles.

T. thalassinus makes its nest of sticks and straws, lined with feathers, either in the

hole of a tree or in the cleft of a rock. The eggs, five in number, are pure white ®.

b. Ptilosis densa, dorso colore metallico tincto. (Iridoprocne.)

2. Tachycineta bicolor. vo

Hirundo bicolor, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. i. p. 61, t. 81’; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p.11;

Rev. Am. B. i. p. 297°; Jones, Nat. Berm. p. 34°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p. 044°.

Petrochelidon bicolor, Sci. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 201°; 1859, p. 8647; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13°.

Tachycineta bicolor, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 547°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

ii. p. 271%; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 418%; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 83”.

Hirundo prasina, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2, cf. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 58™.

* In the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ it is said to breed on the plateau of Mexico, on Prof. Sumi-

chrast’s authority *; this author, however, in his published work *, makes no such statement; but, by including

it amongst the resident birds of the State of Vera Cruz, he leaves us to infer that it does do so.

TACHYCINETA. 235

Supra chalybeo-viridescens, alis caudaque nigricantibus, illis intus tenuissime albo terminatis ; Subtus albus;

rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5-7, ale 5°7, caudx rectr. med. 2°0, rectr. lat. 2°4, rostri a

rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°45. (Descr. maris ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America from Alaska and Great Slave Lake to Arizona &e.4, Bermuda 4.

—Mexico (Deppe'*), Matamoras (Couch? 3), Mazatlan (Grayson), Plateau of

Mexico (Sumichrast®, le Strange), San Jose (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca™), Orizaba

(Sumichrast*), Pine ridge above Mirador (Sartorius*); Guaramaua (Skinner ®),

Vera Paz 3, Duefias, Pajal Grande, San Gerdnimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.).—CUBA. |

This species appears to be commoner in the eastern than in the western States,

though found over nearly the whole of North America during the breeding-season :’

during the winter, however, large numbers remain in Florida; others pass to Cuba,

Mexico, and Guatemala.

There is no positive evidence of the species breeding in Mexico, though it is included

by Prof. Sumichrast amongst the resident birds of the Plateau of Mexico, and a speci-

men was obtained by Dr. Sartorius in the pine-region above Mirador, in the month

of June ®.

In Guatemala it is a winter visitant to the tablelands and to the neighbourhood of

San Geronimo in Vera Paz, where it is frequently found associating with 7. thalassinus.

The habit of this species to congregate in vast flocks has often been alluded to by

writers on North-American ornithology 14. We once observed a flock of this kind in

the open space in the forests of the Volcan de Fuego called Pajal Grande, the elevation

of which is about 5000 feet above the sea-level. ‘This was on the 25th December 1873,

when a vast flock of these birds were seen circling round and round in a compact mass, and

every now and then settling on some low shrubs, weighing down the outer boughs and

crowding together like a swarm of bees. We could detect no object in this assemblage ;

it was neither the season of migration, nor was it the roosting-time, as it took place in

the afternoon of a bright sunny day.

In Cuba, Dr. Gundlach includes 7. bicolor amongst the regular winter visitants to

the island, where it arrives later than Hirundo erythrogaster, remains the winter, and

leaves again for.the north in April.

It breeds in holes in trees and in stumps, making a nest of fine soft hay, thickly

lined with feathers. The eggs are, like those of Z. thalassinus, white 1.

3. Tachycineta albilinea. (Hirundo albilinea, Tab. XV. fig. 1.)

Petrochelidon albilinea, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. viii. p. 2+; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 3477,

Tachycineta albilinea, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 271°.

Hirundo albilinea, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 800‘; Zeledon, Cat. Av. Costa Rica, p. 5°.

Petrochelidon leucoptera, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 817° (nec Gm.).

Petrochelidon littorea, Salv. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 189"; Ibis, 1866, p. 192°.

30*

236 HIRUNDINID.

Supra seneo-viresceus ; regione preoculari nigra et supra eam linea parva utrinque alba, uropygio albo-fusco

leviter striato ; alis et cauda nigricantibus, secundariis in pogonio externo albo anguste marginatis ; subtus

omnino albus, abdomine vix fusco leviter striato, rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4”5, alee 3°8, caude

rectr. med. 1°5, rectr. lat. 1:7, rostria rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-4. (Deser. maris ex Belize, Brit. Honduras.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson*?*, Boucard); British Honpuras, Belize river,

Cays of the coast (0. S.& F. D. G.); Guatemana, Peten, Yaxha, Rio Dulce,

Huamuchal, Chiapam, San José de Guatemala* (0. S. & 2. D. G.); Satvapor, La

‘Union (0. S.); Honpuras, Amapala (0. S.); Nicaraeua, Corinto (Baxter); Costa

Rica (Zeledon*®); Panama, (M‘Leannan \? 4°), Matachin (0. 5.)

Tachycineta albilinea was described from Panama specimens by Mr. Lawrence’, and

a few weeks afterwards as Petrochelidon littorea by Salvin, from specimens obtained

during our expedition of 1861-637. It has since been found to be abundant on both

coasts of Central America’, and also of Mexico from Mazatlan and Vera Cruz south-

wards.

As will be seen above, it has been met with at nearly every port of Central America

on the Pacific coast. In Guatemala and British Honduras, besides observing it on the

coast, we found it not uncommon frequenting the inland freshwater lakes of Peten and

Yaxha, and all down the Belize river.

At Matachin on the Chagres river a nest with young was found in May 1878, in an

old post, a hollow palm which had once served to support the roof of a hut.

At Mazatlan, the most northern recorded limit of its range, Grayson says? it is

common and resident, being one of the few non-migratory Swallows. At all seasons

of the year its twitter may be heard about the eaves of the tiled houses or the spacious

corridors of the peculiarly constructed Moorish Mexican haciendas. He often saw it

skimming along the streets, at times almost touching the pavement in its pursuit of

flies. Its customary haunts, he says, are near or about large towns or haciendas, and

he rarely saw it far from some human habitation. In April it commences to form its

nest, usually beneath the eaves of houses or in holes in the wall, often in the hollow

tubes for conveying the water from the flat roofs of the buildings. This Swallow, he

adds, is very sociable in its habits, and may often be seen in considerable numbers

perched upon the roofs of the houses.

This account of the habits of 7. albilinea hardly agrees with our experience. We

only found them along river-courses or frequenting lagoons or lakes, a favourite perch

being the dead bough of a snag projecting out of a river. Such places would often

be far from any village; and though these birds were sometimes observed by us near

habitations, they did not seem to be the attraction, but some river flowing hard by.

T. albilinea is probably a resident species wherever it is found.

Its nearest ally is 7’. lewcorrhous of Peru, Southern Brazil, and the Argentine Republic.

STELGIDOPTERYX. 237

-STELGIDOPTERYX.

Stelgidopteryx, Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 312 (1858) ; Rev. Am. B. i. p. 312.

The American Rough-winged Swallows were usually placed in the genus Cottle

prior to Prof. Baird’s separation of them, first as a subgenus in 1858, and afterwards

as a genus in 1865. Their general colour-resemblance to C. riparia probably led to

this arrangement. Prof. Baird, however, pointed out that not only was the outer web

of the primaries roughened by the barbs of the feather being pointed and recurved, but

that the nostrils opened upwards without any overhanging membrane. ‘These characters

seem enough to separate Stelgidopteryx from the rest of the American Swallows.

Prof. Baird indicated five species of this genus in his ‘ Review of American Birds ;’

but these, we think, ought to be reduced to three, S. fudvipennis being, in our opinion,

not separable from S. serripennis, and S. fulvigula and S. uropygialis being young and

adult of the same bird. We thus have:—a North-American species, S. serripennis,

which spreads over Mexico and Central America as far as the State of Panama;

S. uropygialis, which is found in Central America as far north as Costa Rica, and

thence extends over the northern parts of South America; and, lastly, S. rujficollis,

which is found in Brazil and Bolivia, and northwards to the Amazons valley and

Eastern Ecuador. |

S. serripennis is a fairly well defined species; but the limits between S. wropygialis

and S. ruficollis are not so definite.

1. Stelgidopteryx serripennis.

Hirundo serripennis, Aud. Orn. Biogr. iv. p. 593°.

Cotyle serripennis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 285°; Cat. Am. B. p. 41°; Baird, U.S. Bound. Surv. 1.

Birds, p. 11’; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 13’; Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 61°; Dresser, Ibis,

1865, p. 479".

Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 314°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. 1.

p. 547°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 850" ; Cones, B. Col. Vall. 1. p. 438".

Cotyle fulvipennis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 364°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 31 a

Stelgidopteryx fulvipennis, Baird, Rev. Am: B. i. p. 316"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. ix. p. 200”;

Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 184°; Ibis, 1870, pp. 109, 114".

Stelyidopteryx fulvigula, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 96 (nec Baird).

Murino-brunnea, alis et cauda nigricantibus, secundariis extus albo tenuissime limbatis, subtus dilutior, gula et

ventre medio sordide griseis, illa aliquando rufescenti tincta, crisso albo ; rostro et pedibus nigricantibus.

Long. tota 4°7, alse 4:6, caude 2:3, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0-4. (Deser. maris ex Duenas, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Av. hornot. pectore rufescente, secundariis extus et alarum tectricibus rufescentibus differt. (Descr. exempl.

ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America (except N.E. States) from Canada and British Columbia south-

wards 11, Texas 7—Mexico, Nuevo Leon (Couch* ®), valley of Mexico (le Strange),

Cordova (Sallé?), Orizaba (Botteri* 14), Jalapa (de Oca? ™), State of Vera Cruz

238 HIRUNDINID &.

(Sumichrast°®), Merida in Yucatan (Schott ); Guatemata®, Duefas!* 14, Rio

Guacalate near Duefias, San José de Guatemala, Retalhuleu, Coban, Rio Dulce

(0. 8. & F. D. G.), San Gerénimo (Owen®); Costa Rica, Atirro (Carmiol }®) ;

Panama, Calovevora (Arcé 1°).

Professor Baird restricted the name S. serripennis to the North-American and Mexican

birds of this form, calling those from Guatemala and the rest of Central America by

Mr. Sclater’s title S. fulvipennis. The latter name was founded upon a young speci-

men with rufous edges to the wing-coverts and secondaries. Admitting this to be

the case, Prof. Baird still retained the name, but limited the characters to the throat

being slightly rufous and the plumage being more glossy in the southern bird than

in true S. serripennis. With a considerable series before us, selected from all points

of the range of this species, we find that in several cases these differences are

evanescent and therefore untrustworthy, and prefer to call all the birds with the

crissum white to the end, and the rump the same colour as the back, by the name

of S. serripennis. SS. uwropygialis, the more southern bird, has a rich fulvous throat,

a yellowish belly, the ends of the longest feathers of the crissum with a broad blackish

band, and the rump grey.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis is doubtless resident in Mexico; but the evidence on this

point is not satisfactory. In Guatemala, Mr. Owen obtained a nest near San Gerd-

nimo in May. This was composed of grass and fine roots, the inside being strewn

with pieces of dead flag. It was placed in an excavation two feet long; in a bank of

white sand, and consisted of a tunnel terminating in a chamber just large enough for

the bird to turn round; and here the nest was made, containing five white eggs °.

In the United States 8. serripennis is migratory, so that the resident birds of Mexico

and Central America must receive a large accession to their numbers during the

winter season. It breeds in the States, its mode of nidification being just as described

by Mr. Owen.

Referring again to the synonymy of this bird, we notice that the birds from Atirro

in Costa Rica called S. fulviguia by Mr. Lawrence !§ really belong here, and not to

S. uropygialis.

2. Stelgidopteryx uropygialis.

Cotyle uropygialis, Lawr. Ibis, 1863, p. 181"; Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p.3?; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8.

1864, p. 348°.

Stelgidopteryx uropygialis, Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 317*; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 184°; Ibis,

1870, p. 109°; Sel. & Salv. P.Z. 8. 1879, p. 496”.

Stelgidopteryx fulvigula, Baird, Rev. Am. B.i. p. 317°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 295°; Salv.

Ibis, 1869, p. 313"; 1874, p. 307”.

Cotyle flavigasira, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 133”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 317%.

STELGIDOPTERYX.—COTILE. 239

S. serripenni similis, uropygio canescente, gula fulva, ventre medio flavicante, et crisso fusvo terminato distin-

guenda. (Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Av. hornot. gula tota et pectore fulvis, secundariis extus et tectricibus alarum fulvo marginatis. (Desc. exempl.

ex Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius °), Angostura (Carmiol®); Panama, Chitra (Arcé ®), line

of railway (M‘Leannan!??4 12), Obispo (0. S.), Rio Truando (Schott 4 1).—

CoLomBIA >; GUIANA.

This species is very closely allied to the Brazilian S. ruficollis, so much so that we

are not sure that the differential character of the light-coloured rump can always be

detected. When Central-American and South-Brazilian examples are compared, the

distinction can easily be traced; but specimens from the Amazons valley and Eastern

Kcuador are intermediate, and, though they incline rather to S. ruficollis, the rump is

lighter than in typical examples of that species. Guiana birds are of a generally

lighter colour, both above and below ; but we hardly think them worthy of separation

on that account.

Regarding the bird called S. fulvigula, we have an example exactly agreeing with Prof.

Baird’s description ; but we are convinced that it is only an immature specimen of JS. wro-

pygiauis; and having had an opportunity of examining the specimens of Stelgidopteryx

in the Smithsonian Institution in 1874, we came to the conclusion that S. fulvigula

was merely the young of S. wropygialis, and that Salvin’s views respecting these birds,

given in ‘ The Ibis’ for 1870°% and 1874 11, and which are adopted here, are correct.

Stelgidopteryx uropygialis was first separated by Mr. Lawrence from 8. rujficollis,

specimens having been supplied him from Panama by M‘Leannan!. We, too, have

examples from the same source ; and the bird was subsequently seen in abundance at

Obispo by Salvin in May 1873, its favourite resting-place being the telegraph-wires

placed along the line of railway. Salmon, who observed S. wropygialis breeding near

Remedios in the Cauca valley, obtained its eggs, which are white; but he says nothing

of its nest’.

COTILE.

Cotile, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 550. \N

Cotyle, Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 318, et auctt.

A number of species have been placed in the genus Cotile, few of which properly

belong there. From the American Swallows formerly included in Cotile the species of

the genus Stelgidopteryx have long been removed, C. fucata alone remaining associated

with C. riparia; but even this bird belongs rather to Atticora, as Prof. Baird has

already pointed out; so that Cottle riparia stands the sole representative of the genus

in America. In Europe the same state of things is to be found; for C. rupestris and

its allies are not true members of Cotile, being more closely allied to Hirwndo, as the

spots on the rectrices, their building-habits, and their spotted eggs testify.

240 HIRUNDINID A.

Cotile has the nostrils overhung by a membrane as in Hirundo; its peculiarities are

in the greater proportional length of the lateral claws and in the distal end of the

tarso-metatarsus being furnished with a tuft of feathers.

The range of Cottle is almost cosmopolitan; and no land-bird is so widely spread as

C. riparia.

1. Cotile riparia.

Hirundo riparia, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 8441; Jones, Nat. Berm. p. 34’.

Cotyle riparia, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 93°; March, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1863, p. 296°; Baird, Rev. Am.

| B. i. p.319°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p.192°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 967; Bull. U.S. Nat.

Mus. no. 4, p. 17°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 271°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 295; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 18%; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1873, p. 258”; Baird, Brew. &

Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 853"; Coues, B. Col. Vall. i. p. 485“; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 83”;

Dresser, B. Eur. ii. p. 505, t. 163".

Supra murina, uropygio paulo dilutiore secundariorum apicibus tenuissime albis; subtus alba, torque pectorali

murino; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4°7, ale 4:0, caude 2°0, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi0-4. (Deser.

exempl. ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America generally 4 14, Bermuda ?.—Maexico, Tehuantepec (Sumichrast 8 °) ;

GUATEMALA, Duefias, Yzabal (0. S. & F. D. G.°); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 37 10),—

ANTILLES, Cuba 1°, Jamaica*; Sour Ammrica, Amazons valley !°, Guiana, Brazil © ;

Evrope!; Asta; AFRICA.

The Sand-Martin of the American Continent is admitted by all writers to be in-

separable from the familiar species of the Old World. In the United States it is a

summer visitant for the purpose of breeding. As winter approaches it passes south-

wards, and has been observed in Guatemala and Costa Rica and in some of the Antilles

at that season; but it is nowhere common. Nor does it appear in any numbers in

South America. Natterer only obtained a single specimen in the Brazilian province of

Mato Grosso, Bartlett a few near Nauta on the upper Amazons; and quite recently

Mr. H. Whitely has sent us a specimen from Bartica Grove in British Guiana. In the

Antilles its presence has been but seldom noticed ; for Dr. Gundlach only once met with

it, in the spring of 1843, when he shot a few individuals which were associating with

numbers of Tachycineta bicolor. In Mexico it has only been seen near Tehuantepec,

and in Guatemala only near Duefas and on the shores of the Lake of Yzabal. In

Costa Rica, Dr. von Frantzius speaks of its breeding in numbers in holes in rocks; but

we think he must refer to one of the species of Stelgidopteryx ©. A single specimen

only was sent by him and his associates to the Berlin Museum °.

The breeding-habits of Cotile riparia are too well known to need restating here,

beyond the fact that a hole burrowed in a sandy bank forms its nest, and that it lays

white eggs.

DIGLOSSA. 241

Section ITI. OSCINES TENUIROSTRES.

Fam. CH&REBIDA.

DIGLOSSA.

Diglossa, Wagler, Isis, 1832, p. 280 (type D. baritula) ; Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 56; Sclater,

Ibis, 1875, p. 206.

Agrilorhinus, Bp. Nouv. Ann. Se. Nat. i. p. 408 (1838).

The members of this peculiar genus are almost confined to the Andes of South

America from Bolivia in the south to Colombia and Venezuela in the north. One

species is found in the highlands of Guiana and two within our region—D. plumbea

being peculiar to the highlands of Panama and Costa Rica, and D. baritula having

a wider range in Southern Mexico and Guatemala. All the members of the genus are

found in upland forests, never probably descending below an elevation of 6000 feet.

Mr. Sclater has recently published a monograph of the genus Déglossa, in which he

includes fifteen species. To these we have added a sixteenth, D. glauca of Bolivia.

The species in this monograph are divided into two sections, according as their plumage

is mingled with rufous or whole-coloured. All, however, are very closely allied, and

all have the peculiar formation of the bill which makes the genus one of easy recog-

nition.

Diglossa baritula was the first species discovered, and became the type of the

genus Diglossa, described by Wagler in 1832. The same species furnished the type

specimens of Prince Bonaparte’s genus Agrilorhinus, and also of Lichtenstein’s Cam-

pylops, which latter name, according to Dr. Cabanis, was not published till 1851, when

it was mentioned in the first part of the ‘Museum Heineanum.’ The whole genus was

split up by Cassin in 1864 into a number of smaller subgenera, the characters of which

were drawn from coloration. Mr. Sclater justly remarks that this step was not at all

necessary. .

Diglossa may easily be recognized from all the rest of the Cerebide by the hook of

the maxilla, which projects a long way beyond the end of the mandible, and is abruptly

curved downwards ; the mandible is rather swollen at the base, and curves upwards

towards the end. On the cutting-edge of the maxilla, just before the commencement

of the curve of the terminal hook are several dentate serrations. The nostril is over-

hung with a membrane ; the rictal bristles are well developed. The tongue is divided

towards the end (hence the origin of the name of the genus). The wings are moderately

rounded, the first primary well developed, about equal to the seventh, the third and

fourth equal and longest. ‘The tail is moderately forked.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1883. 31

242 CQ@REBIDA.

1. Diglossa baritula.

Diglossa baritula, Wag). Isis, 1832, p. 281"; Hahn, Atlas, Heft 8, t. 1, 2?; Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1842,

. p- 56°; Gray & Mitch. Gen. B. t. 42. f. 1, 2*; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 97°; Bp. Consp. i.

p. 401°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 286"; 1859, pp. 364°, 376°; 1864, p. 173"; Ibis, 1875,

p. 207"; Scl. & Saly. Ibis, 1859, p. 14°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p-. 548”;

Duges, La Nat. i. p. 140"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 174.

Agrilorhinus sittaceus, Bp. Nouv. Ann. Sc. Nat. i. p. 408%.

Uncirostrum sittaceum, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 292%.

Uncirostrum brelayi, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 100°.

Supra saturate ardesiaca, capite nigricante, alis et cauda nigricantibus extus dorsi colore limbatis; subtus

ferruginea, gula et cervicis lateribus ardesiacis ; rostro corneo, mandibule basi pallidiore ; pedibus corylinis,

Long. tota 4-4, alee 2-25, caudew 1:8, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. maris ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

2 fusca; secundariis et tectricibus alarum rufescente limbatis, subtus sordide fusca, ferrugineo tincta. (Deser.

feminz ex Calderas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico’ 1718 (Petz 1, Sirletto 1), valley of Mexico (White, le Strange), alpine

region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast'*), Jalapa (de Oca 8), Juquila and Toton-

tepec (Boucard °); Guatemata (Constancia 12%, Skinner 1), Quezaltenango,

Calderas on the Volcan de Fuego, Volcan de Agua, Santa Barbara in Vera Paz,

Coban (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

Guatemalan specimens differ slightly from Mexican in that the slate-colour of the

throat in the male extends further towards the chest, but this difference hardly merits

nominal acknowledgment.

Liglossa baritula was discovered in Mexico by Dr. Petz, whose specimens were

placed in the Museum at Wiirzburg. They were described by Wagler in 1832 1,

and subsequently figured by Hahn2. In 1838 Bonaparte described the same species

as Agrilorhinus sittaceus 6; and in 1839 Latresnaye named it Uncirostrum brelayi,

The latter name was shown by Dr. Hartlaub in 1842 to belong to the same species as

that described by Wagler, whose title has the priority °.

In Mexico the range of D. baritwla seems confined to the more southern portions of

the country. Mr. White and Mr, le Strange both obtained Specimens in the Valley of

Mexico; but we have no record of its being found northwards of this point. In the

State of Vera Cruz Sumichrast considered it a denizen of the alpine region, where he

found it at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet 13, M. Sallé obtained it near Cordova ‘,

de Oca in the neighbourhood of Jalapa*, and M. Boucard at J uquila and Totontepec,

both in the State of Oaxaca 9.

In Guatemala we found it in the forests of the uplands and in the belts which

surround the volcanoes between the elevations of 7000 and 10,000 feet above the sea.

Here it frequents bushes and the edges of the forest, and is restless in search of insect-

food amongst the flowers, leaves, and twigs. It is usually found singly or in families.

Salmon obtained the eggs of Diylossa albilateralis and of D. personata in the

DIGLOSSA.—DACNIS, 243

Colombian State of Antioquia, These are of a greenish-blue ground, thickly marked

at the larger end with red-brown spots. The nest obtained by the same collector is

open and made of moss, fibres, and rootlets, and lined at the bottom with moss.

Of the nest and eggs of D. baritula and of D. plumbea we have as yet had no tidings.

2. Diglossa plumbea. (Tab. XV. a. figg.1¢, 22.)

Diglossa plumbea, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 411’; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 97°; v. Frantz,

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 297°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 1854; Sel. Ibis, 1875, p. 217°.

Omnino schistacea, subtus pallidior, capite nigricantiore, uropygio carulescentiore ; rostro corneo, mandibule

basi pallidiore; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:4, ale 2-2, caude 1°75, rostri a rictu 0-55, tarsi 0-7.

(Descr. maris ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Q fusca; subtus pallidior, alis et cauda fusco limbatis. (Descr. femine ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius!), Irazu*, San Juan? *, Quebrada Honda? (v. Frantzius),

Irazu (Rogers), Candelaria (Zeledon*); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé *).

This Diglossa in Costa Rica and Panama entirely takes the place of the Mexican

and Guatemalan D. baritula; but like that species it is confined to the high mountain-

ranges and volcanoes.

It was discovered by Dr. v. Frantzius, who sent a male specimen to the Berlin

Museum, which was described by Dr. Cabanis in 18601. The same traveller subse-

quently observed it in the Volcan de Irazu and near San Juan; and Mr. Zeledon also

met with it at Las Cruces, in the mountain-range of La Candelaria®. Southwards of

this our collector Enrique Arcé obtained several examples during his excursions to

the southern slopes of the Volcan de Chiriqui. These differ in no way from Costa-Rica

examples. Southward of Chiriqui Diglossa plumbea has not yet been met with.

DACNIS.

Dacnis, Cuvier, Régn. Anim. i. p. 395 (1817). (Type Motacilla cyana, Linn.)

Thirteen or fourteen species are included in this genus, which is a purely Neotropical

one, spread over the whole of the hotter parts of South America, and occurring in our

region as far north as Nicaragua. Only four species, however, are found within our

border, one of which, the common Dacnis cayana, has a range almost as extensive as

that of the genus itself; D. uwltramarina is hardly separable from this, and has as yet

only been noticed in Central America between Nicaragua and the State of Panama.

The third is D. venusta, which for a long time was supposed to be peculiar to Costa

Rica and Panama, but has now been traced into the northern provinces of Colombia.

The fourth is that described below as D. viguiert, from the isthmus of Darien. The

southern species are chiefly concentrated in the upper portion of the valley of the

Amazons, and in States through which the Andes run. Two other species occur in

Guiana and three in South-eastern Brazil.

Dacnis may be recognized by its sharp, slightly depressed, almost conirostral bill.

The nostril is at the lower portion of the membrane covering the nasal fossa; the

31*

244 CCEREBIDZ.

rictal bristles are short; the tarsi and toes are stout, and the claws strong. The

plumage generally is rather close ; and in most of the species the males have a large

proportion of blue in their coloration ; in some species this is replaced by green, and in

D. flaviventris by yellow.

1. Dacnis cayana.

Motacilla cayana, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 386°.

Dacnis cayana, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 507; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 977°; 1879, p. 4964; Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 185’; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 25°.

Ceerulea ; loris, macula postoculari, gula, dorso medio, alis et cauda nigris, tectricibus alarum ceruleo limbatis,

rostro nigro, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2°6, caude 1:8, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°75. (Descr.

maris ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.) ,

Q viridis, alis et cauda viridi limbatis, capite summo et genis ceruleis, gula fusca ceruleo lavata. (Deser.

feminee ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. PanaMa, Mina de Chorcha (Arcé*).—SovutH America, from Colombia‘ to

Guiana !?, Amazonia? and Brazil °.

This is one of the commonest birds of South America, having a range extending over

the whole of the tropical portion of that continent from South Brazil and Bolivia to

Colombia. It is not found, however, in the Antilles. In Central America we have

only seen specimens from Chiriqui, which almost exactly correspond with typical Guiana

examples; the throat, however, is less deeply black. Others we have belonging to this |

form of Dacnis all have a tinge of the blue of D. ultramarina, though in some cases

the difference is so slight that we hardly know with which race to place them; or,

indeed, if D. ultramarina is worthy of being kept distinct from D. cayana.

It is only in this north-western corner of its range that any variation is to be seen in

D. cayana; for the tint of the blue of the plumage of the male is remarkably constant

wherever else the bird is found. As another species (C. cwrebicolor) occurs in the

adjoining district, it may be that the variation found in C. cayana is due to the infusion

of some C. cwrebicolor blood, and that this has given rise to C. ultramarina, which is

certainly intermediate between the two, and this to a variable extent.

2. Dacnis ultramarina.

Dacnis ultramarina, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1864, p. 106"; Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 180°; ix. p. 97°;

Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 348*; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 185°.

Dacnis cerebicolor, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 291 (nec Sclater) °.

Dacnis cayana, Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 815°.

D. cayane similis, sed colore maris ceruleo ultramarino lavato forsan diversa. (Descr. maris ex Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt’), Greytown (Holland? ®); Costa Rica, Angostura

(Carmiol*) ; Panama, line of railway (f‘Leannan!4°), Chepo (Arcé>).

This Dacnis, from the isthmus of Panama, was separated from D. cerebicolor of

DACNIS. 245

Colombia by Mr. Lawrence in 1864, on account of the blue of the male having an

ultramarine rather than a purple-blue tint, D. cayana having a verditer-blue shade.

D. ultramarina, therefore, is intermediate between the other species.

We have several specimens which agree well with typical examples of Mr. Lawrence’s

bird, but others are not so easily placed, and pass almost insensibly into the coloration

of D. cayana. Mr. Lawrence in his description says that D. ultramarina has no black

spot behind the eye; but this we find to be not invariably the case. He also adds that

the black of the throat is not so pure nor so well defined as in D. cayana, a very slight

character, though constant so far as we can see, but one which is hardly sufficient of

itself to justify the separation of the whole of the Central-American birds from

D. cayana.

We have already spoken of the Chiriqui birds being inseparable in their blue tint

from the true Guiana form. In Costa Rica, however, and in Nicaragua (the most

northern limit of the range of the bird) all the specimens have a slight tint of ultra-

marine, and for this reason we now place them under this title. At the same time we

should not object to the name D. cayana being made to embrace D. ultramarina, for

we believe that it is not improbable that this step will ultimately have to be taken.

3. Dacnis venusta.

Dacenis, sp., Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 819°.

Dacnis venusta, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vil. p. 464°; ix. p. 97°; Scl. Ibis, 1863, p. 311, t. 7*; Sel.

& Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 848°; 1879, p. 497°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 1857.

Nigerrima ; capite postico, genis et cervicis lateribus, dorso medio, uropygio et scapularibus nitide ceruleis ;

tibiis coccineis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2-5, caudee 1:6, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°6.

(Descr. maris ex Panama. Mus. nostr.) ;

Q sordide virescens, uropygio cerulescente, subtus gula cinerea, abdomine toto sordide ochraceo. (Deser.

femine ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Dota mountains (Carmiol *), Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama, Bugaba

(Arcé"), line of Railway (M‘Leannan !245).—Cotomsta ®.

This pretty species was one of M‘Leannan’s discoveries on the line of the Panama

Railway. ‘The first specimen he obtained and sent to Mr. Lawrence was a female},

and it was not until the same collector secured the male that Mr. Lawrence described

it under the above name. ‘These specimens were subsequently sent to Mr. Sclater, and

inspired him to write one of those useful and practical little Monographs which have

from time to time proceeded from the pen of our industrious colleague. Mr. Sclater

took the opportunity of figuring this species on this occasion 4

On the isthmus of Panama Daenis venusta would appear to be not uncommon, as we

have received several specimens from thence. It also occurs within our territory as

far as Costa Rica, where several collectors have met with it, and also in the intermediate

district of Chiriqui. For our knowledge of the extension of Dacnis venusta into South

America we are indebted to the late Mr. 'T. K. Salmon, who obtained a single male

246 ; C@REBIDA.

example at Remedios, at an altitude of 2360 feet above the sea. This village is on the

upper waters of the Rio Ité, an affluent of the Rio Magdalena. It is probable therefore

that this species is found in suitable places over the lower valleys of the Cauca and

Atrato; but it has not yet come within the reach of the bird-hunters of Bogota.

4. Dacnis viguieri, Oustalet. (Tab. XV. a. fig. 3.)

“Dacnis viridi-cyanescens, loris, dorso caudaque nigris; remigibus primariis nigris, pogonio interno albis ; secun-

dariorum primis nigrescentibus, margine externo viridi, ultimis lete flavo-viridibus, intus nigrescen-

tibus ; rostro pedibusque nigris. Long. tota 0°120 met., alee 0-060, caude 0-050, tarsi 0-015, rostri (a

fronte) 0-010.

“Téte, gorge, poitrine, ventre, sous-caudales et sus-caudales d’un vert brillant fortement

glacé de bleu, et correspondant a la couleur appelée en France cendre-vert; lores, dos

et queue d’un noir profond ; rémiges noires, avec le bord des barbes internes blanc ;

premiéres pennes secondaires noiratres, lisérées de vert clair en dehors; derniéres secon-

daires en majeure partie vertes avec le bord interne noiratre ; couvertures les unes d’un

vert glacé de jaune, ou dorées, les autres d’un vert brillant glacé de bleu, avec du noir

dans la partie recouverte ; bec et pattes d’un noir uniforme. Iris jaune d’or (d’aprés

M. Viguier).

“ Cette -espéce a été rapportée au Musée en 1877 par M. le Dr. Viguier, qui lavait

obtenue dans Visthme de Panama, sur les bords du golfe de Darien avec beaucoup

d’autres oiseaux (Syrnium virgatum, Harpagus fasciatus, Centurus pucherani, Trogon

massena, Dendreca blackburme, Procnias occidentalis, &c.). Soumise & lexamen de

MM. Sclater et Salvin et M. le Cte. de Berlepsch, elle leur a paru différer de toutes les

espéces de Dacnis actuellement connues.”

Dr. Oustalet has kindly sent us the above description of this pretty Dacnis, of which

there is a single specimen in the Paris Museum. Some time ago Mr. Keulemans

made us a sketch of the bird, and this we now reproduce on the accompanying Plate.

It will at once be evident that the bird is a very distinct one, and has no near allies in

the genus.

CHLOROPHANES.

Chlorophanes, Reichenbach, Handb. Sp. Orn. Scansoriz, p. 233 (1853).

Chlorophanes may be distinguished from Dacnis by its more elongated curved bill,

the cutting-edge of the maxilla is more rounded, and there is a notch near the end

hardly, if at all, visible in Dacnis. ‘The plumage of the male has a more silky gloss.

Two species of this genus were recognized in the ‘Nomenclator, one being the

widely ranging C. spiza, the distribution and variations of which are given below. The

second species was described as C. purpurascens from a skin from Venezuela. This

last bird is an exaggerated form of the darker race found in the Upper Amazons, from

Colombia to Bolivia.

~CHLOROPHANES. 247

1. Chlorophanes spiza.

Certhia spiza, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 186°.

Chlorophanes spiza, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 1742; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 177°.

Chlorophanes guatemalensis, Scl. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 128°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 349°; 1870,

p. 836°; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 2037; 1872, p. 315°; P. Z. S. 1867, p. 137°; 1870, p. 185”.

Chlorophanes spiza, var. guatemalensis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 97"; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn.

1869, p. 297.

Chlorophanes atricapilla, Scl. & Sal. Ibis, 1859, p. 14; 1860, p. 32“; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii.

p. 319", ,

Grammineo-viridis ; alis et cauda extus obscurioribus, capite summo et lateribus nigerrimis, rostri maxilla

culmine nigra, tomiis et ad basin cum mandibula flavis, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 5:5, ale 3, caude 2,

rostri a rictu 0'8, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

2. Psittaceo-viridis fere unicolor, subtus paulo dilutior. (Descr. femine, ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemaia (Skinner), Choctum (0. 3.4), Kampamak and Yaxcamnal (0. S. &

F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely ®) ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt §) ;

Costa Rica (v. Frantzius}*), Tuiz and Turrialba (Carmiol 4, Arcé); Panama,

Bugaba (Arcé !*), David (J/icks?), Boquete de Chitra, Cordillera de Tolé 9, Calove-

vora (Arcé!), Lion-Hill Station (I Leannan® )—Gutana; Western Ecuapor

The propriety of separating the somewhat varied races of this species is questionable,

and the possibility of doing so is rendered more difficult from the fact of specimens

from British Guiana recently sent us by Mr. H. Whitely being almost exactly like our

Central-American examples. The males of these are all of a grassy green hue, and

have little of the purplish gloss observable in Ecuadorean, Amazonian, and Bolivian

specimens. Colombian specimens, even in the Cauca valley, hardly differ from these

latter ones, whereas at Panama the green birds are found. From Western Ecuador we

have a specimen shot in the Balzar Mountains to the northward of the Bay of Guayaquil.

This is the greenest of our whole series, and must be placed with our Central-American

birds.

Regarding the name the Central-American bird should bear, we are in some little

doubt. That the title Certhia spiza of Linneus is applicable to one of these races

seems unquestionable, and it may well have been given to the Guiana form. The

Central-American bird agreeing sufficiently with this may therefore also be called

C. spiza. Should the Amazonian and Brazilian bird require nominal distinction,

Vieillot’s name C. atricapilla is available for it.

Though we think the Central-American birds to be inseparable amongst themselves

and from the Guiana bird, it must be noted that a certain amount of variation can still

be traced. The bill in the Guatemala birds is decidedly longer than that of more

southern specimens, and the wing is rather longer also. ‘The Panama bird, though of

the same colour as the Guatemalan, has the short bill of specimens from South America.

Chlorophanes spiza in Guatemala is only found in the forest-region of the Atlantic

side of the mountains, up to an elevation of about 2000 to 3000 feet. At Choctum

248 CQZREBIDZ.

and its vicinity in Vera Paz we found it not uncommon in February 1862. It here

frequents the openings in the forest. In Guiana Mr. Whitely found C. spiza both at

Bartica Grove, nearly at the sea-level, and in the Roraima Mountains, some 5000 or

6000 feet above it.

COZREBA.

Cereba, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. u. p. 70 (1807).

Arbelorhina, Cabanis, Arch. f. Nat. 1847, i. p. 825.

There are only four really recognizable species of Cereba, so far as we can see,

though several others have been indicated, chiefly by Dr. Cabanis. Of these four,

C. cyanea and C. cerulea are found over the whole of the tropical portion of South

America, the former penetrating our country as far north as Southern Mexico, and also

occurring in the island of Cuba. In Central America C. lucida is found taking the

place of C. cerulea. The fourth species, C. nitida, is an inhabitant of the upper valley

of the Amazons, and Colombia probably on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

The species of Cereba are all very similar in coloration, the males being deep blue

of various shades, and the wings and tail black. C. cyanea is easily recognized from

all the others, the male by its turquoise-blue spot on the head, and by the under

wing-coverts being yellow in both sexes.

The bill in Cereba is longer than in any other genus of this family ; it is slender and

gradually arched, the cutting-edge of the maxilla being furnished with an indentation

near its extremity. The tail is short and nearly square at the end, and the tarsi and

toes moderately strong.

1. Coereba cyanea.

Certhia cyanea, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 188°.

Cereba cyanea, W Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. ii. p. 24°; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 96°; Burm. Syst. Ueb.

iii. p. 150*; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 286°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 97°; Scl. & Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 8367; 1873, p. 260°; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 259; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll.

p. 177".

Arbelorhina cyanea, Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 105 *’.

Cereba carneipes, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 876; 1864, p.173°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. pp. 291",

318”; vill. p.175"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p.32""; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 8349"°; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 548; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 187%; 1870, p. 185.

Nitide cerulea, capite summo eruginoso-ceruleo ; fronte anguste, loris et regione oculari, dorso medio, alis et

cauda nigerrimis; alis intus flavissimis; rostro nigro, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2°55, caude

1-6, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°6. (Deser. exempl. ex Lanquin, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q sordide virescens, alis et cauda fuscis extus viridescente limbatis, subtus gula sordide flavo striata, subala-

ribus flavis. (Descr. femine ex Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé*), Playa Vicente (Boucard 1”), valley of Mexico (White 18),

hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast }°) ; Brirish Honpuras, Corosal (foe) ; GuatE-

MALA (Constancia'°), Duefias!’, Medio Monte, Escuintla, Retalhuleu, Coban,

CCEREBA. 249

Lanquin, Choctum (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely’);

Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica(v. Frantzius *), Bebedero (Arcé *); Panama,

David (Hicks '°), Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui, Chitra, Castillo, Cordillera del Chucu,

Cordillera de Tolé, Calovevora, Santiago, Santa Fé (Arcé 2° 21), line of Railway

(M*Leannan 14 18) —Sourn America generally to Bolivia 2? and Brazil 349; Cuba 1.

Cereba cyanea is found over nearly the whole of the continental portion of the

Neotropical region, being an inhabitant of the low-lying country up to an elevation of

about 3000 or 4000 feet. We once observed it at Duefias in Guatemala at a height

of nearly 5000 feet ; but its occurrence so high must be considered exceptional. So

far as our experience goes, it is not a bird of the open savannas, but resorts to the edges

of the forests and second-growth woods, and may even be seen in the hedgerows of

villages in such situations. It is absent from the West-Indian islands with the

exception of Cuba, where, singularly enough, it occurs to the exclusion of all species

of Certhiola, whose place it seems to take. This is the more remarkable, as the Antilles

foster Certhiola to such an extent that nearly every island has its distinct race.

In 1859 Mr. Sclater separated Mexican specimens of C. cyanea under the name of

C. carneipes 12, at the same time doubting whether the minute differential characters

to which he drew attention were really of specific value. The receipt of a large series

of specimens from a wide unbroken range has convinced us that no such separation

can be maintained; the bird, in fact, being unusually constant in its coloration, con-

sidering the vast area over which it is spread. |

In its habits C. cyanea is restless in search of insects, climbing over every twig and

examining every leaf in its way. We never met with its nest or eggs.

2. Cereba lucida.

Coreba lucida, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 14'; Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 53°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y.

vil. pp. 291°, 818°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 349°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 137°; 1870,

p. 185".

Cereba cerulea, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 1408.

Indigotico-cerulea ; capite paulo dilutiore, fronte, loris, gula usque ad pectus, alis et cauda nigris; rostro nigro,

pedibus carneis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 2-3, caude 1:3, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 5:5. (Descr. maris ex

Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q viridis; subtus sordide albicans, pectore toto viride striato, hypochondriis viridibus. (Descr. feminw ex

Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. GuatEMALA (Skinner'), Choctum (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Honpuras (Leyland 2) ;

Panama, David (Bridges °), Bugaba (Arcé), line of Railway (M‘Leannan 3 +5),

This Central-American species seems fairly separable from C. cwrulea of the Southern

continent ; not only does the colour of the male differ in being of a less dense purplish-

blue, but the black of the throat extends further on to the breast. These differences

are very apparent when Central-American and Guiana birds are compared. The range

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1883. 32

250 CQEREBID&.

of C. lucida is restricted to Central America, between Guatemala, whence the original

specimens were obtained 1, and Panama*. Immediately south of this, in the Colombian

State of Antioquia, the true C. cwrulea occurs.

In Central America it cannot be called a common bird, and is not nearly so abundant

as its congener C. cyanea. We only found it in the forest-country of Vera Paz, at an

elevation of about 1200 feet above the sea, and all other places where it has been

noticed hitherto are situated at elevations not much above the sea-level.

Its habits are quite similar to those of C. cyanea, and doubtless to those of C. cerulea,

its widely spread representative in South America.

CERTHIOLA.

Certhiola, Sundevall, Ofvers. Vet.-Ak. Handl. 1835, p. 99 (type Certhia flaveola, Linn.) ; Finsch,

Verh. k.k. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, 1871, p. 739 et seqq.; Baird, N. Am. B.i. p. 425.

Few American genera have received more varied treatment as regards the number

of its species than Certhiola, some ornithologists recognizing a large number, others

comparatively few. We are rather disposed to admit a closer separation for the birds

of the West-India islands, where the inhabitant of each island has a definite and

restricted habitat, than for the continental forms, where no such restriction of range

occurs. Of the island forms no less than twelve species have been described, some of

which have very marked characters. On the mainland we are only able to recognize

three species, viz. C. mexicana of the country we are now treating of, C. luteola

of Venezuela and Trinidad, and C. chloropyga of Guiana and Brazil. To these may

be added C. caboti of the island of Cozumel, which has its nearest ally in the

Bahama islands. This bird and C. mexicana are the only ones found within our

region.

The usual colour of Certhiole is dusky or black on the back, with or without a white

alar speculum; the rump is sometimes yellow, and the belly generally so; the throat

varies from white to grey and to black. One remarkable species, from the island of

St. Vincent, is almost entirely black, and has been described by Mr. Lawrence as

Certhiola atrata*. ‘The bill of Certhiola is sharp and strongly arched; the cutting-

edge of the maxilla towards the end has several tooth-like serrations, somewhat as in

Liglossa. ‘The tarsi and feet are strong, and the tail short and square.

1. Certhiola mexicana.

Certhiola mexicana, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 2861; 1859, pp. 864°, 376°; Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 352°;

Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 349°; 1879, pp. 497°,5977; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 98°;

Finsch, Verh. z.-b. Ges. Wien, 1871, p. 772°; Baird, N. Am. B. i. p. 428”.

* Cf. Lawr. Ann. N.Y. Ac. Sc. i. p. 149. But may not this be Dicewm aterrimum, Less. Traité d’Orn.

p. 303, which Pucheron (Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 184) says is a Certhiola? See also Finsch, Verh. k. k. zool.-bot.

Ges. Wien, 1871, p. 762.

CERTHIOLA. 251

Certhiola flaveola, VOrb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. ii. p. 24 (nee Linn.) ".

Certhiola luteola, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 291”; vill.p.175"; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 185*

(nec Cabanis).

Certhiola peruviana, Cab. J. £. Orn. 1865, p. 413°; Baird, N. Am. B. i. p. 428%

Supra saturate fusca, capite nigro, superciliis elongatis et speculo alari albis, alis et cauda fusco-nigris, hujus rec-

tricibus externis albido terminatis, uropygio flavicante ; subtus gula cinerea, abdomine toto flavo ; rostro

nigro, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 3°8, alee 2:0, caudee 1-2, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. maris

ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. hornot. supra fusca, capite concolori, stria superciliari indistincta; subtus flavicans, gula albescentiore.

(Descr. exempl. ex Turrialba, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (Sallé), Jalapa (de Oca?), Playa Vicente (Boucard®); GuaTeMaa,

Choctum (0. 8S. & F. D. G4); Costa Rica, Turrialba and Atenas (Carmiol®) ;

Panama, David (Hicks 8), Bugaba, Cordillera del Chucu (Arcé 4); line of Railway

(M‘Leannan® #*).—Sovutn America, Colombia ® to Bolivia? 4.

First described from Southern Mexico by Mr. Sclater in 1856, Certhiola mexicana

has gradually been traced through Guatemala and the rest of Central America, and

along the slopes of the Andes as far south as Bolivia. It is true that various attempts

have been made to divide the birds found in this area into several races: but, with a

large series before us, we feel convinced that no separation can be maintained. Its

range on the continent of South America is somewhat peculiar, in that it extends in an

almost straight line, not diverging at all to the eastwards, for in Venezuela a distinct

species (C. luteola) quite takes its place.

In Guatemala C. mexicana has none of the habits which render the Antillean species

so familiar; for we never observed it frequenting the houses as the allied species are

wont todo. In Guatemala, indeed, it is by no means a widely distributed bird, being

restricted in its range, so far as we know, to the tropical forests of northern Vera Paz,

atan elevation of about 1200 feet above the’sea. Here, however, it is common enough,

judging by the number of specimens obtained for us by our native collectors.

We never obtained its nest or eggs; but Salmon, who met with both at Remedios

and Medellin in the Colombian State of Antioquia, describes the former as made of

fine dry grasses, and oval in shape, with a side entrance; it is usually placed at the

extremity of a bough, but not suspended from it. The eggs are dirty white, thickly

spotted with red-brown, especially in a zone under the larger end; they measure

65 by “5°

2. Certhiola caboti. (Tab. XV. a. fig. 4.)

Certhiola caboti, Baird, Am. Nat. vii. p. 612’; N. Am. B. i. p. 4272; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 827°.

Supra nigricante-fusca, capite dorso concolori, uropygio et abdomine pallide flavis, superciliis elongatis, gula et

speculo alari albis, caude rectricibus externis vix albo terminatis, rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota

4:5, alee 2°25, caude 1-6, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. exempl. ex Cozumel, Mus. Bost. Soc. N. H.)

Hab, Mexico, island of Cozumel, off the coast of Yucatan (Cabot 123),

32*

252 TANAGRIDA.

This interesting species is only known to us from two specimens obtained in the

island of Cozumel by Dr. Samuel Cabot, at the time he accompanied Stephens in his

explorations of the ancient ruins of Yucatan and Central America. One of these

specimens is now in the Museum of the Boston Society of Natural History, where Salvin

saw it in 1874, and where a sketch of it was taken; the other, the type of Prof.

Baird’s description, remains in Dr. Cabot’s collection. Dr. Cabot only noticed this species

on Cozumel, where, however, it was quite numerous *.

The nearest ally of C. caboti is the Bahama species of Certhiola, C. bahamensis, from

which it differs in having the yellow of the underparts more extended, the superciliary

stripe less produced, the alar speculum squarer, and the tail less conspicuously tipped

with whitish.

The close relationship of C. caboti to C. bahamensis is interesting, seeing that no

species of Certhiola has as yet been discovered in the intervening island of Cuba, though

hardly any other West-Indian island is without a representative of the genus.

Fam. TANAGRIDE f.

Subfam. EUPHONIIN A.

CHLOROPHONIA.

Chlorophonia, Bonaparte, Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 137 (type Tanagra viridis, Vieill.) ; Scl. P. Z. S.

1856, p. 269.

Triglyphidia, Reichenbach, Av. Syst. Nat. t. 63.

Acrocompsa, Cabanis, J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 89.

This genus is probably hardly structurally separable from Ewphonia, with which it

has much in common. The most obvious distinction is that of the ptilosis, each

feather having its barbs towards the end destitute of barbules, whereas in Euphonia the

barbules extend to the end of the barbs; and thus the general appearance of the plumage

in Kuphonia is softer and closer than in Chlorophonia, which has a more wiry, coarser

look. The bill of Chlorophonia is shaped just as in the allied genus ; but is perhaps

more feeble and wider towards the base. In both genera the edge of the maxilla

below the nostril is expanded. At the end of the maxilla isa strong hook, and a single

well developed dentate process. In Euphonia there are usually, but not always, several

of these processes, giving a serrate edge to the maxilla. The mandible in Chlorophonia is

somewhat swollen at the base, and upturned towards the point. The nostrils are open

and at the end of the nasal fossa ; the frontal plumes stiff and directed forwards. The

rictal bristles are short but stout; and the tarsi short and the feet feeble.

* «Ine. of Travel in Yucatan,’ ii. p. 472.

+ In the arrangement of this Family we have followed almost exactly that of the ‘Nomenclator Avium

Neotropicalium,’ which is based upon Sclater’s Catalogue of American Birds’ and other works of the same

author.

CHLOROPHONIA. 253

The general colour of all the species of Chlorophonia isa bright grass-green, and this

is one of the minor characteristics of the genus.

Eight or nine species of Chlorophonia have been recognized, of which three (including

C. cyanodorsalis, of which we know so little) occur within our country, all of them being

peculiar to it. They are the largest members of the genus; and have been separated

from the rest by Dr. Cabanis under the name of Acrocompsa.

Of the five or six South-American species, C. viridis enjoys the widest range,

being found in Brazil and Bolivia as well as Ecuador; and if C. longipennis prove

inseparable, it extends also into Colombia. In the latter country C. pretrit is found.

C. flavirostris, a bird as yet known by a single specimen, is from Ecuador. The almost

equally rare C. torrejoni, Tacz., is from North-eastern Peru. Lastly, C. frontalis is from

Venezuela, the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, and from Guiana. It will thus be seen

that, with the exception of C. viridis, all the South-American members of the genus

have a very restricted range.

The same may be said of the species of Central America. C. occipitalis is restricted

to Southern Mexico and Guatemala, and C. callophrys to Costa Rica and the adjoining

parts of Panama. C. cyanodorsalis is attributed to Guatemala; but of this species we

know as yet hardly anything.

1. Chlorophonia occipitalis.

Euphonia occipitahis, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 14!; Jard. Ibis, 1860, p. 103”.

Chlorophonia occipitalis, Bp. Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 188°; Cassin, U.S. Astr. Exp. ii. p. 182, t. 20.

f.2*; Scl. P.Z.S8. 1856, p. 270’; 1857, p. 205°; 1859, p. 3647; 1864, p. 173°; Cat. Am.

B. p. 55°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 17°; Ex. Orn. p. 88, t. 42; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550"; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18°.

Leete viridis ; vertice et semitorque angusto postico ceruleis, torque pectorali nigricanti-castaneo; abdomine

medio et crisso flavissimis, hypochondriis viridibus ; rostro obscure corneo; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota

5:0, alee 3:0, caude 1°7, tarsi 0°75.

@ viridis; vertice et torque cervicali postico ceruleis sicut in mari sed subtus multo obscurior et torque pectorali

castaneo nullo. (Descr. maris et feminee ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Av. hornot. omnino inornato, subtus sordide viridescens. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico13+4, Jalapa (Sallé°®, de Oca‘), Valley of Mexico (White’), Orizaba

(Botteri®), hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast *), Gineta Mountains (Sumi-

chrast #3); GuaTEMALA? 1, Coban, Choctum (0. S.2 & F. D. G.).

This pretty species does not seem to have been known to the earlier collectors in

Mexico (Bullock, Deppe, and others), and it was not until 1847 that a female specimen

placed in the Brussels Museum was described by DuBus, and figured in his ‘ Esquisses

Ornithologiques’+. Since then the bird has been found from time to time in Southern

Mexico, but chiefly in the State of Vera Cruz, where Sumichrast tells us it is a bird of the

hot region, shifting its quarters in search of food to places elevated as high as 4000 feet

above the sea. M. Boucard never seems to have met with it in the State of Oaxaca; but

254 TANAGRIDA.

in the Gineta Mountains, in the State of Chiapas, Sumichrast again found it in

January 1869 3°.

In Guatemala Chlorophonia occipitalis is a very local bird, as we never met with it

except in the neighbourhood of Coban in Vera Paz, and in the mountains to the north-

ward of that town. Coban lies at an elevation of about 4300 feet above the sea; and

in the hills, on which a small patch of virgin forest may still be seen, this bird is

met with in some numbers, not a few being caught and sold as cage-birds all over the

republic of Guatemala. It is a bird easily tamed, and eats fruit, especially plaintains,

ravenously.

It was at one time supposed that the Guatemalan bird might be different from the

Mexican, and be the lost Chlorophonia cyanodorsalis of Dubois; but this point was

settled by the late Sir W. Jardine?. After comparing skins from the two countries, we

are satisfied that all belong to C. occipitalis.

As already stated, the female of C. occipitalis was figured by DuBus!. A portrait of

the male is to be found in Cassin’s account of the birds obtained during Giilliss’s

Astronomical Expedition’. Both sexes were again figured by Sclater and Salvin in

‘ Exotic Ornithology’ 4.

2. Chlorophonia callophrys.

Triglyphidia callophrys, Cab. J. £. Orn. 1860, p. 3311.

Acrocompsa callophrys, Cab. J. £. Orn. 1861, p. 88°.

Chlorophonia callophrys, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 98°; Scl. & Salv. Ex. Orn. p. 135, t. 68‘;

v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 297°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 185°; Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1878,

p. 547,

3. C. occipitali similis sed fronte cum superciliis elongatis aureo-flavis, et macula occipitali ceerulea majore

et lilacino certa luce tincta distinguendus.

Q quoque colore macule occipitalis differt. (Descr. maris et femine ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus: nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Hoffmann 1), Rancho Redondo (Carmiol®), San José (v. Frantzius 3),

Burris (Zeledon*), Cervantes and Candelaria (v. Frantzius®), Irazu (Rogers),

Navarro (Boucard"); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui °, Chitra, Cordillera del Chucu &,

Calovevora °®, Calobre (Arcé).

The collection made in Costa Rica by Dr. Hoffmann, and sent to the Berlin Museum,

contained the first specimen of this bird. This was described by Dr. Cabanis in bis

well-known paper published in 18601. ‘In the following year he described a young

bird of the same species sent by Dr. von Frantzius 2, and then took the opportunity of

separating generically the three large Central-American species of Chlorophonia under

the title of Acrocompsa. Since then specimens have reached most of our Museums

from Costa Rica. About the year 1868 our collector, Enrique Arcé, discovered the

bird at Calovevora, in the State of Panama; and in several subsequent collections

forwarded by him to us we found a good series of specimens, all obtained between

CHLOROPHONIA.—EUPHONIA. . 255

Calobre and the Volcan de Chiriqui, doubtless in the highland forests. A pair of these

birds were figured by Sclater and Salvin in ‘ Exotic Ornithology ’ +.

Little has been recorded of the habits of C. callophrys; but Dr. v. Frantzius says

that it is found during the whole year throughout the higher mountains of Costa Rica,

and that it is kept in cages and fed on fruit, less for its song than for its beautiful

plumage. |

C. callophrys, though very like C. occipitalis in its general appearance, niay readily

be distinguished by the honey-yellow stripe which runs across the forehead and over

each eye as far back as the nape. The post-cervical ring of blue is more developed,

and the blue spot on the head larger, and with a lilac tinge in certain lights.

3. Chlorophonia cyanodorsalis.

Euphonia cyaneidorsalis, Dubois, Rev. Zool. 1859, p. 49, t. 2.

“ Macula lete cerulea in capite, ut in dorso, tectricibus subcaudalibusque abdomine medio crissoque flavis ;

supra, tectricibus alarum rectricibusque pulchra viriditate, lateribus capitis, epigastrii abdominisque paulo

nitentioribus ; alis caudaque infra fusco-griseis. Rostro cerulescente basi albicante ; pedibus czerules-

centibus.” (Dubovs, ut supra).

Hab. Guatemaa 1.

Nothing more is known of this species than the description of Dubois given above ;

this is accompanied by a figure representing a species which certainly seems allied to

Chlorophonia occipitalis, but obviously differing from it in having a blue back. The

specimen, which we have never seen, is said to have been sent from Guatemala.

With such scanty materials it would be rash to say much respecting this bird; but,

judging from analogy, we believe the type to be a female, and that the male will prove

to have a pectoral band as in the allied forms.

EUPHONIA.

Euphonia, Desmarest, Hist. Nat. des Tangaras &c. t. 19 (1805).

Phonasca, Cabanis, J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 330.

A characteristic Neotropical genus of Tanagers, containing about thirty-five species,

of which eleven occur within our limits. Of these eleven, only three are also found in

the South-American continent, viz.:—E. minuta, which spreads over the whole of the

northern part of South America and enters Central America as far north as Guatemala ;

E. laniirostris, which keeps to the western side of the continent from Bolivia to Mexico ;

and Ff. fulvicrissa, which is only found in the northern portion of Colombia and in the

State of Panama. The remaining eight species are all peculiar to Mexico and Central

America. Of the eleven Central-American species no less than ten are found in Costa

Rica, and but four in Southern Mexico. Guatemala has five, and the State of Panama

seven. All the five Mexican and Guatemalan species are found in Costa Rica and

Panama, which again have four peculiar species, as well as two of wider southern range.

256 TANAGRIDA.

As we have already said, Euphonia differs chiefly, if not solely, from Chlorophonia in

the structure of its feathers and in their general colour. The two genera, however,

have some remarkable characteristics, which, so far as at present known, separate them

from the rest of the Tanagers.

In 1829 Lund, in a pamphlet published at Copenhagen on the genus Euphonia,

showed that there were peculiarities in the stomach of Euphonia not shared by anumber

of other genera of Tanagers examined by him, and that the gizzard was represented in

quite a rudimentary condition. The late Mr. W. A. Forbes carefully examined these

birds, and in almost every respect confirmed Lund’s observations. A paper was pub-

lished by Forbes on this subject in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for 1880

(p. 148 et seg.). He also dissected Chlorophonia, and found the stomach to have the

same peculiarities as Huphonia. Several other genera and several species of Tanagride

were also examined, in which the gizzard proved to be of the normal structure.

The species of Huphonia have all very similar habits. They fly little, but congregate

in considerable numbers in fruit-bearing trees, a species of Ficus in Guatemala being

a very favourite resort. Here they remain most of the day, eating incessantly.

As the name implies, Euphonie are said to possess considerable powers of song.

Whether from having met with them out of the breeding-season, and when they were

too busy eating to sing, we never heard much of their notes.

A. Pileus ceruleus.

1. Euphonia elegantissima.

Pipra elegantissima, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 112°.

Euphonia elegantissima, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 8°; Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, pp. 272°, 8034; 1858, p. 308°;

1859, pp. 364°, 8787; 1864, p. 173%; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 16°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860,

p- 831°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. H. ix. p. 98’; Dugés, La Nat. 1. p. 140”; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p.550; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 297“; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870,

p. 185”.

Euphone tibicen, Licht. Preis Verz. Mex., Vog. p. 2 (cf. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 56)’.

Euphonia celestis, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 42.

Pipra galericulata, Giraud, B. Texas, No. 10, t. 5. f. 2°.

Purpurascente nigra; pileo et nucha cerulcis, fronte saturate castanea, postico nigro marginato ; loris, genis et

gula nigris, corpore reliquo subtus castaneo, pectore saturatiore ; alis extus nigris, intus albidis, subalaribus

flavis, cauda nigra immaculata; rostronigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:3, ale 2°7, caudee 1:6, rostri

a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0°55. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q olivacea; pileo et nucha ceruleis, fronte sicut in mare, subtus cum genis olivaceo-flavida, gula fulvo tincta.

(Deser. feminee ex Calovevora, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Texas (?) 18.—Muxico! 17, Guanajuato (Dugeés 12), valley of Mexico

(White ®, le Strange), hot, temperate, and alpine regions of Vera Cruz (Sumi-

chrast 1°), Jalapa (Deppe®, de Oca®), La Parada® and Juquila? (Boucard), San

Pedro (DuBus*), Oaxaca (Fenochio) ; GuatEMaLa, Cuyotenango, above Antigua,

Calderas, Santa Barbara in Vera Paz, Coban, Choctum (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Costa

EUPHONIA. 257

Rica, San José (v. Frantzius"), Volcan de Irazu (Areé, fogers), Turrialba (Arcé) ;

Panama, Calovevora (Arcé 15).

This pretty species is the only Mexican and Central-American representative of a

group of six blue-headed Euphonie, which are spread over a large portion of South

America and are found in some of the West-Indian islands. The best known of

these is Huphonia nigricollis, which ranges from Colombia to Paraguay.

Euphonia elegantissima was described by Bonaparte in 1837, from Mexican spe-

cimens supplied him by the Messrs. Paris. Examples had, however, been previously

sent by Deppe from Jalapa in Mexico to the Berlin Museum, and received from

Lichtenstein the name of Huphone tibicen, but, unfortunately, no description what-

ever was given of them. Lesson also gave it the name of L. cwlestis, describing speci-

mens of both sexes from Mexico 1’,

It is now a well-known species in all the mountainous districts between Central

Mexico and the State of Panama. According to our experience, it is never found at

any great distance from the higher ranges in which it chiefly resides. Sumichrast

speaks of having found it at all heights up to 6500 feet in the mountains of Orizaba.

He says that it is more of a vagrant than other Euphonie, wandering in search of fruits,

upon which it feeds. In Guatemala we observed it as high as 8000 feet in the ridge

above the hacienda of Calderas, on the slopes of the Volcan de Fuego. We also

observed it as low as Cuyotenango, in the Pacific coast-region, some 1500 feet above

the sea, and at Choctum, in Vera Paz, of not more than 1200 feet elevation. Its habits,

like those of its congeners, are to remain all day in some tree the fruit of which is

ripe, on which it feeds incessantly.

The eggs of this species taken by M. Boucard at Juquila’ are described as rounded

in shape, of a creamy white, with a few scattered spots and blotches, principally at the

larger end, of two shades of brown.

Euphonia elegantissima is retained in the lists of North-American birds on the strength

of Giraud having included it as one of his sixteen birds of Texas. Its range so far

north, however, requires confirmation. We have no positive tidings of it beyond

Guanajuato, where Dr. Dugés observed it.

B. Pileus plus minusve luteus.

a. Crissum aut lutewm aut album.

a’. Subtus gula ceruleo-nigra.

2. Huphonia affinis.

Tanagra (Euphonia) affinis, Less. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 1757.

Euphonia affinis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, pp. 274°, 303°; Scl. & Saly. Ibis, 1859, p. 16+; 1860, p. 33°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. pp. 98°, 2007; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 273%; Buli. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550.

Phonasca affinis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 332”.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1883. 33

258 TANAGRIDZ.

Atro-cerulea, capite et gutture paulo purpurascentioribus ; fronte anguste nigra, pilei dimidio antico usque ad

oculorum extremum et abdomine toto cum crisso luteis, alis subtus albis; cauda nigra rectricibus duabus

utrinque externis macula magna (apicem haud attingente), in pogonio interno alba; rostro et pedibus

obscure plumbeis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 2-1, caude 1-35, rostri a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0°55.

@ supra olivascens, pileo postico et dorso antico cinereo tinctis, subtus sordide flavicans, abdomine medio

clariore. (Descr. maris et femine ex Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) ,

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Bischoff'*), Sierra Madre (Xantus §), Orizaba (Sallé®, Botteri*),

hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast !°), Tierra Caliente of the Atlantic side (de

Strange), Barrio and Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast ®), Merida in Yucatan (Schott’,

Gaumer); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Guatemala‘, Retalhuleu,

Escuintla, Savana Grande, Duefias, Calderas (0. 8S. & F. D. G.), Coban (Sarg) ;

Nicaragua, Realejo (A. Lesson1); Costa Rica, San José (Hoffmann "), San Juan

(v. Frantzius ®).

Euphonia affinis is the Central-American representative of the widely-ranging South-

American E. chlorotica, and differs from that bird in the yellow of the underparts

being of a somewhat paler tint, and in the colour of the back being devoid of the purple

hue present in the latter bird.

It was first described by Lesson from specimens said to have been obtained at Realejo

in Nicaragua}, whence it has since been traced northwards as far as Mazatlan in

Mexico, and southwards to Costa Rica. We should say, however, that it is more

abundantly distributed over the districts of Mexico and Guatemala which border the

Pacific Ocean than elsewhere, though not confined in its range to these parts. In

altitude E. affinis is found at very varied elevations, for in September 1862 we met with

it in abundance at Retalhuleu, at an elevation of about 800 feet, and in the same

month in 1873 Salvin shot specimens at Calderas in the Volcan de Fuego, at an

elevation of 7300 feet above the sea. At Duefas it was observed at various times

between the months of July and November. Its presence in any locality is doubtless

determined by the ripeness of some favourite fruit, such a one at Duefias being a

species of Ficus, bearing a small sweet fruit much loved by Huphonia affinis. One of

these trees near Duefias, frequently visited by us during its time of fruit, was always

full of these birds, which remained all day feasting without ceasing.

In Northern Yucatan this Huphonia is common, and we have a single specimen from

the vicinity of Belize. In Vera Paz, however, it seems by no means abundant, as we

have no specimens ourselves from there.

In Costa Rica, too, it would appear to be comparatively rare, as no examples have

reached us, and the only ones on record are those of Drs. Hoffmann and v. Frantzius ".

3. Euphonia minuta.

a minuta, Cab. in Schomb. Reise n. Guiana, iil. p. 671'; Sel. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 274°; Ibis,

1873, p. 873°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 275*; P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 498°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.

N.Y. vii. p. 332°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 1867; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p.180%; Pelz. Orn. Bras.

p- 208°.

EUPHONIA. 259

Euphonia strictifrons, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 72”.

Euphonia pumila, Bp. Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 136".

Phonasca humilis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 8384.

Acroleptes humilis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 89 ™.

Euphonia humilis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 984; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 297.

Nitens ceruleo-nigra; capite purpurascentiore, pileo antico usque ad oculos et abdomine toto luteis, fronte

angustissime et loris nigris, gula capite concolori, crisso et rectricibus utrinque externis macula magna in

pogonio externo (apicem haud attingente) albis, subalaribus quoque albis ; rostro nigro, mandibula basi

plumbescente ; pedibus obscure plumbeis. Long. tota 3°3, alee 2:0, caude 1°15, rostri a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0°5.

(Deser. maris ex Calovevora, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Q (an ¢ juv.) olivacea; subtus pallidior, gula cinerascente-olivacea, abdomine medio et crisso pallide cinereis.

(Descr. feminze ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

fab. Guatremata, Coban (0. 8.4); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belé?); Costa Rica (v.

9 J] 5)

Frantzius !2 5); Panama, Chiriqui, Bugaba’, Calovevora’ (Arcé), line of Railway

(M‘Leannan°).—Soutn America, Colombia?>™ to Guiana 101! and Amazonia ’®.

The name Phonasca humilis, proposed by Dr. Cabanis for the Costa-Rica bird of this

form, was based upon a young male specimen which is said to have the characters of

i. minuta, but to be much larger. We do not possess Costa-Rican examples of this

bird; but we have a fair series from other parts of Central America, from Guatemala to

Panama, and others from various parts of South America, including Guiana, the home of

the typical #. minuta. We notice a slight difference in size between the Guiana birds

and those from other places, the former having a wing averaging about one tenth of an

inch shorter; but, failing other differences, we do not consider this any ground for

dividing the species. It must be remarked, however, that the bird we have described

as the female or young male has rather less cinereous on the throat and belly than

true females collected by Whitely in British Guiana; the difference is not of much

importance.

The names E. strictifrons proposed by Strickland and LZ. pumila by Bonaparte, in

the year 1851, both apply to EL. minuta, as Mr. Sclater has long ago shown ?.

The obvious diagnostic character of E. minuta is its white crissum; this is only

shared in the whole genus by EL. anne, a species at once separable by its rufous head.

In Guatemala L. minuta appears to be a rare bird, as only one other specimen has

reached us from there since the single male example was obtained by Salvin at Coban

in November 1859. In Nicaragua Belt secured only one specimen ; but from various

points of the State of Panama we have received skins of both sexes from our excellent

collector Arcé. |

4, Kuphonia gracilis. (Tab. XVI. fig. 3.)

Phonasca gracilis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 333}.

Euphonia gracilis, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 859°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 98°; v. Frantzius, J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 297%; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1870, p. 186°.

33*

260 TANAGRIDA.

Nitens ceruleo-nigra fere unicolor ; pileo antico usque ad oculorum medium et abdomine toto luteis ; alis subtus

albis; cauda omnino nigra; rostro et pedibus obscure plumbeis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 2-3, caudex 1:3,

rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0-6. (Deser. maris ex Volcan de Chiriqui. Mus. nostr.)

@ supra olivacea, subtus multo pallidior, ventre medio flavicante. (Descr. femine ex Costa Rica. Mus. P. L.

Sclater.)

Hab. Costa Rica, San José (Hoffmann), San José (Carmiol *, v. Frantzius*); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Arcé®>).

Little has been recorded of this species. It was described by Dr. Cabanis from

specimens obtained near San José, Costa Rica, by Dr. Hoffmann; but the adult male

was not represented in this collection. It has since been secured by Arcé in the

Volcan de Chiriqui, and one of his specimens is now figured.

In general coloration E. gracilis is like E. affinis; but it may be at once distinguished

by its wholly black tail, and by the steel-blue black throat-mark being more extensive

and reaching quite to the breast. . luteicapilla has also a black tail, but the

yellow of the crown is more extensive, reaching to the nape. LE. minuta, again, is

characterized by its white crissum.

5. Kuphonia luteicapilla. (Tab. XVI. fig. 1.)

Phonasca luteicapilla, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 832°.

Euphonia luteicapilla, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 98°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 297°;

Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 1864.

Nitens ceruleo-nigra ; alis et cauda viride neo nitentibus hac immaculata, fronte angustissime et loris nigris,

capitis lateribus et gula dorso concoloribus, subalaribus albis; pileo toto et abdomine luteis ; rostri maxilla

cornea ad basin et mandibula (preter apicem) pallidis; pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 3°5, alee

2°15, caude 1:3, rostri a rictu 0°3, tarsi 0-5. (Descr. maris ex Bugaba, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra olivacea, alis caudaque fusco-nigris extus olivaceo limbatis; subtus flavida, medialiter clarior, hypo-—

chondriis olivacea indutis. (Descr. femine ex Chepo, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Lrantzius'), San José (v. Frantzius*), Turrialba (Carmiol) ;

Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba+, Boquete de Chitra’, Cordillera del Chucu

(Arcé), Paraiso Station, Panama Railway (Hughes 4), Chepo (Arcé).

We possess a good series of specimens of a Huphonia from the State of Panama,

which we believe to be this species, but from Costa Rica we have only a single female

or young male example. None of the adult males from Panama have a white spot on

the inner web of the outer rectrix, and in this respect differ from Dr. Cabanis’s descrip-

tion ; but as he says that this spot is small and sometimes absent, its importance is not

great.

The yellow crown at once’ distinguishes this species from all its allies ; this not only

occupies the anterior portion of the crown, but spreads backwards to the nape.

We have figured one of the Panama specimens from Bugaba; and here as well as

in the rest of the State as far south as Chepo . luteicapilla appears to be spread.

EUPHONIA. 261

M‘Leannan did not meet with it on the Panama Railway, but we have a pair shot by

Mr. Hughes at Paraiso Station. At Chepo Arcé only obtained us a single female

specimen, but we have no hesitation in referring it to this species.

b'. Subtus omnino lutea.

6. Kuphonia hirundinacea.

Euphonia hirundinacea, Bp. P. Z. S. 1887, p. 117"; Scl. P. Z. S. 1854, p. 98 (partim) * ;

1856, pp. 278 *, 803°; 1859, pp. 364°, 378°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 16"; P. Z.S. 1870,

p. 836°; Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 98°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 18°; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550”; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 180”.

Phonasca hirundinacea, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 334; 1861, p. 91™.

Supra nitens ceeruleo-nigra, loris et capitis lateribus dorso conéoloribus ; fronte et pileo ad oculorum medium et

corpore subtus a mento usque ad crissum luteis ; cauda nigra, rectricibus duabus utrinque externis macula

magna in pogonio interno et apicem attingente albis ; rostro nigro; pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4:0, ale

2°5, caudee 1°45, rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

? supra olivacea, alis et cauda fusco-nigris extus olivaceo marginatis; subtus griseo-albida, abdomine medio

pallidiore, hypochondriis olivaceo-flavis. (Descr. femine ex Vera Paz. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca *), Playa Vicente (Boucard °), hot region

of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast “), Tierra caliente of Atlantic side (le Strange), Guichi-

covi (Sumichrast 4), Northern Yucatan (Gaumer); British Honpuras, Belize

(Blancaneux), Corosal (foe); Guatemata (Velasquez de Leon, Constancia® }*),

Poctun, Choctum, Coban, Cahabon (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro

(G. M. Whitely ®); Nicaracua, Hato Viejo (Baater); Costa Rica!’, Turrialba

(Carmiol®, Arcé), San Juan (v. Frantzius °).

Owing to Bonaparte having described a young male of this species a good deal of

discussion has arisen respecting it; but Mr. Sclater’s determination of Bonaparte’s bird

and his fuller description have considerably lessened the difficulties surrounding its

proper title. We are unable, however, to follow Mr. Sclater in his definition of the

range of HL. hirundinacea, a bird which we have not been able to trace beyond Costa

Rica. The State of Panama and Colombia, though both are included by Mr. Sclater

within the range of H. hirundinacea, appear, from the evidence before us, to be occupied

by LE. laniirostris to the exclusion of the allied species. Then, again, the bird figured

in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Zoological Society for 1854 ? as the male of EL. hirundinacea

is, we feel sure, that sex of L. laniirostris, as indeed Mr. Sclater himself subsequently

admitted. The drawing was probably taken from Captain Kellett’s Chiriqui example.

Though £. hirundinacea is very like F. laniirostris, they may be readily recognized

from one another, the male of the former having less yellow on the head, and the

white of the inner web of the outer tail-feathers continuing further to the end of the

feather. The female of /. hirundinacea has the whole of the middle of the under.

parts greyish white, whereas this part in Z. /anitrostris is yellowish olive.

262 TANAGRID.

Euphonia hirundinacea is an inhabitant of the low-lying hot districts wherever it is

found, and seldom appears to ascend the mountains higher than about 2000 or 3000

feet. In such hot situations Sumichrast met with it 1011; and in Guatemala its range

seems thus restricted, though we have noted its occurrence near Coban, the elevation

of which is over 4000 feet.

7. Euphonia gnatho.

Phonasca gnatho, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 335°.

Euphonia gnatho, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 98°.

E. hirundinacee persimilis sed rostro multo robustiore forsan distinguenda. (Descr. exampl. ex Tempate,

Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 1), Tempate, Nicoya (Arcé).

Dr. Cabanis described this species from a single specimen sent in Dr. von Frantzius’s

first collection from Costa Rica, comparing it with LE. chalybea of Brazil, especially as

regards the size of the bill, which he characterized as “ rostro nigro, crasso, culmine

valde incurvato.” |

We possess a specimen having a bill of this description, but we much doubt it really

signifies that a third species distinct from E. hirundinacea and LE. laniirostris exists in

Costa Rica. With the former of these birds, the example alluded to agrees in every

respect except in the greater development of the bill; and we doubt if this difference,

taken alone, is of specific value, especially as the true L. hirundinacea also undoubtedly

occurs in Costa Rica. .

The peculiarity of the bill may be produced by the harder nature of the food upon

which the bird feeds in the districts where it is found. Some of the Costa-Rica speci-

mens of EF. hirundinacea vary to a slight extent in the size of their bills, showing that

it is not at all improbable that the extreme form of LH. gnatho may be reached by

gradual steps.

On the whole we think it best to allow E. gnatho to stand as distinct from E. hirun-

dinacea until a better series of specimens confirms it in this position, or shows the

name to be a synonym of LH. hirundinacea.

8. Euphonia laniirostris.

Euphonia laniirostris, @ Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. i. p. 80*; d’Orb. Voy. Am. mér., Ois. p. 266, t. 22.

f. 1°; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 199°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 598*; Salv. Cat.

Strickl. Coll. p. 180’.

Euphonia crassirostris, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 277°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 349"; Lawr.

Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 174°; Salv. P. Z.S8. 1870, p. 186°; Tacz. P. Z.8. 1877, p. 8320”.

Euphonia hirundinacea, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vu. p. 298”.

Euphonia, sp.?, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 188”. |

FE. hirundinacee similis sed macula pilei flava majore et postice rotundata, maculis quoque caude rectricum

EUPHONIA. 263

duarum externarum albis postice rotundatis haud plume apicem attingentibus ; femina quoque subtus

omnino olivaceo flavida haud medialiter cinerea distinguenda.

Hab. Costa Rica, Angostura (Carmiol); Panama, Volean de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Arcé),

David (Hicks *), Chitra ®, Boquete de Chitra ®, Calovevora 9, Cordillera de Tolé !

(Arcé), Lion-Hill Station (M‘Leannan™"), Paraiso Station (Hughes).—Sourn

America, to Colombia ®?, Ecuador, Peru 2°, and Bolivia12 345,

The gradual extension of our series of specimens of this Ewphonia has convinced us

that Mr. Sclater’s name EF. crassirostris, which was founded on Colombian skins 6, is really

a synonym of d’Orbigny’s title E. /aniirostris, and that the bird ranges uninterruptedly

from Bolivia to Costa Rica. From this latter country, however, we have only a single

female skin to show its presence there. In the State of Panama it is abundant, and

quite supplants Huphonia hirundinacea, its more northern representative.

Like E. hirundinacea this species is an inhabitant of low-lying hot districts, but

Mr. Simons observed it in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta as high as 2700 feet

above the sea °.

b. Crissum castaneum.

9. Kuphonia gouldi.

Euphonia, sp., Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 303°.

Euphonia gouldi, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 66, t. 1247, p. 229°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 174; Lawr.

Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 98°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550°; Salv. Ibis,

1860, p. 194"; 1872, p. 815°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 298°.

Supra neo-olivacea, fronte et pileo usque ad oculos luteis, loris olivaceo-nigris, subtus gula et cervicis lateribus

olivaceis, ventre medio et crisso lete castaneis, hypochondriis olivaceis flavo intermixtis, rostro nigro,

pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4:0, alee 2°2, caude 1-2, rostri a rictu 4°5, tarsi 0°65. °

@ supra mari similis, fronte et pileo antico castaneis, subtus olivacea, ventre medio flavescentiore, crisso sicut

* in mari castaneo. (Descr. maris et femine ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (Sallé+), Santecomapan (Boucard*), hot region of Vera Cruz (Suimi-

chrast °) ; British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaua); GuateMaLa? (Skinner*), Coban’,

Choctum, and Kamkhal (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Nicaraeua, Mosquito coast (Bell *),

Chontales (Belz *); Costa Rica, Angostura >, Pacuar * 9, Dota Mountains ® 9, Valza

(Carmiol, v. Frantzius), Tucurriqui (v. Frantzius °).

As will be seen above, this pretty species enjoys a wide range throughout our

region, from Southern Mexico to Costa Rica. In the State of Panama, in the rest

of the isthmus, and in the northern parts of Colombia, its piace seems to be taken by

LE. fulvicrissa, the female of which much resembles that of the present bird, but the

male has the upper parts of the steel-blue colour so prevalent in this genus. both

sexes, however, in 4. gouldi and in E. fulvicrissa have the crissum of a light chestnut

or tawny colour.

Euphonia gouldi first came into Mr. Sclater’s possession in 1856, a specimen being

264 TANAGRIDA.

in M. Sallé’s Mexican collection. He did not describe it, however, till the following

year, when Mr. Gould submitted to him specimens of both sexes from Guatemala,

whence they had doubtless been obtained through the instrumentality of the late

G. U. Skinner. We subsequently secured a good series of examples from the same

country, where, however, its range is limited to the forest-region of Northern Vera Paz,

and thence into British Honduras. Its range in elevation is usually from the sea-level

to aheight of about 1200 feet ; but one of our specimens came from the neighbourhood

of Coban 7, that is over 4000 feet above the sea. Sumichrast, too, speaks of it as an

inhabitant of the hot districts of Vera Cruz, and up to an elevation of 1600 feet.

10. Euphonia fulvicrissa. (Tab. XVI. fig. 2.)

Euphonia fulvicrissa, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 276"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 143°; Scl. & Salv.

P.Z. S. 1864, p. 349°; 1879, p. 498°. .

Euphonia gouldi, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 332° (nec Sclater); Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 186°.

Supra nitens ceeruleo-nigra, fronte usque ad oculorum extremum lutea, gutture ad medium pectus dorso con-

colore, ventre medio et crisso fulvo-nigris hoc saturatiore ; cauda nigra, rectrice una utrinque externa in

pogonio interno alba; rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 3°2, ale 2:1, caude 1:1, rostri a

rictu 0°45, tarsi 0°5.

9 supra olivacea, eneo tincta; fronte anguste rufa; subtus olivaceo-flava medialiter flavidior, crisso fulves-

centi-flavo. (Descr. maris et feminee ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Bugaba, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé°), Lion Hill Station (/‘Leannan 3 *),

San Pablo Station (O. S.), Falls of the Truando (Wood *).—Co.omBia ! 4,

A species with a very limited range, of which a male specimen first came into Mr.

Sclater’s hands from Santa Marta in Northern Colombia, and formed the subject of his

description 1. The only other point on the continent of South America where it has

occurred is a little further south, in the valley of the Magdalena river and its affluents,

Salmon having found it at Remedios and Nichi, both in the State of Antioquia. On

the isthmus, Mr. Wood observed it at the Falls of the river Truando, an affluent of the

Atrato, during Lieut. Michler’s Exploring Expedition in the isthmus of Darien. Here

it frequented high trees near an encampment in the mountains, but was not often seen,

being shy and watchful?. At Panama it appears to be more abundant, as M‘Leannan

not only supplied us with specimens of both sexes, but sent others to Mr. Lawrence.

Moreover, Salvin himself shot a male at San Pablo Station near to where the railway-

bridge crosses the river Chagres. Mr. Lawrence, in his paper on M‘Leannan’s birds, called

his specimens Huphonia gouldi, as was ascertained by Salvin in 1874 when examining

Mr. Lawrence’s collection. Salvin himself also made the same mistake when determining

two female specimens sent by Arcé from the neighbourhood of Chiriqui. These were

called E. gouldi® instead of E. fulvicrissa, which they now prove to be. These speci-

mens give the extreme range of the species in this direction. In Costa Rica EL. gouldi

alone is found.

We have figured one of the Panama specimens from Lion-Hill Station.

EUPHONIA. 265

Euphonia fulvicrissa may be known from all its Central-American congeners except

E. gouldi by its tawny-rufous belly and crissum. From £. gouldi again it may easily

be recognized by its steel-blue back, that part of the allied species being brassy

olive. The females are not so easily determined, but that of EF. fulvicrissa has more

chestnut on the lower abdomen, the forehead is rather paler chestnut, and there is

a slight bluish shade on the upper parts.

ce. Pileus rufus.

11. Kuphonia anne.

Euphonia annee, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p- 172°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 137°; 1870, p. 186°;

Ibis, 1873, p. 329*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p.98°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 297 °.

Euphonia rufivertex, Salv. P. Z.S. 1866, p. 71, t. 77.

Atro-purpurascens nitens; pileo toto et fronte rufo-castaneis; loris, capitis lateribus et gula purpurascente

nigris ; subtus lutea, subalaribus et crisso albis ; cauda nigra, rectrieibus duabus utrinque externis macula

in pogonio interno alba; rostro et pedibus fusco-nigris. Long. tota 4:5, ale 2°5, caude 1°5, rostri a rictu

0:5, tarsi 0°68. (Descr. maris ex Angostura, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

2 supra olivacea, nucha plumbea, pileo antico et fronte rufescente tinctis; subtus sordide cinerea, hypo-

chondriis olivaceis. (Deser. femine ex Calovevora, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Angostura® and Santa Rosa 1° (Carmio/), Turrialba (Arcé’); Panama,

Veraguas (Merritt +), Santa Fé?", Santiago de Veraguas’, Calobre, Calovevora °,

and Cordillera del Chucu ? (Arcé).

Though the late Mr. Cassin, of Philadelphia, first described this Huphonia from Costa-

Rican specimens belonging to the Smithsonian Institution 1, the first examples obtained

were those of Dr. Merritt, who visited Weraguas in 1852°. Shortly after Cassin’s

description was published ; but, in ignorance of this fact *, Salvin also named the bird

from specimens in our collection which had been sent us by Arcé from the State of

Panama’. We have since obtained adult examples from both countries, and, as might

be expected, there can be no doubt of the identity of the two birds.

The only species of Euphonia at all nearly allied to E. anne is the South-American

E. ruficeps, a bird originally described by d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye from’ Bolivian

examples, but since traced through the upper basin of the Amazons to Venezuela.

From this species H. anne differs in having a white crissum instead of a tawny one;

the head also is of a paler rufous, which extends over the whole crown instead of only

the anterior portion.

E. anne appears to be not uncommon in the neighbourhood of the higher moun-

tainous parts of Costa Rica and the State of Panama, but it is absent from the low-

lying country through which the Panama railway runs.

Both male and female are figured in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for

1866, under the name of Luphonia rufivertex '.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1883. 34

266 TANAGRIDA.

Subfam. TANAGRINA.

CALLISTE.

Calliste, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 974 (type Tanagra tricolor, Gm.); Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 244, et Mon.

Call. (1857).

Mr. Sclater has made the study of the genus Calliste so peculiarly his own that, in

our account of the fragment of the group occurring within our fauna, we have followed

almost exactly his treatment of the subject. Not only has Mr. Sclater published an

illustrated monograph of the genus, but he has also, from time to time, given a short

summary of our increase of knowledge since that monograph was finished. These

recapitulations are to be found in ‘The Ibis’ for the years 1863, 1868, and 1876. In

the last of these the number of known species of Calliste is stated to be sixty. Since

then Mr. Lawrence has described one from the island of St. Vincent as C. versicolor,

and Herr v. Pelzeln another from Brazil as C. albertine; so that sixty-two species

represent the specific strength of the genus according to our present knowledge. Of

these, nine occur within our region. Four of these are peculiar to it, not having as

yet been found outside our limits. Three do not pass far into the southern continent,

whilst the remaining two are of wider range, C. guttata reaching Guiana and C. gyro-

loides Bolivia.

The genus Calliste originally formed part of Tanagra of Linneus until it was sepa-

rated by Boie in 1826; since then it has been further split into a number of genera,

chiefly by Bonaparte in 1851 (Rev. Zool. p. 142). Mr. Sclater has adopted many of

these names as sectional headings; and this we believe their best use; for though the

diversity in the coloration of the members of the genus taken as a whole is very great, the

genus itself is, notwithstanding, structurally very uniform. Viewing the nine Central-

American species by themselves, no difficulty whatever arises in distinguishing them ; but

it may be as well to point out to which of the sections they severally belong. Thus :—

C. florida is the sole representative of Calliste.

C. guttata 9 9 Leothraupis.

C.. icterocephala i 7 Chrysothraupis.

C. gyroloides

C. lavinie

C. cabanisi

C. dowt

C. inornata

C. larvata

| represent Gyrola.

> 5, Procnopis.

The last named is the least uniform of these groups.

The bill in Calliste is straight, rather short, and slender; the culmen curved down-

CALLISTE. 267

wards, and the gonys slightly upwards; the maxilla has a single subterminal notch.

The wings are rather long, the second, third, and fourth primaries being the longest in

the wing. The feathers of the plumage generally have the barbs bare at the ends, as

in Chlorophonia ; and to the structure and colour of this part of the feather the peculiar

metallic lustre of the plumage is due. The feet are feeble and the tarsi short, in

accordance with the strictly arboreal habits of the birds; but of these but little has been

recorded. Salmon obtained the eggs of three species in the State of Antioquia, viz.

C. vitriolina, C. atricapilla, and C. nigriviridis, all of which resemble one another in

being of a pale greenish ground, blotched with lilac or red-brown marks, especially in

a zone round the larger end. The nest of C. vitriolina is open, and made outwardly

of moss, and lined with fine roots, fibres, and horsehair.

The food of Calliste is usually fruit and occasionally insects.

1. Calliste florida. (Tab. XVII. fig. 1.)

Calliste florida, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1869, p. 416, t. 287; Sel. Ibis, 1876, p. 4092.

Lete viridis, pileo et uropygio aurulento lavatis ; interscapulio nigro variegato ; alis nigris, secundariis et tectri-

cibus omnibus viridi marginatis ; cauda nigra, rectricibus intermediis extus cerulescenti-viridi late margi-

natis; loris et regione parotica nigris; ventre medio et crisso flavicantibus, subalaribus albis; rostro et

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2:6, caude 1-7, rostri a rictu 5-5, tarsi 0°38. (Descr. exempl. ex

Veraguas, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

mari omnino similis, sed nucha et dorso postico minus aurulento suffusis. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Costa

Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Carmiol 1); Panama, Veraguas (Arcé 2).

This Calliste, of which very few specimens have as yet come under our notice, was

first sent to us by Carmiol from Costa Rica in 1869, a single female specimen being in

a collection forwarded to us by him at that time. The exact spot in Costa Rica where

this example was obtained was not recorded. Since then other specimens have reached

us from Arcé, who most probably found them in the neighbourhood of Santiago de

Veraguas, or nearer to the townof Panama. Amongst these latter is the male specimen

now figured.

The only species of Calliste which at all resembles C. florida is C. schranki, a species

of wide range on the eastern slopes of the Andes, between Ecuador and Bolivia, and

throughout the basin of the Upper Amazons. From this bird C. florida differs in

having the forehead coloured like the top of the head instead of being black, and in

the underparts being green instead of yellow.

2. Calliste guttata.

Callispiza guttata, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 26°.

Calliste guttata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 249°; Mon. Call. p. 21, t. 10°; Cat. Am. B. p. 64°; Lawr

Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 98°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 298°; Salyv. P. Z.S. 1870, p. 1877;

Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 325°.

34*

268 TANAGRIDZA.

Calliste chrysophrys, Scl. Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 24, t. 69. f. 2, & p. 54’.

Calliste guttulata, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxil. p. 76".

Spotted Emerald Tanager, Lath. Gen. Hist. Birds, vi. p. 19.

Supra aurescenti-viridis, capitis totius et dorsi antice plumis medialiter nigris, viridi marginatis, fronte et

regione oculari aureis, loris nigris ; alis et cauda fusco-nigris, hac viridi, illis ceerulescenti-viridi marginatis,

subtus alba cerulescente tincta et guttis rotundis precipue in pectore perfusa, maculis his in gula minori-

bus ; hypochondriis et crisso flavo-virescentibus ; rostro nigricante, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota

4°5, ale 2°5, caude 1:8, rostri a rictu 0:5, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris ex Tucurriqui, Costa Rica. Mus.

nostr. )

Q@ mari similis, sed coloribus minus claris.

Hab. Costa Rica, Tucurriqui (Arcé), Angostura ®, Dota® (Carmiol), Turrialba (Cooper) ;

Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé’).—Sovurn America, from Colombia?’ to

Ecuador ? 1°, and to Venezuela 3, Trinidad 311, and Guiana |.

Mr. Henry Whitely has recently sent us skins of this bird from Roraima in British

Guiana, the same locality whence Schomburgk obtained the types described by Dr.

Cabanis!. Our examples from Roraima agree fairly well with others from other

points of the range of the species; but we notice that the underparts are much less

spotted, the spots being almost confined to the chest, the throat and abdomen being

plain.

Venezuelan and Trinidad examples agree closely with our series from Costa Rica

and the State of Panama; and should they be hereafter considered distinct from

the Roraima bird, they all should bear the name C. chrysophrys, Scl.

Though this Tanager was known to Latham, and described in his ‘General History

of Birds’ under the title of the Spotted Emerald Tanager 11, it was confused with an

allied species, Calliste punctata (L.), until the year 1850, when Dr. Cabanis gave it its

present name; and almost at the same time, or shortly after, as Mr. Sclater tells us, it

received two other appellations at the hands of Mr. Sclater and Prince Bonaparte. All

this is explained in the monograph of the genus Calliste written and published by the

former ornithologist °.

The range of Calliste guttata is somewhat remarkable, spreading as it does along

the whole of the north coast of South America, then turning northwards to Costa Rica,

and southwards to Ecuador. |

Regarding its record from the last-named country, we observe that the single example

obtained by Bourcier from Mindos, in the north-western portion of the Republic, which

formed the type of Bonaparte’s C. guttulata, is the only one we have heard of from so

far south. Neither Fraser nor Buckley met with it, nor have we seen specimens in the

many collections we have examined from Ecuador. It is also worthy of note that the

species is also absent from the list of Salmon’s collections from Antioquia. But it is

not uncommon in trade collections sent from Bogota; and Mr. C. W. Wyatt found it

in the mountains above Ocafia®. It is absent from the line of the Panama railway; but

appears on the slopes of the Volcan de Chiriqui, and in several parts of the eastern

side of Costa Rica.

CALLISTE. 269

3. Calliste icterocephala.

Calliste icterocephala, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxii. p. 76’; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 251%; 1860, p. 87°;

Scl. Mon. Call. p. 37, t.17*; Cat. Am. B. p. 65°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 188°; 1870,

p. 186"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 98°; v. Frantz. J. f. O. 1869, p. 298°; Scl. & Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 498 °°.

Callispiza (Chrysothraupis) frantzii, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 87”.

Flavus, interscapulio et tectricibus alarum superioribus nigro variegatis, loris et stria infra oculos nigris; alis

caudaque nigris aurescenti-viridi extus limbatis ; gutture et torque cervicali postica pallide viridescenti-

argenteis ; rostro nigro, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 2°9, caudee 2:0, rostri a rictu 5:5, tarsi 0°7.

- (Descr. maris ex Dota, Costa Rica. Smiths. Inst. No. 54238. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari similis, sed supra viridescenti-aurea et coloribus omnibus obscurioribus. (Descr. femine ex Sante Fé,

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica 1, Candelaria mountains °, Dota ®° (v. Frantzius), valleys of Turrialba

(v. Frantzius®, Cooper ®, Arcé), Barranca (v. Frantzius °, Carmiol®), San José (Car-

miol8); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui’, Vivala, Boquete de Chitra’, Cordillera del

Chucu’, Cordillera de Tolé®, Calovevora’, Santa Fé®, Calobre (Arcé).—Sovutu

America, Colombia !, Ecuador 12349,

When Mr. Sclater wrote his ‘ Monograph of the Genus Calliste’ in 1857, only two

specimens of this species were known to him, both of which were brought by Bourcier

from Punta Playa, a valley of the Andes near Quito in Ecuador‘. A few years after-

wards, Fraser found it at Nanegal in the same country °, and it would appear to be not

uncommon in Western Ecuador, as specimens are generally to be found in collections

forwarded thence. Tracing its range northwards, we have an example from the

vicinity of Pasto, and again from Remedios in Colombia, where Salmon found it 1°.

We are not aware, however, that it ever occurs in the trade collections sent from

Bogota. From the isthmus of Panama itself it is absent, at least from all the lowlying

land yet investigated ; but throughout the country situated between Calobre and the

volcano of Chiriqui it is perhaps commoner than at any other point of its range.

In Costa Rica, too, beyond which point it has not yet been traced, it is by no means a

rare bird. Dr. Cabanis was the first to receive specimens from the latter country ;

these he described as Callispiza frantzii. It has since been proved that he founded

his description upon female birds; and the receipt of a good series of both sexes shows

that no real difference exists between Costa-Rican birds and typical ones from Ecuador.

If anything, adult males of the northern bird are a shade more golden in their upper

plumage; but the difference is quite trivial.

Little has been recorded of Calliste icterocephala. Fraser remarks :—“ Irides hazel ;

bill black; legs and feet blue; food green minute-seeded fruit.”

_ Calliste icterocephala has no very near allies in the genus; but it belongs to the

same group or section containing C. aurulenta, of which there are five species, all found

in the Andes between Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. Of these, it is the

only one which extends its range into our region.

270 TANAGRIDZA.

4. Calliste gyroloides.

Aglaia gyroloides, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 277°.

Calliste gyroloides, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, pp. 1427, 255°; 1857, p. 264°; 1859, p. 139°; Mon. Call.

p. 57, t. 26°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 382"; ix. p. 98°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864,

p. 850°; 1879, p. 499°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 188"; 1870, p. 186%; v. Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 298°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 325 ™.

Aglaia gyrola, @Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. i. p. 32° (nec Linn.).

Tanagra gyrola, d’Orb. Voy. Am. Mér. vi. Ois. p. 272".

Aglaia peruviana, Swains. An. in Menag. p. 356.

Calliste cyanoventris, Gray, Gen. Birds, ii. p. 366”.

Supra clare viridis, capite et mento castaneis, torque nuchali et humeris aurescentibus ; dorso postico et abdo-

mine toto ceruleis ; crisso viride; tibiis pallide rufis ; rostro et pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 5:5,

alee 3-0, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°7.

Q mari similis, sed coloribus omnibus paulo obscurioribus. (Descr. maris et feminee ex Lion Hill, Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Ay. juv. fere omnino viridis subtus pallidior. (Descr. av. hornot. ex Calovevora, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Savanilla de Pirris (v. Frantzius 1°), Barranca, Guaitil, Dota (v. Frant-

zius 1°, Carmiol’), Turrialba (Arcé); Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges*), Volcan de

Chiriqui !*, Bugaba !°, Boquete de Chitra 12, Vivala, Cordillera del Chucu !*, Calo-

vevora !*, Santa Fé™ (Arcé), line of railway (M/‘Leannan’®).—SovutH AMERICA,

Colombia 1° 18 to Ecuador °®, Peru ? 17 and Bolivia 5, Upper Amazons *.

Some years had expired after specimens of this bird had been obtained before it

remained in quiet possession of its present title. At first it was unrecognized from

Calliste gyrola of Linneus, to which it bears a general resemblance. Swainson then

perceiving its differences gave it the name of Aglaia peruviana "’, unfortunately choosing

a title that had already been adopted fora bird of the same genus. The same misfortune

attended the name C. cyanoventris chosen for it by G. R. Gray 18. Finally, in 1847,

Lafresnaye called it Aglaia gyroloides', under which specific name it has since passed.

C. gyroloides belongs to a group of four well-marked green-backed Calliste. From

the Guiana C. gyrola it differs in having the rump and the whole of the underparts

blue. The same differences separate it from the Venezuelan C. desmaresti, in which

the underparts are wholly green. The green chest and flanks and the chestnut of the

primaries of C. laviniew of Central America render it again very easily distinguishable

from C. gyroloides.

In its range C. gyroloides covers a much wider area than any of the other allied

species, being found uninterruptedly from Bolivia to Costa Rica. It diverges but little

from the slopes of the Andes; and, though found as far east as the Rio Javarri in the

Upper Amazons “, it would appear to be by no means common anywhere in the valley.

In all collections made in Ecuador and Colombia C. gyroloides is a conspicuous

species, and it would appear to be a very common bird in those countries. It is

equally so in the State of Panama, whence numbers of specimens have been sent us.

CALLISTE. 271

Of its habits little has been recorded. Salmon says its food is fruit ®°; Fraser says

“vegetable matter” and “ fruit with small seeds:” he adds that “the irides are hazel,

the bill black, and the legs and feet bluish” 5.

5. Calliste laviniz.

Calliste lavinie, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1858, p. 1781; 1860, p. 142, t. 1. f. 1°; Salv. Ibis, 1872,

p- 315°; Scl. Ibis, 1876, p. 409%.

Lete viridis, capite toto saturate castaneo, cervice postica et dorso antico aureo nitentibus; alis fusco-nigris,

remigibus extus in medio rufo limbatis, tectricibus quoque minoribus rufescentibus, subtus abdomine medio

ceruleo, tibiis rufescentibus ; rostro et pedibus corylinis, illius mandibula albicante. Long. tota 5:0, ale

2-7, caud 1:85, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-65. (Deser. exempl. ex Chontales, Nicaragua. Mus. nostr.)

Q an avis hornot. fere omnino viridis, capite castaneo inornato et abdomine vix ceruleo et alis vix castaneo

ornatis. (Descr. exempl. ex Veraguas, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Ntcaraaua, Chontales (Belt? 4, Janson®); Costa Rica (van Patten *); Panama,

Veraguas (Arcé*), Rio Truando (Wood 12),

For many years the only specimens of this species known were those described by

Cassin. ‘They were obtained during Lieut. Michler’s expedition to the isthmus of

Darien at Camp Toucey, in the mountains on the Rio Truando, where they were found

by Mr. Wood, in March 1858, in the high trees, and were very active and lively, and

not easily obtained.

A specimen was then found in a collection brought by Van Patten from Costa Rica ;

and soon afterwards we obtained a fair series of skins from Belt, who met with them in

the gold-mining region of Chontales in Nicaragua. It has since occurred in collections

sent by Arcé from the State of Panama.

These specimens all exhibit the characters given of the species by Cassin, and which

are fairly shown in the figure accompanying his paper on Lieut. Michler’s collections ?.

The species is a very distinct one, and may at once be recognized by the rufous

edgings to the primaries and the rufous wing-coverts: otherwise it resembles C. gyrola

of Guiana rather than C. gyroloides.

In our series we have specimens which are almost entirely green, and show but faint

traces of the characters of the adult. These we take to be females or young birds; but,

judging from analogy of what we find in the allied species, most probably the latter.

6. Calliste cabanisi.

Calliste (Callispiza) sclateri, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 163+ (nec Lafresnaye).

Calliste cabanisi, Scl. Ibis, 1868, p. 71, t. 37.

“Supra viridescenti-cerulea, alis caudaque nigris ceruleo marginatis, tectricibus alarum minoribus extus

omnino ceruleis, interscapulio toto viridi, pilei plumis nigris ceruleo marginatis ; subtus pallide viridescenti-

cerulea, ventre medio albescente ; pectore nigro squamulato ; rostro et pedibus nigris, mandibula ad basin

plumbescenti. Long. tota 5:7, ale 3:4, caude 2:3.” (Sclater, ut supra.)

Hab. GuatEMALA, Costa Cuca ! (Bernoulli ?).

The single specimen in the Berlin Museum which formed the type of Dr. Cabanis’s

272 TANAGRIDA,

and Mr. Sclater’s descriptions, so far as we know, still remains unique. We have made

several attempts to obtain more specimens, and wrote to the late Dr. Bernoulli about

it, but without result. Dr. Bernoulli, in reply to our questions, said that it was he,

as Salvin supposed 2, who obtained the original specimen, but that he had never

been able to secure another.

The Costa Cuca, lying as it does on the Mexican frontier, near to Soconusco.on the

Pacific coast, is far from the haunts of the bird-hunters of Vera Paz; and it is only

through some resident in that remote district interested in birds that we may hope for

further news of this interesting species.

We have long entertained some hopes of its being found in the State of Chiapas, and

that we should hear of it through Professor Sumichrast; but, owing to the death of

that industrious naturalist, this hope, too, is gone.

As Mr. Sclater remarks, this fine large Calliste, nearly equalling in size C. brascliensis,

comes perhaps nearer to C. atricapilla than to any other species ?.

The type specimen was submitted to Mr. Sclater in 1868, when we had an opportu-

nity of examining it. A figure of it was then taken, which accompanies Mr. Sclater’s

paper.

The name C. sclateri, originally proposed for this Calliste by Dr. Cabanis, being

inadmissible, there being already a Calliste of that name proposed by Lafresnaye,

Mr. Sclater returned Dr. Cabanis’s compliment by renaming the species Cadliste cabanisi,

which will remain its future title.

7. Calliste dowi.

Calliste dowi, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 168°; 1870, p. 187°; Scl. Ibis, 1863, p. 451, t.12°; Lawr.

. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 98°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 298°.

Supra nigra, nuche et cervicis laterum plumis argentescenti-viridi terminatis, pilei margine postico ochrascente

marginato ; uropygio argentescenti-viridi ; tectricibus, supracaudalibus, alis et cauda ceruleo marginatis ;

subtus gula tota nigra, pectore antico nigro plumis singulis viridescente cinnamomeo marginatis, abdomine

toto cinnamomeo, subalaribus cinnamomeoc-albidis ; rostro nigro, mandibula ad basin pallida, pedibus cory-

linis. Long. tota 5:3, ale 2°9, caude 2, rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0-75. (Descr. exempl. typ. Costa Rica.

Mus. nostr.)

@ mari omnino similis, sed coloribus omnibus paulo obscurioribus.

Hab. Costa Rica, Rancho Redondo (J. M. Dow 12), Guadalupe ®, San Jose 45 (v. Frant-

zius), Turrialba, Navarro (Cooper *), Irazu (fogers) ; Panama, Cordillera del Chucu

(Arcé ?). |

The first specimen of this bird was given to us by Captain J. M. Dow in 1863. It

was contained in a small collection of Costa-Rican birds, which Capt. Dow had brought

from the interior of the country, and had on board his ship when Salvin passed down

the coast in the spring of that year. We have since ascertained that this collection

was made near Rancho Redondo. | |

The busy collectors of Costa Rica soon made Calliste dowt a familiar bird in our

cabinets ; and subsequently Arcé. ~vhose labours in the State of Panama have done so

CALLISTE. | 273

much to extend our knowledge of the bird-fauna of that part of the isthmus, showed us

that the range of this species extends to the Cordillera del Chucu, on the confines of

the province of Chiriqui.

Of the habits of Calliste dowi as yet we know nothing.

The nearest ally of this species appears to be C. nigriviridis, though the presence of

an occipital spot suggests an affinity to C. ruficervix of Colombia and Ecuador, and

to C. fulvicervix of Bolivia, and with all these birds it must no doubt be grouped.

C. dowi, however, has characters of its own, rendering it easily recognizable.

8. Calliste inornata.

Calliste inornata, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1855, p. 158°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 258°; Mon. Call. p. 103,

t. 45*; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 142*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 298’; Sel. &

Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 350"; 1879, p. 499”.

Supra cinerea, uropygio paulo dilutiore, alis et cauda nigricanti-fuscis, humeris lete cxruleis ; subtus pallide

cinerea, ventre albicante, subalaribus albis; rostro nigro; pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2°65,

caudee 1:9, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0-6.

@ mari omnino similis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Veraguas (Arcé), Panama city (A. H. Markham), Lion-Hill Station

(M‘Leannan® °), Turbo (Wood *+).—Cotomsia 1737,

The true status of this plainly coloured species was questioned for some time; and it

was even suggested that it might be merely the young of Calliste larvata, or the female

of that bird‘. Mr. Sclater, hesitating as to its true position, placed it at the end of his

Monograph of the genus®. Its describer, Gould, whose judgment in such matters was

seldom at fault, always stoutly maintained the plain colours of the bird were its normal

adult dress, and that its distinctness from all others was complete. ‘This view has now

been proved to be perfectly correct.

Of C. larvata we have specimens of both sexes carefully dissected, and we find that

there is hardly any appreciable difference between them. Of the young, too, of

C. larvata we have several examples in moult from their first plumage; and these, too,

differ so much from C. inornata that no question of the identity of the two birds can

be maintained fora moment. This, too, is Mr. Lawrence’s conclusion °.

Gould’s type of C. inornata was a skin from one of the ordinary trade collections from

Bogota, and in such collections specimens may occasionally, but not very commonly, be

found. It is probably in the valley of the Magdalena that these specimens are obtained,

as we know nothing of the bird from the eastern side of the Andes, and, on the other

hand, Salmon found it at Nechi in the State of Antioquia’. Passing northwards, it

was met with during Lieut. Michler’s expedition’; and at Panama it seems to be more

numerous than elsewhere, so far as our present knowledge goes. It has also been

included in Arcé’s collections, made probably in the vicinity of Calobre; but on this

point we have no exact information.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1883. 35

274 TANAGRIDA.

Of its habits little has reached us. The Messrs. Wood merely remark that they

found it in the same trees as C. franciscew (=J/arvata), of which they believed it to be

the female or young male. M‘Leannan found it breeding, the nests being placed in

low trees °.

9. Calliste larvata.

Calliste larvata, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t.9'; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 260°; Mon. Call. p. 81, t. 36°;

Cat. Am. B. p. 704; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 16°; 1860, p. 33°; P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 836";

1879, p. 499°; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 316°.

Aglaia fanny, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 72"°; Des Murs, Icon. Orn. t. 56. f. 1".

Calliste francisce, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 261%; Mon. Call. p. 83%; Cassin, Pr. ac. Phil. 1860,

p. 142“, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. pp. 298°, 332°; viii. pp. 175, 179"; ix. p. 98":

Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 350”; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p.188”; 1870, p. 187”; v. Frantz.

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 298”.

Capite colloque toto cum gula nitidissime cuprescenti-aureis ; rostri ambitu nigro ; pileo antico et capitis late-

ribus ceruleis, hujus coloris margine posteriore in viridescentem transeunte ; interscapulio, alis caudaque

cum pectore toto nigris; tectricibus alarum minoribus ceruleis, mediarum autem et majorum cum dorso

postico cyaneis ; remigibus et tectricibus aurescenti-viridi limbatis ; abdomine medio albo utrinque ceruleo,

lateribus viridescentibus ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 5:2, ale 2°8, caude 1-9, rostri a rictu 0°55,

tarsi 0°6. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala, Mus. nostr.)

@ mari omnino similis sed coloribus paulo dilutioribus. Av. hornot. inornata sed capite toto et uropygio semper

viridescente tinctis.

Hab. Mexico, Tabasco (Ghiesbreght1); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaua) ;

GuatemaLa, Yzabal ®, Choctum, Chisec (0. 8S. & &. D. G.); Honpuras, Rio Chame-

lican (Dyson 22°), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely’); Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt °),

Greytown (Holland); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius??), Angostura (Carmiol !),

Turrialba (Cooper !®, Arcé), San José (Cooper); Panama, David (Hicks ™,

Bridges 1”), Bugaba 2°, Vivala, Mina de Chorcha **, Chitra °°, Laguna del Castillo 7”,

Cordillera de Tolé 21, Calovevora ?*, Santa Fé?! (Arcé), Veraguas (Delattre !° }?),

Lion-Hill Station (fLeannan ¥ 16 °°), Paraiso Station (Hughes), Turbo (Wood 14).

—Co Lomsia § 1011,

The distinctness of the more southern Calliste francisce from the more northern

C. larvata was long urged, and we have got together a large series of skins with the

object of coming to a conclusion on this point. The result has been that, with

the growth of our series the distinctness of the two birds has diminished, until

we feel convinced that to maintain them as distinct is no longer advisable. This

much, however, must be noticed, that Guatemalan birds have as a rule a darker copper-

coloured throat than is found in birds from Panama, and in some of the latter, though

by no means all, the edgings of the greater wing-coverts is evanescent. But, looking

at the whole series of skins from all parts of the range of the species, it will be seen

that these differences are variable and, at the most, slight.

Calliste larvata was discovered in the Mexican province of Tabasco by Ghiesbreght

CALLISTE.—BUTHRAUPIS. 275

in 1841; and two specimens sent to the Brussels Museum were described, and one of

them figured, by DuBus in one of the parts of his unfinished ‘ Esquisses Ornitholo-

giques,’ published in 1846 1.

For some time subsequent to that date C. larvata remained a very rare bird, though

Dyson found it in Honduras, and specimens of his passed into the collection of the

British Museum?. In 1847 Lafresnaye described the southern bird, from specimens

obtained by Delattre, as Aglaia fanny }°, a name subsequently changed into francescw

by Mr. Sclater 18, It is not accurately known where Delattre’s specimens came from ;

but it has been said from Colombia. This may well be; for we now know, from skins

sent by Salmon from Remedios in the State of Antioquia, that C. /arvata does pass into

the South-American continent ®.

In Guatemala C. larvata is by no means a xare bird in the forest-districts of Vera

Paz up toan elevation of about 1500 feet. We here obtained several specimens in 1862,

and in the same districts our native hunters secure a considerable number. In 1859

Salvin met with it in the month of June in the forest in the outskirts of the village of

Yzabal, on the lake of the same name. ‘The birds were usually seen in the open parts

of the forest, flying about, and hopping from tree to tree in pairs. ‘Their cry was

feeble, and rather like that of some Finch °.

Throughout the rest of Central America Calliste larvata occurs in most of the suitable

localities; but it must be observed that it appears to restrict its range to the forests of

the Atlantic, or eastern side of the country, until we reach the State of Panama.

Tabasco, where it was originally discovered, seems to be the northern limit of its range,

as it has never been met with by any of the energetic collectors who have worked in

Southern Mexico.

M‘Leannan states that this species builds in a large species of prickly palm .

Note.—The following species of Calliste have been attributed to Mexico, but there is

every reason to suppose that they do not occur there :—

, Calliste mexicana (L.), now known as a Guiana species, and the name mexicana

being erroneous, the bird passes under that of C. flaviventris (Vieill.) (cf. Scl. Mon.

Call. p. 63).

Calliste arthusi, Less., Bp. Consp. i. p. 235. Mexico.

This is a purely Venezuelan species.

Calliste chrysotis, DuBus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 236. Mexico.

A species of Ecuador and Peru.

BUTHRAUPIS.

Buthraupis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 29 (1850).

Only one of the six species contained in this genus occurs within our region, where

it is restricted to the higher mountain-region of the State of Panama, never having been

35%

276 TANAGRIDZ.

seen as yet in Costa Rica or the more southern States of Colombia. The remaining

five species have all a more or less limited range. B. eawinua is found in Colombia

alone, B. chloronota and B. edwardsi in Ecuador, and B. montana in Bolivia. The

species of widest range is B. cucullata, which is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and in a

slightly modified form in Peru.

The genus Buthraupis is evidently allied to true Tanagra; but most of the species

are of a more robust build, and have a stronger and stouter bill, with the usual sub-

terminal notch very distinct; the wings are rather long, the second, third, and fourth

quills being the longest in the wing; the tarsi are stout, but the toes rather short.

The sexes are alike in coloration, in which dark blue and bright yellow are the chief

colours.

1. Buthraupis arczi.

Buthraupis arcei, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 439, t. 81°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 187 -

Supra saturate cerulea; alis caudaque nigris ceruleo extus limbatis ; subtus lete flava, capitis lateribus et gula

tota nigris, hac viridi adumbrata; tectricibus subalaribus albis flavo tinctis; rostro et pedibus nigris.

Long. tota 6-0, ale 3:5, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Cordillera del Chucu,

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Cordillera del Chucu 12, Calobre (Arcé).

This is a well-marked species of the genus Buthraupis, of which it is the smallest

member except B. edwardsi of Western Ecuador, to which it has no great resemblance

in coloration. In this respect it is more like the large B. cucullata, but the head,

instead of being black, is of the same colour as the back, and the under surface is

deeper yellow.

Buthraupis arcei is evidently a rare bird, having a very limited range. The only

specimens we have seen are those obtained by our collector Arcé, who shot the types in

the Cordillera del Chucu, and afterwards a few additional specimens in the neighbour-

hood of Calobre.

Of the habits of this bird we know nothing.

TANAGRA.

Tanagra, Linnzus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 318 (1766) ; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 231.

Three species only out of twelve or thirteen constituting this genus are found in

Mexico and Central America: of these, Zanagra abbas alone is peculiar to the region.

Of the others, 7. palmarum ranges from Costa Rica over nearly the whole of Tropical

South America, and 7. cana, with a more extensive range within our country, passes

southwards to Ecuador and Venezuela. The other species of the genus are wholly

South-American, none being found in the West-Indian Islands except Trinidad and

Tobago.

TANAGRA. 277

Lanagra has a more feeble bill than Buthraupis, the culmen rather strongly curved,

and the gonys but slightly ascending ; the nostrils are round and open, situated at the

end of the nasal fossa; the wings are long, and the tarsi short, in accordance with the

insessorial habits of all the species. In general coloration olive and blue are the chief

colours in the Central-American species; but the most brightly coloured birds are in

South America, orange and red appearing in the plumage of 7. striata.

1. Tanagra cana.

Tanagra cana, Sw. Orn. Draw. t. 37'; Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 282°; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 29°;

Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 141*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 297°; Scl. & Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 500°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 1887.

Tanagra (Aglaia) diaconus, Less. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 175°.

Tanagra diaconus, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, pp. 142°, 233", 303" ; 1859, p. 864°; 1864, p. 173”;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 16"; 1860, p. 83%; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 350°; 1870, p. 886";

Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 59; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii.

p. 175; ix. p. 99°"; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 188°; 1870, p. 187”; Ibis, 1872, p. 316” ;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 550”; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 298”.

Thraupis diaconus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 330.

Tanagra episcopus, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 116 *.

Cerulescenti-cana, dorso toto obscuriore, uropygio vix cerulescente ; alis caudaque fusco-nigris, ceeruleo limbatis,

humeris et tectricibus alarum minoribus letissime ceruleis, subalaribus albis; rostro et pedibus obscure

plumbeis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 3°4, caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 0:6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Lanquin,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari omnino similis.

Hab. Mexico (White '*), Hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast *°, le Strange), Cordova

(Sallé), Jalapa (de Oca'?); Britiso Honpuras, Belize (Leyland 18, Blanca-

neaux); GuatEMALA (Velasquez de Leon?*, Constancia’ 4), Peten (Leyland 18),

Yzabal, Cahabon, Lanquin, Choctum, Yaxcabnal, Duefias!°, Escuintla, Santa

Lucia Cosamalguapa, Retalhuleu (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras (Ldwards "),

San Pedro (G. M. Whitely 1"), Omoa (Leyland 18); Nicaracua, Realejo (Lesson §),

Chontales (Belt 4); Costa Rica (Loffmann?', v. Frantzius*°), San Jose and

Angostura (Carmiol?!), Tucurriqui (Arcé), Irazu (Rogers), Bebedero Nicoya

(Arcé), Punta Arenas (0. S.); Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges °), David (Hicks *°),

Santa Fé 22, Calovevora 23, Chitra 23 (Arcé), Lion-Hill Station (I/‘Leannan > 1),

Paraiso Station (Hughes), Turbo (Wood*).—CotomB1a?®; Ecuapor; VENEZUELA®;

TRINIDAD? and Tosago ’.

Our dissected specimens show that there is no apparent difference between the male

and female of this species as regards coloration ; but we have several examples in which

the plumage is of a greener cast, the head of nearly the same colour as the back, and

the blue of the wings duller in tint. These we take to be birds killed out of the

breeding-season, or perhaps young birds which have not yet assumed their fully coloured

plumage.

278 TANAGRIDA,

There is little difference to be traced in birds from different parts of Mexico and

Central America, and with these birds from Colombia closely agree, but in Ecuador the

blue of the wings is rather richer in tint. This is most strongly seen on comparing

an example from Belize with one from the island of Puna in the Gulf of Guayaquil.

We are inclined, however, to include all the forms under the name of Tanagra cana.

This title was bestowed by Swainson upon a bird which he figured in his ‘ Ornitholo-

gical Drawings,’ and represents the race of the northern parts of South America. The

Central-American bird was described by Lesson, from specimens obtained at Realejo

near the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, as Tanagra diaconus. The two birds were kept

separate by Mr. Sclater in his “ Synopsis Avium Tanagrarum,” published in the ‘ Pro-

ceedings of the Zoological Society ’ for 1856. The large amount of additional materials

has since led us to the conclusion that the two birds are not definitely distinct, and

in the ‘Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium ’ they were united under Swainson’s title.

As will be seen above, Tanagra cana has a wide range throughout our region, from

Southern Mexico to Panama. It is, as Sumichrast says, a bird of the low-lying hot

region, from which it ascends to a height of upwards of 3000 feet at such times as

certain fruits ripen in the mountains®. We once obtained one of these birds at Dueiias

in Guatemala at a height of nearly 5000 feet ©; but the species is seldom to be seen

so high as this.

These birds pass most of their time in fruit-trees. Salmon found them building in

orange-trees near Medellin in the Colombian State of Antioquia. The eggs are of a

rich brown, densely blotched with darker spots, especially at the larger end °.

2. Tanagra abbas.

Tanagra abbas, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2 (ef. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 57*); Sel. P.Z.S8. 1856,

pp. 235°, 303°; 1859, pp. 864°, 378°; 1864, p. 173 °; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

i. p. 5507; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 836°; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 19°;

Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 189”.

Tanagra (Aglaia) vicarius, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 206, t. 68”.

Tanagra vicarius, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 116"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 16°; Moore, P. Z. 8.

1859, p. 59“; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111”.

Pallide olivascens, capite ceruleo, gutture cerulescente ; interscapulii plumis medialiter nigris, alis et cauda

nigris, speculo alari et secundariis ad basin flavissimis ; tectricibus alarum majoribus olivaceis, minoribus

cerulescentibus ; rostro et pedibus nigro-plumbeis. Long. tota 6:8, alee 3-9, caudee 2-7, rostri a rictu 0°7,

tarsi 0-85. (Deser. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari valde similis sed coloribus paulo dilutioribus, gutture minus cerulescente. (Descr. exempl. ex Chisec,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico 4, valley of Mexico (White®), Tierra caliente of the Atlantic coast (le

Strange), hot and temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast"), Jalapa (Deppe’,

de Oca*), Cordova (Sallé28), Orizaba (Botteri?), Teotalcingo and Villa Alta

(Boucard®), Guichicovi (Sumichrast °); Brivis Honpuras, Belize (Leyland ™,

TANAGRA. 279

Blancaneaux); Guatemara (Velasquez de Leon", Constancia), Peten (Ley-

land \*), Chisec, Choctum, Coban, Cahabon, Tactic, Duefias 13, Retalhuleu and

Patio Bolas (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras (Dyson2); Omoa (Leyland 14), San

Pedro (G. M. Whitely §), Lake Yojoa (Taylor 1),

This is a purely Central-American species, allied to the South-American 7. palmarum,

the place of which it takes in Southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The first specimens sent to Europe were those of Deppe, who obtained them at

Jalapa in Mexico, and which were very briefly described by Lichtenstein in his list of

Deppe’s duplicates! Since then 7. abbas has been found in abundance in Southern

Mexico by all subsequent collectors. Sumichrast says that it is an inhabitant of both

the hot and temperate regions, its movements being determined by the ripening of the

fruits’. In Guatemala we found the same to be the case, and that its range in altitude

exceeded that of Tanagra cana, as it was frequently to be found at an elevation of

5000 feet, especially in orchards 8.

A nest found at Duefias in the month of May was a compact structure composed of

small twigs with a little wool, and lined with a few pieces of dead flag, fine roots, and

horse-hair. This is usually placed in a cypress or some thick-growing tree, in the

upper part of a branch about ten or twelve feet from the ground. The eggs, three in

number, are spotted or blotched with three shades of a reddish brown on a pale bluish-

grey ground !4,

The name Tanagra vicarius given to this bird by Lesson in 1830, in his ‘ Centurie

Zoologique,’ was based upon specimens from Mexico!™, In point of date this

description appeared close to that of Lichtenstein, but the latter has been more

generally adopted by subsequent writers.

3. Tanagra palmarum.

Tanagra palmarum, Weid, Reise n. Bras. ii. p.76!; Beitr. iii. p. 489°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 234°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297+; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 571°; 1878, p. 262 7

1879, pp. 500", 600°; v. Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 209°.

Tanagra olivascens, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 82 °°.

Tanagra melanoptera, “ Hartl.,” fide Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 235"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864,

p- 850"; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 188”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 99”; v. Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p- 298"; v. Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 209”.

Intense oleaginea, interscapulio obscuriore et ceerulescente tincto, tectricibus alarum majoribus viridescente lavatis,

capite fere concoloribus, minoribus oleagineo-cerulescentibus ; alis et cauda nigro fuscis, illis vix olivaceo-

viridi limbatis ; speculo alari et secundariis ad basin pallide olivaceis; alis et cauda plumbeo-nigris

Long. tota 6°5, ale 3°8, caude 2°9, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Paraiso Station, Panama,

Mus. nostr.)

@ mari similis, sed coloribus omnibus paulo obscurioribus.

Hab. Costa Rica, Santa Rosa, Angostura, Turrialba (v. Lrantzius', Carmiol'),

Tucurriqui (v. Frantzius 4, Arcé); Panama, Santiago de Veraguas (Arce 12), Lion-

280 TANAGRIDA.

Hill Station (M‘Leannan 1), Paraiso Station (Hughes), Obispo (O. S.).—Souta

America, from Colombia’ and Guiana to Bolivia® and Brazil 19.

Western and north-western birds of this species long passed under the name of

Tanagra melanoptera *, as in most of them the olive edging to the primaries is so indis-

tinct when compared with that of South-eastern Brazilian examples as to render the

outer half of the wing almost black. The difference is very slight at the most, and

somewhat variable in extent, and being so, we think that the more recent practice of

recognizing only a single species of this form the most correct. We notice, however,

that the black-winged birds spread over a large part of Tropical America, extending

from Guiana, the Upper Amazons, and Bolivia to Ecuador, Colombia, and Central

America as far as Costa Rica. The Brazilian bird, the true Zanagra palmarum, is almost

restricted to the south-eastern and southern parts of that empire; but Mr. Wallace’s

Para specimens are of this race rather than of the dark-winged one found in Guiana on

the northern side of the Amazons.

Mr. Bartlett © speaks of this Tanager as abundant on the upper and lower Ucayali

and in the neighbouring districts, where these birds congregate and feed in flocks.

They are active and cheerful, he adds, and have a rather shrill note. Salmon’ obtained

its nest at Remedios in Colombia: this he describes as placed in the fork of a shrub or

small tree, and formed of grass-stalks mixed with roots and fibres, and lined and orna-

mented on the outside with green moss. He says he never saw more than one egg in

a nest, though he examined many. The eggs have a pale whitish ground, and are very

thickly freckled with red-brown spots.

In Costa Rica this bird entirely takes the place of 7. abbas, but in Honduras and

northwards of this point the latter species prevails. One of the two no doubt is

found in Nicaragua, but which one remains to be noted.

RHAMPHOCCELUS.

Ramphocelus, Desmarest, Hist. Nat. d. Tangaras, p. 5 (1805) ; Scl. P.Z. S. 1856, p. 127.

- Ramphopis, Vieill. Anal. p. 82 (1816).

We are acquainted with about twelve species of this purely Neotropical genus, five

of which appear in our fauna. Of these two, Rhamphocelus passerinii and R. uro-

pygialis ave peculiar to it. £. icteronotus and R. dimidiatus are species of North-

western South America, and only enter our limits in the State of Panama, and

i. luciani of the same State passes southwards into Eastern Peru. The widely ranging

* This name is attributed by Mr. Sclater to Dr. Hartlaub, and the reference given to the ‘ Revue Zoologique,’

but without year or page. We have never succeeded in finding this description. The name, however, is

sufficiently defined by Mr. Sclater in the P. Z. 8. for 1856, p. 235.

RHAMPHOCLUS. 281

and most characteristic species of the genus, R. jacapa, is not a member of our bird-

fauna.

All the species are inhabitants of the hottest forests, on the outskirts of which they

live. In Guatemala R. passerinii occurs only in such places, and hardly extends its

range into the mountains above 1200 to 1500 feet.

The bill of Rhamphoceelus is its chief peculiarity, the base of the mandible on either

side being swollen in a peculiar way so as to project conspicuously beyond the plumage ;

the nasal feathers project forwards so as almost to cover the nostrils; these are open

and situated at the end of the fossa. The plumage generally is very soft, and scarlet

of various shades enters largely intoits coloration. This, in the case of R. icteronotus,

is replaced by clear yellow. The wings are short and rounded, the fourth primary

being slightly the longest. The tail is rounded, and the tarsi and feet rather feeble.

1. Rhamphocelus passerinii. (Tab. XVIII. fig. 1.)

Ramphocelus passerinii, Bp. Antologia, 1831, no. 130, p. 3°; Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, pp. 1807, 142°;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 16*; 1860, p. 32°; P.Z.S. 1867, p. 278°; 1870, p. 8367;

Moore, P. Z.S. 1859, p. 59°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii.

pp. 175°, 179"; ix. p. 99”; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 299%; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870,

p- 187 “; Ibis, 1872, p. 316”.

Ramphopis flammigerus, Baird, Stansbury’s Exp. to Gt. Salt Lake, App. p. 36".

Velutino-niger, dorso toto postico rubro-coccineo, plumis hujus partis ad basin albis ; rostro plumbeo ; pedibus

obscure fuscis. Long. tota 6°5, ale 3-1, caude 2°9, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0-9.

@ flavo-brunneo olivascens, dorso postico brunnescenti-flavo, capite undique et gula fuscis ; alis intus et cauda

nigricantibus. (Descr. maris et femine ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. British Honpuras, Belize river (0. S.), Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GuatTEMALA, Choc-

tum, Yzabal 45 (0. S.& F. D. G.), Cahabon (Skinner *), Tucuru (Sarg); Honpuras,

Atlantic coast (Taylor®), Omoa (Leyland *), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely");

Nicaragua, Mosquito coast (Wickham®), Chontales (elt 15), Greytown (Holland "");

Costa Rica, Angostura and San Carlos (v. Mrantzius }°, Carmiol }*), Navarro (v.

Frantzius '°, Cooper), Orosi, Sarapiqui, Tucurriqui (v. Mrantzius!%), Barranca

(Arcé); Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges*), David (Hicks 1°), Volcan de Chiriqui,

Bugaba "4, Vivala, Mina de Chorcha ! (Arcé).

The original specimens of this Rhamphocelus described by Bonaparte were supposed

to have come either from Mexico or Cuba’, but it is now known that neither country

can claim it as an inhabitant. In the tropical forests of Eastern Guatemala it is

common, and we have traced it northwards to the Belize river in British Honduras,

which seems to be nearly its extreme northern limit. In the forest country north of

Coban in Vera Paz and thence to the shores of the lake of Yzabal R. passerinit is

abundant, and no bird shows to such advantage as the male as he flies in the openings

of the forest, the brilliant scarlet of his back being a most conspicuous object. We

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1883. 36

282 TANAGRIDA.

several times found it abundant in the outskirts of the forest near Yzabal, some patches of

one of the more slender species of bamboo being its favourite resort. . passerinii is

quite unknown from the western forests of Guatemala, which stretch to the shores of the

Pacific. In Costa Rica v. Frantzius also considers it an inhabitant of the eastern forests,

where he describes it as common !*; we have, however, specimens from our collector

Arcé, which were from La Barranca on the western slope of the mountain-range. In

the neighbourhood of Chiriqui it has long been known to occur on the Pacific side of

the Cordillera. Chiriqui seems to be the extreme limit of its range in this direction,

for at Santiago de Veraguas, and thence to western South America, f. tcteronotus

entirely takes its place, the two birds never apparently being found in the same

district.

2. Rhamphocelus icteronotus.

Ramphocelus icteronotus, Bp. P. Z. 8S. 1837, p. 121°; Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 8°; DuBus, Esq. Orn.

t.15°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 181°; 1859, p. 189°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 141°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 2977; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 350°; 1879, p. 501°;

Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 189; Tacz. P. Z. 8S. 1877, p. 332”.

Ramphocelus varians, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 216”.

Velutino-niger, dorso toto postico letissime flavo ; rostro plumbeo; pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 6-5, ale

3°2, caude 2°9, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0-9.

feminse ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Santiago de Veraguas (Arcé}), Lion-Hill Station (I/‘Leannan? 8),

Paraiso Station (Hughes), Turbo and the rivers Atrato and Truando (Wood *).—

CotomBiaA 9; Ecuapor?®>; Perv 2.

This beautiful species, which has no near ally in its genus, belongs to the forest-

region of Peru and Ecuador west of the Andes, and thence passes northward through

the lower part of the Cauca Valley in Colombia and into the isthmus of Panama to

the province of Veraguas, beyond which it has not been found, Rhamphocelus passerinii

taking its place in Chiriqui and in the rest of Central America.

Rhamphocelus icteronotus was first briefly described by Bonaparte in the ‘ Proceedings

of the Zoological Society’ for 18371, and subsequently more at length in the ‘Revue

Zoologique’ (1838). Some eight or nine years afterwards DuBus gave drawings of it

in his ‘ Esquisses Ornithologiques’ from specimens obtained near Guayaquil in Ecuador 3,

in the western part of which Republic Fraser also met with it near Pallatanga and

other places, where he says it is commonly seen on orange-trees®. It has also been

obtained at other points on the west coast of Colombia, at San Buenaventura by

Delattre*, and at Choco Bay by Capt. Kellett*. Salmon, who found it at Remedios

and Nechi in the State of Antioquia *, obtained its nest, which he describes as made of

small twigs, moss, and dead leaves, lined with fibrous roots, and placed in low bushes,

RHAMPHOCGLUS, 283

orange-trees, &c. He adds that the nests vary much in appearance, some being plain,

clumsy structures, others being prettily ornamented with leaves and lichens. The

eggs are similar to those of 2. fammigerus, but smaller, pale greenish-blue, sparsely

spotted with large dark brown spots and blotches®. Wood found it abundant on the

Rio Truando, always frequenting a particular kind of tree which grew along the banks

of the streams, on the fruit of which it fed °.

8. Rhamphocelus dimidiatus.

Ramphocelus dimidiatus, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1837, cl. ii. t. 81°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, pp. 129’, 142°;

1858, p. 73 *; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p.141°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p.331°; viii.

p- 175"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 350°; 1868, p. 627°; 1879, p.501°; Salv. P. Z.S.

1867, p. 1388"; 1870, p. 187"; Cat. Strick]. Coll. p. 191"; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 326".

Capite, dorso antico, tectricibus alarum minoribus et gutture obscure coccineis, plumis ad basin nigricantibus ;

dorso postico, pectore et hypochondriis coccineis, pennis medialiter albis ; abdomine medio, tibiis, alis et

cauda nigricantibus ; rostro plumbeo ; pedibus nigricanti-plumbeis. Long. tota 6°5, ale 3:1, caude 3:1,

rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 0°9.

2 marisimilis, sed multo obscurior, capite toto et gula fuscescentioribus, abdomine toto sordide coccineo. (Descr.

maris et femine ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaraeva ? (Delattre?); Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges *), David (Hicks"), Mina de

Chorcha !2, Castillo 12, Chitra 12, Cordillera del Chucu 1", Calovevora 12, Santa Fé 1!

(Arcé), Lion Hill (M‘Leannan®’), Paraiso Station (Hughes), Panama (A. H.

« Markham), Turbo (Wood *).—Cotomsia 1? 1°14; Ecuapor?4; VENEZUELA ®.

The range of this species is a little more extensive in Central America than that

of Rhamphocelus icteronotus, as it is found abundantly at Chiriqui, where R. passerinii

occurs in place of R. icteronotus. It has been recorded from Nicaragua ? on Delattre’s

authority, but this statement has not been confirmed by subsequent travellers; still

less that of Lafresnaye that the bird occurs in Mexico!*. As it is absent from Costa

Rica, it seems probable that it has no such further extension of its range.

In South America it is confined to the north-western part of the continent,

occurring near Santa Marta and Cartagena’ and also in the State of Antioquia as

well as in Western Venezuela. Two specimens in the Strickland Collection at Cam-

bridge are of the usual make-up of the trade skins of Bogota 1°, but we have not

seen others from this source. It has been recorded from the valley of the Napo

in Ecuador, as a female specimen is thus named in Mr. Sclater’s list of the birds of

that region published in 18584. We have of late years received very extensive

collections from Eastern Ecuador, but in none have we found specimens of R. dimi-

diatus ; so that we think it possible that the bird so named may have been a female

example of F. luctani, which occurs in Peru, as will be seen below.

Salmon obtained the nest of &. dimidiatus in Antioquia, which he says is placed in

low bushes, and is composed of small twigs, dead leaves, moss, and lichens. The eggs

36*

284 TANAGRIDZ.

are pale greenish blue, spotted and streaked with large spots and fine lines of dark

brown!®, Mr. Wyatt also obtained the nest and eggs of this Tanager, and his

description of them agrees in the main with that of Salmon. Wood, who observed it

at Turbo in the isthmus of Darien, says that it is abundant in April in the bushes

and low trees in the drier parts of the forest. He adds that it is solitary, but con-

stantly seen, and heard only to utter a single chirp>. Of its habits in Central America

nothing has been recorded.

4, Rhamphocelus luciani.

Ramphocelus luciani, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 54’; Mag. Zool. 1839, Ois. t. 27; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856,

p. 180°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 831%.

Ramphopis melanogaster, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 359° ?.

Similis 2. dimidiato sed dorso antico et tectricibus alarum minoribus multo nigricantioribus, capite quoque

obscuriore coccineo, differt.

9 afemina R. dimidiati eodem modo differt loris et genis rubidioribus. (Descr. maris et feminw ex Peruvia

orientali. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (Jf*Leannan *)—Conomsia ? ; Perv.

Of this species, which seems quite distinct from R. dimidiatus, we know but little.

It was originally described by Lafresnaye from specimens in his collection obtained near

Cartagena in Colombia?; and these were the only ones Mr. Sclater had seen when

writing his synopsis of Tanagers in 1856.

In 1861 Mr. Lawrence described two specimens of this species sent him by M‘Leannan

from Panama, and these Salvin had an opportunity of examining in 1874, and of

satisfying himself of the correctness of Mr. Lawrence’s determination.

We ourselves have never obtained Central-American examples, but in 1869 we

secured two from a small collection formed by Mr. Farris in Eastern Peru, and these

we have described above. As the type of Swainson’s Ramphopis melanogaster ® also

came from Peru, we think it more probably belongs to this species than to R. dimidiatus,

with which it has usually been placed.

Though like &. dimidiatus in the distribution of its colours, the darker back and

wing-coverts as well as the darker head render F. luciani not difficult to distinguish.

5. Rhamphocelus uropygialis. (Tab. XVIII. fig. 2.)

Ramphocelus uropygialis, Bp. Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 178’; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 130°.

Ramphocelus affinis, Less. Rev. Zool. 1840, pp. 1°, 1834?

Velutino-niger, dorso medio coccineo tincto ; cervice et pectore antico obscure coccineis, pennis ad basin nigris ;

uropygio, hypochondriis et crisso vivide coccineis, ventre medio et tibiis nigerrimis ; rostro nigro, mandibule

basi argentescenti-plumbea ; pedibus nigris. Long tota 6-8, ale 3:3, caude 3:1. (Descr. exempl. typ.

ex Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. GUATEMALA (fide Bonaparte ').

It is singular that the type specimen still remains the only accessible one of this

RHAMPHOCGLUS.—PHLOGOTHRAUPIS. 285

species. Salvin once found in a collection of Guatemalan birds what he believed

to be a second example of this bird, but it was not to be obtained, and has since

passed out of sight. a

We are quite ignorant to what part of Guatemala this fine species belongs, and the

fact of its not occurring in the large collections made in that country shows that it,

like Calliste cabanisi, must inhabit a limited district seldom if ever visited by native

collectors.

Lesson’s name, 2. affinis, may belong to this species. The habitat of this bird was

first stated to be Mexico 3, but afterwards Colombia‘.

The species is a very distinct one, as the figure now given of the type, in Mr. Sclater’s

collection, will show.

Notzt.—Rhamphocelus nigrigularis of the region of the upper Amazons has been

mentioned by Bonaparte (Consp. Av. i. p. 242) as occurring in Mexico, an obvious

error.

PHLOGOTHRAUPIS.

Phlogothraupis, Sclater & Salvin, Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 155 (1873). (Type Tanagra sanguino-

lenta, Lesson.)

The single species contained in this genus was for a long time placed in Rhampho-

celus, with which it has much in common. The structure of the bill, however,

walrants its separation, as it has none of the peculiar swelling towards the base of the

mandible, which is so marked a feature in Rhamphocelus. 'The sexes, too, in Phlogo-

thraupis are coloured exactly alike, and this is not so in the allied genus.

The range of P. sanguinolenta, as will be seen below, is restricted to Central America

and Southern Mexico. The form is, however, absent from the State of Panama.

1. Phlogothraupis sanguinolenta.

Tanagra (Tachyphonus) sanguinolentus, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 107, t. 39°.

Ramphocelus sanguinolentus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, pp. 132, 303°; 1859, pp. 864°, 377°; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 16°; P.Z. S. 1867, p. 2787; 1870, p. 836°; Moore, P. Z.S. 1859, p. 59°;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 99";

v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 299”; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 316”.

Phlogothraupis sanguinolenta, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotrop. p. 15

M14

Velutino-nigra, pileo postico cum torque cervicali et pectore conjunctis necnon tectricibus subalaribus, crisso et

uropygio coccineis ; rostro plumbescenti-albo ; pedibus nigricanti-fuscis. Long. tota 7:2, ale 3-5, caudee

3:3, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°8.

Q mari omnino similis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico1, hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast', le Strange), Valle Real

(Deppe), Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca‘), Playa Vicente (Boucard*); Britiso

Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneauxr), Belize river (0. S. & &. D. G.); Guaremana,

Peten (Leyland), Coban (Delattre?), Achil near Coban, Choctum, Cahabon,

Yzabal (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Hoypuras, Chamelican river (Dyson? ®), San Pedro

286 TANAGRIDA.

(G. Wf. Whitely®), Omoa (Leyland®); Nicaracua, Mosquito coast (Wickham’),

Chontales (Belt 18); Costa Rica, Orosi, San Carlos, Sarapiqui (v. Frantzius !),

Navarro (Cooper 1+), Angostura (Carmiol 14), Tucurriqui (Arcé).

This beautiful species is restricted in its range to the hot low-lying forests of the

eastern side of the Cordillera from Southern Mexico to Costa Rica. Occasionally,

Sumichrast tells us **, it ascends the mountains to an elevation of nearly 4000 feet, in the

State of Vera Cruz; and we ourselves observed it in the forest-country north of Coban

in Vera Paz, at a height of between 3000 and 4000 feet. At Choctum, however, we

found it more numerous than elsewhere, a forest-region lying at an elevation of about

1200 feet. Here it frequented the openings in the forest and the sides of rivers and

streams, keeping to the lower branches of trees and shrubs rather than to the

tree-tops.

Southwards of Guatemala we have traced this species through Honduras and Nica-

ragua to Costa Rica, but always on the eastern side of the mountains. It is thus a

species peculiar to our region.

The sexes of P. sanguinolenta are coloured exactly alike; in Rhamphocelus the

female is always a much duller coloured bird, and not unfrequently very different from

the male.

PYRANGA.

Pyranga, Vieillot, Anal. p. 32 (1816) (type Tanagra rubra, Linn.) ; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 123.

Phenisoma, Sw. Classif. B. ii. p. 284 (1837).

Sixteen species are now included in this genus, of which no less than ten are found

within our limits. Four of these are migratory birds, which spend the summer in North

America and pass their winter in Mexico and Central America, some of them travelling

far beyond into the southern continent. P. hepatica, a species of southern type, is also a

bird of Mexico which passes the frontier of the United States. The peculiar species of

our territory are—P. erythrocephala of the highlands of Southern Mexico, P. roseigularis

of Northern Yucatan, P. figlina of British Honduras, and P. erythromelena and P.

bidentata, both of which enjoy a wide range from Mexico to Panama, but do not pass

southwards beyond our limits. Only one southern species, P. testacea, extends its

range into Central America, as far as Nicaragua.

Of the five remaining species, two, viz. P. hemalea and P. saira, are close relations

of P. testacea in Guiana and Brazil respectively. P. azare of Paraguay and Bolivia is

closely allied to P. hepatica. P. ardens is a southern form, in northern and north-

western South America, of P. erythromelena; and P. rubriceps, the only well-marked

species of Pyranga in South America, is found just beyond our border in Colombia.

Thus it will be seen that, though one of the most widely distributed genera of Tanagers,

its focus is Mexico and Central America. At the same time, it is the only genus of

Tanagers found in North America, where, however, four of the five species are strictly

migratory birds.

PYRANGA. 287

The genus Pyranga is usually made to include several rather diverse forms, but these

are perhaps scarcely separable. P. erythromelena and P. erythrocephala are most

aberrant, and we are not sure that they have not a closer relationship to one another

than is here admitted, the form of the bill being very similar in both birds.

The notch or dentate process on the middle of the cutting-edge of the mandible is a

variable feature in this genus, and, though of value in a specific sense, hardly serves to

group the different species.

The bill in Pyranga is stout, subconical, the culmen more or less depressed, and the

cutting-edge of the mandible rather strongly curved in P. erythromelena and its allies,

less so in P. rubra; there is nearly always a projection like a tooth in the middle. In

P. estiva the edge is simple, but a slight wave in the curve sometimes shows where it

is present in other species. In P. bidentata, P. hepatica, and P. testacea it is most

developed, and in some there is an indication of a second projection on the proximal

side of the large one.

The wings of Pyranga are well developed and (especially in the migratory species)

rather long, the second primary being usually the longest, but the first, second, and

third are nearly equal. InP. roseiqularis the primaries are short and the wing rounded,

the second, third, and fourth quills being nearly equal. The tail is of moderate length,

nearly square at the end or but slightly forked. ‘The tarsi and toes are of moderate

size and suitable for birds of arboreal habits, which all the species of Pyranga have.

A. Ale haud fasciate.

a. Ale ngre.

1. Pyranga rubra. a

Tanagra rubra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 3143.

Pyranga rubra, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 235°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 123°; 1858, p. 73°; Jones, Nat.

Berm. p. 381°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 350°; 1879, pp. 501", 601°; Dresser, Ibis,

1865, p. 479°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 331°; ix. p.99"; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 299"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550"; Salv. P.Z.S. 1870, p. 187";

Ibis, 1872, p. 316; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 485°; Tacz. P. Z. 8. 1874,

p. 514"; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 73”.

Coccinea, alis caudaque nigris, subalaribus albis; rostro pallide corneo (ave vivo viridi!) ad basin obscuriore ;

pedibus obscure corylinis (ave vivo obscure ceruleis). Long. tota 6°3, ale 3-8, caude 2-7, rostri a rictu

0-8, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

@ olivacea, subtus flavicans, alis et cauda fuscis. (Descr. femine ex Washington Smiths. Inst., no. 28342.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America, eastern Province 16, Texas ®, Bermuda ®.—Mexico (Bullock),

State of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast 1°); Guatemata, Vera Paz (Mus. nostr.) ; Nica-

ragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, San Jose (v. Frantzius | 1"), Irazu (Rogers) ;

Panama, Calovevora (Arcé 14), Lion Hill (U‘Leannan® !°).—Cotomsia?’ ; Ecuapor? ;

Perv 27; Bourvia®; ANTILLES, Cuba 18, Jamaica 2.

288 TANAGRIDA.

Sumichrast includes this species as one of the three migratory Tanagers of the State

of Vera Cruz}%, and Mr. Sclater gives it a Mexican habitat on the authority of

Bullock *#; but we have no evidence of our own to bring forward as to its occurrence in

that country. In Yucatan, however, Mr. Gaumer says it is common near the town of

Merida. In Guatemala it must be considered a very rare bird, for we never met with

it ourselves, and only since our return did we find a specimen of a young male in a col-

lection made in Vera Paz.

As we pass further south it has been more frequently noticed, and we have speci-

mens taken at various points, from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and thence

southwards as far as Bolivia.

The line of migration of this species conforms to a great extent with that of several

species of the eastern portion of the United States. It is merely recorded from Mexico

and Guatemala, becomes common in the southern parts of the great isthmus, and thence

passes into western South America. A very similar line is taken by Turdus alicia,

Helminthotherus vermivorus, and Geothlypis philadelphia.

In North America Pyranga rubra is a familiar summer bird in the eastern province,

as far north as Winnipeg and westwards to Texas®. It builds late in May or early in

June, making its nest in the horizontal branch of a forest-tree or occasionally in an

orchard. ‘The nest is nearly flat, with but a slight depression in the middle. Its base

is loosely constructed of coarse stems of vegetables, strips of bark, and rootlets ; upon

this is wrought a neater framework, within which is a lining of long slender fibrous

roots, mingled with stems of plants and a few strips of fine inner bark. The eges vary

from greenish blue to dull white. The spots vary in size and are more or less con-

fluent, and are chiefly of a reddish or rufous-brown intermingled with a few spots of a

brownish and obscure purple 1°,

Concerning the changes of plumage of this species, Brewer remarks !° that “ early in

August the male begins to moult, and, in the course of a few days, dressed in the

greenish livery of the female, he is not distinguishable from her or his young

family. In this humble garb they leave us, and do not resume their summer plumage

till just as they are re-entering our southern borders, when they may be seen in various

stages of transformation.” Unfortunately most of our southern specimens are without

record of when they were shot; but three of our Central-American examples are young

males in various stages of change, one from Calovevora being in almost full plumage.

Our Bolivian example is also in change of feather; but all the rest of our specimens

are adult males in their full red feathering, and one of them, from Remedios in Colombia,

was shot, according to Salmon’s note, in September 1878. According to Brewer we

ought not to find birds in breeding dress south of the United States at all, still less in

September !

In Cuba Dr. Gundlach found Pyranga rubra under precisely similar circumstances to

PYRANGA. 289

P. estiva, that is on passage in autumn and spring but not during the winter. In

Jamaica it is supposed to have been introduced, but its occurrence in the island in a

wild state is extremely probable. Several specimens were obtained in Bermuda in

April 1850 °.

b. Ale extus rufescentes.

2. Pyranga estiva.

Tanagra estiva, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 889*; Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2 (J. f. Orn. 1863,

p- 56)”.

Pyranga estiva, Bp. P.Z.S. 1837, p. 116°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, pp. 123%, 142°, 803°; 1859,

pp. 8647, 377°; 1860, p. 293°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 11"; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 15"; P.Z.S. 1864, p. 350"; 1870, p. 8836"; 1879, p. 502"; Jones, Nat.

Berm. p. 81”; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 140; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111; Lawr.

Ann. Lye. N.Y. vii. p. 297; viii. p. 175%; ix. p. 99°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4,

p- 19”; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 479”; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550”;

Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 326; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 441°; Salv. P. Z.S.

1867, p. 189*; 1870, p. 187%; Ibis, 1872, p. 316™; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 191; Gundl.

Orn. Cub. p. 72°; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 200”; 1880, p. 121°; Boucard, P. Z. 8.

1883, p. 443°.

Phenisoma estiva, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 329”.

Pyranga livida, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. 1. p. 438 *.

Rosaceo-coccinea, dorso toto, alis extus et cauda paulo obscurioribus, rostro pallide corneo, tomiis et apice albi-

cantibus; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6°5, ale 3°6, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0°7. (Deser.

maris ex Duefas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

@ olivacea subtus flavescens, pectore et hypochondriis obscurioribus. (Descr. femin ex Rio Dulce, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norra America, Eastern Province >, Texas 2, Bermuda .—Mexico, Rio Nasas,

Nuevo Leon (Couch !°), Real del Monte (Bullock *>), Yuantepec (Deppe *), Tierra

Caliente and Templada (le Strange), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 7°), Cordova

(Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca’), Playa Vicente (Boucard*), Chihuitan and Santa

Efigenia (Swmichrast *1), Valladolid in Yucatan ( Gaumer °°) ; GuateMALa (Velasquez

de Leon*, Constancia 2°), Rio Dulce !!, Yzabal !!, Quirigua!!, and road to Guate-

mala", Iguana, Duefias!!, Savana Grande, Volcan de Agua, Retalhuleu, San

Gerénimo, Tactic, Coban, Choctum (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro

(G. M. Whitely 1°), Comayagua (Taylor 1") ; Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt *°) ; Costa

Rica (v. Frantzius, Hoffmann **), Turrialba, Atirro, Grecia, San José, Santa Rosa,

Angostura (Carmiol), San Mateo, Navarro (Cooper), Irazu (Rogers), Nicoya (Arcé) ;

Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges *), David (Hicks !), Volcan de Chiriqui, Vivala, Boquete

de Chitra ?’, Chitra °’7, Cordillera del Chucu 7’, Calovevora?’, Santa Fé 7° (Arcé),

Lion Hill (M‘Leannan ® 18), Chepo (Arcé), Turbo ( Wood !°).—Cotomsra 14 24 31 82 ;

Ecuapor 2; Peru 25; Guiana; ANTILLES, Cuba °°.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1883. 37

290 TANAGRIDZ.

The Summer Redbird, as this species is called in North America, is one of the most

familiar of the Tanagers of that continent, where it arrives from its winter quarters in

April and leaves again in September, breeding in the interval in most of the Southern

States, and as far north as Washington, beyond which it can only be accounted a

strageler. Westwards it is common in the valley of the Mississippi, and thence extends

to the border of the plains?4. In winter it spreads over eastern and southern Mexico,

and thence over the whole of Central America, and passes southwards through Colombia

and Ecuador to Peru, keeping chiefly to the slopes of the Andes. We have a single

female specimen from Roraima in Guiana, shot by Mr. H. Whitely in January 1881 ;

but this is all we know of the bird so far to the eastward in the southern continent,

though Buckley obtained it at Sarayacu in Eastern Ecuador; and the National Museum

at Washington has it from the sources of the Huallaga in Peru *.

As will be seen from our list of localities given above, Pyranga estiva is a very

common bird in Guatemala, where it is found nearly everywhere, from the sea-level to

a height of about 5000 feet. It is an inhabitant of the more open country rather than

the forests, but may be seen on the edges of clearings and open places of the kind; the

brilliant plumage of the male rendering it a most conspicuous bird. In Cuba Dr.

Gundlach notices the appearance of P. estiva during the spring and autumn migrations

and its absence from the island in the winter. During its stay it is usually seen in

flocks feeding upon the fruit of certain trees 2°.

The authors of the ‘ History of the North-American Birds’ speak of the Central

American and Colombian birds being purer in colour than those from the States; but,

with a large series before us, we fuil to trace any law of this kind, and we take it the

southern birds are but the northern ones in their winter quarters, and that any difference

of colour must be due to season alone.

Brewer describes a nest from Louisiana as having a diameter of four inches and a depth

of two inches, the cavity shallow, being hardly more than half aninch. ‘The structure is

well and strongly put together, though somewhat openly woven; the materials are

fragments of plants, catkins, leaves, stems, and grasses; the inner portion is of fine dry

grasses, which are more elaborately woven than the outer structure. The eggs are

bright light emerald-green, spotted, marbled, dotted and blotched with various shades

of lilac, brownish-purple, and dark brown, which are equally diffused over the whole

ege 24,

Several specimens of this Tanager were obtained in Bermuda in April 1850 ©.

3. Pyranga cooperi.

Pyranga cooperi, Ridgw. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1869, p. 130°.

Pyranga estiva, var. cooperi, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.1. p. 444°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. ii. p. 278°.

Pyranga estiva, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, i. p. 338 *.

PYRANGA. 291

P. estive similis sed major et rostro longiore, capite, crisso et corpore subtus clarioribus distinguenda. Long.

tota 8-0, alee 4-2, caudee 3:5, rostri a rictu 1-0. (Descr. maris ex Los Pinos, New Mexico. Mus. Nat. U.S.)

Femina quoque multo magis flavescens differt.

Hab. Norra America, Upper Rio Grande and Colorado region ?.—Mexico, Mazatlan

(Grayson 134), Presidio near Mazatlan (Forrer), Colima 2.

With the aid of the types of this bird before us, kindly lent us by the authorities

of the United States National Museum, we have no difficulty in recognizing it as

distinct from P. estiva, the characters having been carefully drawn by Mr. Ridgway

when first describing it}.

The range of P. cooperi appears to be very limited. Dr. Cooper found it abundant

near Fort Mohave in the Colorado valley, and Dr. Coues at Los Pinos in New Mexico.

Thence it has been traced southward to Mazatlan ?4, whence we have a fully adult

male from Mr. Forrer. The most southern point of its range mentioned by Brewer is

Colima, but on whose authority is not stated?. |

Grayson says it makes its appearance at Mazatlan during the winter months, and he

saw it late in the spring, but not in summer; but it was not common °.

4, Pyranga hepatica.

Pyranga hepatica, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 488°; Scl. P.Z. 8S. 1856, p. 124°; 1857, p. 213°;

1858, p. 803 *; 1859, PP. 364°, 377°; 1864, p. 173"; Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 302, t. 31°;

Scl. & Salv. 1859, p. 15°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 549"; Ridgw. Pr. Ac.

Phil. 1869, p. 182”; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 274°; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 19"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 440”;

Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 192 °°.

Pheenicosoma hepatica, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 25".

Pyranga azare, Woodh. in Sitgreave’s Expl. Zuni, p. 82° (nec d’Orb.).

Tanagra dentata, Licht. Mus. Berol. (fide Cabanis) ”.

Supra cinerascenti-rubra, capite summo et uropygio rufescentioribus, genis dorso concoloribus, alis et cauda

fuscis, illis intus rosaceo-albis extus rubro limbatis ; subtus coccinea, hypochondriis fuscescentibus ; rostro

nigricanti plumbeo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 4:0, caude 3:2, rostri a rictu 0-8, tarsi 0-9.

(Descr. maris ex Villa Alta, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

2 olivacea, pileo flavescentiore, superciliis indistinctis et corpore subtus medialiter flavis, hypochondriis olivaceis.

(Descr. feminz ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, New Mexico §15 18, Arizona.— Mexico, Real del Monte (Bullock'),

Guanajuato (Dugés 1+), valley of Mexico (White"), Sierra Madre (Grayson 12), hot,

temperate, and alpine regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast), Jalapa!’ (de Oca),

Orizaba (Botteri??), La Parada‘, Talea®, Villa Alta®, Choapam ° (Bowcard),

Guichicovi and Gineta Mountains (Sumichrast'®); Guatemaa (Constancia 16,

Skinner °).

This species was one of Bullock’s discoveries described by Swainson in 1827, in his well-

known paper !. From Real del Monte, where it was found, it has been traced through-

37* |

292 TANAGRIDA.

out Mexico northwards beyond the frontier into New Mexico and Arizona, and south-

wards into Guatemala. In the latter country, however, it is either a very local or a

very rare bird, as we never obtained specimens ourselves, and the only one we possess

has no precise locality attached to it, nor yet has one in the Strickland Collection at

Cambridge received from Constancia 1°.

In Mexico, Sumichrast speaks of it as one of the most widely distributed of the

‘Tanagers, being found from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to a height of nearly

10,000 feet above the sea. Grayson found P. hepatica quite common in the Sierra

Madre between Mazatlan and Durango in December, but he never met with it in the

Tierra Caliente proper. It seemed to him a mountain species '.

P. hepatica may be distinguished from the other red Pyrange except P. azare of

Bolivia, Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic, by the grey tint of the back. Like

P. testacea it has the prominent notch in the middle of the edge of the maxilla on

either side, but that species has a rich brick-red back without any admixture of grey.

From P. azare the difference is slight and consists chiefly in the cheeks being greyish

like the back, instead of red. The colour of the wings beneath, too, is whiter instead

of being rosy. These differences are very slight, and were the birds found in contiguous

areas, the propriety of separating them might well be questioned ; but divided as they

are by several thousand miles, these small distinctions acquire a greater value.

5. Pyranga testacea. (Tab. XIX. figg. 14,22.)

Pyranga testacea, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8.1868, p. 388+; P. Z.S. 1879, p. 502°; Ridgw. Pr. Ac. Phil.

1869, p. 183°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 187*; Zeledon, Cat. Aves, Costa Rica, p. 7°.

Testaceo-rubra unicolor, subtus clarior ; loris obscure cinereis, alis fuscis intus rosaceis extus dorsi colore

limbatis, cauda rufo-fusca; rostro nigricanti-corneo dente maxillari distincto, pedibus obscure corylinis.

Long. tota 7:0, alee 3°6, caude 3:1, rostri a rictu 0°9, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris ex Chitra, Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

feminz ex Calovevora, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt); Cosra Rica (Van Patten, Zeledon*), Angostura °°;

Panama, Chitra! 4, Boquete de Chitra 4, Calovevora!4, Santa Fé? (Arcé).—Co-

LOMBIA?; Ecuapor; Bo.ivia.

The first specimen we received of this species, a male in transition plumage, was

referred to Pyranga hepatica’. The subsequent receipt of adult birds of both sexes

at once showed its distinctness from that species. The upper back is of a rich

brick-red colour without any admixture of grey. The red of the under surface is also

of a much deeper tint than in P. hepatica. In the female there is no grey shade on

the back, and no yellow on the forehead and lores as in the allied species.

Described originally from the State of Panama, P. testacea has now been traced

southwards to Bolivia. Bolivian and Ecuadorian examples are of a rather brighter

shade, but hardly to be distinguished on that account.

PYRANGA. 293

P.azare of Bolivia and Paraguay is more nearly related to P. hepatica than to

P. testacea, having the middle of the back tinged with grey. But the bird really

most nearly allied to the present one is that recently described by us from British

Guiana as P. hemalea, which, however, is of a still deeper almost vinous red, and

the throat and middle abdomen are lighter, and contrast with the chest and flanks.

The distinctions between all these birds are no doubt slight, but the lines dividing

the species are not drawn so closely as in the allied genus Phenicothraupis, and division

brings out more plainly the peculiarities of their geographical distribution.

Of the habits of this species we know but little, but it seems to frequent the lower

ranges of mountainous regions.

The Plate represents a male and female from the State of Panama, types of the

original description.

6. Pyranga figlina, sp. n.

Pyranga hepatica, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 189" (nec Sw.).

Pyranga saira var. testacea, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 434? (nec Sel. & Salv.).

P. testacee similis, sed colore rubro omnino sordidiore, tectricibus auricularibus fuscis. (Descr. maris ex Manati

river, British Honduras. U.S. Nat. Mus. 74693.)

2 quoque femina P. testacee sordidior, abdomine imo vix flavescente. (Descr. feminz ex Poctun, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. British Hoypuras, Manati river (Dr. Berendt); GuaTemaa, pine-ridge of Poctun

(O. 8S. & F. D. G.4),

Mr. Ridgway has kindly sent us an adult male of this Pyranga, which, on comparison

with our series of P. testacea, presents differences which render its separation necessary.

A female long in our collection, and supposed to belong to P. hepatica 1, we now place

here, it being evidently a female of the British-Honduras bird.

The red colour of the plumage in P. figlina is not nearly so bright as in P. testacea,

having a browner tint; the female, too, is a much duller-coloured bird. Both have

brownish ear-coverts, a character of P. hepatica, from which, however, this bird differs

in the coloration of the back.

7. Pyranga roseigularis.

Pyranga roseigularis, Cabot, Bost. Journ. N. H. v. p. 4161; Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 67; Ibis, 1873,

p. 125. t. 3°; Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Ac. Se. ii. p. 2454; Boucard, P. Z.S. 1883, p. 443°.

Fusco-cinerea, dorso saturatiore rufescente tincto, loris, ciliis, genis et pectore sordide flavo indutis, subtus

cinerea medialiter dilutior ; pileo toto, alis, tectricibus supracaudalibus, et cauda fusco-rufis, gula pallide

rosacea, subalaribus et crisso dilutioribus. Long. ale 3-05, caude 2°75, tarsi 0°80. (Descr. exempl. typ.

apud Ridgway, Ibis, 1873, p. 125. Mus. Dr. Cabot.)

Q mari similis sed capite summo olivaceo et gula flavida distinguenda. (Descr. femine ex Izalam, Yucatan.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Yucatan, between Chemex and Yalahoo (Cabot !), Izalam (Gaumer 5).

294 TANAGRIDA.

For many years the only known specimen of this peculiar species was the type

obtained by Dr. S. Cabot in Yucatan when he accompanied Stephens during his

celebrated expedition to that country. This type was examined by Mr. Sclater in

1856 2, by Mr. Ridgway in 1873%, and by Salvin in the following year; all these

ornithologists agreeing as to the distinctness of the bird from all known species of

Pyranga. During the last few years, Mr. G. F. Gaumer, who has been making

collections of birds in Northern Yucatan, has succeeded in obtaining additional specimens,

including the female, which was not previously known. This was recently described

by Mr. Lawrence, and, through M. Boucard’s kindness, one has passed into our

possession.

The acquisition of the female proves still further the great peculiarity of the bird,

which in Mr. Ridgway’s synopsis of the genus Pyranga occupies a distinct section.

P. roseigularis has apparently a very limited range, which is restricted to Northern

Yucatan, beyond which it has not yet been traced. |

c. Ale extus olivacee.

8. Pyranga erythrocephala.

Spermagra erythrocephala, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 437".

Pyranga erythrocephala, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 32°; Bp. Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 178°; Scl. P.Z.S.

1856, p. 125°; 1859, p. 377°; 1864, p. 173°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140%.

Pyranga cucullata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 105 *.

Olivaceo-viridis, subtus flavescens, capite toto et gula rosaceo-coccineis, illo saturatiore, loris et ciliis nigris,

tectricibus auricularibus sericeo-rosaceis ; rostro et pedibus nigricanti-corneis. Long. tota 6:0, ale 3:0,

caude 2°9, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris (?) ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico? ?, Temiscaltepec (Bullock), Guanajuato (Dugés"), valley of Mexico

(White °), Juquila, Totontepec (Boucard >).

This Tanager has a very limited range confined to the tablelands of Mexico from

Guanajuato in the north to Juquila and Totontepec in the south. It was not

noticed by Sumichrast in the State of Vera Cruz nor yet anywhere on the west

coast.

P. erythrocephala was first discovered by Bullock at Temiscaltepec and described by

Swainson in 1827. A second name, P. cucullata, was given to it twenty years after-

wards by DuBus. The same author figured it under Swainson’s name in his ‘Esquisses

Ornithologiques ;’ but the Plate representing it was probably never actually issued, and

no letterpress accompanies it in the copies of this work which we have seen.

Of the habits of this species nothing has been recorded, except a note by Bullock

that it “feeds on insects, but is fond of beef &c. Two were shot on the meat at the

back of my house!” Specimens of it are rarely seen in collections.

PYRANGA. 295

B. Ale bifasciate.

9. Pyranga erythromelzna.

Tanagra erythromelas, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2; J. £. Orn. 1863, p.57'; Scl. P.Z.S.

1856, pp. 126°, 803°; 1859, p. 3644; 1864, p. 173°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.15°; Salv.

This, 1861, p. 1477; P.Z.S. 1870, p. 187°; Cat. Strick]. Coll. p. 192°; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N. Y. ix. p. 99°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 299"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. i. p. 549”.

Pyranga leucoptera, Trudeau, Journ. Ac. Phil. viii. p. 160”.

Pyranga bivittata, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 70".

Phenicosoma bivittata, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 24.

Coccinea, dorso obscurior ; fronte, capitis lateribus, mento summo, alis et cauda nigris; alis albo bivittatis, sub-

alaribus albis; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 5:5, ale 2°8, caude 2-4, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°75.

(Descr. maris ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q flavo-olivacea, capite summo et corpore subtus flavescentibus, alis fusco-nigris albo bivittatis, scapularibus

griseis ; cauda fusco-nigra, extus olivaceo limbata. (Descr. femine ex Vera Paz, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico 1°, Lagunas (Deppé1*), valley of Mexico (White>), temperate region of

Vera Cruz (Sumichrast *), Orizaba (Botteri?), Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa’® (de

Oca*); Britist Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Guatemata (Constancia °),

Chisec, mountains of Rasché 7, Santa Lucia Cosamalguapa °, Escuintla, Retalhuleu,

Volcan de Agua above San Diego, forests of the Volcan de Atitlan (0. S. &

fF. D. G.); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius "), Tucurriqui (Arcé), Barranca, Dota Moun-

tains (Carmiol 1°), Navarro (Cooper !°); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui %, Calobre,

Calovevora § (Arcé).

Mexican specimens of this species agree with those of Western Guatemala in

having the red of the upper surface, especially of the back, of a rather duller hue than

is the case in birds from Eastern Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama; the former, too,

are usually larger, but this isnot always the case. Subject to this slight variation P. ery-

thromelena ranges almost uninterruptedly from Southern Mexico to the State of Panama.

In South America an allied species occurs, P. ardens, the range of which extends

from Colombia, Venezuela, and Guiana to Ecuador and Peru. In this southern bird

the lores alone are black, whereas in its more northern representative, not only the

lores but the forehead, the region round the eyes, and also the chin are black, but to

a slightly variable extent as regards the amount on the forehead.

Though found in comparatively low ground as at Escuintla, Retalhuleu, &c., P.

erythromelena belongs properly to the forest-region of the mountain-slopes of between

2000 and 4000 feet elevation, and we obtained it in dense forest at Rasché in Vera

Paz. It keeps to the branches of forest trees, often so high as to be almost out

of shot.

Of its nest and eggs nothing is known.

296 TANAGRIDA.

10. Pyranga bidentata.

Pyranga bidendata, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 488°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 1267; 1857, p. 205°;

1859, p. 364°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 32°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 99°; Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. 1. p. 274"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549°; v. Frantzius,

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 299°; Salv. P.Z.S. 1870, p.187*°; Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, i.

p. 388"; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 281”.

Phenicosoma bidentata, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 24%.

Pyranga sanguinolenta, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 97".

Coccinea, interscapulio pallide fusco-rufo, plumis singulis medialiter nigris, tectricibus auricularibus nigro inter-

mixtis; alis et cauda fusco-nigris, illis rosaceo-albo bivittatis, hujus rectricibus externis tribus utrinque

albo terminatis ; rostro et pedibus corneis. Long. tota 7:4, ale 4:0, caude 3-3, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi

0-8. (Descr. maris ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra olivacea, dorso medio nigro guttato, capite toto et corpore subtus flavis, illo fusco striato, alis albo

bivittatis, cauda albo terminata. (Descr. femine: ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico '4 (le Strange), Tres Marias Islands (Grayson 1 11 12, Forrer), Temiscal-

tepec (Bullock '), temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast), Jalapa 1 (Sallé 8,

de Oca*); GuareMaLa, Volcan de Fuego 5, Barranco Hondo, San Gerénimo (0. S.

& F. D. G.); Costa Rica, Dota Mountains, Rancho Redondo (v. Frantzius §, Car-

miol®), Barranca (Carmiol®), San José, Candelaria, Cervantes (v. Frantzius ®),

Birris (Zeledon ®) ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé 1°),

In the Tres Marias Islands, Grayson found this Pyranga to be abundant, and a

resident species, but as he did not meet with it on the opposite mainland he thought it

a bird peculiar to these islands’. We have lately received specimens from the Tres

Marias obtained in August 1881 by Mr. A. Forrer. These are hardly so bright-

coloured as our Mexican and Central-American specimens, but this may be due to the

time of year at which they were shot. There is a great difference, however, in the

size of the bill, that of the island birds being much more robust in every way and

the characteristic tooth unusually developed. Failing other differences, and having

only a pair of the island birds, we are hardly disposed to separate them on this account.

In Mexico P. bidentata is found in the higher and temperate districts ; but it does

not seem to occur much beyond Temiscaltepec, where Bullock first discovered it.

Its name is absent from Dr. Dugés’s list of Guanajuato birds.

In Guatemala we found it abundant in the forests of the Volcan de Fuego from

about 4000 feet above the sea at Barranco Hondo to the ridge above Calderas, which

is over 8000 feet high. It also occurred near San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, but we

never met with specimens in the collections made by the bird-hunters of Coban. As

might be expected, it is absent from the lower districts of Honduras and Nicaragua,

but appears again in the mountains of Costa Rica and in the Volcan de Chiriqui,

the extreme limit of its range. Between Costa-Rican and Guatemalan specimens

we can trace no difference.

The habits of this species offer no peculiarities. Its nest and eggs remain as yet

unknown.

PYRANGA.—CHLOROTHRAUPIS. 29

11. Pyranga ludoviciana.

Lanagra ludoviciana, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 27, t. 20. f. 17.

Pyranga ludoviciana, Bp. P. Z. 8S. 1837, p. 1167; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 125°; 1857, p. 213‘; 1859,

p- 877°; 1862, p.19°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 15"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

i. p. 550°; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 487°; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 19"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 192”.

Flava ; interscapulio, alis et cauda nigris, alis flavo bivittatis, capite et gutture undique coccineo indutis ; rostro

pallide corneo, tomiis albidis, pedibus obscure plumbeis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3-9, caudee 2°9, rostri a rictu

0-7, tarsi 0-75. (Descr. maris ex California, Smiths. Inst. no. 21370. Mus. nostr.)

Q fusco-olivacea, capite summo et uropygio flavidioribus, subtus flava, hypochondriis fuscescentibus; alarum

vittis flavo-albidis. (Descr. femine ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Missouri plains to Pacific Ocean.—Mexico, San Blas (Kellett 3),

State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast*), Orizaba (Botteri? +), Oaxaca (Boucard >), La

Parada (Boucard®), Ishuatlan and Santa Efigenia (Swmichrast 1°); GuaTEMALa,

(Velasquez de Leon, Constancia? 11), Alotenango’, Duefias (0. S. & F. D. G.),

Coban (Sarq).

This species of western North America appears in our region only as a winter

visitor, arriving in September and leaving again for the north in April. During the

summer months it spreads from the northern frontier of Mexico to Fort Liard, pro-

bably breeding throughout this area.

In Guatemala it can hardly be called a common bird, but it may generally be

found in the winter months frequenting the table lands at an elevation of about 5000

feet. At this season we never met with fully plumaged birds, and it wonld appear

that the males of this species have a breeding-dress assumed only at the time of pairing.

Dr. Cooper, the well-known naturalist of California, speaks of young and old of P.

ludoviciana associating in autumn in families, all in the same dull-greyish plumage.

But this observation probably only applies to the absence of the red head and throat

in the male, which we have never seen in birds shot between October and March.

Mr. Ridgway found P. dudoviciana breeding in Utah in 18699. The nest was at the

extreme end of a horizontal branch of a pine, flat with only a very slight depression.

It was composed of a few twigs and dry wiry stems, and lined almost entirely with fine

vegetable rootlets. The eggs are light bluish-green, sparingly speckled, chiefly at the

larger end, with markings of umber intermingled with a few dots of lilac.

CHLOROTHRAUFIS.

Chlorothraupis, Ridgway, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1883.

The two species we place in this genus have hitherto stood one in Orthogonys, the other

in Phenicothraupis, each being an abnormal element in the genus in which it was located.

The two birds, Orthogonys olivaceus and Phenicothraupis carmioli, are evidently nearly

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1883. 38

298 TANAGRIDZ.

allied. The general colour of the plumage is the same and the difference between the

sexes slight. In this respect they resemble Orthogonys viridis of Brazil; but the bill is

much stouter and the cutting-edge of the maxilla is convex in the middle, forming

almost a dental process; the terminal notch is very distinct. In Orthogonys the bill is

much more slender and the commissure of the maxilla is simply curved without a trace

of a median dental process. In coloration both species of Chiorothraupis have a great

resemblance to Orthogonys viridis.

The bill of Chlorothraupis differs from that of Phenicothraupis in being rather more

compressed, otherwise the shape is very similar. But the great difference between the

two is in the coloration of the plumage, olive-green being the prevalent colour in

Chlorothraupis, whilst different shades of red distinguish the males of Phenicothraupis,

and of brown or ochraceous brown the females. The males, too, are all ornamented

with a scarlet crest.

The range of Chlorothraupis is confined entirely to Western America from Peru to

Nicaragua ; C. carmioli being found at each end of this area, whilst C. olivacea occupies

the middle region from Panama to Ecuador.

1. Chlorothraupis olivacea.

Orthogonys olivaceus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 140°; 1864, p. 287, t. 2°; Scl. & Salv. P. ZS.

1879, p. 502°. .

Olivaceo-viridis, subtus dilutior, oculorum ambitu et loris superioribus flavis, gutture et subalaribus flavo

variegatis ; rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigrescentibus. Long. tota 6:5, ale 3°7, caude 2: 7, rostri a rictu

0°8, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Remedios, Colombia. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis sed flavo nullo modo ornata, corpore subtus in medio et subalaribus fulvescentibus. (Descr.

feming ex Puente de Chiarvo, Ecuador occ. Mus. H. von Berlepsch.)

Hab. Panama, valley of the Truando (Wood 1).—Cotomp1a?; Ecuapor.

Of this little-known species the first specimen was obtained by the Messrs. Wood, who

were attached to the United States Expedition, sent under Lieut. Michler to explore

the Isthmus of Darien. Cassin described and figured it in his papers relating to the

birds obtained during the survey that was then made, under the name of Orthogonys

olivaceus. Mr. C.J. Wood states that the bird inhabits low trees and bushes in the Cordil-

lera; on the Rio Truando it could be constantly heard at some localities, though not so

easily seen. Its notes, he adds, are loud and much varied, bearing a general resemblance

to those of the Chat of North America (Icteria viridis). It appeared to be very active

and lively, constantly flying about the bushes and changing its position. N othing more

was heard of this species until the late Mr. T. K. Salmon obtained specimens from

Remedios and Nechi in the Colombian State of Antioquia; but the only note he made

concerning it was that it feeds on fruit, and that the iris is dark *. Since then we have

received a specimen which was contained in a collection made in the neighbourhood of

Pasto; and quite recently Count von Berlepsch has submitted to us a bird from

CHLOROTHRAUPIS.—PHENICOTHRAUPIS. 299

Western Ecuador, which we have very little doubt is a female of this species, and have

so described it above. All the other examples we have seen are males, and have the

yellow ring round the eye and the yellow lores, the female being without this

ornament. ‘The Pasto specimen is rather darker on the crown and back than those

from Antioquia, but we do not notice any other difference. Again, one of Salmon’s

examples is somewhat younger than the other and has a lighter-coloured bill, and the

throat is less speckled and more suffused with yellow. ,

2. Chlorothraupis carmioli. (Phwnicothraupis carmioli. Tab. XX. fig. 1.)

Phenicothraupis carmioli, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 100'; Salv. Ibis, 1869, p. 3137; Scl. &

Salv. P. ZS. 1873, pp. 186°, 780‘.

Olivacea, subtus dilutior, gula indistincte striata ; rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 7-0, ale 3:5,

caudg 2°6, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0-9. (Deser. maris ex Volcan de Turrialba, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

@ adhuc ignota.

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, Angostura!, Volean de Turrialba

(Carmiol).—PeERu ° +.

But few specimens of this species have as yet come under our notice, but we received

one from Carmiol (that now figured) soon after Mr. Lawrence’s description first

appeared. Since then we found one in Belt’s collection showing its range into

Nicaragua, but at present we have no traces of it from the State of Panama, nor, indeed,

till we come to South-eastern Peru, where Whitely found it in the valley of the

Cosnipata*®*. These Peruvian examples, it is true, do not agree accurately with typical

ones, as the undersurface is of a greener shade, and the bill is shorter and less robust.

But as one specimen is rather lighter-coloured than the other and as we have by no

means a good series for comparison we hesitate to separate them.

At present we have not seen a female of this species, but if we are correct

concerning the female of C. olivacea, we suppose, from analogy, that it would have

some fulvous colour down the middle of the undersurface.

PHCENICOTHRAUPIS.

Phenicothraupis, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 24 (1850); Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 119.

This is a purely neotropical genus, ranging over the whole of the tropical portion of

the region from Southern Mexico to South-eastern Brazil and Paraguay. It is absent

from the West Indian Islands, with the exception of Trinidad. We now know of

nine species of this genus, not including Phenicothraupis carmioli, which we have

removed elsewhere. The commonest of these, P. rudica, is a Brazilian bird found in

Paraguay, Bolivia, and, according to Taczanowski, in Peru. An allied species, P. rubra,

is only known from the island of Trinidad. Two peculiar species, P. gutturalis and

38*

300 TANAGRIDZ.

P. cristata, are found in Colombia, and another species is peculiar to Eastern Ecuador :

this we call P. rhodinolema*.

Of the four Central-American species, two belong to Southern Mexico and Guatemala,

and two to Costa Rica and Panama. JP. fuscicauda of the latter countries spreads

northwards to Nicaragua and southwards into Northern Colombia, and is the only

species of the four not peculiar to our region.

The bill in Phenicothraupis is much like that of Pyranga; the terminal notch is well

defined, and. there is sometimes an indefinite curve on the cutting-edge of the maxilla,

which in some cases is almost developed into the dentate process so noticeable in

certain species of Pyranga. The wings are rounded, the third, fourth, and fifth quills

being longest. The tail is long and rounded, and red enters largely into the general

colour of the male, brown being the chief colour in the female. The male in all

the species has a scarlet crest, which is in some cases almost hidden by the other

feathers.

1. Phenicothraupis rubicoides.

Saltator rubicoides, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 41°.

Phenicothraupis rubicoides, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 247; Scl. P.Z. 8. 1856, pp. 120°, 803%; 1859,

pp. 364°, 377°; 1864, p. 1737; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 15°; 1860, p. 82°; P.Z.S.

1870, p. 836°; Moore, P. Z.S. 1859, p. 58"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 549”; Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 19"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 193.

Tanagra ignicapilla, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2. Cf. J. f. Orn. 1868, p. 56.

Fusco-rubescens, supra unicolor, subtus clarior, gutture toto ruberrimo, crista verticali coccinea utrinque nigro

marginato, rostro nigro-plumbeo, pedibus obscure-corylinis. Long. tota 7:0, alee 3:6, caudee 3°1, rostri a

rictu 0°8, tarsi 0-9.

ginata. (Descr. maris et femine ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico }?, valley of Mexico (White™), Papantla (Deppe? 5), hot region of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast 1°, le Strange), Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa ? (de Oca ®), Playa Vicente

(Boucard®), Guichicovi (Sumichrast 18); Guatemata (Constancia® 1, Skinner ®),

Yzabal®, Choctum, Alotenango, Savana Grande, Escuintla, Costa Grande,

Retalhuleu (0. S. & F. D. G.); Hoypuras, Omoa (Leyland '*), San Pedro

(G. M. Whitely ©).

* Phenicothraupis rhodinolema, sp. n.

Fusco-rubescens, cauda rufescentiore, crista verticali fere celata coccinea nigro haud marginato, subtus gula

rubra, ventre medio rosaceo, hypochondriis fuscis, rostri maxilla corylina, mandibula pallida, pedibus cory-

linis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 3-6, caude 2°7, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°7.

Q brunnea, alis extus et cauda rufescentioribus, crista verticali fulva, subtus sordide alba, hypochondriis fuscis.

Hab, Sarayacu, Ecuador (Buckley).

Mus. nostr

A small species differing in many respects from all hitherto described. The female is peculiar in its light-

coloured underparts.

We possess a pair of this species which formed part of Mr. C. Buckley’s large collection from Eastern

Ecuador, but which have remained undescribed in our collection up till the present time.

PH@NICOTHRAUPIS. 301

This Mexican and Guatemalan species is closely allied to Phenicothraupis rubica

of South-eastern Brazil, and can only be distinguished from it by the tail being of almost

the same tint as the back, in the abdomen being the same colour as the breast, and in

the throat being clearer red. The ranges of the two birds, however, seem to be

separated by a very wide interval, the intermediate space being occupied by P.

vinacea and other species.

Until quite recently it was supposed that only one variable species of Phenico-

thraupis was found in Mexico and Guatemala; but Count von Berlepsch, with his usual

discrimination, has shown that two species have been confounded under the name

P. rubicoides. The second, described below as P. salvini, is, in fact, the northern

representative of P. fuscicauda, and is more remotely allied to P. rudicoides than would

appear at first sight. In arranging the references given above, we have endeavoured to

assign them to each of these species; but it may hereafter turn out, in a few instances,

where specimens are no longer accessible, that some we now believe to belong to P.

rubicoides are really referable to P. salvini.

Phenicothraupis rubicoides is a common species in Southern Mexico, whence it was

originally described 1. It is, according to Sumichrast, an inhabitant of the hot region,

seldom reaching an elevation of between 3000 and 4000 feet 13. In Guatemala we found

it in similar situations, but as high as about 4500 feet, between the volcanoes of Agua

and Fuego. But it is essentially a denizen of the hot tropical forests, where it is to be

met with in the lower underwood. In the neighbourhood of Choctum it is especially

common and in the vast forests of that district. Here, however, it lives with P. salvini,

which, again, has a more northern range in the direction of Yucatan and British

Honduras.

2. Phonicothraupis vinacea.

Phenicothraupis vinacea, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 94°; Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 99?;'v.

Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 299°; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1870, p. 187%.

Phenicothraupis rubica?, Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 139 (see Vieillot) *.

P. rubicoidi persimilis sed supra paulo obscurior, subtus quoque obscurior, gula et abdomine fere concoloribus.

Q@ paulo magis olivascens quam femina P. rubicoidis, crista verticali forsan pallidiore. (Descr. maris ex

Calovevora et femine Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica *, Guaitil, Grecia (Carmiol?); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 4, Calove-

vora 4, and Santa Fé* (Arcé), Panama (M‘Leannan ').

The first specimens we obtained of this bird were doubtfully referred to Phenico-

thraupis rubica, to which they have in some respects a closer resemblance than to

P. rubicoides®. ‘The back is, however, rather darker than that of P. rubica, and the

tail is of the same colour as the back instead of being lighter red. The colour of the

under plumage is decidedly darker, especially that of the abdomen, and the throat is

not paler, as in P. rubicoides.

302 . TANAGRIDA.

P. vinacea has a limited range in Central America, being confined to Costa Rica and

the State of Panama. In those countries it no doubt takes the place of the more

northern P. rubicoides, just as P. fuscicauda represents P. salvini in the same

countries.

3. Phenicothraupis fuscicauda.

Pheenicothraupis fuscicauda, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 86°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. pp. 97, 179°;

ix. p. 99°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 350°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 299°;

Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 3167.

Phenicothraupis erythrolema, 8cl. Cat. Am. B. p. 83 (ex Bp. MS.)’.

Phenicothraupis rubicoides, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297°.

Obscure fusco-rubescens, subtus clarior, alis caudaque nigro-brunneis rubescente marginatis, vertice medio

subcristato coccineo nigro haud marginato, gutture medio distincte lete coccineo ; rostro nigro, pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 7-8, ale 4:1, caudw 4:0, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill

Panama. Mus, nostr.)

2 pallide fusco-brunnea, pileo dorso concolori, subtus dilutior, ventre imo pallidiore, gula ochracea. (Descr.

femine ex San Carlos, Costa Rica. Mus. Boucard.)

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt?, Janson), Greytown (Holland®); Costa Rica},

Angostura (Carmiol 4, v. Frantzius *), Sarapiqui (v. Frantzius*), Bebedero on the

Gulf of Nicoya (Arcé) ; San Carlos (Boucard); Panama, Lion Hill (M‘Leannan 2°).

—Co.omBia 8,

Before this species was formally described by Dr. Cabanis in 1861, specimens of it

from Santa Marta, Colombia, were in collections bearing, so Mr. Sclater tells us, the

MS. name P. erythrolaima, Bp. One of these passed into the cabinet of the latter

ornithologist, and on the receipt of M‘Leannan’s specimens from Panama in 1864, we

were enabled to pronounce it identical with them and with P. fuscicauda of

Cabanis >.

The species may readily be distinguished from P. rudicoides, not only by its darker

colour, especially its tail, but by the clear definition of the scarlet throat, and by the

absence of a dark lateral border to either side of the occipital crest. The same

differences distinguish it from P. vinacea. Its nearest ally is the recently described

P. salvini, which has a similar crest; but the plumage of this bird, especially the

abdomen, is much redder and the throat not nearly so distinctly circumscribed.

Dr. Cabanis’s type came from Costa Rica, whence we have also received examples,

as well as from the State of Panama, where, however, it does not seem to be generally

distributed, as our collector Arcé, in a large series of P. vinacea obtained at Chiriqui

and the neighbourhood of Santiago de Veraguas, did not include a single specimen of

this bird; M‘Leannan alone met with it on the line of the Panama railway. North-

wards of Costa Rica it spreads to Chontales in Nicaragua, where both Belt and

Janson obtained male specimens’. It has also been recorded from the Isthmus of

Tehuantepec; but the birds obtained there belong to the next species.

PH@NICOTHRAUPIS.—LANIO. 303

4. Phenicothraupis salvini.

Phenicothraupis salvini, Berl. Ibis, 1883, p. 4877.

Phenicothraupis rubicus, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 5492?

Pheenicothraupis fuscicauda, Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 19*?

Phenicothraupis rubicoides, Boucard, P. Z. S. 18838, p. 443+.

P. fuscicaude affinis sed undique magis rubescens, gula coccinea haud distincte circumdata et abdomine magis

rubro distinguenda.

2 brunnea fere unicolor, capite haud cristato, gula et abdomine medio ochraceis. (Descr. maris et feminz ex

Chisec, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico, hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast?), Guichicovi (Swmichrast 3),

Ivalam in Yucatan (Gaumer*); British Honpuras, Corosal (Roe), Belize

(Llancaneaux) ; GuateMaua, Chisec (0. 8S. & F. D. G.).

It.is probably this species that is referred to by Sumichrast as Phenicothraupis

rubicus in his paper on the Birds of Vera Cruz, as he also mentions the presence of

P. rubicoides in the same country. The bird called P. fuscicauda by Mr. Lawrence,

from Tehuantepec, certainly belongs here, and it too was accompanied by P. rubi-

coides. Count von Berlepsch expresses some doubt as to the name of a young male

from Tehuantepec, sent us by the late Professor Sumichrast; but an adult male

kindly supplied to us by M. Boucard from the same source proves that P. salvini is

certainly found in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

The range of this species, therefore, includes Southern Mexico. In Yucatan and in

the neighbourhood of Belize it also occurs, as we have several male examples from

there. It is also to be found in the forests of Northern Vera Paz, which stretch from

Coban in the south to the confines of Peten in the north, as from nearly the centre of

this district we have specimens of both sexes, as well as of a young male.

The female of P. salvini has no crest; in this respect it agrees with that sex in P.

Suscicauda, of which it is a northern form. The male of P. salvini may easily be dis-

tinguished from that of P. rubicoides, with which it is often found associated, by the

absence of the dark lateral margin to the crest, by its brighter throat, and the rather

greyer cast of the plumage of the upper surface.

LANIO.

Lanio, Vieillot, Anal. p. 40 (1816) ; Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 118.

Five species constitute this genus, three of which are peculiar to our region, viz.

LI. aurantius of Southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras; L. leucothorax of Nica-

ragua and Eastern Costa Rica; and L. melanopygius of Western Costa Rica and the

State of Panama. The extreme range of Zanio in the latter State is the mountains in

the neighbourhood of Santa Fé; it is not found in the low-lying forests of the line of

railway. In South America two distinct species occur—one, L. atricapillus, having a

304 TANAGRID.

wide range over nearly the whole of the northern portion of the continent, the other,

L. versicolor, occupying a much more restricted country, being confined to South-eastern

Peru and North-eastern Bolivia.

The long strong bill of Lanio, with its terminal hook and prominent dentate process

on the middle of the commissure of the maxilla, is a conspicuous characteristic of the

genus, as distinguished from Pyranga and its allies. Besides this it has a more elon-

gated body, and the tail considerably produced. The wings are long, the third and

fourth quills being the longest. ‘The tarsi are short, and the feet feeble.

The species of Zanio are birds of the forest, where they feed on fruit and insects,

and frequent the upper parts of the forest-trees.

1. Lanio aurantius.

Lanio aurantius, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1846, p. 204!; Bp. Consp. i. p. 240°; DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 21°;

Sel. P. Z. 8. 1856, pp. 119 *, 303°; 1857, p. 229°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 15"; Ex. Orn.

p. 61, t. 31°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 19”.

Luteus, capite undique cum thorace, alis et cauda nigris, pectore fulvescente, humeris et subalaribus albis; rostro

nigro, pedibus fusco-nigris. Long. tota 8:0, alee 4:2, caudex 3°8, rostri a rictu 0°9, tarsi 0°75.

supra brunnea, uropygio ferrugineo, capite toto cinerascenti-ochraceo, gula pallidiore; subtus olivacea,

abdomine medio flavicante, crisso ferrugineo. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, femine ex Kamhal, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sallé+*), Santecomapam (Boucard °), hot region of Vera Cruz,

San Uvero, Omealca (Sumichrast °), Guichicovi (Sumichrast !); British Honpuras,

Belize (Blancaneaux); GuaTEMALA, Choctum, Kamkal, Kampamak (0. S. &

F. D. G.) ; Honpuras (Dyson +4? 8).

The habitat of this species has been given as Colombia!?; but this is clearly an

error, as its range is now known to lie between Southern Mexico and Honduras. In

the former country Sumichrast considers it an inhabitant of hot districts, its range in

altitude not exceeding 1500 or 1600 feet.. He further observes that the habits of the

species are somewhat like those of the Tyrant Flycatchers, and that it is more insecti-

vorous than most Tanagers®. In Guatemala its range is restricted to the forests of

Northern Vera Paz, where it is abundant, and northwards in the extension of the same

forests to the vicinity of Belize. At Choctum and its neighbourhood it is quite common,

and here our native hunters obtained. us a good supply of specimens. The highest

point where we found it was at Kamkal, a little to the northward of Coban, and nearly

4000 feet above the sea. Here a female was shot as she sat in the upper branches of

a forest tree.

L. aurantius can readily be distinguished from the more southern species by its black

throat, below which is a large rusty patch of colour.

The general resemblance in colour of these birds to some of the Icteri is remarkable.

LANIO. 305

2. Lanio leucothorax.

Lanio leucothorax, Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 581°; Ibis, 1872, p. 3177; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865,

p- 171°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 100‘; v. Frantz. J. £. Orn. 1869, p. 299°; Scl. & Salv.

Ex. Orn. p. 63 (partim), t. 32, 9°.

L. aurantio similis, sed thorace maris albo primo visu distinguendus.

Hab. Nicaracva, Chontales (Belt?) ; Costa Rica (v. Frantzius®), Tucurriqui (Arcé 1 6);

Pacuar and Angostura (Carmiol 3 +).

The original type of the male of this species, received from Arcé from Tucurriqui

in Costa Rica, is in bad condition; and this led to its being imperfectly described in

the first instance, as regards the colour of the lower back. On the receipt of well-

prepared specimens from the State of Panama, these were supposed to belong to the

same species, and the lower back was described as black. One of these latter birds was

figured in ‘ Exotic Ornithology’ as the male of Lanio leucothorax. It now proves that

the Panama bird belongs to a distinct species, and that the true LZ. leucothorax has the

lower back as well as the crissum yellow.

The range of this bird seems confined to the eastern forests of Costa Rica, whence it

passes northwards into the Nicaraguan province of Chontales. The allied species has

a more southern habitat, extending from Western Costa Rica to about the middle of

the State of Panama.

3. Lanio melanopygius.

Lanio leucothorax melanopygius, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 18837.

Lanio leucothorax, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 1389; 1870, p. 188°; Scl. & Salv. Ex. Orn. p. 63 (partim),

t. 32,34

Similis preecedentibus, sed dorso postico nigro et crisso plerumque nigro distinguendus ; thorace sicut in

L. leucothorace alba. (Descr. maris ex Bugaba, Panama. Maus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Piris (Zeledon !); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui?, Bugaba 3, Cordillera

del Chucu *, Chitra *, Cordillera de Tolé?, Santiago de Veraguas 2, Calovevora 3,

Santa Fé? (Arcé).

To Mr. Ridgway is due the discrimination of this species from Lanio leucothorax, with

which it had been confounded, owing chiefly to the imperfection of the type of that

bird. Mr. Ridgway was inclined to place it as a variety of L. leucothorax ; but we think

there can be no difficulty in distinguishing the adult males with the greatest certainty

now that their distinctive characters have been pointed out. In younger birds a few

rusty feathers appear on the lower back; but these would certainly have disappeared

with the next moult. Regarding the colour of the crissum, we are not quite certain

whether it is fully black in adult birds, or whether the feathers are still edged with

golden yellow. We have birds apparently adult in which the crissum is plain black in

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. [., December 1883. 39

306 TANAGRIDZ.

some, and black edged with yellow in others. One of the latter was figured in ‘Exotic

Ornithology’ as the adult male of L. leucothorax.

The range of this species seems to be quite distinct from that of ZL. leucothorax, and

extends from the forests of the western side of the mountains of Costa Rica southwards

as far as Santa Fé in the State of Panama.

EUCOMETIS.

Eucometis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 117, vice :—

Comarophagus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxii. p. 81 (1851) (nec Boie).

Eucometis is closely allied to Tachyphonus, and perhaps the only really trustworthy

difference is in the sexes being coloured alike instead of quite differently, as in Tachy-

phonus. The commissure of the maxilla is simply curved, or but slightly waved, as in

Tachyphonus. ‘The wings are rounded, the fourth quill being the longest, the third

and fifth being nearly equal to it; the tail is long and rounded. The tarsi and feet in

the more typical EL. cristata are rather slender and feeble, but stouter in E. cassint,

which does not differ from Tachyphonus in this respect.

Of the five known species of Hucometis three are found within the limits of our

fauna; the other two are close allies of EL. eristata, and belong to Guiana, Amazonia,

and Bolivia. . spodocephala is the only peculiar species in our region, but LE. cassiné

only just passes beyond it.

1. Kucometis cristata.

Pipilopsis cristata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xxxii. p. 154°.

Eucometis cristata, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 118°; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 141°; Lawr. Ann.

Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 2984; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 350°; 1868, p. 627°; Salv. & Godm.

Ibis, 1880, p. 121”.

Trichothraupis penicillata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 156 (nec Spix) °.

Flayo-olivacea, uropygio clariore, capite toto cinereo, cristae plumis sericeo-cinereis, gula multo pallidiore,

corpore reliquo subtus aureo-flavo; rostro corneo, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6:5, ale 3°6, caude 3-2,

rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (M*Leannan *), Paraiso Station (Hughes), Rio Truando (Wood *).

—Cotompia 778; VENEZUELA? ®,

This is a north-western form of the Guianan and Amazonian Hucometis penicillata,

and is found through Western Venezuela and Colombia, and thence passes to the

isthmus of Darien and into our region as far as the line of the Panama railway. A

little further westwards, at Santa Fé, its place is taken by E. spodocephala.

Mr. C. J. Wood, who observed a party of three birds in the valley of the Truando,

says it frequents bushes and low trees, and has a loud pleasant song °.

EUCOMETIS. 307

2. Kucometis spodocephala. (‘Tab. XX. fig. 2.)

Chlorospingus spodocephalus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxvii. p. 922'; Notes Orn. p. 22?.

Eucometis spodocephala, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 274°; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 836+; Salv. P. Z. 8.

1867, p. 189°; 1870, p. 188°; Ibis, 1872, p. 3167; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 1008;

Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 443 °.

E. cristate persimilis, sed capite saturatius cinereo, crista haud sericeo-cinerea, gula obscuriore distinguenda.

(Descr. exempl. ex Virgin Bay, Nicaragua. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari omnino similis,

Av. hornot. capite summo dorso concolore, gula quoque olivacea. (Descr. exempl. ex Mina de Chorcha, Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Northern Yucatan (@. F. Gaumer); British Honpuras (Llancaneaus) ;

GuaTEMALA (Constancia*), Honduras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely*); Nicaraaua

(Delattre }*), Virgin Bay (Bridges’), Hato Viejo (Baxter); Costa Rica 7, Tempate

(Arcé); Panama, Bugaba®, Mina de Chorcha ®%, Santa Fé> (Arcé).

A northern form of £. cristata, to which it is very closely allied, but may be recog=

nized by the darker tint of the grey head, and by the absence of the silky crest present

in the allied species. E. spodocephala was first described by Bonaparte from specimens

procured by Delattre in Nicaragua, whence we have an example and have seen others.

It was then traced to Guatemala, where, however, we only obtained a single specimen,

out of a collection made by the late Don Vicente Constancia, and we are uncertain in

what part of the country it was shot. In Yucatan and in British Honduras it would

appear to be more abundant, as Mr. Gaumer obtained several specimens in the former

country, some of which have come into our possession through M. Boucard®. South-

wards of Nicaragua it is found but rarely in Western Costa Rica, and thence as far as

Santa Fé in the State of Panama. It is perhaps more numerous in the neighbourhood

of Chiriqui than elsewhere. On the line of the Panama railway, LZ. cristata takes its

place.

3. Eucometis cassini.

Tachyphonus cassini, Lawr, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p- 297°; ix. p. 101°; v. Frantzius, J.f. Orn. 1869,

p. 299°.

Eucometis cassini, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 351, t. 30‘; 1879, p. 503°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867,

p- 139°.

Tachyphonus, sp.?, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 1427.

Supra fuliginosa, capite summo et nucha olivaceis, fronte et capitis lateribus nigris; subtus gula cinerea,

abdomine toto olivaceo, crisso ferrugineo ; rostro corneo, mandibula albicante; pedibus fuscis. Long. tota

6-7, ale 3-4, caude 3-1, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1-0. (Deser. maris ex Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari omnino similis.

Avis juv. fusca, subtus pallidior, gula flavicante. (Descr. exempl. ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica*, Angostura (Carmiol?); Panama, Santiago de Veraguas (Arcé §),

Lion Hill (M*Leannan'*), Rio Truando (Wood7).—Co.omsia 5.

39*

308 TANAGRIDA.

Eucometis cassini is a somewhat aberrant member of the genus Eucometis, agreeing

with it in general structure, and in having the sexes coloured alike; the tarsi and feet

are rather stouter in proportion than in true Eucometis, and the colour of the plumage

departs from the olive and yellow tints of its allies.

The first indication of the existence of this species was a female specimen shot at the

Falls of the Truando by Mr. Wood, but left as an undetermined species of Tachyphonus

by Cassin.

The receipt of specimens from M‘Leannan by Mr. Lawrence enabled that ornitho-

logist to describe the species fully. A figure of the bird, also taken from one of

M‘Leannan’s specimens, which accompanies Messrs. Sclater and Salvin’s paper on the

birds of Panama, made the species still better known.

The line of the Panama railway seems to be the head-quarters of Hucometis cassini ;

for though it has been traced northwards to Costa Rica, it seems a rare bird there.

Arcé only sent one example from Santiago de Veraguas and none from Chiriqui, and it

does not appear in any abundance in Costa-Rica collections.

Its extension beyond the limits of Central America was proved by Salmon, who found

it at Nechi in the Colombian State of Antioquia; but his only remark concerning it is

that the “iris is dark,” and the food “fruits &c.”5 It is also probably found in

Western Ecuador; but of this, as yet, we have no proof.

TACHYPHONUS.

Tachyphonus, Vieillot, Anal. p. 83 (1816) ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 118.

Eleven species are included in the genus Tachyphonus, no less than six of which occur

within our region—two of these, 7. chrysomelas and T’. nitidissimus, being peculiar to

Costa Rica and the State of Panama. The most widely-distributed members of the

genus, 7. melaleucus and T. luctwosus, both range northwards as far as Costa Rica, and

the latter advances still further to Nicaragua. The remaining species, 7. xanthopygius

and 7. delattrii, are both found in Costa Rica, and thence pass southwards into

Colombia.

The bill of Zachyphonus is rather elongated, subconical, and the culmen more or less

incurved ; the commissure is undulated, and near the apex is a well-defined notch. The

Wings are rounded, and the primaries short, the fourth and fifth being the longest.

The tail is long and usually rounded. The tarsi and toes are short and rather feeble.

One of the most aberrant members of the genus is 7. chrysomelas, its peculiar

coloration, delicate bill, and square tail rendering it very distinct from the more robust

species, such as 7. melaleucus.

As regards coloration, black largely predominates in the males—Z. melaleucus,

T’. luctuosus, T. delattrit, and T. nitidissimus being chiefly of that colour. The male of

T. xanthopygius has yellow shoulders and a yellow rump, and is further distinguished

TACHYPHONUS. 309

by crimson superciliaries. 7. chrysomelas, again, is chiefly yellow, the prevailing black

colour of the other species being here confined to the middle of the back, the wings,

and tail. |

The females of all the species differ widely in colour from the males.

In the following arrangement we have adhered to the plan sketched out in ‘ Exotic

Ornithology ’ (p. 68), where the species are divided into crested and non-crested groups.

This arrangement is somewhat arbitrary; but the species can readily be distinguished

by it.

A. Vertex haud cristatus.

a. Uropygium dorso concolor.

1. Tachyphonus melaleucus.

Oriolus melaleucus, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. t. 31°.

Tachyphonus melaleucus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 118°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 851°; 1867,

p- 571*; 1868, p. 167°; 1879, p. 503°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 3317; Pelz. Orn.

Bras. p. 212°; Finsch, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 582°; Zeledon, Cat. Av. de Costa Rica, p. 7”.

Tanagra rufa, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 44".

Oriolus leucopterus, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 892”.

Tanagra nigerrima, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 899”.

Tachyphonus nigerrimus, Cab. in Schomb. Reise n. Guiana, iii. p. 669"; Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii.

p. 166”.

Tachyphonus beauperthuyi, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxii. p. 82”.

Sericeo-niger, humeris et subalaribus albis, rostro nigro, pedibus obscure fuscis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3°3, caude

3°3, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°8.

@ ferruginea, subtus paulo dilutior. (Descr. maris et feminee ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Zeledon , Van Patten); Panama, Veraguas (Arcé), line of railway

(M‘Leannan ?7, Arcé), Obispo (O. S.).—CoLomBia 2°; VENEZUELA® 16 and TRINIDAD 9;

Guiana 114; Lower AMAZONS*; BRAZIL.

We can see no difference in birds from different parts of the wide area indicated

above, except that those from the north-western portion of the range of the species,

Central America and Colombia, are rather smaller than those from Guiana and Brazil ;

but the difference is immaterial.

The first description given of this well-known species is that by Sparrman, who also

figured it in his ‘Museum Carlsonianum’!, This description and figure were either

overlooked or ignored until Mr. Sclater installed Sparrman’s name inits rightful position

in 18562. 7. melaleucus was also figured by Daubenton in the ‘ Planches Enluminées,’

and thus received names both from Boddaert and Gmelin, those of the latter author

being usually adopted by writers prior to 1856. Bonaparte also described the Vene-

zuelan bird under the title of 7. beauperthuyi; but we can see no really tangible grounds

for their separation.

310 TANAGRID.

Costa Rica is the northern limit of the range of this species; but neither here nor

in the adjoining parts of the State of Panama does it appear to be abundant. On the

line of the Panama railway, however, it is common enough. Salmon obtained its nest

and eggs at Medellin in Colombia, and he says that it builds in high grass. The eggs

are a pale salmon-colour, with a few large isolated dark-brown spots °®.

2. Tachyphonus luctuosus.

Tachyphonus luctuosus, d@Orb. & Lafr. Syn. Av. i. p. 29*; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 114°; 1860,

pp. 274°, 292%; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 141°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 297°;

ix. p. 100’; Scl. & Salv. P.Z. 8. 1864, p.851°; 1868, p. 167°; 1879, p. 503%; Pelz. Orn.

Bras. p. 213"; Finsch, P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 582”; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 817”.

Pyranga luctuosa, d’Orb. Voy. Am. Mér. Ois. p. 268, t. 20. f. 1, 2™.

Nigerrimus, tectricibus alarum minoribus et subalaribus albis; rostro nigro, mandibule basi plumbescente.

Long. tota 5:2, ale 5:6, caude 2:3, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. maris ex Angostura, Costa Rica.

Mus. nostr.)

olivacea, capite cinerascente, pileo saturatiore, gula albicante, corpore subtus reliquo flavo, subalaribus albis.

(Descr. femine ex Santa Rita, Ecuador. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt 8); Costa Rica, Angostura’, Tuis’, Valza (Carmiol) ;

Panama, line of railway (J/‘Leannan® 8), Chepo (Arcé), Rio Truando (Wood 5).

—Sourn America generally from Colombia to Guiana, Western Brazil 11, and

Bolivia 1 14,

Though not uncommon in collections of birds from Costa Rica, this species of

Tachyphonus has only been recorded from that portion of the State of Panama which

lies near the South-American continent. From Chiriqui and the Province of Veraguas

it appears to be absent.

On the isthmus of Darien Mr. Wood observed it at an encampment in the mountains

near the river Truando. Here it frequented high trees and was rarely seen, being

very shy and active®. Mr. Wood speaks of the female being brown; but the bird

alluded to was probably the female of 7. delattrit.

In the continent of South America, 7. luctwosus has a very extensive range. It was

first discovered in Bolivia by d’Orbigny 1, and since then has been traced over most of

the tropical portions of the continent, with the exception of Eastern Brazil. In the

valley of the Amazons we have but few records of it. Natterer, however, obtained it

at Borba!!; but it escaped Bartlett’s observation. In Ecuador our records of it are

from the western slopes of the Andes. From the lowlands of Guiana we have several

examples, and thence it spreads westwards to Trinidad 12 and Venezuela ®. Lachyphonus

luctuosus has no near allies, though J. nitidissimus has a general resemblance to it ;

the occipital crest of that species renders it easily recognized,

TACHYPHONUS. 311

b. Uropygium flavum.

3. Tachyphonus xanthopygius.

Tachyphonus xanthopygius, Scl. P. Z. S. 1854, p. 158, t. 69 ; 1855, p. 83, t. 90°; 1856, p. 116°;

Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 142*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 831°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8.

1864, p. 851°; 1879, p. 503"; Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 109°.

Lanio auritus, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xxii. pt. 1. p. 153°.

Tachyphonus rubrifrons, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 106”.

Tachyphonus propinquus, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 94; Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 101”.

Niger, dorso postico et humeris fiavissimis, fascicula post-superciliari coccinea, tectricibus subalaribus albis ;

rostro nigro, pedibus obscure plumbeis. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3°5, caudee 2°7, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°8.

(Descr. maris ex Remedios, Colombia. Mus. nostr.)

Q nigro-cinerea, subtus dilutior, dorso postico flavo, subalaribus albis. (Descr. exempl. ex Lion Hill, Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Angostura (Carmiol 12); Panama, Veraguas (Arcé), Lion Hill

(M‘Leannan® % 10 11), Rio Truando (Wood *).—Cotomsia ! 2 79,

A remarkable species whose range is restricted to the northern valleys of Colombia

and Central America, as far north as Costa Rica. The northern birds have been

separated by Mr. Lawrence, first under the name of 7. rubrifrons and then as 7. pro-

pinquus. ‘The former name was suggested bya mark on the forehead of the type, which

subsequently proved to be a stain, and so a new name was proposed. So far as we can

see, 7. propinquus rests upon the alleged similarity of the sexes, both male and female

having the coloration of the female of 7. xanthopygius. We are not in a position to

disprove this statement, as our three specimens from the State of Panama are all in

female dress; but we hesitate, without further evidence, to admit that, at least at some

season of the year, the male never has a dress like that of the bird of Colombia. ‘The

northern birds are so exactly like the female of the true 7. xanthopygius that it would

be most unlikely that the males did not also at least resemble each other.

Mr. Sclater’s first description of 7. xanthopygius was based upon a female bird from

the interior of Colombia!; but the following year he obtained and described the male

from the same source ”.

4. Tachyphonus chrysomelas. (Tab. XXI. fig. 1.)

Tachyphonus chrysomelas, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 440, t. 8321; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 188%

Splendide aureus, oculorum ambitu angusto, interscapulio, alis caudaque nigerrimis; remigum marginibus

internis et subalaribus necnon rectricum externarum in pogonio interno limbis angustis flavicanti-albis ;

rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4°6, ale 2:5, caude 1:8, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°65.

remigum marginibus internis albis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Cordillera del Chucu, Panama. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Cordillera del Chucu (Arcé ! *).

The only specimens of this beautiful species of Tachyphonus are those obtained by

Arcé at the above locality, and which served as the types of the original description }.

312 TANAGRIDA.,

T. chrysomelas, as its name implies, is brilliantly coloured golden yellow and black.

It is the smallest species of the genus, being of slighter build than 7’. /uctuosus, having

a shorter tail, but a wing of the same length as that of that bird. The bill is unusually

slender, almost recalling some of the Mniotiltide, so much so that the female might

easily be hurriedly passed over as belonging to a species of Geothlypis.

B. Vertex cristatus.

5. Tachyphonus delattrii.

Tachyphonus delattrii, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 72’; Bp. Consp. i. p. 237°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856,

p. 116°; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 142‘; 1865, p.171°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii.

p. 831°; ix. p. 100"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 351°; 1879, p. 503°; Ex. Orn. p. 67,

t. 84°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 140"; Ibis, 1874, p. 308».

Chlorospingus brunneus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p. 395”.

Fusco-niger ; crista verticali lete fulvo-aurantia; rostro nigro ad mandibule basin pallido, pedibus obscure

fuscis. Long. tota 5-5, ale 3-0, caudz 2-7, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex Santiago de

Veraguas, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

2 brunnea; dorso, alis et cauda saturatioribus, subtus gutture paulo dilutiore. (Deser. femine ex Remedios,

Colombia. Mus. P. L. Sclater.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Pacuar (Carmiol > 7), Irazu (Zeledon 1); Panama, Santa Fé, Santiago

de Veraguas (Arcé 1°), Lion Hill (M‘Leannan® 8), Rio Truando (Wood +*).—

CotomsBia 9°; Ecuapor?

T’. delattrit was first discovered by the French traveller Delattre at San Buenaventura,

on the west coast of Colombia, in which country Salmon also found it, both at

Remedios and Nechi, in the State of Antioquia®; it also occurs in the trade collections

sent from Bogota. We have a specimen from Pasto in Northern Ecuador, which is the

most southern point to which we have traced the species with certainty; for the bird

obtained by Fraser at Pallatanga, and supposed to be the female of 7. delattrii, and

figured as such 1°, may possibly belong to another species 12.

In the limits of our country 7. delattrii has been observed at several points—at the

falls of the Truando*, on the line of the Panama railway °, in the neighbourhood of

Santa Fé", and in the eastern parts of Costa Rica>; but it appears to be nowhere

common. Mr. Wood says that he only once met with it at the falls of the Truando,

and then about twenty specimens, which seemed to be in company, were noticed, and

several obtained, though they were very shy and not easily approached. All chattered

together like a flock of Blackbirds (Icteride), and appeared to be feeding on a berry

that was abundant*. Salmon says that it feeds on fruit®; but he did not obtain its

nest or eggs, which remain unknown.

5. Tachyphonus nitidissimus. (Tab. XXI. figg. 23,32.)

Tachyphonus nitidissimus, Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 188°; Ibis, 1874, p. 308°.

Chlorospingus axillaris, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p. 395°

Tachyphonus luctwosus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 1714?

TACHYPHONUS. —CHLOROSPINGUS. 313

itenti-niger, crista rufo-aurantiaca, tectricibus alarum minoribus et subalaribus albis ; rostro nigro, mandibule

basi albicante, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 5:5, alee 2-7, caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-7.

@ olivacea subtus flavescentior ; alis et cauda fuscis extus olivaceo limbatis, subalaribus albis. (Descr. maris

et feminee ex Bugaba, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Valza (Carmiol), Irazu (Zeledon*); Angostura (Carmiol 4); Panama,

Bugaba!, Vivala (Arcé).

This is a very distinct species, which at first sight might be mistaken for 7. /uctuosus,

the black plumage and white wing-coverts as well as the size being much as in that

species. The rufous-orange crest, however, at once distinguishes it from 7. luctuosus,

_and recalls 7. delattrit, which again has duller plumage and no white on the wing.

T. nitidissimus was discovered by Arcé in the neighbourhood of Chiriqui, where it

would appear to be not uncommon. His collections contained examples of both sexes,

as well as young males in transition plumage. A bird in the latter dress, which was

obtained during the late Prof. Gabb’s expedition to Talamanca in Costa Rica, was subse-

quently described by Mr. Lawrence as Chlorospingus axillaris?. We have never seen

an adult male from so far north; but Salvin examined Mr. Lawrence’s type in 1874 and

recognized it as being 7’. nitidissimus 2.

Cassin seems to have had specimens of this species before him when writing his notes

on ‘“‘ Conirostral Birds from Costa Rica” +4, as he speaks of nearly all the males of the

bird he calls Tachyphonus luctuosus having a concealed but well-defined coronal spot of

: pale yellow.

{Nore.—A species of Tachyphonus apparently allied te 7. melaleucus was described

by J. and E. Verreaux (Rev. Zool. 1855, p. 851) from ‘Central America” as Pyrrota

valerit. It was placed by Mr. Sclater (P. Z.S. 1856, p. 114) next to 7. melaleucus, which

it resembles, except that the wings are wholly black. We have not yet met with a

bird answering to this description.

Tachyphonus lacrymosus, DuBus (=Pecilothraupis lunulata) is stated by Bonaparte

(Consp. i. p. 237) to be found in Mexico; but this is clearly an error. |

CHLOROSPINGUS.

Chlorospingus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 189 (1851). (Type C. leucophrys, Cab.=C. ophthalmicus

(DuBus) ).

The researches of recent travellers in the mountainous countries of Western South

America have added greatly to our knowledge of the extent of this genus, so that it

now musters some twenty-six or twenty-seven species. All of these appear to affect

forests situated at some considerable elevation above the level of the sea. Thus C. post-

ocularis, with which we are most familiar, is found in forests lying between 5000 and

10,000 feet.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., February 1884. 40

) ) ——

Vv 29

314 TANAGRIDA.

In our region seven species occur, three of which are peculiar to Mexico and

Guatemala; three other peculiar species are found in Costa Rica and Panama, and the

only widely ranging one is C. albitemporalis, which spreads from Costa Rica to Bolivia.

The Central-American members of Chlorospingus are all very homogeneous; but

some of the South-American species, such as the more slenderly. built C. verticalis, are

decidedly aberrant. The stouter more robust species with which we here have to

do are very Fringilline in their general appearance; the bill is conical and stout, but

less than in the next genus; the maxillary notch is almost obsolete; the wings are

moderately long, the third, fourth, and fifth quills being nearly equai; the tail in the

more typical species is moderately long and slightly rounded; olive is the prevailing

hue of the plumage, and the sexes are alike in colour.

A. Macula postocularis alba.

1. Chlorospingus ophthalmicus.

Arremon ophthalmicus, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 106°.

Chlorospingus ophthalmicus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, pp. 89 °, 802°; 1859, pp. 364°, 377°; Cab. J.f. Orn.

1866, p. 162°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p.5497; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p.196°.

Chlorospingus leucophrys, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1. p. 189”.

Supra oleagineo-olivaceus, pileo et capitis lateribus saturate brunneis, plaga suboculari nigricante, macula post-

oculari alba, loris albidis ; subtus gula et abdomine medio albis, pectore, hypochondriis et crisso flavescenti-

olivaceis ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:8, ale 2°9, caude 2:4, rostri a rictu 0-55, tarsi

0-85. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico!?°® (le Strange), San Pedro (Galeotti ®), Cordova (Sallé? *), Jalapa ?

(De Oca*, Hoge), Totontepeque (Loucard®), temperate and hot regions of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast ®).

We have been accustomed hitherto to include the Guatemalan Chlorospingus of this

form under the name of C. ophthalmicus, but we now find on closer examination that

the brown-headed Mexican bird is peculiar to that country, and that in Guatemala two

forms are found which are not only distinct from one another, but also from the bird

now under consideration.

Chlorospingus ophthalmicus is a well-known bird in Mexico, chiefly in the upland

forests, but is also found in the hot country, according to Sumichrast’. It only occurs

in the mountains of the southern parts of the Republic, where it has been met with by

many travellers.

2. Chlorospingus postocularis.

Chlorospingus postocularis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1866, p. 1637.

Hab. Guatematat, Volcan de Fuego (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

The dark uniformly grey head distinguishes this species from C. ophthalmicus of

CHLOROSPINGUS. 315

Mexico, C. olivaceus on the other hand having the middle of the crown ashy grey, the

sides being darker. Dr. Cabanis described the species from a Guatemalan specimen, but

without stating the part of the country from which it came. The only birds in our

collection that fully answer to Dr. Cabanis’s description were all obtained in volcanoes

of Agua and Fuego at elevations varying from 3000 to 8000 feet. This species is a bird

of the forest, where it is met with in parties of six or more individuals. It is sprightly

and active, hopping restlessly about the lower branches of the trees, often coming near

an observer, when the white eye-spot is very conspicuous.

Nothing is known of its nest or eggs

3. Chlorospingus olivaceus.

Poospiza olivacea, Bp. Consp. i. p. 4737.

Chlorospingus olivaceus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 90°.

Chlorospingus ophthalmicus, Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 32°.

Hab. Guatemana, Coban 3 (0. S.), Kamkal, San Gerénimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

The Chlorospingus of Alta Vera Paz is distinguished by having a light grey streak

running along the middie of the occiput, and is doubtless the bird described by

Bonaparte under this name, though the locality he doubtfully gives as “Brazil” is

incorrect. Mr. Sclater examined the type in the Paris Museum, and recognized a

bird in his collection as belonging to the same species, and both as probably prepared

by the French collector Delattre, who, as is well known, explored the country round

Coban.

Our example from Kamkal, a village a little below Coban, is rather darker on the

head than our Coban specimens, but the lighter occiput is still visible.

~The Coban bird was called C. ophthalmicus in 1860 8, but it is clearly distinct from

the Mexican species, which has a brown head.

4. Chlorospingus albitemporalis.

Tachyphonus albitempora, Latr. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 12}.

Chlorospingus albitemporalis, Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 89°; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 171°; Lawr.

Ann. Lye. N.Y. ix. p. 101°; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1870, p. 188°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868,

p. 627°; 1879, p. 602’.

Supra lete olivaceus ; pileo et capitis lateribus nigricanti-brunneis, superciliis posticis cum macula postoculari

albis ; subtus gutture fuscescenti-albido, striis minutis fuscis adsperso, abdomine medio albo ; pectore, hypo-

chondriis et crisso viridescenti-flavis ; rostro nigricante, pedibus obscure plumbeis. Long. tota 5:2, ale

2-7, caudex 2°3, rostri a rictu 0°52, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

mari omnino similis.

Hab. Costa Rica, San José (v. Frantzius * +), Turrialba *, Barranca +, Dota 4 (Carmio 1),

San Mateo* (Cooper); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé *)—Cotompta 12;

VENEZUELA 2°; Botivia 27.

40*

316 TANAGRIDA.

The top and sides of the head in Central-American specimens of this species are

rather browner than in Bolivian examples, and the breast less golden; but these

differences are very slight. The species has a close ally in the true C. ophthalmicus of

Mexico, but it may be distinguished by the darker olive colour of the back, the darker

head, the smaller postocular white spot, and the less pronounced dark mark under the eye.

C. albitemporalis has a much wider range than any of the other Central-American

members of the genus, but it has not been observed north of the mountain-region of

Costa Rica. Here, however, it appears to be common, and also in the adjoining State

of Panama.

5. Chlorospingus punctulatus. (Tab. XXII. fig. 1.)

Chlorospingus punctulatus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1869, p. 440'; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 188°.

Supra olivaceus ; alis caudaque fusco-nigris, olivaceo limbatis; pileo toto cum nucha et capitis lateribus nigris ;

macula postoculari alba; subtus flavicanti-olivaceus, pectore aurantiaco tincto, gutture nigro sparsim

punctulato ; ventre medio albicante ; campterio alari et subalaribus limonaceo-flavis ; rostro et pedibus

nigris. Long. tota 5:2, ale 2-7, caude 2:2, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Cordillera del

Chucu, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari omnino similis.

Hab. Panama, Cordillera del Chucu (Arcé} ?).

The only specimens we have received of this distinct species were those obtained by

Arcé in the Cordillera del Chucu in 1869, which furnished the types of the description

and of the figure now given.

The white spot behind the eye associates C. punctulatus with C. ophthalmicus and its

allies, but it differs from these in having a black head, and especially in the throat being

spotted with black. This latter character separates it from C. pileatus, which has also a

black head, and is further distinguished by its superciliary and postocular white streaks.

B. Stria superciliaris (cum altera postoculari conjuncta) alba.

6. Chlorospingus pileatus. (Tab... XXII. fig. 2.)

Chlorospingus pileatus, Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 581+; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 101”.

Olivaceus, capite et nucha nigris, hujus et pilei postici lateribus cum stria postoculari concurrentibus albis ;

superciliis ipsis et loris nigris, gula, macula longa rictali et abdomine albis; pectore et corporis lateribus

olivaceis illo flavescentiore ; alis et cauda fuscis olivaceo marginatis; campterio flavo, subalaribus albidis ;

rostro obscure plumbeo, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 5:4, ale 2°75, caude 2°6, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1-0.

(Deser. exempl. typ. ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. subtus flavescens undique fusco striatus, mandibula flavicante. (Deser. exempl. ex Irazu, Costa Rica.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Irazu (Arcé!, Rogers), Poas, Rancho Redondo (Carmiol?); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé).

Of this species very little is known. The first specimens that reached us were

CHLOROSPINGUS.—BUARREMON. 317

obtained by Arcé in the volcano of Irazu or Cartago, and since then others have been

sent to the Smithsonian Institution from the same neighbourhood. A specimen has

also reached us from the volcano of Chiriqui, showing a wider extension of its range.

The black head with the two conspicuous lines of white on the side running into

one another render C. pileatus a species of easy recognition.

The figure represents one of the types from Costa Rica.

C. Macula postocularis nulla.

7. Chlorospingus hypophzus. (Tab. XXII. fig. 3.)

Chlorospingus hypopheus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1868, p. 389*; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 188°.

Supra flavicanti-olivaceus, loris cinereis; subtus pallide fulvescenti-fuscus; gutture flavo, medialiter fere

albicante, hypochondriis et crisso olivaceo perfusis ; rostro nigricanti-corneo, mandibula ad basin albicante ;

pedibus fusco-olivaceis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 2°7, caude 2-0, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°9. (Deser. maris

ex Chitra, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari omnino similis.

Hab. Panama, Calovevora ! 2, Chitra 2, Boquete de Chitra ? (Arcé).

This is another of Arcé’s discoveries in the higher mountains of the State of Panama,

whence he has sent us several specimens.

It has a near ally in C. flavigularis of Colombia, Ecuador and the Upper Amazons,

but differs in being somewhat smaller, the under surface dingy instead of clear cinereous,

and in the middle of the throat being whitish. C. seméfuscus of Ecuador is another

near ally, but differs chiefly in having a darker head and in wanting the yellow throat.

The specimen figured is a male from Chitra, Panama.

BUARREMON.

Buarremon, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 483 (1850); Sel. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 84.

Chrysopoga, Bp. loc. cit. p. 480.

Pezopetes, Cabanis, J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 415.

The limits of this genus have been very differently drawn by different authors.

Bonaparte, who instituted it, at the same time proposed two other genera, both of

which are now usually merged in Buarremon. But he included in these several

species now considered to belong to the Fringillide, into which family he piaced

Buarremon and the others, near Hemophila, Atlapetes, Pyrgisoma, Pipilo, &e. Dr.

Cabanis, again, restricted Buarremon to B. assimilis and B. brunneinucha, and placed

B. albinucha and B. pallidinucha in the genus Atlapetes, and all of them in a sub-

family Pityline of the Fringillide.

The present arrangement is that of Mr. Sclater, who extended the limits of Buar-

remon, making it embrace four sections—(a) Buarremon, (b) Chrysopoga, (c) Careno-

chrous, and (d) Pipilopsis. In the ‘Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium’ twenty

318 TANAGRIDE.

species were included in Buarremon as thus expanded; and since then no less than

thirteen have been added to it. With the single exception of the Guianan JB.

personatus, these are all distributed over the mountainous countries of Western

America (including Venezuela), from Bolivia to Southern Mexico. Within our limits

eight species are included, half of which are peculiar tothe region. Of the others, one,

B. brunneinucha, is the most widely distributed of the whole genus, ranging from

Mexico to Peru; both &. gutturalis and B. albinucha extend from Mexico to Colombia,

but the latter is not found in the intervening country ; lastly, B. assimilis, of Colombia,

Ecuador, and Peru, has only once been obtained in Costa Rica. Of the peculiar species,

B. virenticeps has only been found as yet in Mexico. J. capitalis, B. crassirostris,

and B. tibialis are all birds of the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama.

Buarremon is another step in the direction of the Fringillide, which it resembles in

the stout conical bill, which in B. crassirostris is especially strong; there is a small

notch near the end of the commissure of the maxilla; the wings are rather long and

rounded, the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills being the longest ; the tail is elongated and

much rounded; the tarsi and toes generally long and strong, to suit a terrestrial habit

(this is especially so in B. capitalis) ; and the sexes are alike in plumage.

Though we adopt the limits and position of the genus Buarremon assigned to it by

Mr. Sclater, we feel at the same time that its relationship with such Fringilline genera

as Pyrgisoma, Atlapetes, and thence to some members of Pipilo, is by no means unim-

portant, and that a close examination of more characters than such as are afforded by

the study of skins will very probably considerably modify the classification now used.

1. Buarremon assimilis.

Tanagra assimils, Boiss. Rev. Zool. 1840, p. 67°.

Buarremon assimilis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 484°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 85°; 1859, p. 441 *; 1860,

p- 76°; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 308°; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 1977; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1875,

p. 234.5; 1879, p. 504°; Tacz. P. Z. S. 1880, p. 196".

Buarremon assimilis, ? Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 101”.

Olivaceus, pileo et capitis lateribus nigris; superciliis, stria occipitali cum cervice postica et laterali cinereis ;

subtus albus, hypochondriis et crisso olivacescenti-cinereis ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 7:5,

ale 3°3, caudse 3°3, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 1:15. (Deser. femine ex Medellin, Colombia. Mus. nostr. )

6 feming omnino similis.

Hab. Costa Rica, Guaitil (Carmiol )—CotomBia 12379; Ecuapor?45; Prrv!;

VENEZUELA 8,

The only recorded instance of the occurrence of this species within our limits is that

given by Mr. Lawrence, who included it in his list of Costa-Rican birds. That author

had some doubts as to whether the Costa-Rican specimen was really referable to B. assi-

milis, stating that the bill was larger, the colour of the cheeks deeper black, and the

tarsi shorter than in the typical Bogota bird 4.

BUARREMON. 319

Salvin, who examined the Costa-Rican specimen in 1874, came to the conclusion

that it was not really separable from B. assimilis, and attributed the difference of the

size of the bill to the feathers being rubbed off the base in the Costa-Rican example,

giving it an appearance of greater size ; the difference in the colour of the cheeks is

due to the feathers being more closely set in the preparation of the skin.

In South America B. assimilis is well known from Colombia to Peru. In the latter

country Stolzmann obtained its eggs at Callacate. These are described by M. Tacza-

nowski as of a uniform pale greenish colour. The iris is stated to be of a brownish

cherry-colour 2°,

2. Buarremon virenticeps.

Buarremon virenticeps, Bp. Compt. Rend. xli. p. 6571; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 857; Cat. Am. B.

p. 90°.

Fringilla quadrivittata, Licht. Mus. Berol. (fide Sclater).

B. assimili affinis, sed capitis striis et cervice tota olivacescentibus dorso fere concoloribus ; subtus hypochondriis

et crisso fuscescentioribus. Long. tota 7:0, ale 3-2, caudex 3-6, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 1:1. (Deser.

exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico! (le Strange, Boucard).

Though now well known as an inhabitant of Southern Mexico, the name of B.

virenticeps is absent from the lists of birds obtained by Sallé, Boucard, and others,

published from time to time by Mr. Sclater. We have, however, a specimen from

M. Boucard; Mr. le Strange also obtained examples, and we have seen others in

Mr. Sclater’s and other collections.

B. virenticeps is evidently allied to B. assimilis, but may at once be distinguished by

the occipital and superciliary stripes of the head being olivaceous instead of grey.

3. Buarremon brunneinucha.

Embernagra brunneinucha, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 97'.

Buarremon brunneinuchus, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, pp. 85°, 302°; 1858, pp. 72*, 303°; 1859, pp. 188°,

364", 377°; 1864, p. 174°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 15"; P. Z. S. 1868, p. 627";

1875, p. 284°; 1879, p. 504°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 414"; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865,

p- 170”; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 140"°; 1870, p. 189'7; Cat, Strickl. Coll. p. 198";

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 101”;

v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 300*'; Tacz. P. Z. 8S. 1874, p. 515”; 1879, p. 228”; 1880,

p- 196.

Arremon frontalis, Tsch. Faun. Per. p. 212”.

Buarremon xanthophrys, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 141°°.

Olivaceus, alis et cauda brunnescentioribus, pileo postico et nucha castaneis utrinque cinnamomeo limbatis,

fronte et capitis lateribus nigris illa nigro trimaculata; subtus gula et abdomine medio albis, pectore nigro,

hypochondriis et crisso olivaceo-cinereis ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. (Descr. exempl. ex J alapa,

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari omnino similis, ©

320 TANAGRIDZ.

Juv. inornatus; fere omnino obscure olivaceus, capite summo brunnescente. (Descr. juv. ex Vera Paz, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico! (le Strange), Cordova (Sallé?), valley of Mexico (White °), Jalapa (de

Oca‘), temperate and alpine region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast °), La Parada®,

Teotalcingo § (Boucard); GuatemaLa? (Skinner 1°), Volcan de Fuego (0. 8S. &

F. D. G.); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 421), Dota Mountains % 2°, Barranca 2°,

Grecia 7° (Carmiol) ; San José (v. Frantzius?°), Irazu (Rogers); Panama, Volcan

de Chiriqui !’, Cordillera de Tolé 1°, Santiago de Veraguas 1°, Calovevora 17, Calobre

(Arcé). —Cotompra 21318; Kouapor*®; Peru 7? 23 24 25 Vannavens 21112 26,

This is by far the best-known member of the genus Buarremon, having a wide

range extending from Southern Mexico to Peru, and spreading eastwards to Venezuela.

It is, however, a denizen of the higher country, and is never found in the forests of the

lowlands. In the woods of the Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala, lying between 6000

and 8000 feet, it is a common bird, and was usually observed in pairs scratching on

the ground amongst dead leaves.

Salmon, who obtained its eggs in the State of Antioquia, describes them as nearly

white, faintly tinged with very pale greenish blue }.

b. brunneinucha has no near ally in our country, being distinguished by its chestnut

head, the forehead being black, with a central and two lateral small white spots. In

South America B. inornatus, from Western Ecuador, is an allied species, differing in

the absence of the black pectoral band.

4, Buarremon gutturalis.

Arremon gutturalis, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 98°.

Buarremon gutturalis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 484°; Scl. P. Z.8. 1856, p. 86°; Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 322°;

Sel. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 504°.

Buarremon chrysopogon, Scl. (ex Bp.), P. Z.8. 1856, p.86°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 157; Cassin,

Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 171°; Lawr. Ann, Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 101°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869,

p- 800°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 189”.

Atlapetes chrysopogon, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 414"; 1861, p. 94”.

Chrysopogon typica, Bp. Consp. i. p. 480”.

Zonotrichia? aureigula, Bp. MS.”

Buarremon albinuchus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 274°.

Griseo-nigricans, capite nigro vitta occipitali alba; subtus griseo-albus, gula lutea; rostro nigro, pedibus cory-

linis. Long. tota 6°5, alw 2°8, caudw 3-2, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 1-05. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Juv. supra brunnescens, subtus sordide albus, pectore toto indistincte fusco striato, gula flavicante. (Descr.

exempl. ex Chiriqui, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Var. gula lete aurantiaca.

Hab. Guatemata (Skinner), Coban (0. S. 1°), Volcan de Fuego, Volcan de Agua,

Totonicapam (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica (Hoffmann 12), Dota Mountains § 9

BUARREMON. 321

(Carmiol, v. Frantzius ©), Quebrada Honda®, San José 1° (v. Frantzius), Irazu

(Rogers), Tucurriqui (Arcé); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui 14, Castillo 44, Calovevora

(Arcé).—Cotomsta 123 45,

The late Mr. Cassin, when writing on some birds of Costa Rica®, stated his sus-

picion that Buarremon chrysopogon, of Bonaparte, and Arremon gutturalis, Lafresnaye,

referred to one and the same species; and Salvin, on seeing Lafresnaye’s type in the

Museum of the Boston Society of Natural History, at once came to the conclusion that

Buarremon gutturalis was the proper title for this Tanager ¢.

The species is a common one in the highlands of Guatemala, being found in the

forests of the volcanoes of Agua and Fuego at altitudes varying from 6000 to 8000 or

9000 feet, and in Alta Vera Paz near Coban as lowas 4000 feet. Like B. brunneinucha,

its usual resort is near or on the ground, where it searches dead leaves and rubbish for

insects. When disturbed it will fly into the upper branches of the forest-trees.

In the upland forests of Costa Rica and Panama it appears to be equally common ;

and it is also found in similar situations in Northern Colombia.

Salmon’s specimens were obtained near Medellin and Remedios, in the State of

Antioquia, at an elevation of about 5000 feet above the sea°.

He here found its eggs, which are described as of a very pale greenish blue °®, and

thus resemble those of B. brunneinucha.

The normal colouring of the throat in this species is a pale yellow; but specimens

occur in which the throat is rich orange. We have several such specimens from the

State of Panama.

The specimen from Coban called B. albinucha'® is a young bird of this species, in

which the whole undersurface is slightly tinged with yellow. ‘The young of both

B. gutturalis and B. albinucha are thus coloured; but the yellow of B. albinucha is

much deeper in tint than in the Coban bird.

When describing this species under the name Chrysopoga typica, Bonaparte gave its

habitat as California, on the faith of a label in the Paris Museum !*. The statement

is doubtless erroneous. We know nothing of the species north of Guatemala.

5. Buarremon albinucha.

Embernagra albinucha, Lafr. & d’Orb. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 165".

Buarremon albinuchus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 484°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 86°; 1857, p. 205°; 1859,

pp. 364°, 377°; 1864, p. 173"; Cat. Am. B. p. 91°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

i, p. 549°.

Atlapetes albinuchus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 140".

Embernagra mexicana, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 42".

Buarremon vitellinus, Licht. Mus. Ber. ”

B. gutturali similis, sed corpore subtus omnino flavo distinguendus. Long. tota 6°7, alee 2°8, caude 3-3, rostri

a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1:05. (Descr. maris ex Totontepec, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Juy. subtus sordide flavicans fusco striatus. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., February 1884. 4]

322 TANAGRIDZ.

Hab. Mexico 21014, valley of Mexico (White"), temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumi-

chrast ®), Jalapa (Sallé+, de Oca®, Deppe'?, Hoge), Orizaba (Botteri *, le Strange),

Totontepec (Boucard °), Oaxaca.—CoLomBia 1 °°.

The range of this species is remarkable, inasmuch as it is completely severed into

two parts. The northern section is restricted to Southern Mexico, and the southern to

Central and Eastern Colombia. The whole of the intermediate country is occupied by

the allied species B. gutturalis, apparently to the complete exclusion of B. albinucha.

In Colombia it is by no means a common bird; but not only was it originally

described from a Colombian specimen in the Paris Museum, sent by Candé from the

neighbourhood of Cartagena *, but Mr. Sclater has in his possession a skin which is of

the unmistakable make of the Bogota bird-hunters*; so that its presence in the south

can hardly be questioned.

In Mexico B. albinucha is well known, being, as Sumichrast says, one of the

characteristic birds of the temperate region between the elevations of 2000 and 3600

feet °.

Mr. Sclater speaks of a specimen in his collection which has the throat orange-

coloured, showing that the species varies in this respect just as Bb. gutturalis ®.

6. Buarremon capitalis. (Tab. XXIII. fig. 1.)

Pezopetes capitalis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 415"; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 189°.

Buarremon capitalis, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 24°; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 55 *.

Olivaceus, alis et cauda nigricantibus illis olivaceo limbatis, capite sumno nigro, stria occipitali, regione post-

oculari et nucha cinerascentibus ; subtus oleagineo-olivaceus, gula nigra, gutture imo obscure olivaceo,

hypochondriis et crisso ferrugineo indutis. Long. tota 7:5, ale 3°3, caudex 3-4, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 1:3.

(Descr. exempl. ex Volcan de Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius+), Irazu (Arce, Rogers, Boucard*); Panama, Volcan de

Chiriqui (Arcé 2).

Though placed in a distinct genus by Dr. Cabanis, this bird may fairly be included

in Buarremon, the only distinction being, so far as we can see, the greater strength of

the tarsi and toes. Its habits seem to resemble those of B. brunneinucha. M. Boucard

tells us* that it frequents the Volcan de Ivazu, going in pairs, which spend most of

their time on the ground scratching in search of insects.

The only extension of the range of B. capitalis beyond Costa Rica is the volcano of

Chiriqui, where Arcé found it and sent us several specimens, one of which is now

figured.

7. Buarremon tibialis. (Tab. XXII. fig. 2.)

Tachyphonus tibialis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 41"; ix. p. 101°; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869,

p. 299°.

Buarremon tibialis, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 25*; Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1878, p. 56”.

Schistaceo-niger; capite toto, gula, alis et cauda nigris, tectricibus auricularibus sericeo-schistaceis; tibiis

BUARREMON.—ARREMON, | 323

lete flavis ; rostro nigro; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 7:4, ale 3:4, caude 3°6, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi

1-0. (Descr. maris ex Parita, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

mari similis, dorso medio paulo fuscescentiore.

Hab. Costa Rica, San José ?, Dota 2, Parita (Carmiol), Rancho Redondo (v. Frantzius 8,

Carmiol *), La Palma *, Quebrada Honda (v. Frantzius?3), Volean de Irazu (Arcé,

Rogers, J. Cooper *), Navarro (Boucard®); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé).

Mr. Lawrence when describing this species placed it in the genus Tachyphonus; but

the almost exact similarity in the colouring of the plumage of the sexes, the general

structure, and the absence of any glossiness in the pterylosis, indicate that its proper

place is in Buarremon.

Its sombre plumage, relieved by the bright yellow tibiz, render B. tibialis a remark-

able bird, and it has no near allies.

It is not an uncommon species in Costa Rica, where it frequents the mountain forests.

We have also received specimens from the Volcan de Chiriqui, which perhaps marks

the limit of its range in a south-easterly direction.

We have figured a male from Parita, Costa Rica.

8. Buarremon crassirostris.

Buarremon crassirostris, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 170'; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 140, t. 14°;

1870, p. 188°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. xi. p. 101%.

Buarremon mesoxanthus, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1866, p. 72’.

Supra olivaceus, capite summo castaneo ; loris, regione oculari et tectricibus auricularibus cinereo-nigris ; subtus

plumis gule medialiter albis extus et intus nigris, pectus versus cinereis ; pectore, hypochondriis et crisso

olivaceis, abdomine medio lete flavo ; alis et cauda fusco-nigris illis extus dorso concoloribus ; rostri maxilla

cornea, mandibula albicante, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6:0, ale 3:0, caude 2°6, rostri a rictu 0°75,

tarsi 1:15. (Descr. maris ex Veraguas, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis.

Hab. Costa Rica, Barranca (Carmiol!+); Panama, Cordillera de Tolé 2, Cordillera del

Chucu ? 3, Santiago de Veraguas?? (Arcé).

Sb. crassirostris has its nearest ally in B. castaneiceps of Northern Colombia and

Ecuador, one of the most obvious differences being its yellow abdomen. Both are

rather aberrant members of Buarremon, having a very robust bill and shorter tail. The

eggs, too, differ—those of B. castaneiceps, according to Salmon, being white, thickly

spotted at the larger end with red, the eggs of B. drunneinucha being spotless pale

greenish blue.

The name B. mesoranthus given to Panama specimens by Salvin > is synonymous with

that of Cassin, and, though of later date, was published prior to the arrival of the

description of the latter in this country.

ARREMON.

Arremon, Vieillot, Anal. p. 32 (1816) (type Tanagra silens, Bodd.) ; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 80.

There are about twelve known species of this purely Neotropical genus, of which

41*

324 TANAGRIDA.

only one, Arremon aurantiirostris, is found within our area, where, however, it is widely

distributed. The South-American species are chiefly from the Subandean regions, but

the best known of all, A. stlens, spreads over the whole of the eastern portion of the

continent, from Guiana and Amazonia to Brazil.

In structure and coloration Arremon is very homogeneous. The bill is straight,

rather high, short, and conical, with an obsolete subterminal maxillary notch. The

wings are short and rounded; the tail also rather short and much rounded; the tarsi

are somewhat long, appropriate to a semiterrestrial habit. Most of the species have a

black head, and in many of them is a vertical median cinereous stripe; the under-

surface is white, and many species have a conspicuous black pectoral band. The bill

is often of a rich orange or yellow; the back is either olivaceous or grey.

The species all appear to frequent the denser forests, where they are to be found in

the underwood or on the ground.

1. Arremon aurantiirostris.

Arremon auraniiirostris, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 72’; Des Murs, Icon. Orn. t. 55°; Bp.

Consp. i. p. 488°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 83*; 1859, p. 377°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p- 82°;

P. Z.S. 1864, p. 351"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vil. p. 298°; viii. p. 180°; ix. p.102"°; Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 140"; 1870, p.188”; Ibis, 1872, p. 317; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869,

p. 300%.

Arremon rufpdorsalis, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 170"; Lawr Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 102;

Salv. Ibis, 1874, p. 3087.

Supra oleagineus, cauda fuscescentiore, capite nigro, superciliis elongatis albis, stria verticali cinerea ; subtus

gula et abdomine medio albis, pectore late nigro, hypochondriis fuscis oleagineo indutis ; campterio alari

letissime aurantiaco; rostro aurantiaco, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6°5, alee 3-2, caude 3°0, rostri a

rictu 0°7, tarsi l. (Descr. maris ex Santa Fé, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari persimilis.

Hab. Mexico, Playa Vicente (Boucard®); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux) ;

GUATEMALA, Coban °, Choctum, Chisec (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Nicaraeua, Chontales

(Belt '*), Greytown (Holland ®); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius +), San Mateo (Cooper 1),

Dota (Zeledon '°), Guaitil (Carmiol 1°), Tucurriqui (Arcé), Turrialba (Carmiol 5 1%) ;

Panama, Bugaba !*, Mina de Chorcha !”, Cordillera del Chucu 12, Santa Fé 1 (Arcé),

Lion Hill (d/‘Leannan* *), Panama (Delattre 124),

Lafresnaye’s description of this species was based upon Panama specimens obtained

by the French collector Delattre!. We have since both received skins from the isthmus

and observed the bird in that region. In May 1873 Salvin found a nest in the forest

near Obispo Station, which was placed on the ground and prettily screened by an

overhanging frond of an Adiantum. ‘This nest contained young, which were not

disturbed.

From Panama A. aurantiirostris has been traced northwards to South Mexico, where,

however, it is not common, having been found at Playa Vicente alone by M. Boucard 5.

ARREMON.—SALTATOR. 325

In Guatemala it is common in the forest-country north of Coban, where we obtained

specimens in 1862, and whence others have been forwarded to us by native collectors.

A Costa-Rican specimen of this species was described by Cassin as A. rufodorsalis ;

but this seems to be nothing but a stained example of the well-known bird. Salvin

was of this opinion when he examined the type in ‘Asi4 17, No similar specimens have

since been obtained.

As already stated, A. awrantiirostris is the sole representative of the genus in Central

America, beyond the limits of which it is not found. It belongs to the same group as

A, silens of Guiana and Brazil, and has its nearest ally in A. spectabilis of Colombia

and Ecuador, from which it differs in having a darker back and a broader black pec-

toral band.

SALTATOR.

Saltator, Vieillot, Anal. p. 32 (1816) ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 69.

Saltator contains about eighteen species, all of which belong to the Neotropical

Region, and are spread from Mexico to Paraguay and the Argentine Republic. Five

species occur within our limits, four of them being peculiar to the country, only one,

S. albicollis, spreading beyond into the northern portions of South America.

The members of the genus Saltator are all stoutly-built birds, with strong Fringilline

bills, S. atviceps being the largest species of Tanager known. ‘The sexes are coloured

alike; the prevailing colour of the plumage is olive-grey or brown above, and generally

grey beneath, one section being streaked with brown. The bill is strong, somewhat

elongated, the culmen being much arched; the commissure is nearly simple, but there

is a subapical maxillary notch ; the wings are short and rounded, and the tail long and

also much rounded ; the tarsi are short, these birds being strictly aboreal in their habits.

1: Saltator atriceps.

Tanagra (Saltator) atriceps, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 208, t. 69".

Saltator atriceps, Bp. Consp. i. p. 488°; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 142°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, pp. 694,

302°; 1859, p. 864°, 3777; 1864, p. 174°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 14°; P. ZS. 1864,

p. 351"; 1870, p. 836"; Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 58”; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. lll”;

Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y. vii. p, 297"; ix. pp. 102", 200"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4,

p. 19"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 199”;

P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 421°; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 448 a,

Tanagra gnatho, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 2” (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56).

Arremon giganteus, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 117”.

Pyrrhula raptor, Cabot, Journ. Bost. Soc. N. H. v. p. 90, t. 12”.

Supra olivaceus, capite toto cum mento et torque pectorali nigris, superciliis indistincte albis, gutture medialiter

albo ; corpore reliquo subtus cinereo, crisso ferrugineo; rostro nigro, mandibula interdum flavicante,

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 10-4, ale 4:6, caude 5-0, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1-1. (Deser. maris ex

Volcan de Agua, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

326 TANAGRIDZA.

Obs. Specimina quedam capitis lateribus frequentissime griseo notatis, torque pectorali quoque interdum obsoleta,

differunt.

Hab. Mexico 122822, hot and temperate regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 18), Tierra

Caliente of Atlantic coast (le Strange), Cordova (Sallé+*), Jalapa (de Oca®), Pa-

pantla (Deppe*), Playa Vicente (Boucard"), Guichicovi, Santa Efigenia (Swmi-

chrast *7), Yucatan (Cabot *4), Merida in Yucatan (Schott!®, Gawmer*!); Britis

Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); GuateMata (Velasquez de Leon ??, Constancia }®),

Escuintla 4, Coban, Yzabal, Choctum, Savana Grande, Zapote, Mirandilla, Santa

Lucia Cosamalguapa, San Agustin, Retalhuleu (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras,

Omoa (Leyland 7), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely 11), Comayagua (Taylor 13); Nica-

RAGUA, Hato Viejo (Baater); Costa Rica, Pacuar (Carmiol *); Panama, Lion Hill

(I Leannan 14), Obispo (O. S.), Panama city (4. H. Markham °°).

Lesson’s name for this species, Saltator atriceps, and Lichtenstein’s, Tanagra gnatho,

were both published in 1830; but in this case Lesson’s has been generally used. In

the case of Tanagra abbas, Lichtenstein’s title has been adopted. Of course, both

practices cannot be legally correct ; but, as the actual date of the publication of neither

work can be accurately ascertained, the names in use may as well be adhered to.

Bonaparte’s name, Arremon giganteus, based on a Guatemalan specimen, is a simple

synonym of Saltator atriceps; so also is Cabot’s Pyrrhula raptor: this last name was

proposed for the Yucatan bird, of which we have specimens differing in no way from

our Central-American series.

Saltator atriceps is a characteristic bird of the hotter country on both sides of the

mountains of Mexico and Central America, as far south as the isthmus of Panama.

Sumichrast states that in Southern Mexico it is found as high as 4000 feet above the

sea. In Guatemala it occurred to us usually at lower elevations, and was particularly

common in the forest-country of the mountains sloping towards the Pacific, at an

elevation of about 2500 feet and under; and in Vera Paz it was also abundant in the

neighbourhood of Choctum and similar situations. Saltator atriceps is rather a noisy

bird, with a harsh note, and is generally seen in low trees bordering a clearing in the

forested districts. Mr. Gaumer says it is very abundant near Merida in Yucatan, adding

that it feeds on the flowers of a Convolvulus, and that he found other flowers, green

leaves, and sometimes fruit in specimens which he dissected 2!.

There is considerable difference between individual specimens of this species as

regards the black band crossing the chest. In many examples this band is obsolete,

the white throat extending to the grey of the underparts; in others a few black feathers

appear, and every gradation can be traced to a band half to three quarters of an inch

wide. Another point of still greater variation is in the colour of the cheeks. In

nearly all our examples there if some admixture of grey with the black feathers; but

in some they are wholly black. A rarer form of variation is in the colour of the throat,

SALTATOR. 327

which in some specimens, usually Mexican, is of a rich chestnut instead of white; but

intermediate forms occur connecting the two. The colour of the bill, too, is subject

to variation, the mandible being often yellow, and sometimes the tip of the maxilla

as well. |

These varieties are probably due to age and season, as they cannot be associated with

any particular district.

2. Saltator magnoides.

Saltator magnoides, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 41°; Bp. Consp. i. p. 489°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856

pp- 69°, 142*, 302°; 1859, pp. 364°, 83777; 1864, p. 174°; Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 14°;

P.Z. 8. 1864, p. 351°; 1870, p. 836"; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 416°; Lawr. Ann. Lye.

N. Y. viii. p. 180”; ix. p. 102"; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1867, p. 140”; 1870, p. 189"°; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. 1. p. 549°; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 300”.

Saltator gigantodes, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 142”.

Saltator magnus, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 297”.

Saltator intermedius, Lawr. Proc. Ac. Phil. 1864, p. 106%; Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 176”.

Supra olivaceus; capite cinereo, pileo olivaceo intermixto, superciliis albis; subtus cinereus, gula media

castanea undique nigro late circumcincta, crisso ferrugineo; rostro nigro, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota

8:0, alee 3-9, caude 3:8, rostri a rictu 0-95, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico !?8!9, Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca °), Playa Vicente (Boucard™), hot

region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast '"); Guaremaua (Skinner ®), Coban °, Chisec, Choc-

tum (0. S. & F. D. G.):; Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely™); Nicaragua,

Greytown (Holland '*); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius'!?'8, Ellendorf '*), Turrialba

(Carmiol *, Arcé), San José and Angostura (Carmiol *), Bebedero (Arcé), Irazu

(Rogers); Panama, Chiriqui (Bridges+, Arcé'*), David (Hicks **), Bugaba 6,

Chitra !6, Mina de Chorcha 1°, Calovevora 1°, Santa Fé 4 (Arcé), Lion Hill (M*Lean-

man, 10 20 21),

Saltator magnoides inhabits much the same range of country as S. atriceps, being

found together with it in the hot low-lying forest-region from Southern Mexico to

Panama, where it is perhaps even more common than the allied species. In Guatemala,

however, it is restricted to the forests of Vera Paz, and does not appear to occur on the

‘ Pacific side of the Cordillera, where S. atriceps is common. It keeps also to the east

side of the isthmus until we reach Costa Rica, where it is to be met with on both sides

of the Cordillera, and thence spreads onwards to the isthmus of Panama. Panama

specimens were separated by Mr. Lawrence under the name of S. intermedius, as they

seemed to him to be intermediate between S. magnoides and S. magnns of South

America. In his paper on Arcé’s collections °, Salvin was at some pains to show that

the characters relied on by Mr. Lawrence are not of much moment, and we have no

reason now to go back from this verdict.

Another synonym of this Saltator is S. gigantodes, Cab.19 Mr. Sciater examined the

328 TANAGRIDE.

type of this bird, and gave it as his opinion that it was only an example of S. mag-

noides.

The South-American species most nearly allied to the present bird is undoubtedly

S. magnus, which enjoys a very wide range in South America, and comes close to our

border in the State of Antioquia in Colombia. Salmon found the nest and eggs of

S. magnus; the former he describes as composed of small sticks and fern-stalks, and

placed in low underwood; the eggs are pale greenish blue, with a zone of black spots

and hair-lines round the larger end.

S. magnus differs from S. magnoides in having black rictal lines on each side of the

gular spot, which are not carried round it as a necklace as in S. magnotdes. It is,

too, a smaller bird, and is more rufescent and not so pure a grey beneath.

3. Saltator grandis.

Tanagra grandis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2 (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57°).

Saltator grandis, Scl. P. Z.8. 1856, p. 72’; 1857, p. 205°; 1859, pp. 864 *, 377°; 1864, p. 174°;

Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 147; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 886°; Moore, P. Z.S. 1859, p. 58°;

Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p.416"°; 1861, p.1”; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549”;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. pp. 102”, 200”; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 19”; v.

Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 8300*°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 200°"; Boucard, P. Z. S.

1883, p. 443 ™.

Saltator icterophrys, laafr. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 41°; Bp. Consp. i. p. 490”.

Saltator rufiventris, Vig. in Beechey’s Voy. p. 19” (nec. d’Orb.).

Saltator vigorsii, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 363”; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 143”.

Supra nigrescenti-cinereus, capitis lateribus obscurioribus, superciliis distinctis albis, gutture medio albo, nigro

utrinque marginato; subtus pallidior, ventre imo et crisso rufescentibus ; rostro nigro, mandibula cornea,

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 8°5, ale 4-2, caude 4:2, rostri a rictu 0°95, tarsi 1-1. (Deser. exempl. ex

Tonola, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Av. juv. supra olivaceo indutus, superciliis et gula flavo tinctis, subtus rufescentior. (Descr. maris ex Dueifas,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico | 2! 2? 93, Tepitongo (Galeotti 1"), Villa Maria, valley of Mexico (White 6),

hot and temperate regions of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast *), Tierra Caliente of the

Atlantic side (le Strange), Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa? (Deppe, de Oca‘), Playa

Vicente (Boucard®), Santa Efigenia , Tonila (Swmichrast), Merida in Yucatan

(Schott 4, Gaumer '8); Guatemaa (Skinner ’, Constancia ), Escuintla, Retalhuleu,

Savana Grande, Duefias’ (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. IM. Whitely §),

Omoa (Leyland®); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 91%, Hoffmann), San José (v.

Frantzius 18), Cartago (Cooper !*, Arcé, Rogers), Tempate (Arcé).

There can be little doubt that the birds described above as the young of this species

really are so, for, though we have no specimens of S. grandis in transition plumage, we

have one of the closely allied S. pluwmbeiceps in this stage, and Mr. Lawrence has described

others. This form of S. grandis was called 8S. icterophrys by Lafresnaye, owing to

SALTATOR. 329

its yellowish eyebrows; it also has the back and underparts tinged with olive-yellow.

We find birds in this dress with normally-clad adult birds throughout the range of the

species.

As will be seen above, Saltator grandis has a very extensive range in our region, from

Southern Mexico to Costa Rica; but in Western Mexico S. plumbeiceps entirely

supplants it. Its range in altitude is decidedly higher than that of either 8. atriceps

or S. magnoides ; Sumichrast gives its limits as nearly 5000 feet in the State of Vera

Cruz; and this agrees with our observations, as we found it abundant at Duefias in

Guatemala, which lies at nearly this altitude. From this height it extends to the sea-

level at Tehuantepec in Northern Yucatan and elsewhere.

In Guatemala its range is somewhat peculiar, as it hangs to the side sloping to the

Pacific Ocean rather than to Vera Paz; but, on the other hand, it is common in

Northern Yucatan, and occurs also at San Pedro and Omoa, near the eastern sea-board

of Honduras 8 9.

Its habits are very similar to those of its congeners, 8. atriceps and S. magnoides,

associating in small flocks in the lower brushwood bordering the forest.

Concerning Saltator icteropygius (DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 13; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 70),

described as a distinct Mexican species, some difference of opinion has prevailed, Dr.

Hartlaub agreeing with its describer as to its distinctness, whilst Lafresnaye and

Bonaparte declared it to be a specimen of Saltator grandis supplied with a tail of a

Ptilogonys cinereus. We have not seen the type; but, from the figure, we have no

hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the bird was made up in the way suggested

by Lafresnaye !

4, Saltator plumbeiceps.

Saltator plumbeiceps, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 477+; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2742,

S. grandi similis, sed omnino pallidior, supra pallidius griseus, subtus sordide albidus, capitis lateribus multo

pallidioribus et litura utrinque rictali nigra multo magis distincta.

Av, jwv. olivascens, superciliis flavidis, litura rictali fusca distinguendus. (Descr. femine et ay. juv. ex Mazatlan,

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico, Mazatlan (Xantus!, Grayson?, Forrer), Presidio near Mazatlan (forrer),

Tepic (Grayson *), plains of Colima (Xantus?), Putla (Rébouch).

Mr, Lawrence first published a description of this species under a MS. name given to

specimens obtained near Mazatlan by Xantus in 18631. It was subsequently found by

Grayson in the same neighbourhood ?, by Xantus himself further south in the plains of

Colima ?, by Rébouch near Putla, and lastly in some numbers by Mr. Alphonse Forrer

again near Mazatlan.

Grayson says? that it inhabits the forests and breeds in the spring months, during

which time it is in fine song. He adds that it does not migrate, and is a common

species in the vicinity of Mazatlan, Tepic, and San Blas. The nest he describes as

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1884. 49

330 TANAGRIDA.

slightly made of small dry twigs and lined with fibrous roots; the eggs, from three to

five in number, are of a pale blue colour, with delicate black hieroglyphic marks on the

large end.

The young bird described by Mr. Lawrence”, Grayson thought was a distinct species ;

but one of his birds being in transition plumage proves that this cannot be the case.

We have also a young bird in a similar state from M. Rébouch.

Saltator plumbeiceps is closely allied to S. grandis, and entirely takes its place in

Western Mexico, beyond the limits of which district it has not yet been detected. Nor

have the two birds been found together.

5. Saltator albicollis.

Saltator albicollis, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. N. xiv. p. 1071; Bp. Consp. i. p. 4897; Scl. P.Z.S.

1856, p. 75°; Tacz. P.Z.S. 1874, p. 5174; 1879, p. 229°; 1880, p. 198°; Scl. & Salv.

P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 505, t. 42. f.97; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1880, p. 122°; Salv. P.Z.S. 1883,

p. 421°.

Saltator maculipectus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 73"; Bp. Consp. i. p. 489"; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856,

p. 76"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 167”.

Saltator striatipectus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 73“; Bp. Consp. i. p. 489"; Scl. P.Z. 8. 1856,

p. 76"; 1866, p. 97°"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 381”; vi. p. 176”.

Saltator isthmicus, Scl. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 180”; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 351”; Salv. P. Z. 8.

1867, p. 141"; 1870, p. 189”.

Supra olivaceus, uropygio et cauda cinereis, hujus rectricum apicibus albidis; subtus sordide albus, pectore

_ olivaceo suffuso, gula et ventre medio albis, corpore reliquo subtus fusco flammulato ; rostro nigro, pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 7-2, ale 3-5, caude 3-3, rostri a rictu 0:8, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Q mari similis.

Hab. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Chitra 23, Santa Fé 22 (Arcé), David (Hicks 1°),

Lion Hill (M‘Leannan 181), near the city of Panama (A. H. Markham ®).—Sovrs

America, from Colombia? § 1° 14 to Ecuador and Peru 45 6 17, Venezuela 18, Trinidad 3.

and Guiana 2?

We have no specimens from Guiana, whence the type of this species is stated to have

come*. Mr. Sclater, who examined this type in the Paris Museum before writing his

Synopsis of Tanagers in 1856 %, says that it seemed to him to be a skin of a young

bird. He further states his suspicion that it came from Trinidad and not from Cayenne,

though the bird may well occur in both countries. This bird must bear Vieillot’s title

Saltator albicollis, With the acquisition of a gradually increasing series of specimens

of a Saltator of this form, including examples from many points of the northern

portion of South America, we have gradually come to the conclusion that but one

species ranges from Trinidad on the east to the Isthmus of Panama, and thence south-

wards to the Gulf of Guayaquil. It thus follows that the names S. maculipectus,

S. striatipectus, and 8S. isthmicus are all but synonyms of S. albicollis, as they were

PITYLUS. 331

proposed for birds found within the area indicated above. We also believe that the

island birds S. martinicensis and S. guadalupensis will probably be found inseparable

from S. albicollis when a good series of specimens are compared. Mr. Sclater has

already expressed his inability to distinguish between S. martinicensis and S. guada-

lupensis 8,

Though we place all the continental birds under the name S. albicollis, there is a

certain amount of variation observable in different individuals. The colour of the bill

has been used as a differential character, but this most certainly is only an individual

one. The amount of striation on the chest is another variable character; but this,

too, is not localized, though Colombian specimens have perhaps less than those from

Panama.

Salmon obtained the eggs of this species in the Colombian State of Antioquia; these

he describes as pale greenish blue, with a zone of fine black lines round the larger end’.

This description agrees well with that given by Grayson of the eggs of Saltator

plumbeiceps.

PITYLUS.

Pitylus, Cuv. Régne An. i. p. 413 (1829) ; Sclater, P. Z.S. 1856, p. 64.

Pitylus is another Neotropical genus, containing nine species, three of which are

found within our limits, two being peculiar, and one (P. grossus) having an extensive

range over the northern parts of South America.

Of the peculiar species, P. celeno of Mexico has no near ally, but perhaps comes

near to P. erythromilas of Guiana. P. poliogaster represents the Guianan and Brazilian

P. viridis and P. brasiliensis, but has perhaps a nearer ally in P. humeralis of Colombia

and Ecuador.

In Pitylus we have the extreme Fringilline development of the bill in the Tanagride,

as in size it almost equals that of some members of Coccothraustes. It is short, high,

with a strongly arched culmen; the commissure is prominently sinuated in the middle,

the subterminal notch being also well developed. The wings are short; the tail

moderate, rounded in P. grossus, nearly square in P. poliogaster; the tarsi are short,

the birds being strictly arboreal.

1. Pitylus grossus.

Loxia grossa, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 307°.

Pitylus grossus, Cab. in Schomb. Reise n. Guiana, ili. p. 677°; Scl. P. ZS. 1856, p. 64°; 1857,

p- 264°; 1860, p. 293°; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 140°; 1865, p. 170"; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 298°; ix. p. 102°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 352; 1878, p. 185”;

1879, p.505 ”; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 141”; Ibis, 1872, p. 317; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 220”;

Tacz. P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 518%.

42%

332 TANAGRIDA.

Plumbeus, capitis lateribus et gutture (gula alba excepta) nigris, subalaribus albis ; rostro lete rubro-auran-

tiaco, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 7:6, alee 3:65, caude 3°5, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°9,

? mari similis, sed fuscescentior, capitis lateribus et gutture fuscis nec nigris distinguenda. (Descr. maris et

femine ex Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt); Cosra Rica, Pacuar 7°, Valza (Carmiol); Panama,

Santa Fé (Arcé}*), Lion Hill (M‘Leannan * 1°), Falls of the Rio Truando ( Wood 6).

—CotomBlaA? 2; Ecuapor®; Peru 1116; Amazons*15; Guiana 2.

This Linnzan species has, we believe, remained up to the present time unencumbered

with a synonym, a peculiarity not shared by many birds. It is, as might be supposed

from this circumstance, a well-marked bird, with but one near ally in the Brazilian

Pitylus fuliginosus, with which, however, it cannot well be confounded.

It is also a bird singularly free from variation, and specimens from Guiana hardly

differ in being somewhat brighter than our series from Central America. In the latter

country it is not very common, though it spreads northwards as far as Nicaragua 14.

Mr. Wood, who observed it only once near the falls of the Truando, says® it has a

loud musical note, not unlike the Cardinal bird of the United States (Cardinalis

virginianus).

Its range in South America, besides including Guiana, extends throughout the

Amazons valley from Peru, where Natterer found it, to the Rio Javarri and Pebas,

where it came under the observation of Mr. Bates and Hauxwell. Further westwards

Whitely obtained it in the valley of the Cosnipata in Peru 11, and Jelski at Montirico 14,

It also occurs in Western Ecuador® and in Colombia, both near Bogota? and in the

State of Antioquia !.

2. Pitylus celeno. (Tab. XXIV.)

Fringilla celeno, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vig. p. 2* (cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 57).

Pitylus celeno, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 65; 1864, p. 174°.

Pitylus atro-purpuratus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 224°.

Periporphyrus atro-purpuratus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 508°.

Pitylus atro-olivaceus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 224°.

Caryothraustes atro-olivaceus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 5037.

Pyranga mexicana, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41°.

Niger, torque cervicali postica cum lateribus pectoris et ventre lete sanguineo-rubris; subalaribus rosaceis ;

rostro plumbeo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 8-4, alee 4-1, caudex 3-5, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0°9. (Deser.

maris ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

2 “olivacea, subtus flava, pileo, colli lateribus juguloque nigris” (Bp. ut supra”).

Hab. Muxico 1468 (Je Strange), Papantla (Deppe 2), valley of Mexico (White 8).

This fine species of Pitylus must have a very restricted range in Mexico, as its name

is not included in any of the lists of birds obtained by MM. Sallé, Boucard, Botteri,

de Oca, or Sumichrast. Mr. White secured a single example *, which is now in our

collection (and which is now figured), and Mr. le Strange had another in the large

PITYLUS. 333

collection he brought from Mexico. Deppe seems to have been the only collector who

secured a series of specimens, as the species is included in the list of his duplicates; and

owing to this circumstance it received a name and a brief description from Lichtenstein }.

Deppe’s specimens were from Papantla. We have never seen the female of this species ;

but Lafresnaye describes that sex under a distinct title in the same paper in which he

redescribed the male. Mr. Sclater reduced these names to their proper position when

he wrote his Synopsis of the Tanagers in 1856 2.

Pitylus celeno has no near allies, but it is grouped by Mr. Sclater with the Guianan

P. erythromelas, with Bonaparte’s generic name for it (Periporphyrus) as a sectional

heading.

8. Pitylus poliogaster.

Pitylus poliogaster, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 1051; Esq. Orn. t. 227; Scl. P.Z.S.

1856, pp. 66°, 302* ; 1859, p. 376°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p.32°; P. Z.S. 1864, p. 3527;

1870, p. 836°; Ex. Orn. p. 168°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1867, p. 141; Ibis, 1872, p. 317";

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 549; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 102”.

Pitylus flavocinereus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 47".

Caryothraustes episcopus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 504 (ex Licht. MS.) ¥.

Lzte olivaceus, pileo antico et pectore toto flavescentioribus, loris regione oculari et gula nigris ; dorso postico

et abdomine cinereis, ventre medio albicantiore ; rostro et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 6°8, ale 3°8,

caude 3, rostria rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari omnino similis.

Hab. Mexico“, Cosamaloapam % (Deppe*), Cordova (Sallé+), Choapam, Teotalcingo,

Playa Vicente (Boucard*®); hot region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast 12); Brrvisu

Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Guatnmatal®, Choctum, Yaxcabnal, Kamkal

(O.S. & FD. G.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. I. Whitely 8); Nicaragua, Chontales

(Belt); Costa Rica, Angostura (Carmiol 1%), Tucurriqui (Arcé) ; Panama, Santa

Fé, Santiago de Veraguas (Arcé 1°), Lion Hill (I Leannan’).

Pitylus poliogaster comes into Mr. Sclater’s section Caryothraustes, together with

P. viridis and P. humeralis ; but it differs from these allies in having the anterior half

of the body yellow and the posterior half grey.

It was first described by DuBus from Guatemalan specimens, and in Guatemala we

found it common, but only in the forests of Northern Vera Paz. The elevation at

which it may most frequently be seen is about 1200 to 2000 feet above the sea; but

we met with it as high as 4000 feet in the neighbourhood of Coban. It is a forest

bird, and feeds on fruits.

In Mexico Sumichrast places it amongst the birds of the hot country; but he, too,

traced it as high as to between 3000 and 4000 feet of elevation.

As will be seen above, its further extension southwards reaches to the line of the

Panama railway, and it seems to be found in suitable localities in all the intervening

country.

334 FRINGILLIDA.

Fam. FRINGILLIDA*.

PHEUCTICUS.

Pheucticus, Reichenbach, Av. Syst. t. lxxviii. (1850).

We are now acquainted with six species of this purely Neotropical genus, two

of which come within our limits, neither of them passing beyond. The range of

P. chrysopeplus is restricted to Western Mexico, and that of P. tibialis to Costa Rica

and the adjoining part of the State of Panama. The four southern species are all

Andean, P. chrysogaster being also found in Venezuela.

The species of Pheucticus may readily be distinguished, so far as the males are

concerned, by the following characters f :—

A. Capite summo flavo aut flavido.

a. Cauda albo terminata:

minor. . - 1. ee ee ee we ew ee dL chrysogaster.

major, rostro validissimo . . 2. chrysopeplus.

b. Cauda omnino nigra. . . . . 1 ee ee ew we ee Be htbialis.

B. Capite summo nigro dorso concolore.

c. Uropygionigro. . 2. 2. 1 ee ee ee ew ew ee A aureiventris.

d. Uropygio flavo nigro variegato :

gutturenigro . . 1 ee eee ee ee ee ee BL uropygialis.

gutture flavo. © 6. 1 6 1 ee ee eee ew ee 6. hemichrysus. +

In Pheucticus the beak is more fully developed than in any other American genus

of Fringillide, except perhaps Coccothraustes and some species of Oryzoborus. The

culmen is high andjthe round nostrils exposed ; the commissure of the maxilla is abruptly

angular, and the mandible very strongly developed; the rictal bristles are short, but

stout. The wings are moderately long, the second, third, and fourth primaries being

the longest, the first and fifth nearly equalling them; the tail is long, and but slightly

rounded; the tarsi and toes are short and the claws rather feeble, indicating a strictly

arboreal habit ; the general colours of the plumage throughout the genus are black and

yellow, and there is considerable diversity between the sexes, at least in some members.

* Any thing like a satisfactory classification of the Fringillide remains yet to be accomplished; and as the

family is represented over nearly the whole world, it is evident that no arrangement that did not embrace all

the genera should be attempted. Prof. Baird, in ‘The History of North-American Birds,’ expressed his

inability to define satisfactorily the limits of the subfamilies of the North-American Fringillide owing to the

difficulty of drawing the lines of difference with precision, but he adopts five subfamilies, and proceeds to

arrange the genera under these heads. A somewhat similar plan had been employed by Mr. Sclater in his

‘Catalogue of American Birds ;’ and by Salvin in his ‘ Catalogue of the Strickland Collection ;’ but in view of

the trivial and variable character of the definitions of the subfamilies, we here adopt the plan of the ‘ Nomen-

clator Avium Neotropicalium,’ and simply place the genera seriatim in what appears to be their most natural

order without attempting to define any larger divisions.

+ Guiraca magnirostris, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 120=Pheucticus bonapartii, Salvad. Att. R. Acc. Sc. Tor. iv.

p. 178, is unknown to us.

PHEUCTICUS. 335

1. Pheucticus chrysopeplus.

Coccothraustes chrysopeplus, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 4.

Coccoborus chrysopeplus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 504°.

Pheucticus chrysopeplus, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870, p. 339°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. ii. p. 274+.

Luteus, dorso medio (luteo variegato), alis et cauda nigris, remigibus apicem versus extus albo limbatis, speculo

alari et tectricibus alarum ad apices albis, rectricibus tribus utrinque externis in pogonio interno plaga magna

alba notatis, subalaribus flavis; rostro et pedibus nigricanti plumbeis. Long. tota 8°3, alee 4-6, caudee 3°8,

tarsi 1°1, rostri a rictu 1.

2 supra flavido-fusca fusco variegata, alis et cauda fuscis, illis albo bifasciatis hac unicolori immaculata; subtus

sordide lutea, rostri mandibula pallida. (Descr. maris et femine ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico? (Cuming '), Mazatlan (Grayson? *, Bischoff*, Forrer), Rio de la Ameria

(Xantus *).

The original description of this species was by Vigors, whose types were obtained by

the late Hugh Cuming on the coast of Mexico. For nearly forty years we had no

further tidings of the species, and during this time Vigors’s name was placed as a

synonym of P. chrysogaster, a South-American bird undoubtedly allied to P. chryso-

peplus. It is to Grayson that we owe the rediscovery of this species, and its redescrip-

tion to Dr. Finsch, into whose hands a few of Grayson’s specimens came, and who

described them fully and carefully in 1873 °.

The limited range of P. chrysopeplus, confined as it is to the districts near Mazatlan

in Western Mexico, and the fact that its nearest and not remote ally must be sought in

Venezuela and Ecuador, is a remarkable feature in the geographical distribution of the

birds of this part of the world. The further circumstance that P. tebtalis of Costa Rica

is more remotely allied to it than is P. chrysogaster enhances the difficulty of explaining

the facts of its distribution, and at present we have no theory to advance in explanation

of them.

Grayson says‘ that P. chrysopeplus is rather common in the vicinity of Mazatlan,

where its cheerful and voluminous song is often heard in the woods. He adds that it

does not migrate.

P. chrysopeplus may at once be distinguished from the only other Central-American

Pheucticus, P. tibialis, by the male having white tips to the tail, yellow thighs, &c.

2. Pheucticus tibialis.

Pheucticus tibialis, “ Baird,” Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 478°; ix. p. 102°; Salvadori, Atti R.

Acc. Se. Tor. iv. p. 177,t.5°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 300°; Salv. P.Z.S. 1870, p. 189°.

Sordide flavus, abdomine toto et crisso dilutioribus ; loris, interscapuliis, alis, cauda et tibiis nigris, speculo alari

albo ; rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 8, ale 4°3, caude 3:1, rostri a rictu 0:8, tarsi 0-95.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica’, Cervantes (J. Cooper} *, Carmiol?), Tucurriqui, Rancho Redondo

336 FRINGILLIDA.

(Carmiol?), San José?, Turrialba* (v. Frantzius); Panama, Chitra, Boquete de

Chitra, Calovevora, Calobre (Arcé*).

This very distinct species is now a well-known bird, being not uncommon in Costa

Rica and the adjoining parts of the State of Panama. It was first described by

Prof. Baird in a paper published by Mr. Lawrence in 1867 1, and soon afterwards Count

Salvadori gave a figure of it on a plate accompanying a short paper on Costa-Rica birds °.

Dr. von Frantzius tells us4 that P. tibialis is found on the east side of Costa Rica,

where it frequents the maize-fields. It is a good songster, its notes resembling those

of the European Bullfinch (Pyrrhula vulgaris).

Prof. Baird compares it with P. chrysogaster, but it has no near relationship with

that species, nor, indeed, with any other member of the genus. Its black tail without

terminal white spots (except in immature individuals), its black wings with only a

white speculum, and its black tibie are all characteristic features shared with no other

species. The sexes are alike in colour, as apparently is the case in P. aureiventris and

its immediate allies. In P. chrysogaster and P. chrysopeplus the sexes differ consi-

derably in the colour of their plumage.

HEDYMELES.

Hedymeles, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 152 (1851) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgway, N. Am. B. ii. p. 69.

Zamelodia, Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, v. p. 9 (vice Hedymeles) ; Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 388.

Habia, Stejneger, Auk, i. p. 866 (ex Reichenbach).

Two species constitute this genus, both of them inhabitants of North America, and

one of them, H. ludovicianus, a migratory bird reaching Ecuador in winter; the other,

H. melanocephalus, a more sedentary species, whose range does not pass the southern

frontier of Mexico.

The females of these two species are very similar in their streaked plumage, light

superciliary stripe, and median stripe on the crown of the head. The males have their

wings and tails similarly marked with white, and both have the under wing-coverts

brightly coloured, one with rose and the other with yellow. In other respects their

coloration differs widely.

The bill is similar in both birds, being large and swollen, the mandible rather deeper

than the maxilla, which has the commissure angulated. ‘The nostrils are open, and the

prenasal feathers short and thickly set, the rictal bristles being short and strong. The

tarsi are short and stout, as are also the feet and claws. The wings are rather long, the

second, third, and fourth primaries nearly equal and longest, the first being longer than

the fifth. The tail is moderately long and slightly forked.

1. Hedymeles ludovicianus. V

Loxia ludoviciana, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 306".

Guiraca ludoviciana, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. p. 488°; Bp. P. Z. 8S. 1837, p. 116°; Consp. Av. i.

HEDYMELES. 337

p- 501°; Gosse, B. Jam. p. 259°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 491°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. i. p. 552”.

Hedymeles ludovicianus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 152°; J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 7°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 301”;

1859, p. 8365"; 1860, p. 293"; 1864, p. 174 ; Moore, P. Z. 8S. 1859, p.58™; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p.17" ; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 836°; 1879, p. 506” ; Lawr. N. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297";

ix. pp. 102, 200” ; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, p.19”; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 275 **;

Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 300”; Salv. P. Z. 8.1870, p. 189*; Cat. Strickl. Col. p. 218”;

Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328”; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 70”; Salv. & Godm.

Ibis, 1880, p. 122 *; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 444°.

Zamelodia ludoviciana, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 389”.

Goniaphea ludoviciana, Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 95”.

Fringilla rhodocampter, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 1, cf. J. f. Orn. 1868, p. 56”.

Nigerrimus; uropygio, abdomine, speculo alari et fasciis alarum duabus albis; pectore medio et subalaribus.

PY P Pp

lete rosaceis, caude rectricibus tribus utrinque lateralibus albo maculatis ; rostro pallido, pedibus plumbeis.

Long. tota 7:0, ale 3°8, caude 39, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°9. (Descr. maris ex Yucatan. Mus.

nostr. )

medium) guttulata ; alis albo bifasciatis, subalaribus ochraceis ; rostro pallide corylino, pedibus corylinis.

_ (Descr. feminz ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus, nostr.)

Hab. Nortn America, Eastern United States to plains of the Missouri River 2’, Texas °.

—Mexico §31 (Bullock ), plains of Colima (Xantus 2”), valley of Mexico (White }°),

Orizaba and Tierra Caliente (Le Strange), Cordova (Sallé!), Jalapa (de Oca",

Deppe), State of Vera Cruz in winter (Sumichrast"), Tonala, Santa Efigenia ?!

(Sumichrast), Merida in Yucatan (Schott °°, Gaumer #°); GuatemaLa™ (Velasquez de

Leon *, Constancia *°), Vera Paz (Skinner ), Retalhuleu, Duefias, Volcan de Fuego,

San Gerdnimo, Tactic, Coban, Choctum (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, Omoa

(Leyland 14), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely 1°); Costa Rica (V. Frantzius® ?%), San

José 19, Angostura (Carmiol), La Palma (Zeledon 1), Cache (Rogers); Panama,

Volcan de Chiriqui (Arcé +), line of Railway (J/‘Leannan !*).—Cotomsia 17 26 28 ;

Ecuapor !?; Antitues, Cuba *, Jamaica 5.

Males of this species in full plumage are seldom met with anywhere within our limits ;

indeed the only one in this stage that we possess is that described above from Yucatan.

The usual dress is one in which the rosy colour of the under wing-coverts, as well as a

more or less pronounced patch of that colour on the breast, shows the sex of the bird.

The rest of the plumage is usually a transitional one, in which the striped character of

the young is mingled with the darker tints of the adult. Many of the birds in this

transitional plumage are probably in winter dress, and the full plumage is only assumed

on the approach of the breeding-season.

Hedymeles ludovicianus is a common winter visitant to Mexico and Central America,

being abundant at that season in Guatemala from the sea-level to a height of about

7000 feet. Being a bird of the Eastern States, it does not touch Western Mexico in its

winter migration until the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is reached, but thence southwards it

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1884. 43

338 FRINGILLID.

is found along the shores of the Pacific to Ecuador. ‘The habits of this species during

its summer residence in the United States, as well as its nest and eggs, are fully set

forth in ‘ The History of North-American Birds’ 2".

2. Hedymeles melanocephalus.

Guiraca melanocephala, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. p. 488°; Bp. P.Z.S. 1837, p.111°; Consp. Av. i.

p- 502°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i.p.551*; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189°.

Hedymeles melanocephalus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 153°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 2137; 1858, p. 303°;

1859, p. 865°; 1864, p. 174"; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 73"; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. uu. p. 275"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 218”.

Hedymeles melanocephalus, var. capitalis, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 70™.

Fringilla xanthomaschalis, Wag). Isis, 1831, p. 525.

Fringilla epopea, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56”.

Pitylus guttatus, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 1027.

Supra niger, dorso medio castaneo variegato, torque cervicali, uropygio et corpore subtus castaneis, speculo alari,

tectricum et secundariorum apicibus et caude rectricibus utrinque duabus albo maculatis ; mento nigro,

abdomine medio flavo, subalaribus flavis ; rostri maxilla corylina, mandibula pallida, pedibus plumbes-

centibus. Long. tota 7°8, ale 3-8, caude 2:8, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°9.

supra fusca fusco-albido striata, capite summo nigricante medialiter et superciliis albidis; subtus albida

ochraceo tincta et undique fusco guttulata ; alis albo bifasciatis, subalaribus flavis. (Descr. maris et femine

ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, high central plains from the Yellowstone to the Pacific 11.—

Mexico 22618151617, ‘Temiscaltepec (Bullock +), Guanajuato (Dugés®), Mazatlan

(Grayson, Forrer), plains of Colima (Xantus *), Guadalajara (Grayson), valley

of Mexico (White '°), Alpine region and plateau of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast *),

Jalapa (de Oca°, Deppe), Orizaba (Lotteri’), Tierra Fria, Velasco (Le Strange), State

of Oaxaca (Boucard °, Fenochio).

Hedymeles melanocephalus was discovered by Bullock at Temiscaltepec in Mexico,

and described by Swainson in 1827. Since then it has been observed in many parts of

Mexico, in the higher regions of the United States, and westwards to the Pacific Ocean.

Birds from the last-named region and those from Western Mexico differ slightly from

the typical form by having the hind edge of the black crown ill defined, as well as traces

of an occipital stripe and chestnut superciliaries. These birds have been designated

H. m. capitalis by Mr. Ridgway, but we do not feel very sure as to their true position;

and it may possibly be that they are winter-plumaged birds, varying at that season just

as the males of H. /udovicianus. Our series does not enable us to speak with certainty

on the point, our only specimens in this state of plumage being from Mazatlan, and

these were shot in the month of December. Grayson’s specimens were shot at Mazatlan

in February, and near Guadalajara in May". Sumichrast says that H. melanocephalus

is common in the Alpine region and plateau of the State of Vera Cruz as high as

8200 feet above the sea, and as low as 4000 feet, but never lower.

In the United States it is a well-known bird from Arizona northwards to Washington

HEDYMELES.—CARDINALIS. 339

Territory. Its habits are described as resembling those of its congener, H. ludovicianus ;

it is also said to have a song, of which many writers speak in high praise, of similar

quality. The eggs of this species are of a bluish-green ground, blotched and splashed

with markings of a rusty brown, more numerous at the larger end. The nest consists of

a few sticks and weeds loosely put together and lined with grass and roots".

The most southern record we have of H. melanocephalus is Oaxaca’. Our specimen

from there is a male of the typical form.

Of the synonyms of this species Fringilla canthomaschalis, Wagler 1, is simply a sub-

stitute for Swainson’s older title. F. epopea, Lichtenstein !°, was proposed apparently

in ignorance of the bird being already described. Pitylus guttatus, Lesson 1’, is in the

same category and is based on a male in Abeille’s collection.

CARDINALIS.

Cardinalis, Bonaparte, Saggio di una Distr. Met. An. Vert. p. 53 (1831) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw.

N. Am. B. ii. p. 98.

The bright-red plumage of the males of the species of this genus renders it easily recog-

nized, in addition to which the form of the wings, tail, &c. all points to its complete

isolation, except from the next genus, which has peculiarities of its own. Cardinalis

contains two well-defined species, C. virginianus and C. pheniceus, the latter coming trom

Venezuela, and not found within our borders. C. virginianus, again, has been subdivided

into several races, two of which we, somewhat reluctantly, here admit under separate

headings, at least until their status is more definitely fixed. Of these races one seems to

be the true C. virginianus of the Eastern States, visiting Eastern Mexico in its winter

migration. In Western Mexico we find two forms, one apparently the same as that

found in Lower California and other parts of the western territory. This has been called

by Prof. Baird C. igneus. Whether the birds found at Mazatlan belong to this race is

not absolutely certain; and there seems to be a still further divergence in the bird of

the Tres Marias Islands, especially in the development of its bill. At Acapulco and

its immediate neighbourhood another race is found, distinguishable with much more

certainty by its pure red back and long stiff crest. This was long ago described by

Lesson as C. carneus.

C. pheniceus of Venezuela, though similarly coloured to C. virginianus, can at once

be distinguished by its bill being dark slate-colour instead of red, and by the restriction

of the black of the throat. This bird was described as coming from countries south of

the Bay of Honduras, but it has no place in our fauna.

The bill in Cardinalis virginianus is large, the culmen but slightly curved, and the

commissure sinuated. The mandible is about the same height as the maxilla, but

broader. The tarsi are moderately long, longer than the middle toe, which with the rest

of the toes is short; the claws are slender and curved. The wing is rounded, the third,

fourth, fifth, and sixth quills being the longest, the first being about equal to the

43*

340 FRINGILLIDA.

secondaries. ‘The tail is very long and rounded. The general plumage of the male is

scarlet, and there is a very distinct occipital crest. :

1. Cardinalis virginianus.

Loxia cardinalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 300°.

Fringilla cardinalis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 1, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56°.

Cardinals virginianus, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 111°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 17°;

Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 302’; 1859, pp. 365°, 378"; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 491°; Salv. Ibis,

1866, p. 193°; Dugés, La Nat.i. p. 139”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p. 201"; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552”; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p.100"; Sennett

. Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 21"; v. p. 894"; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 444.°°.

Cardinalis virginianus, var. coccineus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 99”.

Coccineus, dorso multo obscuriore et plumis plerumque cinereo-fusco terminatis ; alis fuscis extus rubro indutis ;

cauda fusco-rubra, crista occipitali elongata coccinea, fronte angusta, loris, regione suboculari et gula nigris ;

rostro rubro, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 7°7, ale 3-6, caude 4, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 1-0.

mari aliquot similis, sed colore coccineo alis, caudee et cristeo restricto, dorso sordide olivaceo ; subtus sordide

ochracea, pectore obscuriore. (Descr. maris et femine ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr. )

Hab. North America!, southern portions of United States, Rio Grande Valley 1,

Texas * 1415, Bermuda !°.—MeExico??, Nuevo Leon (Couch +), Guanajuato (Dugés),

State of Vera Cruz in winter (Swmichrast 12), Cordova (Sallé®), Jalapa (de Oca®),

Playa Vicente (Boucard"), Merida in Yucatan 17 (Schott 1), Chable (Gaumer 1°);

British Honpuras, Belize (0. S.°, Blancaneaua), Corosal (Roe).

This is the Cardinal Grosbeak, described by Mr. Ridgway as C. virginianus, var.

coccineus '*, but we wholly fail to distinguish between specimens from Jalapa and

others from Washington ; and as Sumichrast speaks of C. virginianus as a winter visitor

to the State of Vera Cruz ¥, the probability is that the birds of Eastern Mexico and the

Eastern States are of one species. In Yucatan, however, and in British Honduras, both

of which localities are included in the range of OC. v. var. coccineus, we notice that the

grey edging of the dorsal feathers becomes evanescent, leaving this part of the plumage

of a redder tint than is usual in C. virginianus. The difference is, however, of the

slightest, not very constant, and unaccompanied by other characters.

Cardinalis virginianus is a very familiar bird in the Eastern States, and has been

known for at least two centuries, being mentioned by nearly every writer on North-

American birds. It is a favourite cage-bird, and distinguished for its song, the female

as well as the male having this accomplishment. Its habits, nest, and eggs are fully

described by Brewer in the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ 13*, and a very copious

list of references is to be found in Dr. Coues’s ‘ Birds of the North-West.’

* For the statement, “ A single specimen of this bird was obtained near Duehas, Guatemala, by Mr. Salvin,”

we can find no authority. Salvin says® that he saw Cardinal Grosbeaks at Belize, but did not obtain speci-

mens. This, so far as we know, is its extreme southern range. It was certainly never seen by us

elsewhere,

CARDINALIS. 341

2. Cardinalis igneus.

Cardinalis igneus, Baird, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1859, p. 305°.

Cardinalis virginianus, var. igneus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 997; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. ii. p. 275°; Belding, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 3434.

Cardinalis virginianus, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870, p. 389°; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc.

N. H. xiv. p. 281°.

C. virginiano persimilis, fronte in mare minime nigra, colore nigro gule et faciei in femina omnino absente (?)

forsan distinguendus.

Hab. Norta America, Cape San Lucas!, Arizona !2.—Mexico, Guaymas (Belding *),

Mazatlan *°, Tres Marias Islands ?° (Grayson, Forrer).

We have considerable doubts if this bird can be satisfactorily distinguished from

C. virginianus in all cases; the bill in typical birds is hardly appreciably larger, though

the black forehead seems certainly narrower. In the birds from the Tres Marias

Islands, however, we find the bill much more tumid, the back still greyer, and the top

of the head and crest less conspicuously red. The specimens in our collection, however,

exhibit one character which, if constant, would determine the validity of C. igneus. The

females, of which we have examples from Mazatlan and the Tres Marias Islands, have

no black on the throat, which is of a dirty whitish colour, instead of being black.

Whether this is really a constant character of C. igneus, and found in the birds of Lower

California as well as of the places mentioned, we have no present means of ascertaining.

The descriptions of the female of C. igneus speak of it as only distinguishable from that

of C. virginianus by its more swollen bill, and by the more restricted dusky colour around

the base of the bill. From this it would appear that our female birds from Mazatlan

and the Tres Marias Islands do not conform to those of C. igneus; and were we sure

that the former were in their normal plumage we should be disposed to separate the

bird of those districts from C. zgnews. But the shades of distinction between the dif-

ferent forms of C. virginianus are so close that we hesitate to subdivide them further

than has already been done without the evidence of more materials upon which to form

a sounder judgment.

Grayson says that this Cardinalis is remarkably abundant upon the Marias Islands,

where it is a constant resident, but that it is not numerous on the mainland® Mr.

Forrer procured us specimens from both places.

3. Cardinalis carneus.

Coccothraustes (Cardinalis) carneus, Less. Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 210°; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 5017.

Cardinalis virginianus, var. carneus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 99° ; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. ii. p. 275*; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, p. 20’.

Cardinalis virginianus, Salv. P. Z.S. 1883, p. 421°.

C. virginiano quoque persimilis, sed crista coccinea valde elongata, dorso pure coccineo haud cinereo intermixto

distinguendus.

342 FRINGILLID A.

Hab. Mexico, Acapulco ® (Lesson 12, Markham °), Sierra Madre (Xantus 4), Huamelula

(Sumichrast *), Colima °.

The long, comparatively stiff, feathers composing the crest of this bird, together with

the red back without any admixture of grey, and the lighter red rump, are characters by

which it may be recognized, both from C. cardinalis and C. igneus. The forehead, too,

is very narrowly bordered with black.

The name C. carneus of Lesson has been attributed to this Western-Mexican bird, but

Lesson’s description is anything but satisfactory, being based upon a female or young

male individual. The localities given, ‘“ Acapulco” and “ Realejo,” are in all proba-

bility only correct as to the former place, “ Realejo” being far outside the range of any

Cardinalis, so far as our recent knowledge extends. That the Acapulco bird is the

same as that described in the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ from the Sierra Madre

is proved by specimens before us. We think, therefore, that Lesson’s title, C. carneus,

may safely be assigned to it.

The range of C. carneus is restricted to a limited portion of Western Mexico, for at

Mazatlan and its neighbourhood another form, C. igneus, prevails, and its southern

range does not appear to extend beyond the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, as we have no

trace of it in Guatemala, nor, indeed, of any Cardinalis, except on the confines

of British Honduras and Yucatan.

PYRRHULOXIA.

Pyrrhuloxia, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 500 (a subgenus) (1850); Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2,

p. 893.

Prince Bonaparte proposed this name for this peculiar bird considering it a subgenus

of Cardinalis, next to which it undoubtedly comes. The only member of the genus,

P. sinuata, occurs all along on both sides of our northern frontier, from the Rio Grande

valley to the head of the Gulf of California, and in the peninsula of Lower California,

its southern limits reaching Mazatlan and Zacatecas.

The great peculiarity of Pyrrhuloxia, as distinguished from Cardinalis, lies in the

structure of the bill, which has the maxilla much rounded, both as to the culmen and

in cross section; the commissure is much angulated about the middle of its length.

The mandible is much wider and deeper than the maxilla; the commissure is also

angulated, the distal portion being nearly straight and meeting the ascending gonys at

nearly a right angle. The tarsi are longer than the middle toe, which, with the rest,

are short, and the claws feeble. The wings are short and rounded, the third, fourth,

and fifth quills being the longest, the first about equalling the secondaries. ‘The tail is

very long and slightly rounded. There is a long occipital crest ; and the general colour

of the plumage is grey, with red patches.

PYRRHULOXIA.—GUIRACA. 343

1. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata.

Cardinalis sinuatus, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 1117; Consp. Av. i. p. 500°.

Pyrrhuloxia sinuata, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 17°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 491 ¢ ;

Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 95°; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 275"; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 21°; v. p. 393°; Bel-

ding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 343°; Coues, Key N. Am. B. p. 393"

Cinerea, subtus dilutior, alis et cauda fusco-nigris, illis extus coccineo marginatis, crista occipitali elongata fusca

ad basin coccinea ; loris, gutture. abdomine medio et subalaribus rosaceo-coccineis, rostro pallide corneo,

pedibus carneis. Long. tota 8°5, ale 3-8, caude 4:1, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. maris ex El

Paso, Smiths. Inst. 6368. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari similis, alis extus et subalaribus tantum coccineis. (Descr. femine ex Eagle Pass, Texas. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, valley of Rio Grande ?¢ 11, Texas489, Lower California ¢ 11,—

Mexico, western parts ', Nuevo Leon (Couch *), Guaymas (Belding), Mazatlan

(Grayson"), Zacatecas *, Guanajuato (Dugés®). |

This curious bird was first described by Bonaparte from a specimen from Zacatecas

in Mexico ; and though it is now known chiefly from the Rio Grande valley and across the

continent to the Gulf of California, and also in Lower California, it has also been obtained

at Mazatlan and elsewhere; so that its claims as a Mexican bird cannot be questioned.

Mr. Dresser, who met with it during his travels in Texas, looked upon it as a straggler

from Mexico, as he found it abundant at Eagle Pass on the frontier, but a few miles

north it failed to appear. He speaks of it as a shy bird, and when followed it perches

on the top of some high bush, erecting its long crest; at other times it would take to

the thick underwood, where it was impossible to shoot it+. Mr. Sennett makes similar

observations on its habits®. The last-named traveller discovered its nest and eggs at

Lomita in Texas. This nest was placed about five feet from the ground, and was com-

pactly built of dried inner bark, grasses, and pliant twigs, with a few rootlets for lining,

The eggs somewhat resemble in shape those of Cardinalis virginianus, but are more

round, and are irregularly covered with spots of various shades of brown and lavender,

which are massed together at the larger end, sometimes forming a band, but more

frequently covering the entire end®. The ground-colour is dull chalky white ¢.

Grayson’s specimens were shot at Mazatlan in February and April, but he says the

bird was not common’.

GUIRACA.

Guiraca, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 350 (1827) ; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 390.

Cyanocompsa, Cabanis, J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 4. .

The type of this genus is the well-known Lozia cwrulea of Linneus, and with it have

been associated several other species from Mexico, Central and South America, all

closely related to one another, but somewhat aberrant from the type, and separated by

344 FRINGILLID ZA.

Prof, Cabanis under the name of Cyanocompsa. The members of this latter section are

all stationary species, whereas (. cwrulea is strictly migratory. There is, too, a striking

uniformity in the colour of the plumage of the former, that of the latter differing both

in its tint and in the silkiness of the texture of the feathers, and other points mentioned

below.

Besides G. cerulea, which passes the winter season within our limits, there are two

well-defined species of Guiraca, G. parellina and G. concreta, the latter being subdi-

visible into races, the validity of which as species is perhaps open to question, though

we have treated them separately. One of these races ((. conereta) extends its range

from Southern Mexico to Chiriqui; the other is found at Panama, and thence south-

wards to Colombia and Western Ecuador.

The bill of G. cwrulea has the culmen nearly straight, the commissure strongly angu-

lated, the mandible being deep and the rictal bristles well developed. The wings are

long and pointed, the second, third, and fourth quills being nearly equal and longest,

the first and fifth being rather shorter. The tail moderate and slightly rounded. The

tarsus is less than the middle toe and claw.

In G. concreta the wing is shorter and more rounded; the second, third, and fourth

are still the longest, but the fifth and sixth are hardly shorter, the first being shorter

than the secondaries. The bill is stouter in proportion; and the tarsus equals the

middle toe and claw.

a. Guiraca.

1. Guiraca cerulea. V

Loxia cerulea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 306’; Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 525°.

Guiraca caerulea, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. p. 438°; Bp. Consp. Av. p. 111°; Baird, Mex. Bound.

Surv. ii., Birds, p. 16°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 365°, 878"; 1864, p.174°; Ibis, 1873,

p. 873°; Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 852°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 491"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y.

ix. pp. 102”, 200"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, p. 20"; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 275%;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p.552° ; Dugés, La Nat. i. p.189; Frantz. J. f. Orn.

1869, p. 801°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.u. p. 77"; Gundl. Av. Cub. p. 95°;

Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 44477; Nutt. & Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p.3892”; Coues,

Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 890”.

Coccoborus ceruleus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 152; Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, 1870,

p. 8389”.

Goniaphea cerulea, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 301*°; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 19"; v.

p-. 892”.

Saturate cerulea, interscapulio saturatiore; loris, alis et cauda nigris, tectricibus alarum mediis et majoribus

castaneo terminatis fascias duas formantibus, secundariis quoque extus castaneo limbatis; rostro corneo,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6°0, ale 3:4, caude 2:5, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. maris ex

Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

@ fusco-brunnea, subtus dilutior, alis et cauda fusco-nigris illis brunneo bifasciatis. (Descr. femine ex Presidio,

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Obs. Mas juv. colore ceruleo undique brunneo intermixto.

GUIRACA. 345

Hab. Nortu America, Southern United States from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans 19 23,

Texas 11 27 28,__Mxico 2424, Nuevo Leon (Couch *), Frontera (Wright ®), Zoquito

(Clark®), Los Nogales (Kennerly®), Tableland (Bullock?), Valley of Mexico

(White 8), Tierra Fria, Velasco (le Strange), Mazatlan (Grayson ' 5), Presidio

(Forrer), Tepic (Grayson), Plains of Colima (Xantus®), Guanajuato (Dugés),

Jalapa (de Oca ®), Cordova (Sallé°), Vera Cruz in winter (Sumichrast 1°), Oaxaca

(Boucard’, Fenochio), Chihuitan, Huitzo (Sumichrast'*), Merida in Yucatan

(Schott 18), Izamal in Yucatan *!, Cozumel I. (Gaumer) ; GuatemMata, Cuyotenango,

Chol, Salama !°, Choctum 1°, Yzabal (0. S. & Ff. D. G.); Nicaraeua, Chinandega

(Hicks), Chontales (Belt ®), Omotepe I. (Nutting 22); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 18), —

Angostura (Carmiol 1*).—CuBa ”°.

This species visits Mexico and Central America in the winter months, spreading at

that season over the whole country as far south as Costa Rica. In the island of Cuba,

alone of the Antilles, it is rarely found, and only in the month of April, when it arrives

with other migratory birds on their passage northwards”. On the neighbouring main-

land in Northern Yucatan it is common from December to May?!. It is also found

in the latter month in the island of Cozumel. In Guatemala G. cerulea is pretty

generally distributed throughout Vera Paz, especially in the hotter districts north of

Coban 1°. We also saw it in the high ridge of mountains between Rabinal and Chol,

in the valley of the Motagua, and in the coast-region of the Pacific near Cuyotenango.

During the season of its stay in the south it is a dull, uninteresting species, uttering no

song. It is usually met with in small flocks, which frequent trees of moderate height.

Grayson, who found G. cerulea at Mazatlan from October to April, also procured a

specimen at Tepic in June. From this he inferred that it migrated to the Mexican

uplands to breed. Of this we have no confirmation ; and Sumichrast simply includes

it as one of the migratory Finches of the State of Vera Cruz 1°.

In the United States G. cerulea is a well-known bird; and Brewer gives a long

account of it in the ‘ History of the Birds of North America’ !®, from which it would

appear that it seldom occurs so far north as Maine, but that in more southern States it

spreads from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and that it breeds wherever found, He

describes its nest, and speaks of its eggs as of a uniform light-blue colour, which readily

fades on exposure to light.

b. Cyanocompsa.

2. Guiraca concreta.

Cyanoloxia concreta, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xxii. p. 150°.

Goniaphea concreta, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 802°; 1857, p. 228°.

Guiraca concreta, Scl. P. Z. 8, 1859, p. 378*; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 33°; P. Z. S. 1870,

p- 886°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 1417; 1870, p. 189°; Ibis, 1872, p. 317°; Sumichrast,

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1885. 44

346 FRINGILLIDZ.

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 551°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 102"; Frantz. J.f£. Orn.

1869, p. 801”; Nutting & Ridgw. Proc. U. 8S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 400”.

Nigra cyaneo vix tincta; fronte, genis et tectricibus alarum minoribus cyanescentioribus, rostro et pedibus

nigris. Long. tota 6°0, ale 3:2, caude 2-7, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Orizaba, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

omnino brunnea, subtus paullo dilutior, alis et cauda saturatioribus. (Descr. femine ex Choctum, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico }, Orizaba (Salle), Santecomapam *, Playa Vicente + (Boucard), Petula

(O. S.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely °); Nicaraaua, Chontales (Janson °),

Los Sabalos (Nutting 1°); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius!*), Turrialba, Angostura (Car-

miol 11); Panama, Santa Fe’, Calovevora ®, Boquete de Chitra *, Bugaba ® (Arcé).

Guiraca concreta does not appear to be found northwards of the hot forests of the

State of Vera Cruz in Mexico, the limit of its range in altitude being, according to

Sumichrast, about 2500 feet 1°. In Guatemala we found it always in the heavily-forested

districts at the sea-level near Yzabal®> and at Choctum, which is about 1200 feet

above the sea. In Nicaragua Mr. Nutting says it is abundant near Los Sabalos,

especially in a plantain-grove, and also in a patch of high marsh-grass 28,

The typical Mexican form of this species is easily recognized from the Panama bird,

G. cyanoides, by its much darker tint, in which there is but a slight blue shade, and the

forehead and cheeks are scarcely bluer than the rest of the plumage. Guatemalan

specimens, and all from various parts southwards as far as the province of Veraguas, are

somewhat intermediate in character ; the blue tint, so distinct in G. cyanoides, is decidedly

apparent, and the forehead and cheeks are obviously blue, though not so much so asin

the southern form. When we reach Panama itself, whence the type of G. cyanoides

was obtained, the difference in the amount of blue of the plumage is tolerably obvious ;

moreover, the distinction seems sufficiently marked and abrupt to justify our separating

Central-American and Panama specimens. But we should not be surprised to find

either that the former can be distinguished from the blacker Mexican bird or that all

these races merge into one species. For the present we place the Central-American

and Mexican birds under the name G. concreta, and keep C. cyanoides of Panama

distinct ; and this has been the usual practice up to now.

3.1 G@uiraca cyanoides.

Coccoborus cyanoides, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 74’.

Cyanoloxia cyanoides, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 502*; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297°.

Guiraca cyanoides, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 852‘; 1879, p.506°; Berlepsch & Tacz. P. Z. S.

1883, p. 549°,

G. concrete similis, sed omnino cyanescentior; fronte, genis et tectricibus lete cyaneis. (Desc. maris ex

Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama!?, Lion Hill (*Leannan ?4).—Cotompia®; Ecuapor °.

GUIRACA.—ORYZOBORUS. 347

This bird, as already stated, differs from G. concreta in the colour of its plumage,

which is of a clearer blue shade, the forehead and cheeks being of a still paler colour.

It was originally described by Lafresnaye from Panama specimens, and it has since been

traced southwards through Colombia*® to Western Ecuador 6.

4. Guiraca parellina.

Fringilla parellina, Licht. Mus. Berol.’

_ Cyanoloxia parellina, Bp. Comp. Av. i. p. 502”.

Goniaphea parellina, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 302°; 1857, p. 2284; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii.

Birds, p. 17°.

Cyanospiza parellina, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551°.

Guiraca parellina, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 3657, 378°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. No. 4, p. 20°;

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 276°; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 444.

G. concrete et G. cyanoidi affinis, sed multo minor; fronte, genis, uropygio et tectricibus alarum minoribus leete

eeruleis. Long. tota 4:8, ale 2°7, caude 2:2, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

2 fusca, subtus dilutior, gula et abdomine medio fere albicantibus, alis et cauda fusco-nigris. (Descr. femine

ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico? 4, Sierra Madre, Nuevo Leon (Couch®), Presidio, near Mazatlan (Forrer),

Manzanilla Bay (Xantus 1°), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ®), Alvarado (Deppe 2),

Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa (de Oca"), Totontepec ®, San Andres Tuxtla 4 (Boucard),

Tehuantepec City, Huallago (Suwmichrast °), Merida in Yucatan (Gawmer ").

This is a miniature form of the South-American G. cyanea, and more closely related

to it than to G. concreta, which, like G. parellina, is a Mexican bird. The first speci-

mens of this species which were sent to Europe were probably those obtained by Deppe

at Alvarado, in Mexico, and which remained under a MS. name of Lichtenstein’s until

Bonaparte described them in 1850. It has since been found nearly everywhere in the

hotter parts of Mexico, from the Northern States of Nuevo Leon and Sinaloa to

Tehuantepec and Yucatan. Hardly anything has been recorded of its habits; and

Sumichrast merely remarks that the limit of its upward range does not exceed about

2600 feet °.

ORYZOBORUS.

Oryzoborus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 151 (1851).

In this genus are included several species allied to Spermophila, but with much

stouter bills. ‘They are spread over tropical America from Southern Mexico to South

Brazil, but are absent from the Antilles. Two species occur within our limits. Some

of the forms are not very definite, and we have little doubt that of the species now

recognized several will have to be withdrawn. The characters upon which their

distinction is based are decidedly variable, especially as regards the size of the bill.

44*

348 FRINGILLIDZ.

This is especially shown in 0. torridus, in which there is great diversity, but which has

not on that account been divided. On the other hand, the size of the bill has in a

great measure been used to separate O. maximiliani from O. crassirostris (=O. melas,

Scl. & Salv.). O. occidentalis can more readily be distinguished by its black under

wing-coverts, and from it O. nuttingi is hardly separable. O. funereus is a diminutive

form of O. crassirostris, but easily recognized.

The bill in Oryzoborus (0. crassirostris) is very stout, the culmen arched and reaching

back on to the forehead; the tomia of the maxilla is abruptly bent, and there is a

corresponding angle in that of the mandible. The wings are short and rounded, the

third primary being slightly longer than the second and fourth, the first and fifth

being equal and a little shorter than the second and fourth; the tail is moderately

long and rounded ; the tarsi stout, of moderate length, and longer than the middle toe.’

The general colour of the male is black, of the female umber-brown; but the male of

O. torridus is deep chestnut beneath.

1. Oryzoborus nuttingi.

Oryzoborus nuttingi, Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p.4017'.

Niger; alis intus ad basin griseo-albidis, subalaribus nigris; rostro robusto, albido; pedibus plumbeo-nigris.

Long. tota 5:5, ale 2°7, caudex 2-7, tarsi 0°7.

. Supra saturate umbrino-brunnea; subtus cinnamomeo-brunnea, subalaribus fulvescentibus ; rostro fusco-

nigricante ; pedibus fuscis. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Nicaragua. Mus. Smiths. Nos. 91,196 g,

91,198 © .)

Hab. Nicaracua, Los Sabalos (Nutting 1).

Mr. Ridgway described this species from two males and two females obtained by

Mr. Nutting in Nicaragua, and they are the only examples of a black Oryzoborus of

the larger O. crassirostris type that we have seen from our country. Except that the bill

is decidedly large, the male only differs from that sex of O. occidentalis in the almost

total absence of the white wing-speculum, a little white being still visible on raising the

coverts. In O. occidentalis from Western Ecuador the speculum is quite small, and in

an example from Colombia it is still smaller ; hence we doubt if 0. nuttingi will prove a

definite species when a larger series of specimens are examined. All these birds have

the wing-coverts nearly black, and they thus differ from O. crassirostris and its allies.

Mr. Nutting speaks of this bird as rather common in a patch of marshy grass at the

hacienda of Los Sabalos, where it was apparently gregarious *.

* On reexamining Salmon’s specimens called OQ. occidentalis (Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 506) we find that

the under wing-coverts are white, and that the birds must be referred to O. crassirostris. To the same form

must be ascribed a “ Bogota” specimen in our collection, though another from the same source belongs to

O. occidentalis, the two birds being probably shot on different sides of the mountain-range.

The eggs of O. crassirostris are greyish brown, indistinctly blotched with lilac-grey and strongly marked with

dark red-brown marks.

ORYZOBORUS.—AMAUROSPIZA. 349

2. Oryzoborus funereus.

Orypoboras Sunereus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 378'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398°; P. Z. S. 1879,

p. 506°; Salv. P. Z. 8.1867, p. 141°; 1870, p. 189°.

Oryzoborus funereus ?, Ridgw. & Nutting, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 400°.

Oryzoborus ethiops, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, pp. 887, 276°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 333°.

Oryzoborus salvini, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 400”.

Coracino-niger unicolor ; subalaribus, campterio et speculo alari (alula spuria fere obtecta) albis ; rostro nigro ;

pedibus fusco-nigris. Long. tota 4°75, alee 2-2, caudee 2-2, tarsi 0:6. (Descr. maris typ. ex Suchapam,

Mexico. Mus. P. L. Sclater.)

Q. Fusco-brunnea, subtus magis ferruginea subalaribus albis. (Descr. feminee ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Suchapam (Boucard'); Guaremata, Choctum (0. 8S. & F. D. G.);

Nicaragua Los Sabalos (Nutting ® 1°); Panama, Santa Fé4, Calovevora® (Arcé),

Lion Hill (M‘Leannan °).—Cotompta 37; Ecuapor?

This species was first described by Mr. Sclater from a specimen obtained by M.

Boucard at Suchapam in the Mexican State of Oaxaca }, and it has since been traced to

Guatemala and to the State of Panama, Colombia, and Western Ecuador, for birds

from the latter country do not differ in any essential particular from the Mexican

type. ‘Two female or young birds obtained by Mr. Nutting in Nicaragua agree fairly

with a female from Western Ecuador, one of the types of O. ethiops, but which has

since been united to O. fumereus*®. The bill in these birds is larger than in any male

of O. funereus in our possession ; but, knowing how variable the bill is in 0. torridus,

we do not attach much importance to this difference. Mr. Ridgway thinks the Nica-

ragua birds hardly likely to belong to O. wthiops; but if, as we maintain, O. wthiops is

the same as O. funereus, the probability of there being another species inserted in the

middle of the range of that bird is very unlikely, and the fact can only be established

after an examination of more specimens than are at present available.

Our Guatemala birds were all obtained in the low-lying forest-country north of

Coban in Vera Paz, where, however, the bird was not common. Mr. Nutting shot his

examples in a patch of plantains and in some high marsh-grass, their habits being

similar to those of Gwiraca concreta.

AMAUROSPIZA.

Amaurospiza, Cabanis, J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 3.

This peculiar form has a general resemblance to Guwiraca, especially to the small

G. parellina, but on closer examination the shape of the bill will show that there is no

near relationship.

The type A. concolor, so far as we yet know, is restricted to Costa Rica and the State

of Panama; but the bird is so rare that little can be said about it.

The bill is broad at the base, the culmen rather sharp and gradually curved from

350 FRINGILLID A.

the forehead. The tomia of the maxilla is gradually curved and not abruptly angular

as in Guiraca, Oryzoborus, &c.; there is a distinct notch near the end; the nostrils

are at the extremity of the nasal fossa, open, round, and surrounded above and behind

by membrane; the rictal bristles are long and strong. The tarsi are slender, and so

also are the toes and claws. ‘The wings are short and rounded; the first primary

=the secondaries, third and fourth longest, second=fifth. The tail is rather long and

slightly rounded.

Prof. Cabanis considers the position of Amaurospiza to be near Volatinia and

Cyanospiza.

1. Amaurospiza concolor.

Amaurospiza concolor, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p.3*; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p.301?; Salv. Ibis, 1869,

p. 313°. .

Cerulescenti-nigra unicolor ; loris, alis caudaque nigris; rostro nigricante plumbeo, mandibula vix pallidiore.

Long. tota 4-0, ale 2-3, caude 2-1, tarsi 0-65 = dig. med. cum ungue. (Descr. exempl. (4?) ex

Paraiso Station, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (v. Frantzius!*®); Panama, Chiriqui (Arcé), Paraiso Station

(Hughes *),

We know very little of this peculiar bird, which was first described by Prof. Cabanis

from a specimen obtained by v. Frantzius in Costa Rica, whence, however, we have

never seen an example. The two in our possession are:—one from Chiriqui and the

other from the Panama Railway.

SPERMOPHILA.

Spermophila, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 848 (1827) ; Scl. Ibis, 1871, p. 1; Coues, Key N. Am.

B. ed. 2, p. 392.

Twenty-four species were known to Mr. Sclater when compiling his Monograph of

this genus, and to them he added a list of eleven others which have been described,

but which he was not able to identify. If, therefore, we put the number of species in

Spermophila at thirty, we shall more probably be under than over the mark. Of these,

seven or eight occur within our region ; three of these are from Mexico and Guatemala,

the rest from Costa Rica and Panama. Four species are peculiar to our region, and

three just enter it in the State of Panama and have a wide southern range.

The bill in Spermophila (8. moreleti) is short and stout, though less so than in

- Oryzoborus; the culmen is rounded, and follows the same curve as the top of the head ;

the nostrils are exposed, and at the distal end of the nasal fossa; the tomia of the

maxilla is abruptly bent towards the commissure, the outer portion slightly curved

towards the tip. The legsare feeble, and the toes short. The wings are much rounded,

the second primary slightly shorter than the third, fourth, and fifth, which are nearly

equal. The tail is rather long, and slightly rounded at the end.

SPERMOPHILA. 351

The prevailing colours of Spermophila have been used to divide the genus into two

sections, according to whether the species are chiefly rufous and black, or black and

white; but this distinction is rather an artificial one, the last division being made

to include grey species like S. grisea.

1. Spermophila minuta.

Loxia minuta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 307°.

Spermophila minuta, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 383°; Sel. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 352°; 1879,

p- 506*; Scl. Ibis, 1871, p. 3°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328°; v. Berlepsch, J. f. Orn. 1884,

p. 2947.

Fuscescenti-cinerea, alis caudaque nigricantibus fusco limbatis ; speculo alari et subalaribus albis; uropygio

et corpore subtus testaceo-rubris. Long. tota 3-6, ale 2:0, caude 1:6, tarsi 0°55.

Q. Olivaceo-fusca, alis caudaque obscurioribus ; subtus pallide ochracea, ventre medio albicante. (Descr. maris

et femine ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (/‘Leannan ?*),—Cotompia*®; Venezueta®; Gutana®,

This is a species of the northern portion of South America, which just enters our

fauna as far as the line of the Panama railway, beyond which we have not yet seen it.

Here, however, it is by no means uncommon, M‘Leannan having sent us several

specimens, as well as others to Mr. Lawrence. We have examples from Roraima sent

us by Mr. Whitely, and it has long been known as a bird of Cayenne, being figured by

D’Aubenton as the “ Bouvreuil 4 ventre roux de Cayenne” more than a hundred years

ago. Mr. Sclater speaks of it, in his Monograph of Spermophila®, as found in the

islands of Tobago and Trinidad and on the mainland in Venezuela and Colombia.

In the latter country it was met with by Mr. Wyatt both at Ocafia and Paturia in the

valley of the Magdalena ®, and by Salmon in the adjoining valley of the Cauca at Retiro

and Medellin*. The last-named collector also found its nest, which he describes as like

that of S. guttwralis, and made of stems of coarse dry grass, rather loosely put together

and placed in a low bush about four or five feet from the ground. The eggs are

white, clearly marked with several shades of rich red-brown spots*. The food of

S. minuta consists of seeds 4.

Allusion has been made to the intensity of the chestnut colouring of the underparts;

and Graf von Berlepsch says that a Surinam bird in his collection, the true S. minuta

of Linneus, has this colour of a deeper tint than others from Venezuela and Bucara-

manga in Colombia. We also notice that a bird from British Guiana is the darkest in

our series. On the other hand, our male from Roraima is exactly of the tint of the

Panama bird, and a male from Medellin is intermediate between the extremes.

2. Spermophila torqueola.

Spermophila torqueola, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 495'; Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 3037; Ibis, 1871, p. 6°;

Dugés, La Nat. i. p.1389*; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 276°.

352 FRINGILLIDA.

Fringilla ochropyga, Licht. Mus. Ber.*.

Sporophila ochropyga, Cab. J. £. Orn. 1861, p. 5

Spermophila atriceps, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p.479 (ex Baird MS.)’.

Nigra, plaga utrinque cervicali, speculo alari et subalaribus albis ; dorso postico et corpore toto subtus pallide

rufis, torque pectorali nigra; rostro corneo, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4-2, ale 2°2, caudex 2:0, tarsi

0°56. (Descr. maris ex Capulalpam, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q. Fuscescenti-olivacea, alis caudaque obscurioribus, subtus valde dilutior-ochraceo perfusa. (Descr. femine

ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico1, Mazatlan (Grayson® °°, Xantus, Forrer), Tepic (Grayson*®), Plains of

Colima (Xantus°), Guanajuato (Dugés*), Cuernavaca (Deppe, Mus. Berol.7), Capu-

lalpam, Oaxaca? (Loucard), Tehuantepec (Grayson °).

Bonaparte’s short description of this species was based upon a specimen in the

Berlin Museum, very probably that subsequently characterized by Prof. Cabanis as

Sporophila ochropyga, a manuscript name of Lichtenstein’s bestowed upon a specimen

of Deppe’s collecting at Cuernavaca on the western slope of the Mexican highlands.

The name Spermophila atriceps was given by Prof. Baird to specimens from Mazatlan

and its vicinity. These were submitted to Mr. Sclater when he was compiling his

monograph of this genus, and when we had also an opportunity of seeing them.

We quite agree with Mr. Sclater that these specimens are immature examples of

S. torqueola. We have similar ones now before us from the same district, sent us by

M. Alphonse Forrer.

Grayson describes S. forgueola as a cheerful bird, with a sweet little song, which

always renders it attractive. It is a constant resident in the State of Sinaloa, and is

quite common at Tepic, occurring also at Tehuantepec. Individuals do not associate in

flocks, but often in pairs, a few being sometimes seen in the same locality, where they

frequent openings in which there is an abundance of low bushes, weeds, and grass,

the small seeds furnishing their principal food.

In the months of April and May the males are in full song. The nest is placed in

a low bush, and is compactly formed of fine roots with but little lining; the eggs,

five in number, are nearly white or very pale blue. ‘Two or more broods appear to be

raised in the season, as young birds just able to fly are to be seen in October ®.

Spermophila torqueola appears to be, as Mr. Sclater says, a western species ranging

through the western States of Mexico from Sinaloa to Tehuantepec. Inland it reaches

Guanajuato, Cuernavaca, and Capulalpam, but has not yet been recorded from any of

the eastern States.

3. Spermophila moreleti.

Spermophila moreleti, Bp. Consp. i. p. 4971; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 3027; 1859, pp. 865 *, 378%;

Ibis, 1871, p. 10°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p- 17°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1859, p. 17"; P.Z.S. 1870, p. 836°; Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 468°; Cat. Strick]. Col. p. 222”;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 102"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p-551”; Frantz.

SPERMOPHILA. 353

J.f. Orn. 1869, p. 301"; Dugés, La Nat.i. p. 189; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii.

p- 91"; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. v. p. 393"°; Boucard, P. Z.S. 1883, p. 44477;

Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 392.

Sporophila moreleti, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 150”; J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 4”.

Spermophila albogularis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. v. p. 124” (nec Spix).

Supra nigra; uropygio, speculo, alari et tectricum alarum marginibus albis, cervicis lateribus et corpore subtus

albis, torque jugulari nigro; rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 3°6, ale 2°0, caude 1:6, tarsi 0°56.

(Descr. maris ex San Pedro, Honduras. Mus. nostr.)

(Descr. feminz ex Belize, Brit. Honduras. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norrn America, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas !° 1°18 —Mextico 1°, San Diego

in Nuevo Leon and Monterey (Couch *®), Guanajuato (Dugés 1), State of Vera Cruz

(Suméichrast 12), Orizaba (Botteri?), Jalapa (de Oca*), Playa Vicente (Boucard *),

Merida in Yucatan (Gaumer 1"); British Honpuras, Corosal (Roe), Belize (0. 8.");

Guatemata ! (Constancia'), Peten (Morelet), San Gerénimo, Totonicapam, Retal-

huleu, Duefias® (0.8. & F. D. G.); Honpuras?, San Pedro and Medina (G. M.

Whitely®); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius°?°), San José (Hoffmann*, Carmiol 1),

Grecia (Carmiol 11), Turrialba (Arcé), Irazu (Rogers).

This is the common Spermophila of Central America, being generally distributed

from the Rio Grande valley to Costa Rica, and is specially abundant in the lowlands

of British Honduras and Guatemala on both sides of the great mountain-range. Here

it also occurs as high as Totonicapam in the Altos, and at Duefias, where it breeds.

In Mexico, too, it ascends the mountains from the hot and temperate regions ;

it is found also in the plateau, and Sumichrast only excepts it from the Alpine region

with doubt !?.

S. moreleti, like the rest of its congeners, frequents open grassy ground where

scattered bushes grow, and in tall reeds such as surround the edge of the lake at

Duefias. Its food consists chiefly of small seeds. Its nest is a neat structure of fine

roots and fibre, woven together into a delicate network, and lined with horsehair. This

is suspended to twigs. The eggs, three or four in number, are pale greenish white,

thickly spotted and blotched with several shades of brown, especially at the larger end.

The young are hatched in July.

This species was first described by Bonaparte from specimens in the Paris Museum,

brought from the neighbourhood of Peten by the French traveller Morelet, who visited

that district in 1847, and returned to France in the early part of the following year.

In 1848 also specimens were sent by Constancia to Strickland 1°.

The first notice of this bird in Texas is given by Mr. Lawrence, who identified it

with Lowia albigularis of Spix, the specimen examined being evidently a young male.

Young birds were also obtained by Mr. Sennett at Lomita in Texas, no adults having

been seen nor any nests found.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1885. 45

354 FRINGILLIDA.

4, Spermophila aurita.

Spermophila aurita, Bp. Consp. Av.i. p. 497°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 3337; Scl. Ibis, 1871,

p. 14, t. 2. £1, 2°

Sporophila hoffmannii, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 64.

Spermophila hoffmanni, Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 801°.

Spermophila lineata, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 474°.

Spermophila semicollaris, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 10"; Sel. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 352°;

Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 141°, 1870, p. 189”°.

Spermophila hicksi, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 171".

Spermophila fortipes, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 172”.

Spermophila collaris, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 177%.

Nigra; speculo alari, plaga utrinque cervicali (interdum semitorquem formante) et ventre medio albis; rostro

nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 2:1, caudex 1:9, tarsi 0°55.

2 olivacea, alis caudaque obscurioribus, dorsi colore limbatis, subtus dilutior, flavicans, tectricibus subalaribus

albis. (Descr. maris et feminze ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Hoffmann4, v. Frantzius®); Panama (Hicks ™), Volcan de Chiriqui,

Bugaba 1° (Arcé), David (Hicks *), Mina de Chorcha, Chitra, Calovevora, Santa

Fé ° (Arcé), Lion Hill (M‘Leannan?°78), Paraiso Station (Hughes), Obispo Station

(O. S.), Panama city (Hicks 14),

When Mr. Sclater compiled his Monograph of the genus Spermophila in 1871, he

had the types of all the four species proposed, under the above names, by Mr. Lawrence

before him. We also then had an opportunity of comparing them together, and with

a considerable series of our own, and came to the same conclusion as Mr. Sclater, that

they all, together with S. hoffmanni, belonged to one variable species, thus confirming

the doubts expressed concerning them by Salvin the previous year }°. The point of

variation lies in the amount of white on the neck, which in some specimens is confined

to a white patch on either side. In others these patches are connected by a band

across the throat ; in others the throat-patch alone appears, and in others, again, there

is hardly any white at all on the neck. These forms seem connected together by

insensible steps, and thus must be considered as varieties of one species.

The name S. aurita seems applicable to this bird, though the locality, Brazil, given

by Bonaparte, its describer, is doubtless erroneous !. The bird, in fact, hardly passes

the limits of the State of Panama, where it is everywhere abundant. Its presence in

Costa Rica was proved by specimens sent to the Berlin Museum by Hoffmann®; but we

have no examples from that country, nor had Mr. Lawrence at the time of compiling

his list of Costa-Rica birds. -

5. Spermophila gutturalis.

Fringilla gutturalis, Licht. Verz. Doubl. p. 26°.

Sporophila gutturalis, Burm. Syst. Ueb. iii. p. 244°.

SPERMOPHILA. 3550

Spermophila gutturalis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, pp. 88°, 293*; Ibis, 1871, p. 15°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8.

1864, p. 852°; 1879, p. 5077; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328°; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 225°;

Tacz. P. Z. 8. 1874, p. 519”.

Phonipara gutturalis, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 298".

Spermophila gutturalis pallida, Berlepsch, J. f. Orn. 1884, p. 295”.

Olivacea ; pileo antico, capitis lateribus et gutture toto ad medium pectus nigris; abdomine et tectricibus

subalaribus flavicantibus ; rostro pallide flavido ; pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4:2, ale 2-1,

caudee 1-9, tarsi 0°54. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Q olivacea, subtus dilutior, ventre medio et subalaribus flavicantibus. (Deser. feminze ex Medellin, Colombia.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (M‘Leannan® “),—Sourn Amurica from Colombia’ § 12 to Peru 10"

Brazil! 2, and Guiana.

This widely-ranging species just enters our fauna as far as the line of the Panama

railway, where M‘Leannan found it, and sent specimens to Mr. Lawrence and

to ourselves; we have no record of its occurrence elsewhere within the State. In

Colombia, Salmon found it breeding near Medellin’, making a nest of dry stems of erass

rather loosely put together in a bush four or five feet from the ground. The egos are

pale greenish white, marked with large blotches of several shades of greenish brown.

Mr. Wyatt, too, found it near a stream at Ocaiia, where it associated in great numbers

with S. minuta, feeding on the seeds of some low bushes 8.

From Colombia it is universally spread over Tropical America, having been met with

by Natterer®, Wallace, Prince Neuwied, and others, and recently by Whitely in the

mountains near Roraima in British Guiana, at an elevation of 3500 feet above

the sea.

Graf von Berlepsch has separated the Colombian bird from the Brazilian on account

of its having a more olive back with less admixture of dark colour. We notice this

individual difference, but cannot localize it; both forms are found in Guiana, and

the Panama bird is intermediate.

S. gutturalis has no near allies in the genus, but comes next to 8. luctuosa, from

which species it can readily be distinguished.

6. Spermophila corvina.

Spermophila corvina, Scl. P. Z.8. 1859, p. 3791; Ibis, 1871, p.16*; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 33°;

1867, p.278*; 1870, p. 836°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 180°; ix. p. 102”; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 551° ; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301°; Salv. Ibis, 1872, p. 317";

Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 401".

Sporophila corvina, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 169”.

Spermophila badiiventris, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 172°; Baird, Trans. Ac. Chicago, i. p. 319,

t. 28. f. 3™.

Nigra unicolor ; speculo alari et subalaribus albis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 4-4, alee 2:2, caude 1: 8,

tarsi 0°55.

45*

356 FRINGILLIDA.

(Descr. maris et femine ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Orizaba (Sumichrast §), Playa Vicente (Boucard+); GuaTEMALA, Yzabal

(O. 8.3), Choctum (O. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras!, San Pedro (G. I. Whitely®) ;

Nicaragua, Blewfields (Wickham*), Chontales (Belt!°), Los Sabalos (Nutting 14),

Greytown (Holland®, Kennicott'® 4); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius®), Angostura’,

Pacuar’, San José}? (Carmiol’), Turrialba (Carmiol’, Arcé).

Spermophila corvina is a bird of Eastern Mexico, being found in the State of Vera

Cruz§ and at Playa Vicente, whence the types came!. In Guatemala and Honduras,

too, it is a bird of the eastern forests, as is also the case in Costa Rica. In Nicaragua

alone it approaches the Pacific, having been found at Los Sabalos on the western

shore of the Lake of Nicaragua, still, however, on the eastern side of the Cordillera.

It is a bird of the lowlands, and is usually found in clearings of the forest feeding on

small seeds, especially those of grasses.

7. Spermophila grisea.

Loxia grisea, Gm, Syst. Nat. i. p. 857 (ex D’Aubenton, Pl. Enl. 393. f. 1’).

Spermophila grisea, Scl. Ibis, 1871, p. 18°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 507°.

Sporophila intermedia, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 149%.

Spermophila intermedia, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 189°.

Spermophila cinerea?, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 474 (nec d’Orb. & Lafr.) °.

Spermophila schistacea, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 10’.

Obscure grisea, alis et cauda fusco-nigricantibus dorsi colore limbatis, speculo alari (interdum vix distinguendo)

albo; subtus dilutior, abdomine medio et crisso albis; rostro flavo, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota

4:0, alee 2:4, caudee 1°7, tarsi 0°5.

Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Arcé*), Lion Hill (/‘Leannan®’).—Cotomsia?; VENEZUELA 5

and TRINIDAD 2; GUIANA 2.

My. Sclater seems to us to have rightly united the Panama with the Guiana bird of

this form, and with them placed all coming from intermediate localities under the name

Spermophila grisea, that given by Gmelin to D’Aubenton’s “ Gros bec de Virginie” },

which evidently refers to the same bird.

Both Mr. Sclater and Mr. Lawrence allude to the white spots on the side of the

neck of many Panama birds, and also to their variable character. We have a

specimen from Chiriqui with no spots at all, and another where they are plainly

shown, so that they do not serve to distinguish Panama from more southern and

eastern birds.

The occurrence of §S. grisea in Guiana has been recorded by Mr. Sclater?.

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FLO. aAFOD Sdbatevs

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SPERMOPHILA.—VOLATINIA. 357

Mr. Whitely has recently found it in the vicinity of Mount Roraima at an elevation of

3500 feet.

[Two birds, probably belonging to this genus, have been described from specimens of

Mexican origin, but which we have been unable to recognize :—

1. SPOROPHILA OTHELLO, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 498, ex Mexico. A black species

with white alar speculum, very probably either Oryzoborus funereus or Spermophila

corvina.

2. SPERMOPHILA PARVA, Lawr. Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sc. ii. p. 382, ex Tehuantepec city

(Sumichrast). The type is a female or young bird, impossible to recognize from the

description. |

VOLATINIA.

Volatinia, Reichenbach, Av. Syst. t. 79 (1850).

Volatinia may readily be distinguished from Spermophila by the form of the nostrils,

which are exposed and situated in a membrane at the extremity of the nasal fossa;

their form is somewhat elongated. In Spermophila the nostril is not so much exposed

and rounder. The bill in Volatinia is longer, sharper, and more compressed, the

culmen straighter and with a sharper ridge, the tomia is more gradually curved.

The wing is short and much rounded, the primaries not much exceeding the

secondaries in length; third and fourth = and longest, slightly > second and fifth,

first nearly = secondaries. Tail rather long and slightly rounded. Tarsus = middle

toe and claw.

The general colour of the plumage is steel-blue black, the female being dusky and

striped on the chest.

Volatinia, in one or other of its forms, is spread over the whole of Tropical America

from Brazil to Mexico, but is absent from the Antilles.

1. Volatinia splendens.

Fringilla splendens, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. N. xii. p. 173}.

Volatinia jacarina, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 365°; 1864, p. 174°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.17*; P.Z.S.

1864, p. 352° ; 1870, p. 836° ; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p.27; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 332°;

vill. p. 177°; ix. pp. 103”, 201"; Mem. Bost. Soc. N.H. ii. p. 276”; Bull. U.S. Nat.

Mus. no. 4, p. 20"; Sumichrast, Mus. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552"; Frantz. J. f. Orn.

1869, p. 301; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 190:°; Cat. Strick]. Col. p. 2231"; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871,

p. 8328"; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 200”; Boucard, P. Z.S. 1883, p. 444; Nutt. &

Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 383”.

Volatinia jacarina splendens, Berlepsch, J. f. Orn. 1884, p- 295”.

Nitente-ceeruleo-nigra unicolor ; alis caudaque nigris, plumis prope humeros albis; rostro nigricante, mandibulee

358 FRINGILLIDZ.

parte basali pallida, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:0, ale 1:9, caude 1-7, tarsi 0-6. (Deser. maris ex

Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

9 fusca, alis caudaque nigricantibus, dorsi colore limbatis ; subtus multo pallidior, pectore fusco striato, abdo-

mine medio sordide albo. (Descr. femine ex Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico’, Mazatlan (Grayson 1"), Presidio (Forrer), mountains of Colima (Xantus??),

valley of Mexico (White*), Jalapa (de Oca”), hot and temperate regions of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast *), Guichicovi (Sumichrast 1%), Merida in Yucatan (Schott),

Gaumer); GuaTEMALA (Constancia‘"), Duefias, Escuintla, Retalhuleu, plain of

Salama, Choctum (0. S. & Ff. D. G.); Hoypuras, San Pedro (G. Wl. Whitely ®) ;

NicaRraGua, Sucuya (Nutting 2+); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius!), San José (v. Frantzius?),

Barranca, Grecia (Carmiol 1°); Panama, David (Hicks®), Chitra (Arcé 1%), Lion

Hill (*\Leannan' §), Paraiso Station (Hughes).—CoLomBia22; VENEZUELA; GUIANA1.

All our Mexican and Central-American males of this bird are alike in being steel-black,

with a few white feathers on the shoulders, the under wing-coverts and the bases of the

quills being black; they agree with a male from Bartica Grove, in British Guiana, and

with the description of Fringilla splendens of Vieillot. Graf von Berlepsch refers speci-

mens from Bucaramanga in Colombia, and Puerto Cabello in Venezuela, to the same

bird. From Guia and Barra do Rio Negro we have two specimens, which are almost

entirely steel-black with hardly a trace of white on the shoulder. Examples from

Para have the bases of the quills and the under wing-coverts more or less white, and

agree with Brazilian examples, except that in the latter the white is a little more

extended. Specimens from the Cauca valley, Ecuador, and southwards to Bolivia have

less white than Brazilian birds, but still this feature is very apparent.

Thus two races of Volatinia seem to be recognizable by the presence or absence of

white on the under wing-coverts and quills. Their ranges, though remarkable, are

tolerably definite. The northern form, which should bear the name Volatinia

splendens (based upon the Cayenne bird), passes from Mexico through Central America

and thence to the lower Magdalena valley, Venezuela, the Rio Negro (rather aberrant),

and the lowlands of Guiana; the southern form stretches from Brazil, Bolivia, and

Peru to the lower Amazons and passes northwards to the Cauca valley: this should be

called V. jacarina (Linn.). These birds have usually been treated as one species, but

seeing that their differences are associated with a definite distribution they may well

bear distinct names.

Volatinia splendens is found from the sea-level to an altitude of 5000 feet, and is

a common resident species in Mexico and Central America, being found in all open

country where low bushes are thickly distributed. The male is a. conspicuous bird,

sitting on an outer spray of a bush, and every now and then springing into the air and

alighting again on the same twig from which he rose.

Salmon took some nests of Volatinia jacarina near Medellin in Colombia. They

were, he says, carefully concealed very close to or on the ground amongst grass or

PHONIPARA. 309

herbage in waste places. They were slightly constructed of dry grass-stems, lined with

hair, or sometimes with the stems of a small flowering plant. The eggs, two in number,

are white or bluish white, spotted with red or red-brown, chiefly in a zone round the

larger end.

PHONIPARA.

Phonipara, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 494 (1850).

Euetheia, Reichenbach, Av. Syst. Nat. t. Ixxix. (1850).

This little genus is chiefly of Antillean habitat, four species being found in various

islands. A single species occurs in Mexico and Central America, a closely allied form

occurring in the island of Cozumel.

The bill of P. pusilla is sharp, the culmen but slightly curved; the nostrils are

exposed at the distal end of the nasal fossa, and in front of this fossa is a slight depres-

sion, more definite in some specimens than others. The tomia of the maxilla is bent,

the outer portion slightly arched; the tomia of the mandible is nearly straight from

the angle to the tip, the sides of the mandible being much curved inwards.

The legs are rather stout, the tarsus being about equal to the middle toe and claw.

The wings are rounded, the second, third, fourth, and fifth primaries being nearly

equal and longest; the tail is moderate and rounded.

The generic name Phonipara was proposed by Bonaparte in 1850 for P. canora

and several of its allies. Huetheta was proposed by Reichenbach, it is said, for the same

birds, and has been adopted by several later writers in place of Phonipara. We

think, however, that the latter name may be retained, seeing that Huethia was intro-

duced without a line of description, and the type species must always remain uncertain.

In point of date Ewethia has a slight advantage, having been published, so Dr. Meyer

tells us, on Ist June, 1850, the sheet of the ‘Conspectus Avium’ containing Phonipara

bearing the signature 30th July, 1850.

1. Phonipara pusilla.

Tiaris pusilla, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p.4387.

Euethia pusilla, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1. p. 146°; J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 1°.

Phonipara pusilla, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 304*; 1859, pp. 865’, 379°; 1864, p. 174°; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N. Y. vil. p. 298°; ix. pp. 103’, 201”; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 20"; Scl. &

Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 8352; 1879, p. 507”; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 169"; Salv.

Ibis, 1866, p. 193”; P. Z.S. 1867, p. 142°; 1870, p. 190°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. i. p. 552; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301”; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328”; Boucard,

P. Z. 8S. 1883, p. 444.

Fringilla lepida, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vég. p. 2, cf. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56%; Wagl. Isis, 1831,

p. 525”.

Tiaris olivacea, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 91 (nec Latham)”.

360 FRINGILLIDA.

Supra olivacea ; vertice antico, genis et pectore toto nigris, stria superciliari a naribus ducta et gula lete flavis -

abdomine fusco, crisso olivaceo intermixto; nostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:0, alee 2-0,

caude 0-7, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. maris ex Paraiso, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Sarchi, Costa Rica, Smiths. Inst. no. 41,887. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico??°*4, Temiscaltepec, Real del Monte (Buillock1), valley of Mexico

(White"), Cordova (Sallé*), Jalapa (Pease**, de Oca*®), Orizaba (Sumichrast 38),

Totontepec (Boucard®), Dondominguillo (Swmichrast), Merida in Yucatan

(Schott °, Gawmer?'); Guatemata, Sakluk near Peten (0. 8.15); Costa Rica (v.

Franizius* 1°), San José (v. Frantzius®, Carmiol 4), Sarchi (Carmiol ®), Turrialba

(Arcé); Panama, Chitra 1’, Santa Fé1¢ (Arcé), Lion Hill (M‘Leannan® 12), Paraiso

Station (Hughes).—Co.LomBia }3 20,

The little species was first sent from Mexico by Bullock}, and it has since been

found over the greater part of Southern Mexico, being common in the valley of

Orizaba up to an elevation of 4600 feet 18. These Mexican specimens have the darkest

heads, cheeks, and under plumage of any of our series. In Yucatan and thence

southwards through Peten, Costa Rica, the State of Panama, and Colombia individuals

have slightly more olivaceous cheeks, and the black of the head is more restricted ; they

thus approach the Cozumel bird, where these characters become more definite, these

last-named birds forming a step towards the Antillean P. olivacea. We doubt, how-

ever, if the links connecting all these birds together exist, though in all probability the

continental ones belong to one somewhat variable but indivisible species.

Salmon found P. pusilla breeding in the Colombian State of Antioquia, the eges

being white, marked, especially at the larger end, with brown spots 2°.

In Guatemala P. pusi/la must be considered a rare bird; we ourselves only once met

2. Phonipara intermedia.

Phonipara pusilla, Salv. Tbis, 1885, p. 190°.

Euetheia olivacea intermedia, Ridgw. Descr. Cozumel B. p. 2°; Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p- 568 *,

P. pusille affinissima, sed pileo dorso concolori, fronte stricte nigra, regione parotica olivacea a gula flava lineola

nigra bene definita separata, forsan distinguenda.

Hab. Mexico, Cozumel Island off the coast of Yucatan (Benedict 23, Devis 1, Gaumer).

Mr. Gaumer has recently sent us a good series of specimens of this bird, which is

certainly intermediate between P. pusilla on the one hand, and P. olivacea on the

other. The differences from the latter consist in its larger blacker bill and the darker

upper surface. At present it is only known from Cozumel, where it has been found by

all the collectors who have recently visited that island.

CYANOSPIZA. | | 361

CYANOSPIZA.

Cyanospiza, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 500 (1858) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 81.

Passerina, Vieillot, Anal. p. 30; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 390.

This is a genus strictly confined to the United States, Mexico, and Central America,

but south of Guatemala only the two migratory species C. cyanea and C. ciris occur.

Another migratory species, C. amena, visits Western Mexico, in which country are two

peculiar species and a third, a rare visitant to Guatemala. All these six species are

very distinct, more so perhaps than those of any genus of similar extent.

Cyanospiza is usually placed near Guiraca and Spermophila, but has little in common

with those genera. The bill is decidedly weaker and smaller in proportion to the size

of the bird. The angle of the tomia is less conspicuous, and the culmen straighter

and but slightly curved; the second, third, and fourth quills are the longest, the first

=fifth, the wing being rather rounded, but more so in the resident than in the migra-

tory species. The tail is nearly even or slightly emarginate. The feet are moderately

strong, the tarsus being about equal to the middle toe and claw.

The generic name Cyanospiza was proposed by Prof. Baird in place of Spiza of

Bonaparte, which that author had himself used previously in a different sense.

Passerina, Vieillot, has recently been adopted by Dr. Coues. ‘his is not Passerina of

Linneeus, which has been used in Botany. |

1. Cyanospiza versicolor.

Spiza versicolor, P. Z.S. 1837, p. 120'; Cab. Mus. Hein.i. p. 148°; Sel. P. Z.S. 1857, p. 214°;

1859, pp. 365 *, 379°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p. 17°; Sel. & Salv. Ibis,

1859, p.17"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p- 140°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 551°;

Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p.86"; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p- 276";

Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p.20”; v. p.393"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 224",

Passerina versicolor, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 391”.

Carduelis luxwosus, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41".

Spiza lazulina, Licht. Nomencl. p. 45 (fide Bonaparte").

Nigro-purpurea ; fronte, capite summo et uropygio cy aneis, plumis corporis supra a fronte postica ad dorsum

medium et gutture toto sanguineo suffusis, loris nigris ; alis et cauda nigris extus purpureo limbatis; rostro

corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:3, alee 2°5, caude 2:1, tarsi 0°65.

Q supra brunnea unicolor, alis et cauda fusco-nigris, illarum tectricibus dorsi colore limbatis ; subtus multo

pallidior, gula et abdomine medio sordide albidis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Presidio, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. NortH America, Lower California, Texas 19 12 13 15,Muextico 1214 16, Boquillo in

Nuevo Leon (Couch °), Tepic (Grayson 11), Mazatlan (Grayson 1! , Forrer), Presidio

(Lorrer), Cueramaro (Dugés §), Temiscaltepec !, Orizaba (Sumichrast ® Botteri*),

Jalapa (de Oca*), Oaxaca (Boucard®); Guatemata (Skinner", Van Patten '),—

Peru %

. Though found close up to the Texan frontier of the United States, the only claim

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1886. 46

362 . FRINGILLIDA.

C. versicolor had for a long time to be included in the birds of North America was

its occurrence in the peninsula of Lower California, where it breeds, Mr. Xantus having

found a nest and three eggs on May 5th at Cape San Lucas. It is now known to cross

the Rio Grande, Mr. Sennett and Dr. Merrill having both met with it on the Texan

side of the river. It has also occurred in Michigan, but this is far outside its ordinary

range.

In Mexico C@. versicolor is widely distributed, and is common, according to Grayson,

at Mazatlan, where it is a constant resident, as well as at Tepic in the State of Jalisco.

The same traveller says that it has a sweet song, which it utters morning and evening

from the top of a bush !!. Sumichrast includes it amongst the resident birds of Vera

Cruz; but he says it is quite rare, though found in the neighbourhood of Orizaba °.

In Guatemala it is still more scarce. We never met with it ourselves; but the late

Mr. Skinner sent a specimen to Gould, and another has reached the Smithsonian

Institution from Dr. Van Patten.

2. Cyanospiza rositz. (Tab. XXV.)

Cyanospiza rosite, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. x. p. 397*; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 20°; Salv.

Ibis, 1874, p. 809 *.

Lete coerulea ; dorso certa luce viridescente vix induto, alis et cauda nigricantibus dorsi colore limbatis; loris

nigris, ciliis albis ; abdomine toto lete rosaceo plerumque ceruleo intermixto, crisso pure rosaceo; rostro

corneo, mandibula subtus pallida, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:3, ale 2°8, caude 2:1, tarsi 0°65.

supra fusca, dorso postico et cauda cerulescentibus ; subtus brunnea, ventre pallidiore et rosaceo lavato.

(Descr. maris et feminz ex Cacoprieto, Tehuantepec, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Cacoprieto, isthmus of Tehuantepec (Swmichrast | 2%).

This is another very beautiful species, whose range, so far as we know, is limited to

agsmall district on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, where alone the late Prof. Sumichrast

met with it,and from whom we have received specimens of both sexes and young males

in change of plumage.

The combination of blue and rosy pink in the plumage of this species suggests that

it may occupy an intermediate position between C. cyanea and C. ciris, but there is

nothing else in common with them to support such a view, and C. rosite is, in reality, a

very isolated form, in fact quite as distinct as any of the other species of Cyanospiza, a

genus remarkable for the definite character of all its species, which, again, are free

from any perceptible variation in themselves. If the specific characters of all birds

were drawn with the precision of the members of Cyanospiza, ornithologists would

have an easy task in defining them!

8, Cyanospiza leclancheri.

Passerina leclancheri, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1841, Ois. t. 22°. :

Spiza leclancheri, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 475”.

Cyanospiza leclancheri, Dugés, La Nat.i. p. 140°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 5514; Lawr. Mem.

CYANOSPIZA. 363

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 277°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 20°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1883,

p. 4217. .

Supra lete cxrulea, dorso medio paullo obscuriore, capite summo flavo-viridi, alis caudaque fusco nigrican-

_ tibus dorsi colore limbatis ; oculorum ambitu, loris et corpore toto subtus flavissimis, pectore rubro-aurantio ;

rostro corneo; pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4°8, ale 2°8, caude 2-2, tarsi 0-65. (Descr. maris ex Tehu-

antepec, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) .

Q mari similis, sed coloribus omnibus minus nitidis.

Hab. Mexico, Acapulco (Leclancher!, A. H. Markham‘), San Juan del-Rio (Rébouch *),

Sierra Madre, Rio de la Ameria (Xantus*), Tapana®, Tehuantepec city °, Caco-

prieto (Sumichrast).

This beautiful species was discovered by M. Leclancher, one of the officers of the

French vessel ‘ Venus,’ near Acapulco in Mexico during the expedition of that ship 1.

It was near the same spot that Captain A. H. Markham obtained an example in the

month of March 1880, more than forty years afterwards’. C. leclancheri, as the late

Baron Lafresnaye called this bird, is restricted in its range to Western Mexico, and

only passes a short way inland, San Juan del Rio being the furthest point from the

coast whence we have seen it*. The southern limit of its range is the neighbourhood

of Tehuantepec, where Sumichrast found it and sent us specimens °,

The female is said to be like the male, the colours being less vivid. The species

would thus differ from all its congeners, where the difference between the sexes is

most marked.

4, Cyanospiza ameena.

Emberiza amena, Say in Long’s Exp. ii. p. 47°.

Cyanospiza amena, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 84°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p- 276°.

Passerina amena, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed 2, p. 391%.

Capite, cervice undique, tectricibus alarum minoribus et uropygio late ceruleis, dorso nigricante-ceruleo ; alis

et cauda nigris, dorsi colore limbatis, illis fascia alba notatis, pectore lete castaneo ; corpore subtus reliquo

albo; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibala pallida, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 4:7, ale 2-9

caude 2:2, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. maris Salt Lake City, Smiths. Inst. no. 58596. Mus. nostr.)

@ supra fusco-brunnea, plumis medialiter vix obscurioribus ; subtus sordide albicans, ventre imo paullo palli-

diore. (Descr. exempl. ex California, Smiths. Inst. no. 79652. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, high central plains to the Pacific Ocean ?4.—Mexico, Mazatlan

(Grayson ?), valley of Mexico (Mus. S. & G.).

This is probably a more abnndant bird in Mexico than we are at present aware of,

for the only records we have of its occurrence within our limits at all are one given

by Grayson of its presence at Mazatlan * and the evidence of a skin in our possession

which we found in a large collection of birds made near the city of Mexico. It seems,

like C. cyanea and C. ciris, to be a migratory species in the United States, reaching

its northern limits in British Columbia in May. It is also found in Arizona; hence it

is doubtless to be found in the frontier State of Sonora and further southwards.

46*

364 FRINGILLID&.

C. amena is a western species, replacing the eastern C. cyanea in the west, many of

the habits of the two, such as the song, being very similar. ‘The nest is described as

strongly built of finely interwoven grasses, lined with horsehair and cobwebs, and

placed in a fork of a bush a few feet from the ground. The eggs are light blue when

fresh, this colour soon fading to bluish white ?.

5. Cyanospiza cyanea.

Tanagra cyanea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 315°.

Cyanospiza cyanea, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 379 >; 1864, p. 174°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°;

P. Z. S. 1870, p. 836°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 2°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 180°;

ix. pp. 1038, 201°; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 20"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140”;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301”; Salv.

P. Z. S. 1870, p. 190"; Ibis, 1872, p. 3817"; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 224°; Ibis, 1885, p. 190”;

Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 82°; Gundl. Av. Cub. p.93°; Sennett, Bull. U.S.

Geol. Surv. iv. p. 20”; Boucard, P. Z. 8S. 1883, p. 444"; Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat.

Mus. vi. pp. 873”, 883°, 392 ™.

Passerina cyanea, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 891”.

Cerulea, capite saturatius, corpore reliquo certa luce viridescente ; alis caudaque fusco-nigricantibus, dorsi colore

limbatis ; rostro corneo; pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 4°7, ale 2°7, caude 2°1, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. maris

ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

@ brunnea, alis caudaque fuscis dorsi colore limbatis; subtus pallide fusco-alba, pectore et hypochondriis fusco

striatis. (Descr. femine ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Eastern States from Canada to Kansas, Indian ‘Territory and

Texas 18 20 25M xico, Guanajuato (Dugés 11), valley of Mexico (White ?), State of

Vera Cruz in winter (Sumichrast!”), Totontepec, Playa Vicente, Oaxaca (Boucard ),

Santa Efigenia (Sumichrast !°), Merida in Yucatan (Schott ®), Progreso (Gawmer **),

Cozumel I. (Devis1"); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux) ; GUATEMALA

(Constancia 16), Duefias (O. 8.4), Escuintla, Retalhuleu, San Gerénimo, Coban (0. S.

& F.D. G.); Satvapor, La Union (0. S.); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely®);

Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt), Sucuyé?%, Omotepe I.?°, San Juan del Sur”

(Nutting), Greytown (LHolland’); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius®*™), Barranca, San

José, Dota Mountains (Carmiol’), Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Bugaba (Arcé).

—Cusa .

The Indigo-bird, under which name this species is known in the Eastern States of North

America, is a winter visitor to Mexico and Central America, at which season it spreads —

over a large part of the country as far south as the State of Panama. Itsrange in Mexico

is mostly confined to the eastern part of that country, for, though traced to Guanajuato

and the valley of Mexico, it is absent from the western parts until. we reach the

isthmus of Tehuantepec, a range of distribution followed by several birds whose summer

quarters embrace the eastern States of the northern continent.

In Guatemala it is common, and may usually be seen in small flocks consisting of

birds in various stages of plumage, adult males being rarely seen. It is here a dull

CYANOSPIZA. 365

uninteresting species, uttering no song, but simply call-notes. Its stay in the south

extends from September to April.

In Cuba, too, it occurs every year during its migrations, and is to be seen in planta-

tions near the edges of woods, but never in forest 19,

In the United States C. cyanea is well known as a summer bird, and it breeds

throughout its northern range, making, in the centre of a low thick bush, a nest com-

posed of grasses and sedges and lined with hair. The eggs are usually white, with a

faint blue shade. Dr. Coues adds that they are not seldom speckled.

The song of C. cyanea is not considered of high quality. Dr. Coues describes it as

rather weak and delivered by the well-meaning vocalist in a low rambling strain, as if

the performer were tired or indifferent.

The Indigo-bird is kept in large numbers in cages, and many are yearly brought to

Europe.

6. Cyanospiza ciris. a

Emberiza ciris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 3187.

Cyanospiza ciris, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 17°; P.Z.S. 1870, p. 836°; Scl. P. Z. S: 1859, p. 379°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 177°; ix. pp. 103°, 2017; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 276°;

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 20°; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 190"; Cat. Strickl. Coll.

p. 224"; Ibis, 1885, p. 190"; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 491"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140";

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 552; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301"; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 877; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 93"; Sennett, Bull, U.S.

Geol. Surv. iv. p. 20"; v. p. 892”; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 57; 1883, p. 444”; Nutt.

& Ridgw. Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. vi. pp. 383%, 3927. | |

Spiza ciris, Moore, P. Z. 8S. 1859, p.58”; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111”.

Passerina ciris, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 3917".

Capite et cervice tota (preter partem anticam) lete ceruleis, dorso medio stramineo; alis et cauda fuscis pur-

pureo suffusis, tectricibus alarum minoribus purpureis, majoribus viridibus; dorso imo rufo-purpureo, ciliis

et corpore toto subtus coccineis ; rostro corneo, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 2-9, caude

2-2, tarsi 0-75. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Agua, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q viridi-olivacea, alis caudaque extus ejusdem colori subtus fulva, lateraliter olivaceo, medialiter rosaceo

lavata. (Descr. feminz ex Escuintla, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, South Atlantic and Gulf States, Illinois, Texas 13 17 19 20 27,__

Mexico (Mann "), Cueramaro (Dugés 4), Mazatlan (Grayson ®), Presidio (Forrer),

Plains of Colima (Xantus*), Playa Vicente (Boucard+), State of Vera Cruz in

winter (Swmichrast \°), Santa Efigenia, Tehuantepec city (Swmichrast®), Merida in

Yucatan (Schott ', Gaumer ??), Cozumel (Devis 2, Gaumer) ; Brrrisx Honpuras, Old

River Belize (Leyland *); Guatmmaa, Peten (Leyland 5), Duefias (0. 8.2), Volcan

de Agua, Escuintla, Santa Lucia Cosamalguapa, Huamuchal, San Gerdnimo, Coban,

Teleman (0. S. & F. D. G.) ; Honpuras, Omoa (Leyland 5), Comayagua (Taylor 26),

San Pedro (@. Ml. Whitely*); Nicaraava, Omotepe 1.4, Sucuyd 23 (Nutting) ;

Costa Rica ° ' (v. Frantzius 1°), Tres Rios (Boucard ?") ; Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui

(Arcé 1°, Hicks °).—Cvsa 38,

366 FRINGILLIDA.

The Nonpareil, under which name this Finch is commonly known, is, like its congener,

Cyanospiza cyanea, a familiar bird in the summer months in the more southern of the

United States that border the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico. In its southern

migration it spreads over nearly the same extent of country as C. cyanea, and reaches

the State of Panama; but westwards in Mexico it passes to the neighbourhood of

Mazatlan, where both Grayson and Mr. Forrer found it. In Guatemala it is common

everywhere up to an elevation of about 5000 feet. It is usually to be seen in small

flocks in open country, and near the edges of woods, but not in the forest itself. It

is not uncommon in Cuba from October to April, and is frequently kept in cages, not

only for the beauty of its plumage, but also for its pleasant song !5. In the States it

builds its nest early in May, forming it of dry grass mingled with silk of caterpillars,

hair, and fine rootlets. The eggs have a dull pearly-white ground, and are marked

with blotches and dots of purplish and reddish brown; they thus differ considerably

from the eggs of C. cyanea and C. amena. . |

C. ciris is captured in large numbers in the States, and many are sent to Europe,

where they are favourite cage-birds, accommodating themselves readily to their confine-

ment and frequently rearing broods in captivity.

HAPLOSPIZA.

Haplospiza, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 147 (1851).

Two species have been placed in this genus, that described below from Mexico and

the Brazilian H. wnicolor. It is closely allied to Phrygilus, and, did we know the

colour of the plumage of the sexes, it might be advisable to merge Haplospiza in

Phrygilus. |

The bill of H. uniformis is rather long and sharp, the culmen nearly straight ; the

tomia of the maxilla is bent, the outer portion being very slightly waved. The corre-

sponding portion of the mandible is straight. The wings are rather elongated, the

second and third primaries the longest, the third a little longer than the first. The

tail is moderate and nearly square. ‘The feet are moderate, and the claws feeble; the

tarsus is longer than the middle toe.

1. Haplospiza uniformis. (Tab. XXVII. fig. 1.)

Haplospiza uniformis, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. pp. 29, 157°.

Plumbescenti-cinerea unicolor, subtus vix dilutior, remigibus et rectricibus intus cinereo-nigricantibus; rostro-

et pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 3:0, caudee 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°75. (Descr.

exempl. typ. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus, nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Jalapa (de Oca 1).

This species is still only known to us from the single specimen which formed the type

HAPLOSPIZA.—AMPHISPIZA. 367

of the description. It was contained in a collection transmitted to this country by

Sefior R. Montes de Oca.

It is allied to the Brazilian H. wnicolor, from which it differs in being larger, with

a larger bill and longer wings and stronger feet. The general colour, too, is rather

darker.

AMPHISPIZA.

Amphispiza, Coues, Birds N. W. p. 234 (1874).

Dr. Coues proposed this name for the two North American species previously known

as Poospiza bilineata and P. belli, Mr. Sclater having placed them in Poospiza in —

1857. The type of the latter genus is P. nigro-rufa, a South American species, with

which are associated some ten or eleven others, all of them (with the exception of

P. bonapartii of Western Peru) from districts lying to the south of the basin of the

Amazons, the metropolis of the genus being the upper La Plata region and the

adjoining parts of Bolivia.

From Poospiza, Amphispiza may be distinguished by the bill being somewhat stouter

and the culmen towards the base-more tumid and less sharp; the sides of the maxilla

are also rather more tumid, but the differences are not so great as might be expected

from the wide difference of habitat.

In this genus Mr. Ridgway has placed Zonotrichia quinquestriata, and we think

rightly so, but we do not follow him in associating Zonotrichia mystacalis in the sa e

genus, this bird being best placed in Hemophila together with H. humeralis to which

it is evidently closely allied. Their very short rounded wings and long tails suggest

this position for them. ;

The bill of A. d¢/¢neata is of moderate dimensions, rather acute, the tomia of the

maxilla is angular, the outer portion slightly concave; the nostrils are exposed.

The wings are rounded, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th quills nearly equal and longest ;

tail slightly rounded, nearly equal to the wings; legs rather stout, the tarsus longer

than the middle toe and claw.

A, quinquestriata conforms to these characters, but is a rather larger bird with a

more elongated bill.

1. Amphispiza bilineata.

Emberiza bilineata, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1850, p. 104, t. 37.

Poospiza bilineata, Scl. P.Z.S. 1857, p. 7°; Baird, U. 8S. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 15°; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 590%.

Amphispiza bilineata, Coues, Birds N. W. p. 284°; Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 875°; Sennett, Bull.

U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 187; Belding, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 343°.

Supra murinus fere unicolor, alis fusco-nigricantibus dorsi colore limbatis, cauda nigricante, rectricibus duabus

utrinque externis albo terminatis, extima quoque in pogonio externo alba; superciliis elongatis, ciliis

(pro parte), stria rictali pectoris, lateribus et abdomine toto albis; genis griscis, loris et gutture toto nigris,

368 FRINGILLID.

hypochondriis murino tinctis, rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 4°8, ale 2°35, caude 2:3,

tarsi 0°7. (Descr. feminw ex La Paz, California. Mus. nostr.)

do femine omnino similis.

Av. jun. dorso medio vix striato, corpore subtus omnino albo, pectore murino vix striato. (Descr. exempl. ex’

Mexico. Mus. nostr.) .

Hab. NortH America, Utah and Nevada ®, California® and Texas !’.—Mexico,

Tamaulipas (J. H. Clark *), Guaymas (Belding ®).

This well-defined Finch is not common in Mexico, and we have no specimens with

definite localities from any place in Southern or Central Mexico, nor any records of its

having been obtained in either district. Along the northern frontier it seems to be

more frequently met with both in the Rio Grande valley and in that of the Gila and the

adjoining country. Northwards it occurs in the middle province of the United States

from the 40th parallel between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, that is in

the sage-brush chaparral. It also occurs in California, and is migratory in the northern

part of its range®, The song of A. bilineata is described as simple but composed of

very sweet notes*. Its nest is usually placed in a sage-bush near the ground and is

built of straws and lined with fine roots. The eggs are of a rounded-oval shape, white,

with a slight tinge of blue when fresh *.

2. Amphispiza quinquestriata. (Zonotrichia quinquestriata, Tab. XXVII.

fig. 2.) | ,

Zonotrichia quinquestriata, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1868, p. 323°.

Amphispiza quinquestriata, Ridgw. Ibis, 1883, p. 400°.

Schistacea, interscapulio vinaceo tincto; alis caudaque fusco-nigricantibus, secundariorum et tectricum

majorum marginibus externis brunnescentibus ; superciliis, striga utrinque rictali et gula media albis ;

gula superiori utrinque et inferiori tota cum pectore medio nigris; ventre medio, hypochondriis et crissi

plumarum marginibus nigris ; rostro nigricanti-zeneo, mandibula flavo notata; pedibus corylinis. Long.

tota 6°5, alee 28, caude 2°5, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Mexico. Mus. Brit.)

Hab. Mexico }.

The type of this well-marked species is still the only specimen we have seen up to

the present time. It was for a long time in the late Mr. Gould’s possession, having

been sent him with some Humming Birds from Mexico. Judging from the preparation

of the skin, we believe that it was made by Floresi, who resided for some time in the

mining districts of Central Mexico, and who corresponded with Gould.

ZONOTRICHIA.

Zonotrichia, Swainson, Faun. Bor.-Am. iii. p. 493 (1831) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i.

p. 565; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 381.

This name was first used by Swainson, in a subgeneric sense, for several North-

American Finches, which have been since removed into as many genera. One of these,

Z. leucophrys, has been selected as the type of the genus Zonotrichia. Though several

ZONOTRICHIA. 369

birds, mostly from Mexico, have been added to Zonotrichia, chiefly by Mr. Sclater and

others, these have since been placed elsewhere, so that the genus now contains about ten

species, whereof six are of northern and three of southern domicile, the latter being

4. pileata and its two Patagonian allies; the tenth is the abnormal Z. vulcani of the

highlands of Costa Rica, the true position of which is perhaps still to be indicated. Of

the northern species two only are known to enter our region, though Z. querula will

doubtless be found on the southern, as it is on the northern, side of the Rio Grande

Valley.

Zonotrichia seems to be essentially a Bunting, and, with several allied genera, would

be placed in the Emberizinz by those who see their way to employing subfamilies in

the great Family Fringillide.

The bill of Z. lewcophrys is of moderate size, conical, the culmen nearly straight ; the

maxilla is slightly tumid below the nostrils, and somewhat compressed towards the tip ;

the tomia has a distinct angle; there is a membrane over the nasal fossa above the

nostrils. The tarsus and the middle toe, with its claw, are subequal, and the lateral

toes are subequal. The second, third, and fourth quills of the wing are equal and

longest, and form the tip of the wing; the first equals the fifth; the secondaries reach

to within $ inch of the longest primaries ; the tail is nearly even, and of nearly the same

length as the wings. The plumage generally has streaks on the middle of the back ;

the wings have two whitish bars; the under surface has no streaks; the tail has the

lateral rectrices plain; the head has a median stripe (wanting in some southern

species).

1. Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Emberiza leucophrys, Forster, Phil. Trans. lxii. pp. 403, 426*.

Zonotrichia leucophrys, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 15°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 174°;

Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 566°; Coues, Key N.

Am. B. ed. 2, p. 383°.

Supra schistacea, uropygio brunnescente immaculato, dorso medio rufescente-brunneo striato ; capite summo

nigro, vertice medio late, superciliis (ab oculis) et ciliis ipsis albis, alis et cauda brunneis, illis albo bifas-

ciatis, subalaribus et campterio albis ; subtus grisea gula et abdomine medio albidis, crisso isabellino induto ;

rostro et pedibus rufescentibus. Long. tota 6°75, ale 3:1, caude 3:0, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-9. (Descr.

exempl. ex urbe Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America, Hudson’s Bay}, U.S. from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains,

Cape St. Lucas®®—Mexico, Tamaulipas (Couch), Guanajuato (Dugés*), valley

of Mexico (White ®).

The White-crowned Sparrow, under which name this beautiful Finch is known in

North America, is one of the most widely distributed species of that continent, being

found from Greenland to Cape San Lucas, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky

Mountains. It was first described by Forster more than a hundred years ago1, and

received its English name from Pennant. In Mexico it probably appears only as a

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., June 1886. 47

370 FRINGILLIDZ.

winter visitor to the highlands. Our specimens are from the valley of Mexico. It has

been noticed at Guanajuato‘ and near the Rio Grande frontier”; but its name is absent

from Sallé’s and Boucard’s lists, as well as from those of De Oca, Sumichrast, and

Grayson.

In North America it breeds in the Wahsatch Mountains and elsewhere, and plenti-

fully in Labrador°®®. Its nest is placed on the ground, and is usually made of moss and

grasses, and lined with fine fibrous roots. The eggs havea light greenish-white ground-

colour, and are thickly marked, chiefly about the larger end, with reddish-brown and

light purple-brown spots °®.

2. Zonotrichia intermedia.

Zonotrichia leucophrys, var. intermedia, Ridgw. Bull. Essex Inst. v. p. 198°.

Zonotrichia intermedia, Ridgw. Field & Forest, 1877, p. 198°.

_ Zonotrichia leucophrys, var. gambeli, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 569°; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 277* (nec Fringilla gambeli, Nutt.).

Sp. precedenti valde affinis sed loris et superciliis albidis confluentibus, colore nigro capitis lateribus haud ocu-

lorum ambitum attingente.

Hab. Norta America, Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean 3.—Mexico, Mazatlan

(Grayson *).

We believe that it is to this bird that Mr. Lawrence refers Grayson’s Mazatlan speci-

mens, under the name Z. leucophrys, var. gambeli*, but we have no Mexican examples

to confirm this opinion. The true Z. gambeli is now justly considered a distinct species

by Dr. Coues, the differences between it and Z. leucophrys and the present bird being

sufficiently definite.

That Z. intermedia is very closely allied to Z. leucophrys is obvious, but the slight

distinction in the arrangement of the markings about the eye is not difficult to

recognize ; and by this character alone adult specimens of Z. leucophrys and Z. inter-

media can be determined without hesitation.

The present bird is said to be very common between the Rocky Mountains and the

Pacific coast from the Mexican frontier to the Arctic Ocean. It breeds in the north

and in the higher mountain-ranges of the southern part of its range °.

Its presence at Mazatlan is merely recorded, without comment +.

3. Zonotrichia pileata.

Emberiza pileata, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 237.

Zonotrichia pileata, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, pp. 454°, 552°; 1859, p. 140*; 1860, p. 76°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1859, p. 18°; P. Z. 8.1879, pp.507’, 606°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 411°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.

N. Y. ix. p. 103”; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301”; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 190”; Cat.

Strick]. Coll. p. 230”; Ibis, 1885, p. 216%; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 828”; Salv. & Godm.

Ibis, 1879, p. 200*°; 1880, p. 122”; Tacz. Orn. Pér, iii. p. 45°.

Supra brunnescens, uropygio immaculato, dorso medio nigro striato, alis et cauda fusco-nigricantibus brunne

ZONOTRICHIA. 371

limbatis, illis albo bifasciatis, capite nigro, vertice medio et superciliis latis cinereis, auricularibus grises-

centibus, cervicis lateribus et nucha castaneis ; subtus gula et abdomine medio albis, pectore nigro ; rostro

fusco, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 52, ale 2°6, caudex 2°5, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris

ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

2 mari similis. Ay. juv. capite summo et corpore toto subtus fusco guttatis. (Descr. exempl. ex Duefias,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemaua (Constancia 8), Guatemala city, Antiqua ®, Duefias ®, Quezaltenango

and whole Altos of Guatemala to 7000 and 10,000 feet, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.);

Costa Rica (Hoffmann®, Frantzius™), San José (Carmiol), Irazu (Rogers) ;

Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui, Chitra, Calovevora, Castillo (Arcé 12),—Souta AMERICA,

highlands from Colombia 1* 1” and Guiana 4 to the Argentine Republic.

Specimens of this species from all the places mentioned above agree very closely with

one another ; the only difference we can trace between examples from Guatemala in the

north and the Argentine Republic in the south is in the black band of the chest, which

in northern examples is continuous, but in southern ones broken into two patches, one

on either side of the breast. These two forms seem to be connected by gradual

links, and are not specifically separable.

In Patagonia a closely allied species is found in Z. canicapilla, in which the whole

of the crown is grey, the black longitudinal stripes being absent.

In Guatemala Z. pileata is a very common species in the highlands, and is chiefly

seen during the rainy season from May till October. It appears in April, a little before

that season sets in, and may be seen about the towns and plantations, the male uttering

a short simple song of a few plaintive notes. The nest is built in a low bush, and com-

_ posed outwardly of strong grass stems, roots, and small twigs, and lined with horse-

hair. The eggs are of a pale bluish-green ground-colour, spotted or blotched with

deep red.

Dr. von Frantzius also found this bird breeding in his garden in Costa Rica at the

commencement of the rains in April ™.

In Peru Z. pileata is found to breed in the mountains during the months of February,

March, April, and May!%. Durnford noticed it breeding abundantly in the neigh-

bourhood of Buenos Ayres in October.

During the dry season in Guatemala, from October to April, less is seen or heard of

Z. pileata ; but it was noticed by Salvin near Quezaltenango in the months of January

and February 1874. It would therefore appear to be a resident species in Guatemala,

or only performing a limited migration between places not far removed.

4. Zonotrichia vulcani. (Tab. XXVI. fig. 2.)

Zonotrichia vulcani, Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1878, p. 57, t. 4°.

Junco vulcani, Ridgw. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. i. p. 255”.

Supra fusca, dorso medio nigro guttato, alis et cauda nigricantibus fusco limbatis; capite obscure cinereo, loris

et oculorum ambitu nigris, subtus sordide cinerea, abdomine vix pallidiore, crisso fusco variegato ; rostro et

47*

$72 FRINGILLID A.

pedibus rufescentibus. Long. tota 6-7, ale 3:0, caudee 3-0, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-95. (Descr. maris

exempl. typ. ex Volcan de Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Cartago (Boucard!, Zeledon *).

This somewhat abnormal Zonotrichia was removed from this genus and placed in

Junco by Mr. Ridgway, chiefly on account of the colour of the irides, which are

yellow, as in J. cinereus and its allies 2. No species of Junco has a spotted back in the

adult nor a tail of uniform colour; and we think it best to leave it where M. Boucard

placed it in Zonotrichia.

This interesting species was found by M. Boucard in the upper part of the Volcan de

Irazu at an altitude of about 10,000 feet; that is above the upland forests and in the

grassy alpine region. M. Boucard obtained several specimens, but he gives us no infor-

mation as to its habits. These upland tracts are always difficult of access owing to the

scarcity of water and absence of shelter.

Mr. Ridgway tells us that his correspondent, M. Zeledon, first obtained examples of

this species in 1873, but the specimens were lost in transit to Washington, and before

others were secured M. Boucard’s expedition intervened 2.

JUNCO.

Junco, Wagler, Isis, 1831, p. 526; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 578; Coues, Key N.

Am. B. ed. 2, p. 377.

The members of few genera of Fringillide have received more varied treatment of

late years at the hands of American ornithologists than Junco. The authors of the

‘ History of North-American Birds’ admit four species of full rank, and two “ varieties,”

several other forms being put down as hybrids. Dr. Coues, in his latest work, leaving

out the Guatemalan J. alticola as outside his subject, treats of eight races, all of J. hie-

malis, and explains how in his opinion the characters of each are blended, so that even

the most distinct forms, such as J. hiemalis and J. cinereus, are not really separable.

So far as concerns the birds found within our region, we are not called upon to follow

up this subject, for the two species we have to deal with, J. cinereus and J. alticola, are

quite definable.

The true J. cinereus is said not to occur beyond the limits of Mexico, though in Ari-

zona two races, very closely related, are found. J. alticola, on the other hand, is strictly

confined to the highlands of Guatemala, and is separated in its range from J. cinereus

by a wide interval of comparatively low country at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

In North America Junco, in one or other of its forms, is found over a wide area, from

the Arctic regions to the Mexican frontier.

The bill of J. cinereus is conical, gradually tapering to the point, the maxilla being

nowhere turgid; the tomia from the angle and the culmen are nearly straight ; the

JUNCO. 373

nostril is below a membrane which covers the upper part of the nasal fossa. The tarsus

and the middle toe, with its claw, are subequal; the lateral toes subequal. The wings

are long, the second and third quills forming the point; the first equals the fourth, and

the secondaries are short, the inner ones decreasing in length, and all of them shorter than

the shorter primaries. The tail is about the same length as the wings, and somewhat

rounded. The plumage of the adult is destitute of spots both above and below, and the

outer tail-feathers are more or less white on both webs. The young are thickly spotted

everywhere.

1. Junco cinereus.

Fringilla cinerea, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 4357.

Junco cinereus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 486°; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 134°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 306°;

1858, p. 304°; 1859, p. 865°; 1864, p. 1747; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p. 551°; Duges, La Nat. i. p. 140°; Salv. Cat. Strick]. Coll. p. 232"; Ridgw. Auk, 1885,

p. 863 *.

Junco pheonotus, Wag]. Isis, 1831, p. 5267.

Niphea rufidorsis, Licht. Nomencl. p. 43”.

Supra cinereus, interscapulis, secundariis extus et tectricibus alarum majoribus lete rufis, alis et cauda nigri-

cantibus illis extus cinereo limbatis, hujus rectricibus utrinque tribus externis albo decrescente terminatis,

externa utrinque fere omnino alba, loris et capitis lateribus nigricantibus; subtus pallide griseus; rostri

maxilla nigricante cornea, mandibula flavicante, pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5°75, ale 3-1, caude

2°8, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Ay. juv. undique nigricante maculato.

Hab. Mexico (Mann), Temiscaltepec (Bullock 1), Guanajuato (Dugés®), valley of

Mexico (White"), Alpine region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast’), El Jacale (Sailé),

Jalapa (de Oca®), La Parada (Boucard*®), Popocatepetl (de Saussure).

Junco cinereus was described by Swainson from Bullock’s specimens in 1827, and

since then the bird has been met with by most collectors who have worked in the high-

lands of Mexico. Sumichrast speaks of it as one of the most characteristic species of

the alpine region, being found in the mountains as high as 11,500 feet above the sea,

but not descending below 6500 feet. Its common name, he adds, “‘ Echa-lumbre,” sig-

nifies lightning-bird, because the popular belief is that its eyes are phosphorescent in

the dark 8.

Mr. Ridgway, in a recently-published paper 4, divides J. cinereus into three races:

the present bird, J. c. dorsalis of New Mexico and Arizona, and J. c. pailiatus from

Mount Graham, Arizona. The latter bird only differs from J. cinereus in the shade of

the grey of the upper parts of the head and neck and the intensity of the black of the

lores. In J. c¢. dorsalis the outer surface of the wing is ashy grey instead of rufous,

In his remarks Mr. Ridgway says that intermediate examples between J. dorsalis and

J. palliatus occur, but that the connecting links between these forms and the true

374 FRINGILLIDZ.

J. cinereus remain to be discovered. These must be looked for in the wide extent of

unexplored country of Northern Mexico.

2. Junco alticola. (Tab. XXVI. fig. 1.)

Junco alticola, Salv. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 1891; Ibis, 1866, p. 193”.

Junco cinereus, var. alticola, Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 580°.

Cinereus, regioni oculari, pileo et nucha obscurioribus ; ventre medio albicante; hypochondriis, crisso et uro-

pygio brunnescentioribus ; alis fusco-nigris, remigibus medialiter extus cinereo limbatis, interscapulio et

secundariis extus rufescente-brunneis; cauda fusco-nigra, rectricibus duabus utrinque externis macula

alba ad apicem notatis; rostro nigro, mandibula ad apicem albida. Long. tota 6-25, ale 3-1, caude 3.

(Descr. exempl. typ. ex Volcan de Fuego. Mus. nostvr.)

Ay. juyv. supra obscure brunnea fusco indistincte maculata, subtus sordide alba pectore et hypochondriis pallide

fuscis undique fusco guttatis.

Hab. Guatemata, Volcan de Fuego 10,000 to 12,000 feet, Volcan de Agua 10,000 to

12,000 feet, Altos, Quezaltenango, Totonicapam, &c. (0. S. & F. D. G.1 2).

This species is restricted to the higher districts of Guatemala, and is probably not

found at an elevation of less than 8000 or 9000 feet above the sea. Onemerging from

the forest-belt of the lofty volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, which ceases at an elevation

of about 10,000 feet, and gives place to grassy slopes with scattered pines, one of the

first birds that is met with is Junco alticola. Here it is not uncommon, flying about

from bush to bush in company with such birds as Dendreca occidentalis, Turdus rufi-

torques, and Zroglodytes brunneicollis. This bird was first discovered by us in the Volcan

de Fuego in November 1861, and we afterwards met with it on the upper slopes of the

Volcan de Agua and about the open upland country of the Altos of Guatemala near the

towns of Quezaltenango and Totonicapam.

J. alticola has been treated by American writers as a variety or race of J. cinereus, as

if it were an imperfectly segregated form ?. This position for it cannot, we believe, be

maintained. Not only are the two birds distinguishable in all stages of plumage, but

their highland domicile gives each an isolated habitat, so that there is no suitable inter-

mediate district where the necessary intermediate forms may be found. No doubt the

relationship between J. cinereus and J. alticola is obvious, but nevertheless their

segregation is complete.

CHONDESTES.

Chondestes, Swainson, Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. 485 (1827) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 562;

Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 384.

This genus contains two closely allied forms, one of which, C. strigatus, occurs within

our limits. The bill is much like that of Zonotrichia, conical, and slightly tumid

towards the nostrils. The wings are long, the first primary nearly equalling the second

and third, which are subequal ; the longest of the inner secondaries slightly exceed the

CHONDESTES. 375

outer ones. The tail is shorter than the wings, and much rounded. ‘he tarsus and

middle toe, with its claw, are subequal, and the lateral toes are equal but short. The

general colour of the plumage is striated above, the head strongly marked with elon-

gated stripes of black and white ; there is an isolated black spot on the chest, as in some

species of Pyrgisoma, and the white tips to the tail-feathers extend to all the rectrices

except the middle pair.

1. Chondestes strigatus.

Chondestes strigatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. p. 4351.

Chondestes grammaca, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 15°; Scl. P.Z. S. 1859, p. 879°;

1864, p. 174*; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 488°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140°; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552"; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 562° (partim) ; Lawr.

Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 22°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 278”; Sennett, Bull.

U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 19"; v. 391”.

Chondestes grammica, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 884° (partim).

Chondestes grammica strigata, Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. iii. p. 217"; Belding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus.

vi. p. 843%,

Capite summo castaneo ad frontem nigro, superciliis et stria verticali sordide albis, corpore reliquo supra fusco,

interscapulio nigro striato, alis et cauda nigricantibus fusco limbatis, illis sordide albo bifasciatis, remigibus

ad basin quoque albidis, hujus rectricibus omnibus (preter duas medianas) albo plus minusve terminatis ;

stria per oculos nigra, regione parotica castanea infra albo marginata, parte antica nigra, macula lunulata

sub oculos alba; subtus albus, stria utrinque rictali elongata et macula pectorali nigris, cervicis lateribus

et hypochondriis fusco lavatis ; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida ; pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 3:5,

caudee 2°75, rostri a rictu 0:5, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, from Iowa and Illinois to the Pacific 8 13, Texas 511 12,—Mexico,

Nuevo Leon (Couch?), Guaymas (Belding), Mazatlan (Grayson), plains of

Colima (Xantus 1°), Guanajuato (Duges*), valley of Mexico (White+), Temiscal-

tepec (Bullock 18), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast’), Puebla (Mus. Brit.), Oaxaca

(Boucard*), Chihuitan, Santa Efigenia (Sumichrast®) ; GuaTEMALA, Barranco Hondo

(0. 8.).

Swainson described Mexican specimens of this species as Chondestes strigatus, but in

a footnote to his paper he alludes to Mringilla grammaca as belonging to the same

group’. Subsequent writers have considered both names applicable to the same species,

C. grammaca, until Mr. Ridgway, in 1880, stated that he could detect constant differ-

ences between birds from eastern and western America, and that the Mexican bird

agreeing with the western that race might bear the name Chondestes grammica strigata',

Unfortunately he does not state what these differences consist of. Moreover, Dr. Coues,

writing in 1884, omits all mention of C. g. strigata }°. Compared with an adult bird

from Illinois, the true C. grammaca, Mexican specimens differ in having a larger bill,

the sides of the crown more rufous, the back less densely striated, each streak. being

narrower, and the fawn-coloured edging of the wings broader. According to our view,

376 FRINGILLIDA.

C. strigatus has a very extensive range, embracing a large portion of the United States,

from the western Canadian frontier southwards; thence it passes into Mexico and onwards

to Guatemala, whence we have a single specimen, shot 22nd October, 1873, on the

slopes of the mountain range between the volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, at an eleva-

tion of about 4000 feet above the sea.

Though this species breeds in Texas we have no evidence that it is otherwise than

a migratory bird in Mexico, and as such it is included by Sumichrast amongst the birds

of Vera Cruz’. Grayson, moreover, states that it arrives in September, and departs in

April 1°,

The song of the male is spoken of in high praise by American writers ®. The nest

of C. grammaca is a shallow structure placed on the ground, and composed entirely

of grasses, sedges, &c. ‘The eggs are usually greyish white, sometimes light brown,

marbled and streaked with waving lines of black or blackish brown 8.

SPIZELLA.

Spizella, Bonaparte, Saggio di una Distr. Met. An. Vert. p. 140 (Aggiunte, 1832) (type Fringilla

pusilla, Wils.) ; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p.1; Coues, Key N. Am. Birds,

ed. 2, p. 379.

This genus contains six or seven more or less distinct northern species, none of which

are found beyond the limits of Guatemala, where a close ally of the well-known

S. soctalis alone is found. Four other species occur in Mexico: of these J. socialis

and WS. atrigularis are said to be residents; S. pallida and its close western ally 8.

brewert are probably migrants spending the winter season in Mexico.

Two other northern species, S. monticola and S. pusilla, have not yet been noticed

within our borders, nor have we any tidings of S. wortheni, recently described by Mr.

Ridgway.

The species of this genus are of small size, measuring in total length 5 to 6 inches,

the tail is long and slightly forked, the wings rather pointed. The middle of the back

is streaked, and the under parts plain in the adult, but streaked in the young in first

plumage; the bill is small and conical; the tarsus is about equal to the middle toe

and claw, the lateral toes being subequal.

Spizella is so closely related to Zonotrichia, Poospiza, Junco, and Chondestes, that its

definition is not easily expressed. It may be recognized by its long wings and tail, the

latter being decidedly forked, and without white on the lateral feathers; the under

plumage is plain without streaks, the middle back on the contrary being striped.

These characters taken together are not found in any of the above-mentioned genera.

The bill is constructed very like that of many of the Old World Buntings to which

section of the Fringillide Spizella doubtless belongs.

oy)

=~]

SPIZELLA..

1. Spizella socialis. wv

Fringilla socialis, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 127, t. 16. f.5!; Sw. Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. p. 435 *.

Spizella socialis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 304°; 1859, p. 365+; 1864, p. 174°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865,

p- 489°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 5527; Baird, Brew.,& Ridgw. N. Am. B.

ii. p. 7°; Gundl. Av. Cab. p. 90°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 21"°; Sennett,

Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 19%; v. p. 391”.

_ Spinites socialis, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 133”.

Spizella socialis var. arizone, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 21”.

Spizella domestica, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 880 ° (ex Bartram).

Supra, cervice postica, dorso medio et scapularibus rufo-brunneis nigro late striatis, uropygio cinereo, capite

summo castaneo, fronte nigra macula mediana cinerea, stria a naribus supra oculos ad nucham ducta alba,

loris et stria post oculos nigris, capitis laterum reliquo et corpore subtus cinereis, gula et abdomine albi-

cantibus ; alis et cauda fusco-nigricantibus, illis pallide fusco limbatis et albido bifasciatis ; rostro tem-

pore estivo nigro, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2-9, caude 2°3, rostri a rictu 0°, tarsi 0:6.

(Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) ,

Av. jun. capite summo sicut dorso striato haud castaneo.

Ay. juv. subtus quoque striatus.

Hab. Norru America, eastern portions, Texas ¢ 1! !2.—Mrxico, Real del Monte, Temt-

scaltepec (Bullock), Ciudad in Durango (forrer), valley of Mexico ( White?),

temperate region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast’), Jalapa (de Oca‘), La Parada

(Boucard*), Guichicovi 4, Gineta Mountains 1° (Swmichrast).—CuBa °.

A widely ranging species, resident in Mexico according to Sumichrast, who says that

it remains throughout the year in the temperate region of Vera Cruz, where it breeds

as freely as in the United States’.

A separate race has been recognized by American authors as inhabiting Arizona,

under the name of Spizella socialis arizone. This bird we should expect to find in

the Sierras of Durango and in Western Mexico, but we fail to detect any differences

between our examples from those parts and others from the Eastern States. Moreover,

a specimen from Arizona seems to us to be the same in every way, having the chestnut

head of the true S. socialis. Our series, however, of this western race is hardly good

enough to enable us to speak very positively, but, so far as it goes, tends to show that

S. socialis arizone will prove inseparable from S. socialis itself. ‘The name was based

upon young birds, the striated heads of which had not given place to the chestnut

crown of the adult.

Though apparently a common species in Mexico, next to nothing has been written

of S. socialis beyond a record of the localities where it has been observed, and these

extend over a large portion of that country, as far south as the mountains of the

isthmus of Tehuantepec, where, according to Mr. Lawrence, specimens of both the

common and the Arizona race were obtained by Sumichrast in the months of September

and January.

* In Cuba it has only once been noticed, Dr. Gundlach having shot a female specimen

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. L., June 1886. 48

378 FRINGILLIDA.

in some marshy ground near the sea. ‘This bird was determined by Mr. Lawrence, to

whom it was sent for that purpose %. —

In the United States S. socialis is one of the most familiar species, being extremely

abundant about houses, &c. %, and building in shrubberies, making a rough nest of

coarse stems of grasses and other plants with a lining of hair. The eggs, five in number,

are of a bluish-green colour, sparingly spotted towards the larger end with marks of

umber, purple, and dark blackish brown mingled with lighter shadings of purple; they

are said to vary greatly in size 8,

Mr. Brewster has given a description of the young in the first plumage, in his

valuable paper on the first plumage in various species of North American birds (Bull.

Nutt. Orn. Club, iii. p. 121.)

2. Spizella pinetorum. (Tab. XXVII. fig 3.)

Spizella pinetorum, Salv. P. Z. S. 1863, p. 189'; Ibis, 1866, p. 193°; Ridgw. Ibis, 1884, p. 44°.

S. social affinis sed supra multo obscurior, capite summo saturate castaneo nec clare rufo distinguenda; rostro

corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5°3, ale 2°7, caude 2°4, rostri a rictu 0°4, tarsi

0°65. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Poctun, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. jun. capite summo sicut dorso striato.

Hab. GUATEMALA, pine-ridges of Poctun (0. 8.12), Vera Paz (Hague).

In our original description of this species we compared it with S. pusilla, but its

affinities, as Mr. Ridgway has since pointed out*, are certainly with S. socialis. A

single specimen only was obtained by Salvin during his expedition to Peten in. 1863.

It was shot amongst tall grass growing in a savanna near the village of Poctun in the

department of Peten. Our second specimen of this species was sent us from Vera Paz

by Mr. Henry Hague. It is not so mature as the type, the head having streaks on the

crown, as is the case in immature birds of the allied species S. socialis.

3. Spizella pallida.

Emberiza pallida, Sw. Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 2511.

Spizella pallida, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 480°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. il., Birds, p. 16°; ‘Sel,

P.Z.8. 1859, p. 879"; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 489°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140°; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. ii. p. 11%; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 19°; Coues, Key N. Am.

B. ed. 2, p. 881°.

Fringilla pusio, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Voég. p. 2; ef. J. f. O. 1863, p. 56 '°.

Supra pallide fusca, undique nigricante striata, fascia verticali pallida ; alis et cauda nigricantibus pallide fusco

limbatis, illis albido bifasciatis ; capitis lateribus, cervice laterali et hypochondriis fuscis, superciliis latis

sordide albis, corpore toto reliquo subtus albido; rostro pallide corneo, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 5:2,

alee 2-4, caudee 2°5, rostri a rictu 0-438, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. feminz ex Puebla, Mexico, Jan. 1866. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab, Norvu America, British America, Central U.S., Texas > 78 9.—Mexico 2 (Deppe "),

Tamaulipas (Couch *), Guanajuato (Dugés °), Oaxaca (Boucard 4).

SPIZELLA. 379:

A common species throughout the central portion of North America, from the

Saskatchewan, where it was discovered by Richardson, southwards through Texas,

to the highlands of Southern Mexico, its place being taken in the Western and

South-western States, as well as in North-western Mexico, by the closely allied 8.

breweri. |

The Mexican specimens we have seen all seem to be in winter plumage, and it is

most probable that the bird is present in Mexico only in the winter season, and that it

migrates thence northwards in spring to its breeding-quarters. Of its occurrence

within our territory we have nothing but the bare record of localities.

The nesting-habits of S. pallida are described in the ‘ History of North American

Birds’’. The nest is placed in a tree or shrub, two or three feet from the ground,

sometimes more, and is loosely made of grasses, and lined with hair. The eggs are

light blue tinged with green and marked round the larger end with spots and blotches

of purplish brown.

4, Spizella breweri.

Spizella breweri, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1856, p. 40°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. u1.,. Birds, p. 16’;

Belding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 343°; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. ‘3814,

Spizella pallida var. breweri, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 13°.

S. pallide similis, sed striis corporis supra angustioribus, iis capitis summi undique dispersis, vitta mediana

pallida nulla.

Hab. Norru America, 8.W. States, New Mexico!, Arizona *®.—Mexico, Boca Grande

| (Kennerly 2), Guaymas (Belding ®), Ciudad in Durango (Forrer).

A specimen sent us by Mr. Forrer from the State of Durango certainly belongs to

this race of 8. pallida, and the bird has also been noticed within our fauna by Kennerly

at Boca Grande, and by Mr. Belding at Guaymas.

The characters by which S. breweri is distinguished from S. pallida seem to be fairly

definite, the uniform striation of the crown at once rendering it easily recognized. In

S. pallida the crown has dark sides where the striations are concentrated, leaving a

light central streak which passes from the forehead to the nape.

Nothing is recorded of S. brewert in Mexico beyond localities where it has been

‘found. In the States it is familiar to most of the ornithologists who have worked

between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, in California, and southwards

through Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Mr. Ridgway, who observed it in

numbers at Sacramento and elsewhere, speaks highly of its powers of song, which he

says fully equal those of the Canary. The eggs are described as marked and blotched

with scattered markings of a golden-brown colour, these blotches being larger and more

conspicuous than in the eggs of any other allied species °.

48%

380 FRINGILLIDZ.

5. Spizella atrigularis.

Spinites atrigularis, Cab. Mus. Hein. 1. p. 133’.

Spizella atrigularis, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 16, t. 17. f. 1°; Dugés, La Nat.

i. p. 140°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 15*; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. a1"; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 381°.

Cinerea, dorso medio rufo nigro striato, alis et cauda nigricantibus, illis rufo limbatis; subtus dilutior, ventre

imo albicante, gula nigra; rostro rubido, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 5:4, alee 2°7, caude 3:0,

rostri a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Lower California, Arizona 4 ®&.—Mextco 1, Agua Nueva in Coahuila

(Couch), Guanajuato (Dugés ?), Chapulco (Swmichrast *).

Though this well-marked species has a wide range in Mexico, it seems to be nowhere

common, and specimens, though not unfrequently to be found in Mexican collections,

are never numerous. Concerning its habits in Mexico not a word has been recorded.

In Arizona Dr. Coues met with it sparingly near Fort Whipple from April to October.

In the spring the male utters a pleasing song, and towards autumn birds collect into

small flocks and frequent weedy places, associating with the western Spizella socialis

and Goldfinches (Chrysomitris). The nest and eggs of this species remain to be dis-

covered.

PASSERCULUS.

Passerculus, Bonaparte, Comp. List Birds, p. 33 (1838) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i.

p- 5382; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 360.

This genus consists of about six species all inhabitants of the continent of North

America, two of them entering our country, P. sandwichensis as far south as Guatemala

and P. rostratus only along the eastern shore of the Gulf of California. The definition

of Passerculus is not very pronounced, but the shortness of the tail as compared to the

length of the wing renders it recognizable from Peucwa and other allied genera. The

plumage is more or less spotted above and below, and the chest and flanks are distinctly

maculate. ‘The bill is usually rather slender though more turgid in P. rostratus; the

culmen, tomia, and gonys nearly straight; the nostrils are exposed, an overhanging

membrane covering the upper half of the nasal fossa; the rictal bristles are strong,

reaching half the length of the bill. The four outer quills of the wing are nearly

equal and the secondaries are of nearly the same length; the tail is very slightly forked

and the feathers rather narrow; the middle toe is shorter than the tarsus, but the toes

and claws are rather stout.

1. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Emberiza sandwichensis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 875’.

Passerculus savanna, var. sandwichensis, Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 588’,

Fringilla savanna, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 55, t. 22. f. 3°.

PASSERCULUS. . 381

Passerculus savanna, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 131‘; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 534°;

Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. v. p. 390°.

Passerculus alaudinus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxvii. p. 9187; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds,

p- 158; Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 308°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865,

p- 487; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552”.

Passerculus savanna var. alaudinus Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. ‘p. 537 *; Lawr. Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 21”.

Passerculus sandvicensis alaudinus, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 368”.

Supra fuscus, plumis singulis medialiter nigris, vertice medio fere immaculato, superciliis a naribus pallide

flavidis, stria per oculos indistincte nigra; alis et cauda fusco-nigris pallide fusco limbatis; subtus albus,

cervicis lateribus, pectore et hypochondriis nigro guttulatis ; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus

carneis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2°8, caudex 2:1, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0° 75. (Descr, exempl. ex Duenas,

Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America generally ?° 18, Texas 6 11.—Mexico 4, Tamaulipas (Cowch 8), Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast 1), La Parada (Boucard®), Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast ') ;

GuaTEMALA, Duefias !°, Coban, Peten, Retalhuleu (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

The North American specimens of this Finch were at one time divided into several

species which have since been reduced to races, and these again, so far as we can see,

should be merged into one variable form, at least so far as P. sandwichensis is concerned

and its immediate forms P. savanna and P. alaudinus. P. anthinus of the coast of

California, with its darker back and more heavily spotted breast, we think, may prove

to be distinct, but our materials are not sufficient to form a definite opinion, and the

question does not immediately concern the present work. P. rostratus and P. princeps

~ appear to be quite distinct.

The characters by which the races of P. sandwichensis have been divided are almost

wholly of size, strength of bill, and length of wing, but their dimensions overlap. The

wing of a specimen from Guatemala is as long as another from Onalaska though the

bill is much smaller. Moreover there seems to be no portion of the continent of

North America unoccupied by this Sparrow, and the evidence that its varied forms

blend into one another by insensible steps seems complete. We note, however, that

the birds of the Western and Middle States and those of Mexico have, on an average,

smaller, more delicate bills than those of the Eastern States, and still more than those

of the high north, the true P. sandwichensis.

Though apparently resident in Texas, Mr. Sennett having observed it as late as May

at Lomita in the Rio Grande valley °, it seems it is doubtful whether it is more than a

winter visitor to Mexico and Guatemala; Sumichrast !* gives it as such in the State of

Vera Cruz, and other authorities record its presence between the months of November

and March. It is apparently absent from Western Mexico until we reach the State of

Oaxaca and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec; in Guatemala it is pretty generally distributed

but nowhere numerous, frequenting low shrubs on the banks of streams and lakes,

The nest is described ° as always sunk in the ground and loosely constructed of dry

382 FRINGILLID 2.

grasses with a lining of softer material. The eggs are five or six in number and vary

considerably ; in some the ground colour is greenish white with blotches of various

shades of brown, red, and purple; these blotches are more numerous about the larger end,

where they form a ring; in others the spots are so numerous as to hide the ground

colour.

2. Passerculus rostratus.

Emberiza rostrata, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1852, p- 184°. .

Ammodromus rostratus, Cassin, Ill. B. Calif. & Texas, p- 226, t. 38°.

Passerculus rostratus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 542°; Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus.

v. p.537*; Belding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 843°.

Supra griseo-fuscus fere unicolor, striis obscuris fere absconditis ; capite summo vix striato, alis et cauda fusco-

nigris rufescente fusco limbatis; superciliis sordide albis, stria rictali fusca; subtus albidus, gutture,

pectore et hypochondriis guttulatis ; rostro robusto corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus corylinis. Long.

tota 4'8, ale 2°7, caudee 2-0, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris ex Guaymas, Mexico. Smiths.

Inst. no. 89910.)

2 mari omnino similis.

Hab. Norvu America, coast of California 12 to Cape S. Lucas? 4.—Mzxico, Guaymas

(Belding *).

This species can readily be separated from P. sandwichensis by its very stout bill,

more arched culmen, the absence of a vertical median stripe, the obsolete streaks of the.

back, which is nearly of a uniform colour, and the white superciliary streak with ‘no

yellow in the anterior portion.

P. rostratus appears to be restricted in its range to the coast of California and the

shores of the Gulf of that name, and it is included in our Fauna from specimens having

been obtained by Mr. L. Belding at Guaymas®. It was first discovered by Dr. Heer-

mann near San Diego, on the coast of California !, where it frequented the sedge-grass

near the sea-beach, feeding on seeds, &c., thrown up by the waves. Other observers

have noticed it in similar situations. Of its breeding-habits nothing has been recorded

so far as we know. Mr. Ridgway has carefully tabulated the measurements of a series

of specimens of P. rostratus from Lower California, with a view to ascertain the status

of the allied forms P. guttatus and P. sanctorum; the result shows that both of these

birds are probably inseparable from P. rostratus 4.

POCECETES.

Poocetes, Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 447 (1858) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. Birds, i. p. 544.

Poecetes, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 864.

This genus is very closely allied to Passerculus, from which it differs in the wings

being longer in proportion to the tail, the primaries considerably exceeding the secon-

daries in length. The claw of the hind toe is rather shorter than in Passerculus, the

POCECETES. —COTURNICULUS. 383

lateral toes nearly equal-to the middle toe without its claw, instead of shorter, and the

lateral tail-feathers outwardly white.

P. grammineus is the only species of the genus which is widely distributed through-

out the United States, and is found in the uplands of Mexico during the winter

months.

1. Pocwcetes gramineus.

Fringilla graminea, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 9227.

Poecetes gramineus, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. p. 157; Scl. P.Z. 8S. 1859, p. 379°; Dresser,

This, 1865, p. 487*; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140°.

Poecetes gramineus var. confinis, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 545°; Sennett, Bull.

U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 177.

Supra schistaceo-fuscus, pluma singula stria fusco-nigra brunneo limbata medialiter notata, vertice et cervice

postica sicut dorso striata sed striis angustioribus, loris et ciliis albicantibus ; alis et cauda fusco-nigris

griseo-fusco limbatis, illis albido indistincte bifasciatis, tectricibus minoribus castaneis, hujus rectricibus

duabus utrinque externis albis, extima pro majore parte ; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus carneis,

’ Pp J )

Long. tota 6:0, ale 3:4, caudex 2°7, tarsi 0-85, dig. med. cum ungue 0°85. (Deser. maris ex Oaxaca

9 9 >] bf 9

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America!, United States generally, Texas47.— Mexico, Tamaulipas

(Couch?), Boca Grande, Espia (Kennerly?), Guanajuato (Dugés!5), Oaxaca

(Loucard *), Jalapa (de Oca, Hoge).

P. gramineus has been divided into an eastern and a western race, and it is the

latter, P. g. confinis, which we find in Mexico. The difference is very slight between

the two, and lies in the western bird being of paler greyer plumage and the black

streaks narrower.

Though widely distributed in Mexico, this species has been little noticed, and seems

to have escaped Sumichrast’s observation, though found near Jalapa, within the

district the birds of which he specially studied. So far as the records on our specimens

go, it would seem that P. gramineus is a winter visitor to Mexico, and migrates thence

-northwards on the approach of the breeding-season.

In the United States P. gramineus is a very well-known bird, frequenting grassy

country, and is a characteristic bird of the grassy slopes of the Rocky Mountains *%. Its

song is described as simple, but of sweet tone. It builds on the ground a simply con-

structed nest of dry grass-stems, with a lining of softer materials of the same description.

The eggs are greenish white marked with spots of various sizes and lines of various

shades of reddish and purplish brown °.

COTURNICULUS.

Coturniculus, Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 32 (1838); Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 548 ;

Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 365.

The birds usually associated in this genus are separable into two sections, one of

which, C. passerinus, is typical, has the tail-feathers narrow with acute tips, the crown

384 FRINGILLID ZA.

has a vertical median stripe; the other section, represented by the South American

C. manimbe, has the tail-feathers normal and rounded at their ends; the crown has no

median stripe. Both forms are represented in our region, but only C. passerinus and

its allies C. lecontii and C. henslowi are found in North America; but these have a wide

range in the States, and C. passerinus is found in several of the larger West Indian

Islands. Of the southern section, C. petenicus is its only representative in Central

America; but in the southern continent C. manimbe, in one or other of its somewhat

varied races, and C. peruanus are found throughout the whole of Tropical America, as

far as the Argentine Republic.

The bill of C. passerinus is stout, the culmen curved and somewhat elevated towards

the forehead; the nostrils are in a somewhat deep fossa, the upper part of which is

occupied by a membrane; the tomia is rather concave, and beneath the nostrils the

bill is somewhat tumid; the wings are short and much rounded, the second and third

quills being slightly longer than the first, fourth, and fifth; the inner secondaries fall

short of the longest primaries only by one eighth of an inch; the tail is rounded and

the feathers are narrow and pointed, but lax and not stiffened as in Ammodromus. ‘The

general plumage is mottled above and plain beneath, but in the young the chest has

some faint streaks. The tail of C. petenicus consists of broader feathers with rounded

ends. The plumage is less varied above, and there is no vertical streak.

1. Coturniculus passerinus. vo

Fringilla passerina, Wils. Am. Orn. iii. p. 76. t. 24. £.57.

Coturniculus passerinus, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 157; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°;

Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1859, p. 379*; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 411°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 487°;

Sumichrast, Mus. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 5527; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301°; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 553°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277°; Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 21"; Gundl. Av. Cub. p. 90”; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 233 *;

Ibis, 1885, p. 190; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 365 »,

Ammodramus bimaculatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 485 1°,

Coturniculus tixicrus, Gosse, B. Jamaica, p. 2427",

Supra griseo-fuscus, dorsi plumis medialiter nigris ad apicem castaneo notatis, pilei lateribus nigris plumis

cervino marginatis, pileo medio longitudinaliter cervino ; superciliis sordide albidis ; alis et cauda nigri-

cantibus fusco limbatis, secundariis internis ad apices et tectricibus alarum sicut dorso notatis ; subtus

albus, pectore et hypochondriis cervinis, campterio alari flavo; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus

corneis. Long. tota 5, ale 2-4, caudew 1-9, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi0°75. (Deser. exempl. ex J alapa, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Eastern States, Canada®l, Texas®—Mexico, Los Nogales

(Kennerly *), Mazatlan (Grayson 1°), Temiscaltepec (Bullock "), State of Vera Cruz

in winter (Swmichrast"), Oaxaca (Boucard +4), Jalapa (de Oca), Tehuantepec city

(Sumichrast ''), Cozumel I. (Devis 4); Guaremaza (Constancia 18, Skinner *), Coban,

Sakluk near Peten (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Costa Rica, San Isidro (v. Frantzius® 8),—

Cupa’’; Jamaica !’; Puerto Rico.

COTURNICULUS. 385

Mr. Ridgway has divided Coturniculus passerinus into two races, calling the bird of

the Western Provinces, which is somewhat paler, C. p. perpailidus®. He places the

Mexican and West Indian birds with the true C. passerinus ; but one of our Mexican

specimens is as pale as another, marked by Mr. Ridgway himself as C. perpallidus,

whereas our Guatemalan examples are the darkest of our series. There can hardly be

a doubt that the light and pale form blend imperceptibly, and we therefore use the

term C. passerinus in a wide sense to embrace them both.

That C. tixicrus of Gosse from Jamaica is the same bird is now generally, and we

think rightly, admitted ; and Swainson’s A. dimaculatus also belongs here, as the

evidence of a type in the Cambridge Museum places beyond question.

In Mexico C. passerinus is said to be a winter visitor, and is at that season pretty

generally distributed from the sea-coast near Mazatlan and Tehuantepec ‘to the high-

lands of the State of Vera Cruz. In Guatemala we found it near Sakluk in an open

savanna at an elevation of about 500 feet, and near Coban upwards of 4000 feet above

the sea, but always in grassy meadows. |

In Jamaica it is said by the late Mr. March to breed in considerable numbers 9, but

in Cuba Dr. Gundlach says that it is migratory, arriving from the United States in

autumn }2,

In the latter country it is a common species, but less familiar than it might be owing

to its very skulking habits. It is resident in the Southern States, but elsewhere either a

summer visitor or a bird of passage ®. Its note is described as not unlike the chirp of

a grasshopper ®. It builds on the ground in a tussock of grass, the nest being made of

dry grasses and lined with fine bents and horsehair. The eggs are crystal white,

2. Coturniculus petenicus. (Tab. XXVIII. fig. 2.)

Ammodromus petenicus, Salv. P.Z. S. 1863, p. 189*; Ibis, 1866, p. 193.

Coturniculus (?) petenicus, Ridgw. Ibis, 1884, p. 44°.

Supra nigricans, plumis omnibus fusco limbatis, loris sordide albidis; subtus albidus, cervicis lateribus, pectore et

hypochondriis pallide fuscis, stria utrinque rictali nigra, campterio alari flavido; rostro corneo, pedibus

pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2:2, caudex 2°15, rostri a rictu 0°45, tarsi 0°75. (Descr. feminz

typ. ex Poctun, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. GuaTEMALA, Pine-ridge of Poctun near Peten (0. S.1).

The single female specimen shot by Salvin in March 1863, in the above locality, is

the only one we have yet seen of this species. We have looked in vain for it in

collections from Yucatan, where it may reasonably be expected to be found in the grassy

savanas of that region.

The alliances of C. petenicus are no doubt with the South American C. manimée, and

Mr. Ridgway tells us that it much resembles the form of that bird called by him

C. m. dorsalis. It lacks, however, the yellow lores, the upper plumage is darker, there

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., June 1886. 49

386 FRINGILLIDZ.

is a black line on either side of the upper part of the throat, and other slighter

differences.

As Mr. Ridgway justly remarks, C. petenicus and its allies are abnormal members

of either Coturniculus or Ammodromus, but we hesitate, as he did, to make a separate

genus for them.

MELOSPIZA.

Melospiza, Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 476 (1858) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. Birds, ii. p. 16;

Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 369.

This genus, with Peucwa, forms section C of the “Spizelline” of Messrs. Baird,

Brewer, and Ridgway’s arrangement, and is distinguished by the following common

characters :—The tail is lengthened and graduated (7. e. rounded and not forked), longer

than the wings, which are very short, hardly extending when closed beyond the base of

the tail. All the species are streaked above, and the tail is without white on the

lateral feathers.

From Peucea, Melospiza may be distinguished by the species being streaked beneath

on the chest and flanks, the tail-feathers rather broad, and the culmen and tomia nearly

straight ; the claws stout, that of the hind toe being as long as its digit.

The differentiation of the species of Melospiza offers a very complex problem so far

as regards M. fasciata and its races, a problem which not even the resources of the

National Museum at Washington have solved to the satisfaction of all who have con-

sulted its treasures, for those who have done so do not arrive in all cases at the same

conclusion as to which forms should be considered species and which varieties. ‘The

accumulation of materials seems to render the lines of definition between the various

races of this species more and more obscure, so that we may fairly expect them to

become entirely obliterated as means of observation grow; or, on the other hand, that

certain of these lines may prove to be still definite though faint.

So far as concerns one of the members of Melospiza found in Mexico, M. heermannt,

we rather incline to the belief that it will ultimately be found separable from V. fasciata;

but of M. montana we are not in a position to offer any opinion. MV. lincolni is an

isolated species offering no difficulty.

It is probable that all three forms included below are winter visitors to Mexico or

Guatemala, but on this point our information leaves much to be desired.

1. Melospiza lincolni.

Fringilia lincolni, Aud. Orn. Biogr. i. p. 539, t. 1937.

Peucea lincolni, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 481°.

Passerculus lincolni, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 303°; 1859, p. 365%; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°.

Melospiza lincolni, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. 11. Birds, p. 16°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p.879"; Dresser,

Ibis, 1865, p. 489°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw.

MELOSPIZA. 387

N. Am. B. ii. p. 81"; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277"; Sennett, Bull. U. 8. Geol.

Surv. iv. p. 18”; v. p. 890"; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 444",

Supra schistaceo-brunnea nigricante striata, stria singula utrinque rufo plus minusve limbata, superciliis et stria

verticali schistaceis ; alis et cauda nigricanti-brunneis, rufo limbatis; subtus alba, gutturis lateribus, pectore

et hypochondriis cervinis nigro guttulatis, gula ipsa et abdomine medio pure albis; rostro corneo, mandibula

ad basin albida, pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5:0, ale 2-3, cauds 2-1, tarsi 0°8, dig. med. cum

ungue 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu AMERICA generally 1°, Texas$ 1218._—Muxico?, Tamaulipas (Couch 6), Mazatlan,

Tepic (Grayson }, Forrer), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), Jalapa (de Oca *),

Totontepic, Teotalcingo, Oaxaca (Boucard’), Izamal (Gaumer 4); GUATEMALA,

Duefas*, Coban (0. 8. & F. D. G.); Panama (Aspinwall 1),

The only evidence we have of the occurrence of this species so far south as the State

seen specimens from any point further south than Guatemala, where MV. lincolni is not

uncommon in marshy places during the winter months. In Mexico it is also not

uncommon at that season; but Grayson, who says it is very abundant in winter in the

coast-region of Western Mexico, adds that at Tepic it is found at all seasons". This

latter statement we think requires some confirmation, seeing how very far north or to

what an altitude M. lincolni flies before selecting its breeding-ground. Sumichrast

gives it amongst the migratory birds of the State of Vera Cruz ®.

In North America M. lincolni is found generally distributed at some period of the

year either in its summer or winter quarters or during the spring or autumn migrations.

It breeds in Labrador and in the valleys of the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers, as well

as in the State of New York and in New England. Further south it is said to breed

in the mountains of Colorado. .

The nest is built in a tussock of grass, and the eggs are of a pale greenish-white

ground, thickly marked with spots and blotches of ferruginous brown, often so thickly

as to partly conceal the ground-colour!°.

2. Melospiza montana.

Melospiza melodia, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 16°.

Melospiza fasciata montana, Henshaw, Auk, 1884, p. 223°.

Supra cinereo-fusca, pilei lateribus rufis nigro striatis, interscapulii plumis medialiter macula nigra rufo utrinque

limbata notatis, uropygio quoque guttato; alis et cauda nigricanti-brunneis extus rufo limbatis; super-

ciliis albidis ; subtus albus, cervicis lateribus, pectore, hypochondriis et crisso obscure brunneo guttatis ;

rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6-0, alee 2:8, caude 3:0, rostri a rictu 0°55,

tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Wyoming, Smiths. Inst. 61041. Mus. Brit.)

Hab. Norra America, Great Basin generally *.—Mexico, Boca Grande (Kennerly').

In answer to inquiries, Mr. Ridgway writes to say that the Boca Grande specimen

named Melospiza melodia by Prof. Baird belongs to the race recently separated by

Mr. Henshaw as I. fasciata montana. There are specimens in the British Museum

49*

388 FRINGILLID.

bearing this name from Wyoming. Mr. Henshaw compares his bird with M. fallaz,

itself a race of MM. fasciata, according to the recent views of American authors ; from

this it differs in being umber-brown instead of bright reddish brown, giving a greyish

aspect to the plumage, the back is streaked with blackish brown instead of a dark

shade of red-brown, the streaks below are of the same colour as those of the back, those

of M. fallax being reddish and not black.

The true WV. fallax is found near Tucson in Arizona, where also WM. montana occurs,

but a point connected with their presence there seems well worthy of note. Mr. Nelson

says that on March 18th WM. fallax was in full song and preparing to breed, whereas

M. montana had left without singing for more northern regions ?.

In the case of this bird we do not feel ina position to decide whether it is most

likely to prove inseparable from Jf. fasciata owing to complete intergradation, in which

case we should include it under that name, or whether it is definitely separable even by

very slight characters, for then we should call it If. montana.

3. Melospiza heermanni.

Melospiza heermanni, Baird, Birds N. Am. p. 478, t. 70. f. 1*.

Melospiza melodia var. heermanni, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 24°.

Melospiza fasciata heermanni, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 872°.

Melospiza gouldi, Scl. P. Z.S. 1862, p. 869 * (nec Baird).

Melospiza fallax, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 174°.

Melospiza pectoralis, v. Mill. Syst. Verz. Wirb. Mex. p. 49°?

Melospiza melodia var. mexicana, Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 187?

Supra fusco-brunnea, dorso medio nigro late striato, capite summo quoque striato rufo intermixto, fascia verti-

. cali indistincte cinerea ; alis et cauda fusco-nigris, rufo limbatis, superciliis griseo-albidis, ad naribus pure

albis, loris et stria postoculari nigris, regione parotica fusco induta; subtus alba, stria utrinque lata rictali

ad pectus conjunctis nigris, pectore dense, hypochondriis sparse, nigro maculatis, his cum crisso cervino

lavatis; rostro nigricante corneo, mandibula ad basin pallida, pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 6-2,

alee 28, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0-55, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris ex Puebla, Mexico (January). Mus.

nostr. )

Hab. Nort America, California 1, Nevada ?.—Mexico 4, valley of Mexico (White 5),

Puebla’ (Boucard).

We have Mexican specimens of this Melospiza, agreeing accurately with others from

California, purporting to be the true I. heermanni of Baird, and with the same bird

we associate the Mexican specimens called M. gouldi and M. fallax by Mr. Sclater.

Regarding M. pectoralis of Miiller we are in some doubt, as the description does not

quite agree ; but Mf. melodia mexicana of Ridgway ® we place here with more confidence,

as the description suits a specimen from Southern Mexico in our collection very accu-

rately. Making some allowance for seasonal and abraded plumage, we cannot see

our way to admitting more than one Melospiza of this form in Southern Mexico, viz.

M. heermanni.

PEUCHA. — 389

It is probable that this species is a winter visitor to Southern Mexico, but we have

No positive evidence to prove that it is so. The bird does not appear in Sumichrast’s

lists.

In California, M. heermanni appears to be abundant, and nests were found by

Dr. Cooper at Santa Cruz; one of these was placed in a willow-tree close to the stem,

about three feet from the ground ; it was constructed of coarse grass-stems and leaves,

and lined with finer grasses and horsehair. The eggs were greenish white, spotted and

blotched with purplish brown chiefly at the larger end 2.

PEUCAA.

Peucea, Audubon, Synopsis B. N. Am. p. 112 (1839) ; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1868, p. 322; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 37; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 378.

Peucea may be distinguished from Melospiza by the plumage being destitute of spots

beneath, its somewhat more curved culmen, its weaker claws, and rather narrower tail-

feathers; otherwise the two so-called genera are very similar.

The species of Peucea are almost as indefinite as those of Melospiza as regards their

differential characters. We recognize four Mexican species which are easily distin-

guished inter se, but P. bottert is but slightly removed from P. estivalis and P. boucardi

from P. ruficeps. On the other hand both P. cassini and P. notosticta are definite

enough.

The genus is divisible into two sections, one containing the species with no rictal

stripes, but with the bend of the wing yellow; the other has rictal stripes and the wing-

bend white.

a. Sp. striga utrinque rictali nulla, campterio flavicante.

1. Peucea botterii.

Zonotrichia botterti, Scl. P. Z.S. 1857, p. 214°.

Peucea botierii, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 323.

Peucea estivalis, var. botterit, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277”.

Coturniculus mexicanus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 474%.

Peucea cassini, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 16°; Birds N. Am. p. 486°; Sumichrast,

Mem..Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 5517 (nec Woodhouse).

Peucea estivalis, var. arizone, Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 41°.

Peucea mexicana, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 98°.

Peucea arizone, Ridgw. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. i. p. 1277".

Supra cinereo-rufescens, capitis et interscapulii plumis medialiter fusco-nigris, harum autem marginibus rufes-

centibus fusco mixtis; alis nigricantibus, tectricibus omnibus pallide fusco late, remigibus rufo anguste,

extus limbatis; cauda producta nigricanti, rectricum externarum apicibus valde dilutioribus pallide

cinereis ; subtus ochraceo-albidus, pectore cinerascentiore, gula clariore, preecipue ad latera rufescente ;

campterio flavicante ; rostro corneo, tomiis pallidis, pedibus flavis. Long, tota 6°0, ale 2-5, caude 2:6,

rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris ex Atlisco, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

390 FRINGILLID2.

Hab. Norta America, Texas, Arizona.— Mexico, plains of Colima (Xantus?+), Los

Nogales, Sonora (Kennerly °), Guanajuato (Dugés), Orizaba (Botteri!), Mirador,

Huatusco (Sartorius), Atlisco (Boucard?), Putla (Rébouch).

We have the types of Zonotrichia botterii, Scl., of Coturniculus mexicanus, Lawr.,

and of Peucwa estivalis, var. arizone, Ridgw., before us, six other specimens from

various parts of Mexico, and one from Fort Brown, Texas—ten specimens in all.

Judging from the variations observable in these examples, we do not hesitate to

pronounce them all of one species. The extent to which the edgings of the dorsal

feathers are worn makes a great difference in the appearance of the back, the older

the plumage the darker this portion becomes through the abrasion of the lighter

edging of the feathers. The darkest specimen is one sent us by the authorities of the

Smithsonian Institution from Mirador; this is a little darker than the type of

P. botierti. P. mexicana comes next in the series, then follow specimens mostly from

Orizaba, and the lightest in colour are the type of P. estivalis arizone, the Fort Brown

example, and two from Mexico (Putla and Atlisco). All these four were shot in June,

and their plumage is comparatively fresh.

There is a slight divergence on the part of P. estivalis arizone in that the dark

stripes of the crown are more restricted to the anterior portion and those of the back

are more circumscribed, but the difference is not considerable.

P. botterit was described by Mr. Sclater from a specimen obtained by the late Mateo

Botteri near Orizaba, where he resided many years, and other specimens have from

time to time been obtained in the same district. It is to this species, doubtless, that

Sumichrast refers, under the name P. cassini, saying that it is resident in the temperate

region of the valley of Orizaba 7. |

Mr. Ridgway has recently written on this subject, urging that Coturniculus mexicanus,

Lawr., and Zonotrichia botterii, Scl., are distinct species; but with the types of both

birds before us, we are confident that this view cannot be maintained, for the difference

between them is quite inappreciable. The dark aberrant specimen from Mirador, in

the U.S. National Museum, has been the cause of this opinion of Mr. Ridgway’s, it

having done duty as a normal P. dotterit. It will be seen in the paper referred to that

P. estivalis arizone and the bird called P. mexicana are considered distinct species,

though we here put them together, drawing our limits of variation rather wide.

We have, as already stated, specimens of both birds before us, but a larger series

may show that our present view is wrong; the geographical distribution of the birds is,

however, in our favour. Mr. Ridgway will doubtless review the question, with our

assurance that C. meaicanus and Z. botterii are inseparable.

The relationship of P. botterit to P. estivalis is close, the difference consisting in

the latter bird being darker, with the head and neck deeper rufous; beneath, the

plumage is much greyer, P. botterit being here of an ochre colour, especially on the

chest and flanks.

PEUCAA. 391

Mr. Sennett found P. dotterii in some numbers on a salt prairie about nine miles from

Fort Brown ; but he obtained specimens with difficulty, owing to their hiding so closely

in the tall grass. He describes its notes as quite pleasing. A nest found on 16th June

was placed among the roots of a tussock of grass, and was made of blades and stems of

grass; this nest was rather deep, but too frail to admit of removal. The four eggs it

contained were unspotted white, with a strong tinge of greenish blue. They thus

differ from the eggs of P. estivalis, which are of a crystalline white.

2. Peuczea cassini.

Zonotrichia cassini, Woodh. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1852, p. 60°.

Peucea cassini, Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 489°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 42°; Sennett,

Bull. U. 8. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 18°; Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 128”.

Supra fusco-bruanea, plumis undique cinerascente marginatis, superciliis indistincte albidis ad nares albi-

cantioribus, fascia postoculari indistincte fusca; subtus albida, pectore vix fusco lavato; hypochondriis

fuscescenti hic illic striatis, crisso pallide cervino, campterio alari flavido; rostro corneo, culmine

fuscescente, pedibus flavidis. Long. tota 5:8, ale 2°6, caudex 2:6, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0°75. (Deser.

exempl, ex Arizona. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Western Texas’, Rio Grande valley 2° 4 °.—Mexico?

It is questionable if this Finch should be included in the Mexican fauna. It is true

Sumichrast says that it occurs in the temperate region of the valley of Orizaba in the

State of Vera Cruz, but we agree with the authors of the ‘ History of North-American

Birds’ in thinking that the species referred to was most probably not P. cassini but

P. botterii. Then, again, the specimen obtained by Kennerly at Los Nogales, in Sonora,

and referred by Prof. Baird to P. cassini, now proves to belong rather to P. botterti, and

is the P. estivalis arizone of American authors. The claims therefore of P. cassini to

be inserted in this fauna are hardly established, though we have no doubt whatever that

it will be found on the south side of the Rio Grande valley, occurring as it does com-

monly in Texas, and is also found close to our frontier in Arizona. It is to be noted

also that Mr. Sennett says that this bird arrives in Texas, doubtless from the south, in

March. The same traveller describes its nest as placed at the foot of a bush close to

the ground, and composed of dried grasses lined with finer ones and a few hairs. The

eggs are pure white.

b. Sp. striga utrinque rictali nigra, campterio albo.

3. Peucea boucardi.

Zonotrichia boucardi, Scl. P.Z. 8. 1867, p. 1, t. 1°.

Peucea ruficeps, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 380? ; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 552? (nec

Cassin).

Peucea ruficeps, var. boucardi, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 21°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw.

N. Am. B. ii. p. 38 (partim)’.

392 FRINGILLIDA.

Peucea ruficeps eremeca, N. C. Brown, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vil. pp. 26, 38 °.

?, Scl. P. Z.S. 1857, p. 214”.

Supra cinerea, plumis medialiter brunneis cinereo late marginatis; pileo fere omnino rufo cinereo intermixto,

vitta verticali indistincta, linea superciliari ante oculos et oculorum ambitu albis, genis et cervicis

lateribus pure cineriis ; remigibus et rectricibus intus nigricantibus extus brunnescente-cinereo marginatis,

secundariis brunnescentioribus et latius marginatis, tectricibus extus dorso fere concoloribus; subtus

albicante-cinerea, gutture toto albo striga utrinque nigra; ventre medio lactescente albo, utrinque cum

crisso fulvescente tincto ; rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula cum pedibus pallidis. Long. tota 6°4, ale 2°7, .

caude 3:0, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. exempl. ex Puebla, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Ammodromus

Hab. North America, Texas ®, Arizona.—MeExico, temperate region of Vera Cruz 3,

Puente Colorado? (Sumichrast), Orizaba (Botteri2"), Puebla!, Oaxaca 2 (Boucard).

Mr. Sclater based his description of this species upon a specimen from Puebla and

three from Orizaba, and though one of the latter seems to have been correctly

described in ‘The History of North-American Birds,’ the name P. bowcardi has latterly

been associated by American authors with a bird from Arizona which is so slightly

separated from the Californian P. rujficeps that we doubt its being a definite race; the

crown is of a slightly paler chestnut, and the dorsal feathers have less defined edges,

giving the back a more uniform tint. The true P. bowcardi seems to be distinct from

either of these birds; not only is the crown darker, but the central feathers have pale

edges, so that there is a faint median stripe on the crown; the dorsal feathers have

well-defined rufous-brown centres and are broadly edged with dark grey, giving the

back a more definitely striped appearance than is the case in P. ruficeps, and still less

in the Arizona form of it. P. bowcardi, however, does occur in Arizona; a male

obtained by Mr. G. B. Sennett at Catalina Mill, lst October, 1883, now in the British

Museum, agrees accurately with the Mexican type; and it also occurs in Texas, for we

have no doubt that the bird described by Mr. Brown as Peucwa ruficeps eremaca is the

true P. doucardi, and this opinion is made certain in that Mr. Brown states that his

specimens agree with an example from Orizaba typical of P. boucardi!

The difficulties connected with the tangled synonymy of this species are to some

extent dissipated if we admit, as seems undoubtedly to be the case, that P. rujiceps

does not occur at all in Mexico, unless the pale Arizona form of it crosses the Sonoran

frontier, which is extremely probable. On the other hand P. boucardi spreads over the

whole country and passes into Texas, and also into Arizona, where it is found in contact

with the Arizona P. rujiceps.

As unfortunately is so frequently the case, nothing of the habits of P. doucardi have

reached us from Mexico, but Mr. Brown tells us that it is not uncommon, and appa-

rently resident at Boerne in South-western Texas, in rocky localities usually near the

creek, but is also found in barren places a mile or more from water. The bird is of shy

skulking habits, rarely taking wing, but hiding from danger in bushes and weeds. The

song of the male is a pretty warble, but not of so fine a quality as that of P. estivalis.

PEUCHA.—HAMOPHILA. 393

4. Peucwa notosticta. (Tab. XXVIII. fig. 1.)

Peucea notosticta, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1868, p. 322".

Supra fuscescente-cinerea, interscapulio et alarum tectricibus distincte nigro striatis ; pileo medio cinereo, utrin-

que rufescente-brunneo nigro striato; superciliis et oculorum ambitu albis; alis et cauda nigricante-

cinereis, plumarum marginibus dilutioribus, secundariis extus brunescente limbatis; subtus alba cinereo,

preecipue in pectore et lateribus lavata; ventre medio et crisso dilute cinnamomeis ; striga mentali utrinque

nigricante ; rostro nigro, pedibus flavicantibus. Long. tota 6°5, ale 2°7, caude 3, rostri a rictu 0°5,

tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico merid. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (Boucard), Oaxaca (Boucard 1).

This species was described from a single specimen obtained in Southern Mexico,

probably in the State of Puebla, by M. Boucard, but the exact locality where it was

shot is not stated on the label.

Though allied to P. boucardi it is certainly distinct; the rufous-brown sides of the

crown are clearly marked with black, and there is a definite median streak ; the middle

of the back, too, is much more clearly striped, and the bill is wholly black, though this

may be a seasonal character.

In Mr. Sclater’s collection, now in the British Museum, there is a second specimen

of this species, but in more immature plumage. The crown is uniformly rufous without

the black lateral streaks and the median stripe, and the general tint of the plumage

above is more rufescent. In spite of these differences we do not hesitate to consider

this bird to be a young example of P. notosticta.

HAMOPHILA.

Aimophila, Swainson, Anim. in Menag. p. 113.

We know of nine normal species of Hemophila. A tenth has been recently described

by Mr. Sclater as H. pulchra (Ibis, 1886, p. 258, t. 8) from Western Peru; but this

has evidently some aberrant characters, one of the most obvious being the white lateral

tail-feathers.

Of the nine species only one (H. stolzmanni) occurs beyond our limits in Western

Peru. Of the other eight, six are purely Mexican, one reaches Guatemala, and one is

found from Guatemala to Costa Rica.

In their range the species of Haemophila enjoy considerable diversity, so far as

altitude is concerned—Z. rufescens being found in the mountains as high as 8000 feet

and as low as 1500, and ZH. rujficauda between 2000 feet and the sea-level. ‘The species

with which we are acquainted are inhabitants of scrubby forest and brushwood, and

are not found in the denser and more lofty tropical forest.

Hemophila rufescens has a stout bill, the culmen slightly arched and produced back-

wards towards the forehead ; the tomia is angulated and slightly undulating anteriorly ;

the nostrils are at the lower anterior end of the nasal fossa, and are bordered above by

a membrane; below the nostril the maxilla is slightly tumid. The wings are short

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER. Aves, Vol. I., August 1886. 50

394 FRINGILLIDA.

and rounded, the third and fourth quills being longest, the fifth is longer than the

second, which nearly equals the sixth; the first isa little longer than the longest

secondaries. ‘The tail is long and much rounded, the feathers being rather narrow.

The tarsi are strong, the toes rather short, the middle toe and claw being a little

shorter than the tarsus.

A. Caput stria verticali obvia, supercilits elongatis.

a. Stria verticali fusca aut fusca nigro variegata.

a’. Stria utringue rictali nigra.

1.:Hemophila rufescens. (Tab. XXIX. fig. 2.)

Pipilo rufescens, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434°; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 486°.

Aimophila rufescens, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 313°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.1i. p. 551°.

Hemophila rufescens, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 182°; Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 98°; 1859, pp. 365 ”, 380°;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°; 1860, p. 34°°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140"; Lawr. Bull.

U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 22”.

Embernagra pyrgitoides, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 97 ™.

Geospizopsis melanotis, Bp. Compt. Rend. xlii. p. 955“; Scl. P. Z.S. 1856, p. 806”.

Supra castaneo-brunnea, dorso medio indistincte fusco guttato, capite summo castaneo utrinque nigro limbato,

stria verticali rufo-grisea, superciliis et capitis lateribus grisescentibus, oculorum ambitu et striga post-

oculari nigris, ciliis ipsis albis; subtus albida, pectore et lateribus ochraceo-griseo lavatis, stria utrinque

rictali nigra; rostri maxilla nigra, mandibula pallida, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6°7, ale 2°8, caude

3°0, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 1:0. (Descr. exempl. ex Orizaba, Mexico. Mus. nostr.).

@ mari similis.

Juv. Capite summo indistincte striato, capitis lateribus obscure ochraceis fusco striatis, corpore subtus flavido,

pectore fusco guttulato. (Descr. av. juv. ex Duenas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico ?> !8 (Sallé 15), Temiscaltepec (Bullock !), Guanajuato (Dugés 1), temperate

region of Vera Cruz, Orizaba (Swmichrast*), Jalapa (de Oca", Hoge), Juquila,

Villa Alta (Boucard®), Guichicovi (Sumichrast 1°); Guatemata (Skinner °),

Duefias (0. S. 1°), Quezaltenango, Carrizal, San Gerénimo, pine-ridge of Poctun

(0.8. & F.D.G.).

A specimen from Orizaba, Southern Mexico, agrees accurately with Swainson’s type

now before us; another from Jalapa has the back more distinctly striped with wider

and darker streaks of blackish brown, the breast, too, is rather greyer. Specimens from

the Guatemala highlands (Duefias, &c.) are rather larger than the type (wing fully

3 inches); but a male from the pine-ridge of Poctun, southward of Peten, diverges most

in having a very short wing (2°55 inches) and the mandible the same horny black as the

maxilla. We have only one example from the last-named locality, so that we are not

in a position to speak generally of the Hamophila of that somewhat peculiar region,

one that belongs to some extent to the district of Yucatan rather than to Mexico

proper or Guatemala.

Hemophila rufescens was described by Swainson from a specimen obtained by

HAMOPHILA. 395

Bullock at Temiscaltepec in Mexico!. It was placed at first by its describer in the

genus Pipilo, but afterwards transferred to Hemophila. Two other names have been

proposed for it, viz. :—Geospizopsis melanotis by Bonaparte 4, the description being

based, so Mr. Sclater tells us, on a young bird of this species or of H. superciliosa® :

and Lmbernagra pyrgitoides by Lafresnaye in 1839 13, The latter is certainly a synonym

of H. rufescens. |

Sumichrast tells us* that H. rufescens inhabits the temperate region of Southern

Mexico, where it is common and most abundant at elevations between 2000 and 5000

feet above the sea. Its nest, which is often found near Orizaba, is usually placed at

the foot of a bush, and its eggs (two in number) are white. In Guatemala we used

usually to find it in the mountainous region, at elevations between 4000 and 8000 feet.

It resorts to bushes and second-growth woods, where it is to be seen on or near the

ground. Southwards of Guatemala we have no record of its occurrence.

2. Hemophila sumichrasti.

Hemophila sumichrasti, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p.6'; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 22”.

Supra pallide rufescens, dorso guttis fusco-nigris dense maculato, uropygio immaculato, tectricibus caude supe-

rioribus rufis; occipitis lateribus rufis, pileo medio longitudinaliter cinereo, stria superciliari griseo-

albicante, infra eam post oculos linea rufa ; genis, cervicis lateribus et pectore cinereis, gula et abdomine

medio albis, hypochondriis et crisso rufis ; alis fuscis rufo limbatis, tectricibus rufis intus nigricantibus ;

cauda fusca, tectricibus medio omnino lateralibus pogonio externo rufis; rostri maxilla cornea, mandibula

pallida, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 2°8, caudee 2°7, rostri a rictu 0-65, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris

ex Juchitan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico, Juchitan (Sumichrast 1 2).

This is clearly a species distinct from H. rufescens, which seems to be its nearest

ally rather than H. melanotis, with which Mr. Lawrence compared it!. Its smaller size

and different markings of the head, together with the dark rictal streak, render it easily

recognized.

The late Prof. Sumichrast alone obtained this Hamophila on the isthmus of Tehuan-

tepec, whence he sent a specimen to Washington, Mr. Lawrence’s type. We have

another from the same source, answering exactly to the description—a male, shot 8th

April, 1870.

b!. Stria utrinque rictali nulla.

3. Hemophila superciliosa. (Tab. XXX. fig. 1.)

Aimophila superciliosa, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 314°; Bp. Consp. Av. 1. p. 486°.

Supra brunnescens nigro guttulata, vertice rufa nigro guttata, stria mediali vix pallidiori dorso concolori, super-

ciliis elongatis sordide albidis, capitis lateribus nigris, tectricibus auricularibus albo intermixtis; subtus

gula sordide alba, abdomine toto griseo ; cauda fusco-nigra rufescente limbata, rectricibus utrinque duabus

externis versus apicem medialiter albidis; rostro nigro, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6°5, alee 2°85, caudex

2-7, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-95. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari similis.

50*

896 FRINGILLIDA.

Hab. Mexico (Swainson '!, Boucard), Ciudad in Durango (Forrer).

This Hemophila, though well described by Swainson, was for some time confused

with H. rufescens, from which it is certainly distinct. The greater amount of striation

of the upper plumage, especially of the head, the absence of a black upper margin to the

superciliary stripes, and the white streaks on the ear-coverts, the absence of the rictal

streaks, as well as its greyer plumage beneath, render it not difficult to recognize.

We have Swainson’s type before us, with which a skin (that figured and described)

furnished us by M. Boucard agrees, as do others of both sexes obtained by M. Alphonse

Forrer at Ciudad, in the State of Durango. Sumichrast, in his note on H. rufescens,

conjectures that this bird replaces that species in the alpine regions of Vera Cruz, but

he does not appear to have obtained specimens to prove that this is the case. M.

Forrer’s birds were shot in the Sierra Madre between Mazatlan and Durango.

Hemophila superciliosa cannot be called a common bird; we have only occasionally

seen specimens in Mexican collections containing characteristic upland species.

b. Stria verticali alba.

4.«Hemophila ruficauda. (Tab. XXX. fig. 2.)

Chondestes ruficauda, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxvii. p. 918".

Hemophila ruficauda, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398 *; Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 114°; Nutting & Ridgw.

Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 883+.

Hemophila tolteca, v. Mill. Syst. Verz. Wirb. Mex. p. 50°?

Supra rufescens, dorso medio fusco guttato, stria verticali et superciliis utrinque elongatis, flavido-albidis,

vertice utrinque fusca rufo intermixta, capitis lateribus fusco-nigris, tectricibus auricularibus cineras-

centibus ; alis fuscis rufescente limbatis, tectricibus minoribus et scapularibus fere pure rufis; cauda

fusca, rectricibus mediis rufis, rachide fusca; subtus albida, pectore pallide cinereo, hypochondriis et crisso

rufescentibus ; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 7-0, ale 2:9, caude 3-1,

rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Chuacus, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guaremaua, Chol, Chuacus, and the Motagua valley 2, from Guastatoya to Gualan

(0.8. & F. D. G.); Satvapor, Acajutla (O. S.); Nicaraaua, Sucuyd (Nutting *) ;

Costa Rica (Carmiol).

A rare species of local though wide distribution in Central America. In Guatemala

we only met with it in the valley of the Motagua river, where it was occasionally seen on

the road between the city of Guatemala and Salama?. We also saw it on several occa-

sions lower down the valley, as far as Gualan. In Nicaragua Mr. Nutting states that

it is common about the hedges near Sucuyéd 4. From Costa Rica we have a specimen

sent us by Carmiol.

The habits of H. ruficauda are like those of H. rufescens ; itis to be found in bushes

on or near the ground. It is not shy, but not easy of observation, owing to its skulking

habits.

We are inclined to think that H. tolteca of von Miiller belongs here>, though the

HAMOPHILA. 397

description does not altogether suit the bird now under consideration. Moreover, the

true H. ruficauda does not, we believe, occur in Mexico, whence v. Miiller’s bird is

stated to have come. This statement, however, is not of much value, as v. Miiller’s

catalogue contains names of many birds certainly not Mexican.

5. Hemophila lawrencii, sp. n.

Hemophila ruficauda, Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 227 (nec Bonaparte).

A. ruficaude similis, sed striis capitis albis haud flavido tinctis, striis nigris haud rufo intermixtis, tectricibus

auricularibus pure nigris et dorso minus guttato distinguenda. (Descr. exempl. ex Juchitan, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Juchitan, near Tehuantepec (Swmichrast }).

We have a specimen of this Hemophila obtained from Sumichrast through M.

Boucard, named “ H. ruficauda,” and therefore, as we suppose, the bird so called in

Mr. Lawrence’s list of Tehuantepec birds}. For some time we had placed it with

H. melanotis, Lawr., but its well-defined ashy breast, as well as the spots of the back

being more restricted in extent, suggest its distinction from that species. They both

have the stripes of the head pure black and white, and thus differ from the more

southern H. ruficauda.

6. Hemophila acuminata.

Zonotrichia melanotis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii. p. 473"; Pr. Ac. Phil. 1868, p. 430 *.

Aimophila melanotis, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277°.

Hemophila melanotis, Salv. P. Z. S. 1888, p. 422 *

Fringilla acuminata, Licht.

H, ruficaude quoque similis, longitudine alarum minore, pectore albicantiore, dorso magis striato et capitis

striis albis et nigris differt. Ab H. lawrencii quoque longitudine alarum minore, dorso mnagis striato, et

pectore haud cinereo discrepat. Long. tota 6°5, alee 2°65, caudee 3:1.

Hab. Muxico, Yuantepec (Deppe), plains of Colima (Xantus 8), Acapulco (A. H. Mark-

ham*), between Puebla and Chiatla (Rébouch).

We are not quite sure if this bird should be referred to Mr. Lawrence’s H. melanotis,

which is said to have a wing three inches long, but which agrees in other respects.

The only bird it can be confounded with is H. lawrencii, and this has a well-defined

cinereous breast, and the spots of the back restricted to the interscapular region. The

latter bird, too, seems to have been referred by Mr. Lawrence to H. ruficauda, rendering

it more than probable that the present species is the true H. melanotis.

The bird originally obtained by Xantus at Colima was referred to Zonotrichia, but it

clearly is a Haemophila, as Mr. Lawrence subsequently discovered. It with H. rufi-

cauda and H. lawrencii form a small section of the genus, distinguished inter alia by

the white vertical streak.

Of the habits of this species Xantus says nothing.

398 FRINGILLIDA.

The term melanotis given to this species by Mr. Lawrence cannot unfortunately be

retained, for it has been previously applied to H. rufescens by Bonaparte, who called

that bird Geospizopsis melanotis. This being the case, we have introduced Lichten-

stein’s undefined name acuminata, which is attached to the label of a specimen in the

Sclater collection derived from the Berlin Museum.

B. Caput stria verticali nulla, supercilits élongatis nullis, loris tantum albis.

7. Hemophila humeralis. (Tab. XXIX. fig. 1.)

Hemophila humeralis, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 1827.

Amphispiza ferrariperezi, Ridgw. Auk, iii. p. 832°.

Supra dorso medio rufescente-fusco guttulato, capite summo et cervice postica obscure nigricante-cinerea, dorso

postico rufescente-fusco, alis et cauda fusco-nigricantibus, illis et tectricibus suis albido limbatis, scapulari-

bus pure rufis; fronte, capitis lateribus et torque pectorali nigris ; loris, stria utrinque mystacali, gula et

abdomine medio albis, hypochondriis pallide cinerascentibus ; rostri maxilla nigricante, mandibula pallida,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 2°5, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0:6, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico’ (Boucard), Chietla, State of Puebla (Diaz 2).

We know very little of this well-marked species, which was described by Prof.

Cabanis from Mexican specimens as long ago as 1851. No mention is made of it in

any of Mr. Sclater’s lists of the collections of Sallé, Boucard, and others ; nor does

Sumichrast ever seem to have met with it. We have a single example furnished us

by M. Boucard, but without special locality. .

Mr. Ridgway has recently described a Mexican Finch under the name of Amphispiza

Serrariperezi *, and he kindly sent us a photograph of the types (male and female). We

have no difficulty in recognizing them as representing Hawmophila humeralis. These

birds are now in the National Museum of Mexico, and were obtained near Chietla

. In the State of Puebla, and are the only examples we know the precise locality of

which has been recorded.

Mr. Ridgway compares the bird with Amphispiza quinquestriata, but its relationship

certainly lies with Hemophila mystacalis.

Our figure is taken from a bird in our collection, probably a female. The male, of

which there is an example in the British Museum, has the head of a more uniform

black.

8. Hemophila mystacalis.

Zonotrichia mystacalis, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 3°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 8057; 1859, p. 879°;

Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 21%.

H. humerali similis, capite summo cinereo nigro striato, subtus gula antica nigra nec alba, cervicis lateribus et

pectore toto cinereis nec nigris, inter alia primo visu distinguenda. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico 1 ?, Tehuacan (Swmichrast +), Oaxaca (Boucard ®).

HAMOPHILA.—CHAM ZOSPIZA. 399

There can be no doubt that this species is a close ally of H. humeralis, with which

it agrees in general facies; but it has a black throat instead of a white one, and the

sides of the neck and the whole chest are ashy instead of black, thus rendering it easy

of recognition.

Mr. Ridgway placed this species in Amphispiza, but the long rounded tail and very

short wings associate it with the section of Hemophila containing H. ruficauda and its

allies, rather than with Amphispiza.

Its previous position was in Zonotrichia, of which it formed a decidedly abnormal

member.

H. mystacalis has long been known as a bird of Southern Mexico, where it inhabits

the mountainous regions of Oaxaca and the neighbourhood of Tehuacan. It is a

resident species, Sumichrast having observed it in August, but of its habits we have no

records.

CHAM AOSPIZA.

Chameospiza, Sclater, P. Z.S. 1858, p. 304.

This genus was founded by Mr. Sclater upon a single species, C. torquata, which has

been treated as a Pipilo by DuBus, and as a Buarremon by Lawrence. The principal

point laid stress upon by Mr. Sclater is the great size and strength of the feet and the

length of the hind claw, which exceed those of any Pipilo or Buarremon. With the

latter genus Chamcospiza has very strong affinities, and we much doubt the propriety

of placing it here amongst the Finches instead of near Buarremon with the Tanagers.

But we defer to the usual practice in this case.

The bill in Chameospiza is strong but somewhat elongated, with a notch near the

extremity of the tomia; the latter is slightly undulating, with an ill-defined angle on

the proximal side of the middle; the nostrils are large, at the anterior lower end of the

nasal fossa, with a membrane above them; the rictal bristles are short but stout. The

wing is much rounded, the third, fourth, and fifth quills being the longest ; the second

equals the seventh, and the first falls short of the wing tip by more than half an inch.

The tail is long and rounded. The tarsi and toes are very strong, the middle toe and

claw being equal to the tarsus; the claw of the hind toe is longer than the toe itself,

strong and moderately curved.

1. Chamzospiza torquata.

Pipilo torquata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 105'; Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 2467; Hsq. Orn.

t. 36°; Bp. Consp. Av. 1. p. 487 *.

Chameospiza torquata, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, p. 804°; 1859, p. 365°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. i. p. 552%.

Buarremon ocai, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 126°.

Supra olivacea, capite summo lete castaneo ; fronte, capitis lateribus et torque pectorali nigris, superciliis elon-

400 FRINGILLIDZ.

gatis, griseo-albis; subtus gula et abdomine medio albis, hypochondriis et crisso fuscis ; campterio alari

flavo; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 8-0, alee 3:5, caude 4:0, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 1-1.

(Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q mari omnino similis.

Hab. Mextco!24, La Parada (Boucard*®), Oaxaca (Fenochio), alpine region of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast’), Jalapa (de Oca®®).

Though this species has been long known, having been described by DuBus in 1847,

from specimens in the Brussels Museum obtained in Mexico, it must be considered

a rare bird in collections, and but few specimens have come under our notice.

Sumichrast says that it is exclusively confined in its range to the alpine region of the

State of Vera Cruz, where it is generally diffused throughout the pine-woods and

mountains of Orizaba, where it is resident. The limits of the zone within which it is

found range from 5000 to 10,000 feet. He adds that the plumage and habits of this

bird present a remarkable analogy to those of Buarremon brunneinuchus. Both are

ground-birds rather than perchers, and frequently meet together in the same localities.

Buarremon ocai of Lawrence is, we believe, undoubtedly a synonym of this species,

which was little known at the time Mr. Lawrence described it in 1865.

PYRGISOMA.

Pyrgisoma, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 486 (1850).

Including Pyrgisoma kieneri, concerning the habitat of which there is some doubt,

six species of Pyrgisoma are found within our limits—one or two in Mexico, two in

Guatemala, and two in Costa Rica, none of them probably being common to any two

of these districts. Besides these, two species occur in Peru, which Mr. Sclater (Ibis,

1885, p. 275) considers belong to Pyrgisoma, though one of them has been placed in

Buarremon and the other in Pipilo.

Pyrgisoma is evidently related to Pipilo, having much in common both as regards the

form of the bill, the shortness of the wings, and other characters suitable for a terrestrial

mode of life. But the coloration is divergent, and more suggestive of a connection

with the Tanagrine genus Buarremon, which contains birds of very similar habits.

Indeed it has long been evident that the status of these and some other allied forms

requires careful revision. This is an undertaking outside the scope of this faunistic

work.

The bill of Pyrgisoma (P. biarcuatum) is moderately stout, the culmen slightly arched,

the nostril at the lower anterior end of the nasal fossa with a membrane above ; beneath

the nostrils the maxilla is rather tumid; the tomia is slightly angular and sinuated,

and near the distal end is a faintly indicated notch; the rictal bristles are short but

strong; the wing is much rounded, the fourth quill the longest, the third equals the

fifth, the second equal to the outer secondaries, which are considerably longer than the

PYRGISOMA. 401

inner primaries; the first primary falls half an inch short of the wing tip; the tail is

moderate and considerably rounded ; the tarsi are strong, the toes rather short, the

middle toe and claw a little shorter than the tarsus, the claw being long.

a. Guttur album, pileus castaneus.

a. Macula pectoralis nigra nulla.

1. Pyrgisoma biarcuatum.

Pyrgita biarcuatus, Prév. Voy. Vénus, Ois. t. 6°.

Pyrgisoma biarcuatum, Bp. Consp. Av. 1. p. 486°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°; Salv. Cat.

Strickl. Coll. p. 234 *.

Supra brunneo-fuscum, pileo postico et nucha lete castaneis, fronte et macula subauriculari utrinque nigris,

auricularibus ipsis castaneis ; loris, regione oculari et corpore subtus lactescente-albis, cervicis lateribus

grisescentibus, hypochondriis et crisso fuscis; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6°3, ale 2°7,

caude 3-0, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. exempl. ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. juv. supra fuscus nigro irroratus ; subtus albidus, pectore fusco maculatus; capitis lateribus albidis fusco

mixtis, macula subauriculari nigra. (Descr. exempl. ex Duenas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemata (Constancia*), Duefias*, Escuintla, Retalhuleu, Coban (0. S. &

FP. D. G.).

This species was described by Prévost from specimens obtained during the voyage

of the French frigate ‘ Vénus.’ These examples were said to have been from California

and Guatemala 2—the former locality evidently an error, for subsequent observations

have fixed the species to Guatemala, outside the limits of which country P. biarcuatum

has never been seen.

In Guatemala, however, it is a very well-known bird; and in the highlands, where

it is quite common, it goes by the trivial name of “ Quatro-ojos,” the marks on the face

giving it the appearance of having four eyes.

It is a resident species, frequenting thick underwood near the more open and culti-

vated districts, living on or near the ground. It builds a very deep nest, composed of

dead leaves and sticks, and lined with a few horsehairs; this structure is placed in a

low bush five or six feet from the ground. The eggs, usually two in number, are

closely but distinctly spotted with red on a ground of creamy white.

Though P. cabanisi has been mistaken for this bird, P. biarcuatum enjoys the

privilege as yet of being without a synonym.

b’. Macula pectoralis nigra.

2. Pyrgisoma kiener1.

Pyrgisoma kieneri, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 486"; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1868, p. 325°; Ex. Orn. p. 130,

t. 65. f. 2°.

Fuscum, pileo et capitis lateribus rufis ; plumis auricularibus dorso concoloribus, harum autem apicibus casta-

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., August 1886. dL

402 FRINGILLIDA.

neis, loris albescentibus, fronte et genis fuscescente-nigris ; subtus album, hypochondriis dorso concoloribus,

macula pectorali indistincta nigra; crisso rufescente; rostro nigricante-corneo, pedibus pallide corylinis.

Long. tota 7:3, ale 3°3, caude 2°9, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex ? Mus. Paris.)

Hab. Mexico (?).

We have nothing to add to the account of this bird given in 1868 in ‘ Exotic Orni-

thology,’ where the type specimen of the Paris Museum was described and figured. No

other example has come under our notice, and we still remain in ignorance of the

precise habitat of the species ; but the evident resemblance of the bird to P. rubricatum

is suggestive of a Mexican or Central-American domicile.

Compared with P. rubricatum, P. kieneri is a larger bird, with a stouter billand much

stronger feet and tarsi; moreover, the former species has a white ring round the eye

wanting in the latter, and the summit of the head brown like the back instead of bright

rufous.

The type specimen, which, so far as we know, remains unique, is marked as having

been procured in May 1843, during the expedition of the ‘ Danaide,’ by M. Jaurés, but

no locality is attached to the label.

3. Pyrgisoma rubricatum.

Tanagra rubricata, Licht. in Mus. Berol.*.

Atlapetes rubricatus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 140°.

Melozone rubricata, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 413°; 1866, p. 234%.

Pyrgisoma rubricatum, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1868, p. 326°; Ex. Orn. p. 127, t. 64. f. 1°; Lawr.

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 2787.

Pyrgisoma xantusi, Lawr. Aun. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 480°.

Supra cinereum fusco vix tinctum ; pileo postico cum nucha et linea cervicali utrinque ad gulam extensa rufis ;

macula anteoculari et oculorum ciliis albis; fronte et facie sub oculis nigricante-schistaceis ; tectricibus

auricularibus dorso concoloribus ; subtus album, plaga pectorali nigra, crisso rufescente, hypochondriis dorso

concoloribus, subalaribus et flexura alari albis; rostro nigro, pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 7-0,

alee 3°2, caude 3-0, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1:0.

Hab. Muxico', Mazatlan, Tepic, and San Blas (Grayson’, Xantus"), Presidio (Forrer),

plains of Colima (Xantus**), Real Arriba (Deppe*), Atlisco (Boucard * §),

The original specimens of this species were contained in Deppe’s collections and sent

to the Berlin Museum, where they remained until 1851, when Prof. Cabanis described

them as Atlapetes rubricatus, adopting the unpublished specific name given them by

Lichtenstein.

P. rubricatum was subsequently discovered at Colima by Xantus, and near Mazatlan

as well as Tepic and San Blas by Grayson, who remarks that it is not an abundant

species, though resident throughout the year, inhabiting chiefly the woods. M. Alphonse

Forrer also found it at Presidio near Mazatlan. In this part of Mexico this species

therefore lives near the sea-coast; but further south, where M. Boucard met with it

near Atlisco in the State of Puebla, it frequents the mountainous region.

PYRGISOMA. 403

Regarding the name Pyrgisoma xantusi proposed for this species by Mr. Lawrence,

there can be little doubt it is synonymous with P. rubricatum. We have a typical

specimen of the former before us which agrees with M. Boucard’s Atlisco example,

which came from the same region as the types of the latter.

4, Pyrgisoma cabanisi.

Pyrgisoma cabanisi, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 324"; Ex. Orn. p. 129, t. 65. f. 12 ; Salv. Ibis,.

1869, p. 314°.

Melozone biarcuata, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 412 (nec Lafr.) ‘.

Pyrgisoma biarcuatum, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 103°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301 °.

Pyrgisoma kieneri, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 169"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p.103°; Frantz.

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 302°.

Supra fuscum, pileo et plumis auricularibus castaneis, his infra nigro late marginatis; fronte nigra, loris et

oculorum ambitus albis; subtus cinereum, medialiter album, striga utrinque rictali et plaga pectorali

media nigris; subalaribus albis; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5°5, ale 2-8, caudex 2:3,

rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 1:0. (Descr. exempl. ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica, San José (Hofmann®, Ellendorf?, Carmiol’), Grecia (Carmiol®), Trazu

(Rogers).

There has been a good deal of confusion respecting this species, which has at various

times been called P. biarcuatum and P. kieneri, until it was described under its present

title in 1868 by Sclater and Salvin and figured in their ‘ Exotic Ornithology’ *.

From P. biarcuatum it may at once be recognized by the presence of a black pectoral

spot, and the white circumocular region, especially below, is much more restricted ;

moreover, there is a black rictal line not present in the allied bird. P. kieneri is

larger, has no black rictal stripe, the white of the side of the face restricted to the

lores, &c.

P. cabanisi, so far as we know at present, is restricted in its range to the uplands of

Costa Rica, where it would appear to be far from rare, and indeed probably as common

a species there as P. biarcuatum is in Guatemala. Hoffmann obtained the first speci-

mens, and sent them to the Berlin Museum’. It has since been secured by nearly

every collector who has worked in Costa Rica.

b. Guttur nigrum, pileus aut niger aut cinereus, haud castaneus.

5. Pyrgisoma leucote.

Melozone leucotis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 413'; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 1697; Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 302°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 108%.

* This figure does not represent the distribution of colour about the eye very accurately. Well-preserved

specimens show a white triangular spot behind the eye and a broad black line proceeding from below the eye

and surrounding the rufous ear-coverts.

51*

404 FRINGILLIDZ.

Pyrgisoma leucote, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 326°; Ex. Orn. p. 128 (partim) °; Scl. Ibis, 1873,

p. 873’.

Supra olivaceo-brunnescens, capite et pectore nigris ; loris, oculorum ambitu et regione parotica albis ; nuche et

cervicis lateribus aureo-virescentibus, cervice postica olivaceo induta; pectoris plumis albo intermixtis ;

abdomine medio albo, hypochondriis anticis griseis, posticis fuscis, crisso ferrugineo ; campterio alari flavo

notato ; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6°8, ale 3-0, caudee 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1-1.

(Deser. maris ex San José, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaracua, Chontales (Belt’); Costa Rica! (Hoffmann, v. Frantzius), Angostura,

Guaitil (Carmiol?4, v. Frantzius* +), San Juan (v. Frantzius *).

This Costan-Rican species was discovered by Hoffmann and v. Frantzius, and though

an allied Guatemalan bird has since been referred to it, further comparison has shown

that the more northern species is really distinct, as will appear below. Thus Pyrgisoma

leucote has a very restricted range, which hardly extends beyond Costa Rica, though

Belt found it in the Chontales district of Nicaragua.

Its habits have not been described, but they doubtless resemble those of the allied

bird P. occipitale, of which we give a short account below.

6. Pyrgisoma occipitale.

Pyrgisoma occipitale, Salv. Ibis, 1878, p. 446°.

Chameospiza torquata, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 274 (nec DuBus) ’.

Pyrgisoma leucote, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 205 (nec Cab.)*; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 326 (partim)* ;

Ex. Orn. p. 128 (partim), t. 64. f. 2°.

P. lewcoti affine, sed pileo medio cinereo nec nigro, superciliis distinctis flavis et macula pectorali minuta

distinguendum.

Hab. Guatemata, Volcan de Fuego!?®, Savana Grande, Volcan de Agua above San

Diego (0. S. & F. D. G.).

A good deal of uncertainty for a long time prevailed respecting this Guatemalan

species. The first specimen obtained (a young one) was referred to Chameospiza

torquata. It was then placed with the Costa-Rican P. Jewcote, under which title it

was figured in ‘ Exotic Ornithology,’ and it was not until 1878 that Salvin finally sepa-

rated it under the name of P. occipitale.

We only know of the occurrence of this Finch in avery limited district of Guatemala,

as all our specimens have been obtained from the second-growth forests lying between

the volcanoes of Agua and Fuego at altitudes ranging between 2500 and 5000 feet

above the sea-level. Here it is usually seen on or near the ground, scratching amongst

dead leaves with its strong feet.

ATLAPETES.

Atlapetes, Wagler, Isis, 1831, p. 526.

This genus was founded by Wagler to contain A. pileatus, the only species properly

belonging to it, though several others have been temporarily placed in it by various

ATLAPETES, —PIPILO. 405.

authors. The position of the genus itself, too, is a matter of controversy, some writers

placing it with the Tanagers near Buarremon, others near Embernagra with the Finches.

It is the latter position that we have been accustomed to assign to it, but we are by no

means confident that this view is the correct one. The form of the claws and feet

indicate a more arboreal habit than that possessed by Eméernagra, and the coloration,

too, as well as the shape of the bill, conforms rather to Buarremon.

The bill has the culmen nearly straight, there is a lateral ridge on either side run-

ning from the nostril, which itself is pointed anteriorly and has a membrane along its

upper edge ; the tomia of the mandible is slightly angular, the anterior portion being

nearly straight, with a perceptible notch near the extremity. ‘The feet are rather

slender, the middle toe and claw being about equal to the tarsus; the claws themselves

are short and strongly curved; the wings are much rounded, the third quill is slightly

longer than the second and fourth, the first falling half an inch short of the point of

the wing; the tail is rather long, and the feathers narrow and pointed.

1. Atlapetes pileatus.

Allapetes pileatus, Wag]. Isis, 1831, p. 526’; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 4867; Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 304°;

1859, p. 880°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551°.

Supra fusco-olivaceus, pileo toto castaneo, capitis et cervicis lateribus cinereis ; loris, oculorum ambitu et regione

parotica nigricantioribus ; subtus flavus, hypochrondriis oleagineo-fuscis ; rostri maxilla nigricante, man-

dibula et pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5:8, ale 2°5, caude 2:8, rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0-9. (Deser.

maris ex Totontepeque, Mexico merid. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico} ?, La Parada, State of Oaxaca‘ (Bowcard), alpine region of Vera Cruz

(Sumichrast >).

Sumichrast tells us* that this species belongs exclusively to the alpine region, where

it inhabits the forests of pines and oaks, having the same range of altitude as Junco

cinereus, that is, between 6500 and 11,500 feet above the sea. It was first described

by Wagler as long ago as 1831, in his paper on Mexican animals published in the ‘ Isis’

for that year, and it has since been sent sparingly by collectors who have worked in the

Mexican highlands. Its range seems limited to the higher mountain-ranges of Southern

Mexico.

PIPILO.

Pipilo, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 32 (1816) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 104; Coues, Key

N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 395.

The members of this genus fall naturally into two sections, which Dr. Coues calls

the black and the brown species—the former represented in our fauna by P. maculatus

and its allies, the plumage of which is to some extent black; of the latter, P. fuscus

is the typical form. To these a third group is added, of which P. chlorurus is the sole

representative; but this differs widely from the other Pipilones, and, in our opinion, is

406 FRINGILLIDA.

better located in the genus Embernagra. The range of the dark forms of Pipi/o is very

extensive, embracing a large portion of the North-American continent, the outlying

islands of Guadaloupe and Socorro, and spreading southward through Mexico to the

highlands of Guatemala. The brown species, on the other hand, are much more

restricted in their range, being confined to the South-western States and Mexico, beyond

which they do not pass.

The species of both sections of Pipilo are by no means well defined, and several of

them seem to pass by gradual steps one into the other.

American authors recognize two species of the black group, P. erythrophthalmus and

P. maculatus, the former with two races and the latter with several. In treating of

the Mexican forms we have found it necessary to admit four species; but we fully

acknowledge that, in the case of P. macronyx, we have drawn the specific characters

rather wide, and more species may be recognized when a larger series is examined.

The culmen of the bill of P. maculatus is slightly arched; the nostrils are margined

above by a membrane ; beneath the nostrils the bill is somewhat tumid; the tomia is

angulated and somewhat undulated towards the end, close to which there is a distinct

notch ; the rictal bristles are short, but strong; the legs are moderately stout, the middle

toe being about the same length as the tarsus; the hind claw is strong and moderately

curved ; the wings are short and much rounded, the third, fourth, and fifth quills are the

longest, the second equalling the sixth; the tail is rounded.

In P. fuscus the feet are not so strong, and the claws are shorter and more curved,

the bird being thus better suited for an arboreal life.

The changes of plumage from young to adult and from summer to winter, as well

as those of sex, have not been carefully traced, especially in the P. macronyx group.

Our materials do not help us much in this respect, and when they come to be examined

the conclusions we have come to as to the limits of each species may have to be

reconsidered.

a. Caput nigrum, dorsum plus minusve maculatum, cauda plerumque albo terminata.

1. Pipilo macronyx.

Pipilo macronyx, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434"; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 4877; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.8.

1869, p. 861°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 234%.

Pipilo virescens, Hartl. J. £. O. 1863, p. 228°.

Pipilo chlorosoma, Baird, N.-Am. B. ii. p. 105 °.

Pipilo complexus, Ridgw. Auk, 1886, p. 332”.

Supra virente-fuscus; alis et cauda olivaceo limbatis; hujus rectricibus utrinque tribus externis ad apices

et extima in pogonio externo viridi-albidis, illarum tectricibus omnibus viridi albo terminatis ; capite

nigricante-fusco, interscapulio fusco striato, plumis lateralibus quoque viridi-albo guttatis; subtus

albus, hypochondriis et crisso castaneis; campterio alari flavissimo; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis.

Long. tota 8-7, ale 4:0, caude 4°8, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Mexico. Mus.

Cantabr. ) ;

PIPILO. 407

Hab. Muxico®, Real del Monte, Temiscaltepec (Bullock 1), Tezuitlan, State of Puebla

(Ridgway), Oaxaca (Boucard ®).

Of this species we have Swainson’s two types before us, and four other specimens

from Southern Mexico, including one sent to Mr. Sclater by Dr. Hartlaub as a type of

P. virescens. These present very considerable differences in coloration, which have

doubtless given rise to the many names bestowed upon the variations of plumage.

The bird described by Swainson has very distinct yellowish-white spots on the wing-

coverts and scapulars, and the sides of the interscapulium are similarly spotted. In

P. virescens these spots are present on the wing-coverts, but absent from the intersca-

pulium. In P. chlorosoma they are said to be absent altogether, as they are in one of

Swainson’s types and in another example in our collection. P. compleaus is said to

have a white spot on the throat and a rufous patch on the head. A specimen from

Southern Mexico (Boucard) has the white spot very distinctly shown, and also white on

the chin and white lores; it has also some rufous on the occiput. Another example has

more rufous on the occiput, but not so much white on the throat; both have obvious

characters of immaturity, and we have little doubt that Mr. Ridgway’s name was

founded on an immature specimen of P. macronyx. Another variable point is in the

spots of the outer rectrices—in some (as in the type) the outermost exceeds an inch in

length, in others they are quite evanescent, presenting a mere trace; so too with the

length of the tail, which varies from 4°8 inches (type) to 4°3 inches.

Nothing has been recorded concerning this species in Mexico ; but we find on a label

attached to one of Swainson’s types the following note, doubtless written by Bullock :—

‘“‘T have never seen this bird anywhere but between Mexico and San Miguel, nor is it

found within five leagues of the capital. It is extremely tame and constantly in motion,

and hides itself in thick bushes. Eye deep red and very small.”

2. Pipilo carmani.

Pipilo carmani, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p.7*; Grays. Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 299°.

Pipilo maculatus, var. carmani, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 109°.

Pipilo erythrophthalmus, var. carmani, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277 *.

«Whole upper plumage, head, throat, and upper part of the breast olivaceous brown, witha reddish cast; there

is a spot of white on the centre of the throat (this last character varies in size in different individuals) ;

tail blackish brown, edged with olivaceous and crossed with almost obsolete dusky bars, the outer two

feathers on each side with an irregular oval spot of white on their inner webs at the end; quills dark hair-

brown, with greyish margins; the wing-coverts blackish brown, the greater and middle coverts, the

scapulars, and the tertiaries spotted with white at their ends ; lower part of breast and middle of abdomen

white, sides broadly marked with bright ferruginous; upper mandible brownish black, the under paler ;

tarsi and toes light fleshy brown. Length 63 in.; wing 23; tail 3; bill 3; tarsi 1.”

Hab. Mexico, Socorro Island (Grayson 1).

We have not seen specimens of this species, the description being that given by

Mr. Lawrence.

408 FRINGILLID 2.

P. carmani was discovered by Grayson in the island of Socorro during his visit there

in 1867, an account of which was published in the fourteenth volume of the ‘ Proceedings

of the Boston Society of Natural History.’ He there says that this is an abundant

species, found in all the thickets of the island; many of them took up their abode in

his camp, picking up crumbs, and were as tame as domestic fowls; he adds that he

found them feeding at times on small seeds of plants, but more frequently on the

ground, scratching up dry leaves in search of insects; their notes he describes as rather

feeble, slightly resembling those of P. erythrophthalmus of the Eastern States, a bird it

also resembles in habits and general appearance.

P. carmani is placed by Ridgway as a variety of P. maculatus; but it may be at

once distinguished by its small size and other characters, all of which must be reckoned

of more importance as regards the position of this bird as a species, seeing how com-

pletely isolated its domicile is. |

8. Pipilo maculatus.

Pipilo maculatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434°; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 487°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1858,

p. 304°; 1859, p. 880*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552°; Scl. & Salv.

P.Z.S. 1869, p. 861°; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 22”.

Pipilo oregonus, Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 198°; Dugés, La Nat. 1. p. 140°.

Pipilo submaculatus, Ridgw. Auk, 1886, p. 3832 °°?

Supra brunneus, capite toto nigricante, interscapulii plumis nigro striatis, et in pogonio externo nigro maculatis,

tectricibus alarum et secundarilis intimis albo notatis, campterio albo; caude rectricibus utrinque tribus

externis ad apices, et extima in pogonio externo albis; subtus abdomine medio albo, hypochondriis et

crisso lete castaneis; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 8:0, ale 3:4, caude 4-0, rostri a rictu 0°65,

tarsi 1-1. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico ?®, Guanajuato (Dugés’), Real del Monte (Bullock 1), plateau and alpine

region of Vera Cruz ®, Cienguilla’ (Sumichrast), Parada®, Cinco Sefiores * (Boucard),

Tezuitlan State of Puebla (Diaz 1°); GuaTEMALa, Quezaltenango, Solola, Chimal-

tenango (0. S. & F. D. G.*).

We have before us a specimen from Swainson’s collection marked “Pipilo maculatus,

Sw. Syn. Mex. No. 45, Ward; ?if from Brazil or Mexico.” ‘This is evidently not the

type of P. maculatus, which formed part of Bullock’s collection, and came from Rio del

Monte in Mexico; but being named by Swainson himself, we are doubtless justified

in considering it more typical than any other specimen extant. It agrees with the

description in every respect except that we should call the upper surface brown rather

than olivaceous brown. With this specimen we have others agreeing very closely from

Oaxaca and from the highlands of Guatemala. Sumichrast states that Pipilo maculatus

is common on the plateau of Mexico, and it is also found in the alpine region in smaller

numbers, never descending below 4600 feet; he adds that it nests upon the plateau.

In Guatemala it is acommon species in the highlands, at elevations varying from 6000

to 9000 feet; it frequents brushwood on the edges of the plains.

PIPILO. 409

We have two skins from the vicinity of the city of Mexico acquired in 1867, con-

cerning which, though referred to P. maculatus, we have always had some doubts as to

whether they really belong to that species or not. They have a more olive shade on

the upper plumage, and the wing-spots a greenish tint, and the edgings of the wings

and tail are more olive-coloured than in more typical P. maculatus. In one specimen

the campterium is yellow, in the other just tinted with that colour. We sadly require

evidence of the changes of pluamge between adult and young and breeding and winter

dress in this and the allied species; but we believe these specimens to be in the

breeding-plumage of P. maculatus, those browner in colour and the spots purer white

being in winter dress.

We have placed P. submaculatus as a synonym of P. maculatus, as the differences

relied upon seem all represented in the series before us. In view of the obvious varia-

tions, probably of season and sex, noticeable in this species, we much doubt if the

specific distinctness of P. submaculatus can be maintained.

4. Pipilo megalonyx.

Pipilo megalonyx, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 515, t. 731; Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p. 17’.

Pwilo maculatus, var. megalonyx, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p- 113°,

Pipilo maculatus megalonyx, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 397 *.

P. maculato certe persimilis, sed dorso postico nigricante cinereo haud brunneo forsan distinguendus.

Hab. Norn America, Lower California, valleys of the Gila and Rio Grande? 4,—

Mexico, San Pasqual (Schott), Saltillo (Couch 2).

We have but little to say about this bird, which seems to be only doubtfully distinct

from P. maculatus, and occurs along our northern frontier both in Arizona and in the

valley of the Rio Grande.

b. Caput fuscum, dorsum immaculatum, cauda unicolor haud albo terminata.

5. Pipilo fuscus.

Pipilo fuscus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434°; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 4867; Dugés, La Nat. i.

p- 140%; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 361*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552°;

Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 121°.

Pipilo fuscus, var. crissalis, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2777.

Pipilo mesoleucus, Baird, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1854, p. 119°; Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p. 18°,

Pipilo fuscus, var. mesoleucus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 125°.

Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus, Belding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 343"; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2,

p-. 397".

Supra griseo-fuscus, vertice vix rufescentiori; alis et cauda saturatioribus; subtus dilutior, abdomine medio

albido, imo cum crisso et gutture ferrugineis, hoc nigricante striato; loris et ciliis albidis ; rostro corneo,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 8-0, ale 3:8, caude 4:0, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. exempl. ex

Mexico prope urbem. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas 1° !2—Mexico 246, Santa Catarina in

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., October 1886. 52

410 . FRINGILLIDZ.

Nuevo Leon (Couch ®), Los Nogales (Kennerly °), Guaymas (Belding 11), Temiscal-

tepec (Bullock 1), Guanajuato (Dugés *), Guadalajara (Grayson"), valley of Mexico

(le Strange*), plateau and alpine region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast °), Cimapan

(Deppe).

We have the type of Swainson’s Pipilo fuscus before us; if agrees with other

Mexican specimens, the species being apparently confined in its range to Mexico and

the bordering States on the north, the allied forms P. crissalis and P. albigula being

fairly definite. Sumichrast says of this species that it is common in the plateau of

Mexico, where it breeds; it is also found in smaller numbers in the alpine region, but

it does not descend below 4000 feet ®. Grayson found it abundantly about Tepic and in

many places on the road to Guadalajara. It does not approach the sea-coast nearer

than Tepic, where it is a constant resident ’.

The bird described by Prof. Baird as P. mesoleucus is said to be found in the upper

Rio Grande valley, that of the Gila and Colorado®, and at Guaymas in the Gulf of

California. Specimens from these countries have the occiput slightly more rufous than

examples from Mexico; but in this respect the type is intermediate, and we think all

should be united under the name of P. fuscus. P. albigula is very nearly allied, but

has less rufous on the lower abdomen. P. crissalis is distinct in having no white on

the middle of the abdomen.

6. Pipilo rutilus.

Tanagra rutila, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vég. p. 2; ef. J. f. O. 1863, p. 57°.

Pipilo rutilus, Scl. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 33 *.

Pipilo albicollis, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 804°; 1859, p. 880°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4,

p. 22°.

Supra fuscus fere unicolor ; alis indistincte albido bifasciatis; subtus albus, pectore cinereo variegato; gutture

litura ferruginea transfasciato; ventre imo et crisso ferrugineis ; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long.

tota 7-5, ale 3:3, caude 3:8, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (Deppe'), San Miguel de las Peras*, Totontepec* (Boucard), Huitzo

(Sumichrast °).

Though briefly described by Lichtenstein in his list of the Mexican birds collected

by Deppe, we have no doubt that this species is identical with that subsequently

described by Mr. Sclater as Pipilo albicollis*®; it has since been regarded by American

authors as an extreme variety of P. fuscus, from which we understand that they

anticipate links may be found connecting the two birds. In this view we cannot

agree, for we consider P. rutilus to be a thoroughly segregated form, to be distinguished

by its much whiter under surface, by the peculiar ferruginous bar across the throat,

and by the colouring of the chest.

In its range it appears to be confined to a limited district in Southern Mexico, for

EMBERNAGRA. 411

we have no certain information of its existence outside the State of Oaxaca. Of its

habits nothing has been recorded.

EMBERNAGRA.

Embernagra, Lesson, Traité d’Orn. p. 465 (1831). |

We are acquainted with eleven species of this genus, of which all but two are

concentrated in Mexico, Central America, and the north-western portion of South

America. The genus is unrepresented in Guiana, the basin of the Amazons, and Eastern

Brazil; but two species, including the type of the genus, occur in the Argentine

Republic, Bolivia, and Patagonia. These latter differ rather widely from their more

northern congeners, and may readily be distinguished by their larger size, more elongated

form, and by the absence of markings on the upper part of the head.

T'wo Mexican species pass beyond the northern frontier, but the other five species of

our fauna do not range beyond its limits, though we find two species, E. conirostris and

L. chrysoma, both nearly related to Z. striaticeps, in Colombia and Ecuador respectively.

LEmbernagra striaticeps has the general upper plumage of an olivaceous colour, and

this character pervades all the members of the genus; the head is marked by stripes on

either side of the vertex and others through each eye: Z. chlorura and the southern

species HL. platensis and E. olivascens depart from the rest in this respect, E. chlorura

standing alone in having a russet crown; the under plumage of all is white, with

grey chest and flanks, the latter usually tinged with olivaceous. ‘The wings are short

and rounded, the primaries but little shorter than the longest secondaries ; the third,

fourth, and fifth quills are the longest in the wing, the second equalling the eighth,

the first being shorter than any of the rest; the bill is moderately stout, and the tomia

of the maxilla but slightly angulated; beneath the exposed nostril the bill is somewhat

tumid ; the rictal bristles are short but strong ; the legs are strong, being suitable for birds

of terrestrial habits ; the middle toe and claw are a little longer than the tarsus.

Lmbernagra seems allied to Pipilo, but its less elongated form and very different

coloration seem to justify its separation.

a. Pileus aut olivaceus aut cinereus utringue brunneo aut nigro late marginatus.

a’. Pileus utringue brunneo marginatus.

1. Embernagra rufivirgata.

Embernagra rufivirgata, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. v. p. 112, t.5.£. 2'; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool.

u. Birds, p. 16*; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 47°; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Surv. iv.

p. 22; v.p. 394°; Ridgw. Pr. U.S, Nat. Mus. i. p. 248°; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 398 °,

Supra olivacea, stria utrinque verticali et altera per oculos rufescentibus ; loris albidis; capitis lateribus grises-

centibus ; subtus alba, pectore cinerascente, hypochondriis et crisso pallide fuscescentibus, campterio alari

o2*

412 FRINGILLIDA.

flavo; rostri maxilla rufescente-corneo, mandibula flavicante ; pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 6-0,

ale: 2-6, caudw 2°6, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°95. (Descr. maris ex Texas. Mus. Smiths. no. 70596.)

Hab. Norru America, Rio Grande valley—Mexico, Nuevo Leon (Couch ?).

This species was first described as long ago as 1851 by Mr. Lawrence from specimens

obtained by Capt. J. F. M‘Cown in the valley of the Rio Grande. Subsequent obser-

vations tend to show that its range is nearly restricted to that district. It has been

stated to extend to Southern Mexico; but Mr. Ridgway has shown that the bird from

that region is separable by fairly pronounced characters, though his giving it a third

name indicates that he expects intermediate forms to be extant connecting the two.

Mr. Sennett and Dr. Merrill had abundant opportunity of observing EL. rufivirgata in

the valley of the Lower Rio Grande at Lomita and elsewhere. They found a number

of its nests and eggs; the former are domed, and often placed in the heart of a bush

from two to five feet from the ground; the nest is nearly round, and made of dried

stems of weeds, pieces of bark, grasses, and leaves, sometimes with a little hair for

lining, but more frequently without. The eggs, four in number, are of a pure dull

white colour.

2. Embernagra crassirostris.

Embernagra rufivirgata, 8. crassirostris, Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 2487.

Embernagra rufivirgata, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 806 *; 1859, p. 880°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. i. p. 551%.

Supra sordide olivacea; capitis lateribus, pectore, hypochondriis et crisso fuscescentibus, corpore subtus reliquo

albicante, campterio alari flavicante ; stria utrinque verticali et altera utrinque per oculos rufescentibus ;

vertice ipso dorso concolori; rostro corneo, mandibula ad basin flavicante; pedibus pallide corylinis.

Long. tota 5°4, alee 2°5, caude 2°3, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°95. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico merid,

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Cordova (Sallé*), temperate and hot regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast *),

Playa Vicente (Boucard °).

The Embernagra of Southern Mexico differs from EF. rufivirgata in having a much

stouter bill, the flanks deep drab or raw-umber. brown, and the crissum deep fulvous }.

The bird is altogether of a stouter build.

Sumichrast states that this species inhabits the hot and temperate regions, and is

found in the latter as high as 4000 feet above the sea 4.

3. Embernagra superciliosa.

Embernagra superciliosa, Scl. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 5821; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 801.

Embernagra rufivirgata, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 22°.

Supra olivascens ; capite toto ochraceo-cinerascenti; stria utrinque verticali a rostro ad nucham transeunte,

altera utrinque per oculos ducta nigricante-rufescentibus ; subtus sordide cinerascente-albida ; pectore et

hypochondriis saturatioribus; campterio flavissimo ; rostro corneo, mandibula flavicante, pedibus pallide

EMBERNAGRA. 413

corylinis. Long. tota 5-0, ale 2:4, caude 2:0, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0-9. (Deser. exempl. typ. ex

Bebedero, Costa Rica. Mus, nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Hamelula, isthmus of Tehuantepec (Swmichrast *).—Cosra Rica, Nicoya

(Arcé 1, v. Frantzius 2).

In our original description of this species we compared it with E. chloronota, but we

now think that H. rufivirgata is its nearer ally. This is shown by the colour of the

stripes on either side of the vertex being dark rufous and not black; but the stripes of

the head are much more conspicuous than in the allied form, and by this means

Hi. superciliosa may readily be recognized.

The original specimen of this bird was obtained by Arcé on the shores of the Gulf of

Nicoya in Western Costa Rica!. Though we have seen other examples from that

country, the bird is by no means common.

The species appears again on the isthmus of Tehuantepec, where Sumichrast obtained

specimens, but we have no record of it from any intermediate place.

b’. Pileus cinereus utrinque nigro marginatus.

4, Embernagra chloronota.

Embernagra chloronota, Salv. P. Z. S. 1861, p. 202"; Ibis, 1861, p. 353°; Boucard, P. Z.S. 1883,

p- 444°.

Supra olivacea ; capite cinereo, stria utrinque verticali et altera utrinque per oculos nigris; subtus cinerea,

gula et abdomine medio albis, hypochondriis et crisso olivaceo indutis, campterio flavissimo; rostro nigro,

mandibula flavicante, pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 5-57, ale 2-6, caudee 2°4, rostri a rictu 0-6,

tarsi 1:0. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Chable in Yucatan (Gawmer*); Brivise Honpuras (Blancaneaua) ;

GvuATEMALA, Chisec, Chectum (0. 8. & F. D. G.12),

This species was described from specimens obtained by us in the forest-country north

of Coban in Vera Paz}, and we have since received skins both from British Honduras

and Yucatan. From the latter country Mr. Gaumer sent us, through M. Boucard, a

single example, together with skins of the closely allied £. verticalis.

£. chloronota is a much smaller bird than its near ally E. striaticeps, rather duller

olivaceous on the back, and has a less clear grey chest. Z. conirostris of Colombia and

Venezuela is another near ally, but is a much greyer bird, especially on the back. Its

relationship to L. verticalis is described below.

The true #. chloronota has a very restricted range, and is probably confined to the

promontory of Yucatan and the forest country spreading southwards to the base of the

higher mountains of Vera Paz. Its range in altitude probably does not much exceed

1500 or 2000 feet.

414 FRINGILLIDZ.

5. Embernagra verticalis.

Embernagra rufivirgata, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 201 (nec Lawr.) ’.

Embernagra rufivirgata, y. verticalis, Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 248”.

Embernagra chloronota, Boucard, P. Z.S. 1883, p. 444° (partim),

E, chloronote similis, sed supra cum cauda fusco-olivaceis, stria utrinque verticali ad nucham nigra rufescente

intermixta, stria postoculari vix obvia, pectore albicante vix griseo tincto, rostro graciliori distinguenda.

Long. tota 6-0, ale 2-4, caude 2°6, rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Yucatan septr.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muzxico, Merida in Yucatan (Schott 12, Gaumer 8),

When describing this Embernagra Mr. Ridgway compared it with EL. rufivirgata, of

which he considered it to be a geographical race. It is, however, with E. chloronota

that its relationship lies, sufficiently indicated by its having the median vertical stripe

ashy instead of olivaceous. At one time we considered it to be inseparable from

F. chloronota, but having recently received a specimen of the true Z. chloronota from

Chable, we think that the differences observable in £. verticalis must be regarded as

more than those of race, seeing that both birds are found coexisting in the same

district.

Mr. Gaumer speaks of this bird as abundant in all parts of Yucatan, and as living on

the ground scratching for its food.

6. Embernagra striaticeps.

Embernagra striaticeps, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1848, t. 1521; 1852, p. 62°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864,

p. 352°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 170‘; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 181°; ix. p. 103°;

Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 1427; 1870, p.190°; 1883, p.422°; Frantz, J.f. Orn. 1869, p. 301 ™;

Nutt. & Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 401.

Emébernagra conirostris, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 143°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 832 (nec Bp.)".

E. chloronote valde similis, sed major; colore supra paullo clariori, et subtus pectore pallidiori griseo distin-

guenda. Long. tota 6-7, ale 3-2, caudex 3-0, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 1°15. (Descr. maris ex Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaragua, Los Sabalos (Nutting "), Greytown (Holland®); Costa Rica (v. Frant-

zius*1), Angostura (Carmiol*®); Panama, David (Bridges *, Hicks), Bugaba §,

Chitra *, Cordillera de Tolé 7, Calovevora 8, Santa Fé? (Arcé), Lion Hill (Mf Lean-

nan* 8), Obispo (O. S.), Panama city (4. H. Markham °).

The late Baron Lafresnaye described this species from specimens obtained near

Panama ', whence we have also received many examples agreeing with the description.

From Panama F. striaticeps has been traced northwards as far as Nicaragua, and it is

by no means uncommon in the State of Panama and in Costa Rica.

The species most nearly allied to it are E. conirostris of Colombia and Venezuela and

Li. chrysoma of Western Ecuador. From the former of these it may be readily distin-

guished by its more olivaceous colour above, and from the latter by the more restricted

extent of the yellow on the wing in the neighbourhood of the carpal joint.

EMBERNAGRA.—SPIZA. 415

We have few notes of the habits of this species, but it doubtless inhabits the edges of

low-lying tropical forests, living on or near the ground. Mr. Nutting says it is abun-

dant near Los Sabalos in Nicaragua, where it frequents brush-heaps at the edge of the

forest 1,

b. Pileus medius castaneus.

7. Embernagra chlorura.

Fringilla chlorura, Aud. Orn. Biogr. v. p. 8367.

Pipilo chlorurus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 1817; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. v.

p. 894°; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 898%.

Embernagra chlorura, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277°

Pipilo rufipileus, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 176°; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 4877.

Embernagra blandingiana, Cass. B. Cal. & Tex. p. 70, t. 12°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140°.

Supra sordide olivacea ; alis et cauda extus viridescentibus, campterio flavo, capite summo lete castaneo ; fronte,

capitis lateribus, corpore toto subtus (preter gulam. abdomen medium et crissum alba) cinereis, loris et

stria rictali albis ; rostro corneo, mandibula ad basin albicante (vestitu estivali omnino nigro), pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 6-6, ale 3-1, caudee 3-2, rostri a rictu 0-55, tarsi 0°95. (Deser. exempl. ex Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, South-western States 4, Texas 3.—Mexico °7, Guanajuato (Dugeés 9),

Mazatlan (Grayson ®*).—

According to Grayson, this species is a winter visitor to the neighbourhood of

Mazatlan, where it is numerous in some localities, occurring from December to April.

Its notes, he says, have a faint resemblance to those of the Towhee Finch (Pipilo

erythrophthalmus). It passes much of its time among the weeds in old fields and bushy

places, feeding upon various kinds of seeds, including those of the silk-cotton®. Its

range does not extend to the southern parts of Mexico, Guanajuato being the limit

recorded in this direction 9.

In Arizona £. chlorura occurs as a spring and autumn migrant, remaining neither in

summer nor winter. Its summer resort, where it breeds, is the Rocky Mountains and

the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Here Mr. Ridgway describes it as a charac-

teristic species, and one of the most abundant of the Fringillide. He considers its

powers of song of high merit. The nest (not described by Brewer) is placed from

18 inches to 2 feet from the ground, among the thick bushes of a species of Sympho-

ricarpus. ‘The eggs are an exact oval, white, with a bluish tint, and profusely marked

with a cloud of fine dots of a pinkish drab 2. .

SPIZA.

Spiza, Bonaparte, Journ. Ac. Phil. iv. p. 1824; Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. iii. p.3; Coues, Key

N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 387.

Euspiza, Bonaparte, Saggio di una Distr. Meth. An. Vert. p. 141 (Aggiunte 1832),

It seems to be now generally agreed by ornithologists in the United States that the

416 FRINGILLIDA.

name Spiza should be used instead of Euspiza, both being introduced by Bonaparte,

and based apparently on the same type, S. americana.

Spiza is practically a monotypic genus, for S. townsendi is only known from a single

specimen, the status of which has given rise to much perplexity. S. americana, on the

other hand, is a very common, widely spread species, which breeds in the States, and

migrates southwards in winter.

The bill in 8. americana is stout, the culmen slightly arched and produced backwards

to the forehead, the tomia of the mandible is angular and anteriorly slightly undulating ;

the nostrils are deeply sunk in the nasal fossa, and have a supervening membrane. ‘The

wings are long and pointed, the first primary being the longest, the second and third

nearly equalling the first. The tail is short and nearly even. The tarsus and middle

toe are subequal; the lateral toes are also subequal, but do not reach to the base of the

middle claw.

1. Spiza americana.

Emberiza americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 872°.

Euspiza americana, Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 142°; 1857, p. 205°; Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 18°; -

P. Z. S. 1864, p. 353°; 1870, p. 836°; 1879, p. 508"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 140°;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 298°; viii. p. 181°; ix. p.103”; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4,

p. 21%; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 490“; Salv. P.Z.S.

1867, p. 142; 1870, p. 190*°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 552; Frantz.

J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 301°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.

ii. p. 65°; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 19%; v. p. 392”.

Spiza americana, Ridgw. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. iil. p. 3%; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 887 ™.

Supra griseo-fusca, interscapulii plumis medialiter nigris lateraliter brunneis, nucha et capitis lateribus cinerecis,

vertice antica oleagineo lavato ; superciliis, macula gulari, pectore, abdomine medio anticoque et subalaribus —

flavis; alis et cauda fuscis, secundariis extus et tectricibus omnibus minoribus lete castaneis; gula antica

et abdomine imo albis, gula postica nigra; rostro corneo, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 6°3, ale 3°3, caudee 2°5,

rostri a rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°9. (Descr. exempl. ex Angostura, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

castaneis &c. distinguenda.

Hab. North America, Atlantic States to border of Central Plains °°, Texas 14?! 22,

Arizona 24.—Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson), State of Vera Cruz in winter

(Sumichrast 1"), San Andres Tuxtla (Sadlé*), Jalapa (de Oca), Juchitan, Guichicovi,

Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast 17), Jolbox Island, Mugeres Island, Cozumel Island,

coast of Yucatan (G. F. Gawmer); British Honpuras (Blancaneaux), Half-Moon

Cay (0. S.); Guatema.a (Skinner +), Volcan de Agua above San Diego, Retalhuleu,

Huamuchal (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Hoxpuras, Ruatan Island (G. F. Gaumer), San Pedro

(G. M. Whitely®); Nicaragua, Greytown (Holland !°); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius),

Tabacales (v. Frantzius 11), San José, Dota, Angostura (Carmiol 1+), Nicoya (Arcé) ;

Panama, “David (Bridges?, Hicks), Chitra (Arcé 1%), Lion Hill (M‘Leannan® °),

Paraiso Station (Hughes), Turbo (Wood ®)—Co.omBia ‘19; VENEZUELA.

SPIZA,.—CALAMOSPIZA. ALT

This bird is a winter visitant to Mexico and Central America, occurring at many points

in the former country, even as far westwards as Mazatlan, where, however, Grayson tells

us it is rare, only two specimens having been procured by him, which were shot in the

month of August }*, In Guatemala we but seldom met with it, and only in localities

lying near the coast of the Pacific ocean or on the mountains sloping in that direction.

But on the coast of Yucatan and thence to Honduras, especially on the islands from

Cape Catoche to Ruatan, it would appear to be very abundant, Mr. Gaumer having

recently sent us specimens from all the islands he visited during a voyage from Yucatan

to Ruatan. Being thus common on this coast, it is somewhat strange that it has not

been recorded from Cuba, Dr. Gundlach being silent as to its presence there.

S. americana frequents grassy places, and its notes are described as unmusical. The

nest is said by some observers to be placed a little above the ground in a bush of some

sort, others say that it is placed on the ground; it is formed of coarse grasses and

stems, and lined with similar finer materials. The eggs are of a uniform light blue

colour.

CALAMOSPIZA.

Calamospiza, Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 830 (1838) ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 60;

Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 386.

A monotypic genus containing the single species C. dzcolor, an inhabitant of the more

arid portions of Central North America and similar places in Northern and Central

Mexico.

Calamospiza is usually placed next Spiza, to which, doubtless, it has a remote rela-

tionship, but the peculiar black colouring of the male and the great diversity of the

sexes, the gregarious habits of the bird, and some structural characters all point to its

isolation.

The bill is stout, the culmen turgid towards its base, the nostrils being deeply sunk

in the nasal fossa; the tomia is angulated and rather deeply constricted beyond the

angle, between which and the constriction is a denticular process; the rictal bristles

are strong. The wing is long and pointed, the first to the fourth quills being the

longest; the secondaries are long, and reach almost to the wing-tip. The feet are

stout, the middle toe and tarsus being subequal. The hind claw is short and not

straightened.

1. Calamospiza bicolor.

Fringilla bicolor, Towns. Journ. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 189'.

Calamospiza bicolor, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Birds, p. 16*; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 490°;

Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140‘; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 61°; Sennett, Bull.

U.S. Geol. Surv. v. p. 391°; Belding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 343%.

Calamospiza melanocorys, Stejn. Auk, ii. p. 49°; Check-List N. A. B. p. 290°.

Nigra; secundariis extus et tectricibus alarum intermediis albis, caude rectricibus duabus externis albo in

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1886. 53

418 FRINGILLIDA.

pogonio interno terminatis, crisso albo intermixto; rostro plumbeo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6:3,

alee 3-5, caudse 2-7, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 0°95. (Descr. maris ex Am. septr. Mus. nostr.)

brunnescentibus ; alis fusco-nigris, remigibus extus anguste albido limhatis, tectricibus intermediis cervino-

albis. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. Brit.)

Hab. Nortu America, Central Plains to Rocky Mountains, Texas ?.—Murxico, Sonora,

Espia (Kennerly 7), Guaymas (Belding’), Guanajuato (Dugeés *).

This peculiar bird is only found within our limits along the northern frontier 2 and

southwards through Central Mexico to Guanajuato+. In the States it is a well-known

species from the high central plains to the Rocky Mountains, and thence it occurs

more sparingly to the Pacific Ocean and to Lower California.

In Sonora and at Espia the naturalists of the U.S. Boundary Survey state? that

C. bicolor occurred in large flocks in the valley of the Rio Grande in the early morning

and the members of which feed in the hills during the greater part of the day amongst

bushes, seeds being their apparent food.

The notes of C. deculor are described as very pleasing, and when singing the male is

wont to mount in the air after the manner of the Sky-Lark.

Its nest is placed on the ground, and constructed of looscly arranged dry grasses.

The eggs are of a uniform light blue like those of Spiza americana.

Dr. Stejneger’s name melanocorys ® for this bird has recently been adopted by North-

American ornithologists °, Townsend's title Fringilla bicolor being supposed to clash with

Fringilla bicolor of Linneus. It may have done so between the years 1837 and 1838,

but the difficulty was wholly removed when Bonaparte proposed the genus Calamospiza

for the present bird in the latter year. We are not aware that any difficulty on this

score has occurred in using the names Culamuspiza bicolor and Phonipara bicolor for two

totally distinct Finches for nearly fifty years, and none is likely to arise that we know

of, unless, indeed, ornithologists in a synthetic mood merge Calamospiza and Phonipara

in the same genus: melanocorys will then come in usefully, but in the meantime

bicolor answers its purpose.

CALCARIUS.

Calcarius, Bechstein, Tasch. Vég. Deutschl. i. p. 180 (1803); Stejn. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. v. p. 23;

Check-List N. Am. B. p. 268.

Plectrophanes, Meyer, Vég. Liv- u. Estl. p. xii.

Centrophanes, Kaup, Entw. eur. Thierw. p. 158.

That Calcarius is the right generic name to employ for the Lapland Bunting, C. lap-

ponicus (Linn.), and its allies, we think is still open to doubt, for Bechstein first used this

name in a sectional or subgeneric sense. For many years both Plectrophanes and Centro-

phanes have been largely employed both in Europe and America as the generic name for

C. lapponicus and its allies.

The genus contains three, or, if Lthynchophanes maccowni be included, four, well-

marked species, of which C. ornatus alone occurs within our limits in Central Mexico.

CALCARIUS. 419

C. ornatus has a rather slender bill with sharp tomia with a well-developed angle,

near which are two deep furrows, the interval between them being produced into a

small dentate process; the culmen is rather high towards the base, but sinks to the

forehead ; the nasal fossa is large and open, the nostrils are situated at the lower

extremity, with a very distinct membrane above them. The fect are moderate, but the

hind toe is furnished with a long slightly depressed claw. ‘The wings are long and

pointed, the first primary being the longest, the second, third, and fourth gradually

falling short of it; the longest secondaries slightly exceed the shortest primaries.

The tail is slightly forked, the feathers rather narrow and for the most part white

at the base.

1. Calcarius ornatus.

Plectrophanes ornatus, Towns. Journ. Ac. Phil. vii. p. 1891; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i.

p- 520°; Coues, B. N. W. p. 122°.

Centrophanes ornatus, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 358%.

Plectrophanes melanomus, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 486, t. 74. f. 2°; Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1860, p. 251°; 1864,

p- 174"; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 486°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p.551°; Allen,

Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. iii. p. 185°.

Plectrophanes ornatus, var. melanomus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 521”.

Calcarius ornatus, Check-List N. A. B. p. 263”.

Supra dorso toto nigricante-fusco, plumis singulis extus pallide fusco limbatis; pileo toto nigro, macula

nuchali alba, cervice postica castanea; loris, capitis lateribus et gula tota albis; stria postoculari et

abdomine toto (preter partem imam et crissum album) nigris; alis fusco-nigris fusco extus limbatis,

humeris et tectricibus minoribus nigris; cauda fusca, rectricibus duabus utrinque externis (preter apices

in pogonio tantum externo) albis, reliquis (preter duas medias) ad basin plus minusve gradatim albis;

rostro corneo, tomiis et mandibula pallidis, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 5°3, ale 3:4, caudee 23, rostri

a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°75. (Deser. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra mari similis, sed capite, nucha et cervice postica dorso concoloribus; subtus isabellina, hypochondriis

fusco vix striatis ; stria utrinque rictali indistincte fusca. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostvr.)

Av. juv. & similis, pectore et hypochondriis distincte fusco maculatis.

Hab. Nortn America, plains of the interior, Texas .—Mexico (de Saussure ®), valley

of Mexico (White"), plateau of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast °), Orizaba (fide Sallé®).

This species is subject to a great seasonal variation, the bird described above being,

we believe, in autumnal plumage, when the black of the breast and head is nearly

pure. In the breeding-dress the feathers of the abdomen are edged with sienna, and

there’are other differences in the colour of the lesser wing-coverts. Birds in this dress

are the P. melanomus of Baird, which Mr. Allen 1°, endorsed by Dr. Coues *, has shown

to be but a state of plumage of P. ornatus.

According to Sumichrast ® this species is one of the native birds of the State of Vera

Cruz in Mexico, from which we may infer that it breeds in that country. He says that

its usual abode is on the great plains of the plateau of Mexico, and from thence it

descends occasionally to the neighbourhood of Orizaba (alt. 4000 feet)®. Mr. Sclater

53*

420 FRINGILLIDA.

records it from this locality ®, and Mr. White procured it from the vicinity of the city

of Mexico’.

Dr. Coues gives an excellent account of C. ornatus in his ‘ Birds of the North West’®,

from which it would appear that it is an abundant and characteristic species of the

Missouri region of the United States, and that it is found far north in the interior of

the British possessions. It breeds on the ground, making a slight nest composed of

dry grass and stems of small plants. The eggs are white, blotched and streaked with

rusty colour.

Rhynchophanes maccowni is casually mentioned in the recently published ‘ Check-

List of North-American Birds’ as occurring in Mexico, but we lack authority for the

statement. Dr. Coues, writing in 1874 (B. N. W. p. 125), says he had no account of

its occurrence in Mexico, nor have we at the present time. As this bird is found in

Texas its occasional presence in Mexico is very probable.

CARPODACUS.

Carpodacus, Kaup, Ent. eur. Thierw. p. 161 (1829); Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. 1. p. 459;

Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 346.

Carpodacus, including the subgenera Propasser and Pyrrhoplectes, contains about

fifteen species. These are spread over the whole of the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions,

being well represented in Central Asia and the slopes of the Himalayas. Five species

are found in the Nearctic Region, of which three occur within the limits of Mexico,

where they are restricted to the higher plains of the interior or the extreme northern

frontier.

Carpodacus cassini, which belongs to the same section of the genus as the better-

known C. purpureus, has the culmen of the bill nearly straight, the tomia is nearly

straight, the bill being somewhat turgid below the nostrils; these are round with a

membrane along the upper edge, a tuft of short decurved bristly feathers covers the

nasal fossa. ‘The feet are weak, the tarsus being shorter than the middle toe and claw.

The wings are long and pointed, the first, second, and third quills being subequal and

forming the wing-point ; the longest secondaries are a little longer than the shortest

primaries. The tail is much shorter than the wing and moderately forked.

The bill of C. hemorrhous has the culmen much more curved, and there is a small

dentate process at the angle of the tomia. The nostrils are rather more exposed, the

short decurved feathers proceeding from the base of the forehead being shorter. The

tail is more even and the feathers narrower.

1. Carpodacus cassini.

Carpodacus cassini, Baird, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1854, p.119'; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 83627; Baird,

Brew., and Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 460°; Coues, B. N. W. p. 106‘; Key N. Am. B. ed. 2,

p- 847°; Check-List N. Am. B. p. 256°

CARPODACUS. A21

Supra dorso medio fusco, plumis singulis obscure fusco-rosaceo limbatis, uropygio rosaceo, capite toto summo

leete saturate rosaceo ; alis et cauda fuscis, illis obscure rosaceo marginatis, superciliis indistinctis ; genis et

corpore subtus antico pallide rosaceis, regione parotica obscuriori, abdomine postico et crisso albidis ;

rostro fusco, mandibula ad basin pallida, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 6, ale 3-6, cauds 2:5, rostri a

rictu 0°65, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. maris ex Mexico, prope urbem. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Western United States from the eastern base of the Rocky

Mountains to the Pacific Ocean®, Arizona+—Mexico, valley of Mexico (le

Strange), pine-forests of the Volcan de Orizaba (Sartorius),

Carpodacus cassini, though closely allied to C. purpureus, is generally admitted to be

a distinct species; the head above is of a brighter crimson and in contrast with the

colour of the back instead of being blended into it, there is a faint superciliary streak,

and the under surface is of a pinker hue.

We know but little of this species in Mexico, but the evidence of its occurrence there is

unimpeachable. Three skins, two males and a female, were in Mr. le Strange’s Mexican

collection examined by Sclater and Salvin 2, and one of these specimens is now before us.

Again, Dr. Sartorius, long a resident at Mirador, in the State of Vera Cruz, for many years

a correspondent with the authorities of the Smithsonian Institution, discovered it in the

pine-forests of Orizaba in the month of June 1864, and sent specimens to Washington 3.

In the States C. cassini appears to be abundant in the Sierra Nevada and elsewhere,

and is described as a beautiful songster. Regarding its nest and eggs there seems to

have been some error in Brewer’s account of them, so Dr. Coues tells us*, who adds

that the latter are not distinguishable from those of C. purpureus, which are described

as clear pale bluish, irregularly dotted, but chiefly in a wreath around the larger end,

with very dark blackish brown, almost black in some instances, in others lighter.

Dr. Coues has published a biography of this bird in ‘ Forest and Stream’ (xx. No. 22,

p. 425; Auk, i. p. 288), a periodical we have not seen.

2. Carpodacus frontalis.

Fringilla frontalis, Say in Long’s Exp. ii. p. 40°?

Carpodacus frontalis, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 465” (var. hemorrhous excepta) ;

Coues, B. N. W. p. 107°.

Carpodacus rhodocolpus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 166 *.

Carpodacus frontalis, var. rhodocolpus, Belding, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 343 °.

Capite, collo, gula, pectore, ventre antico et uropygio coccineis; pileo medio et regione parotica fuscescentibus ;

corpore supra reliquo fusco, plumis singulis pallide fusco limbatis plerumque rosaceo lavato; ventre imo,

crisso et hypochondriis albidis fusco striatis; alis et cauda fuscis, albido extus limbatis; rostro fusco,

pedibus obscure corylinis. Long. tota 5:5, alee 3:0, caudee 2°5, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°65. (Deser. maris

ex California. Mus. nostr.)

@ mari similis, sed colore coccineo et rosaceo absente.

Hab. Nort America, Middle Province and Pacific Coast-region from Oregon to Cape

St. Lucas ?,—Mexico, Guaymas (Belding *).

It has long been a doubtful point whether the Carpodacus of the Middle Province of

422 FRINGILLIDA.

North America, C. frontalis, should be separated from that of the Pacific Coast-region,

C. rhodocolpus, but it seems now to be generally admitted by American ornithologists

that if there are two forms they pass insensibly one into the other. We have not

nearly a sufficient series of skins of these birds to form an independent opinion, so we

pass to what must ultimately be the technical result of the blending of the two forms

and call them by a common name, C. frontalis. C. mexicanus of the Mexican high-

lands we think we can distinguish, so we treat this form as distinct, at least until the

barriers are broken down between it and C. frontalis and their differences are no longer

capable of definition.

C. frontalis is admitted into this fauna on the authority of Mr. L. Belding (we have

no Mexican examples), who obtained specimens, determined as of the race rhodocolpus,

at Guaymas®. But we are uncertain as to the correct position of the birds from Frontera

and Monterey secured by the naturalists of the Mexican Boundary Survey. We have

doubtfully referred them to C. mexicanus, but they may belong here.

C. frontalis is a very familiar bird in the country in which it is found, frequenting

houses as well as the open country. It has a pleasant song, and builds its nest in all

sorts of places—trees, and crevices and ledges, in houses, a Swallow’s nest, in fact just

as our Sparrow (Passer domesticus) does. The materials of its nest consist of grasses,

with the lining of finer dried roots and hair. ‘The eggs are pale bluish marked, chiefly

near the larger end, with specks and lines of blackish brown.

8. Carpodacus mexicanus.

Fringilla mexicana, Mill. Syst. Nat. Suppl. p. 165 (ex D’Aub. Pl. Enl. 386. fig. 1’).

Carpodacus mexicanus, Ridgw. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. ii. p. 110°.

Fringilla hemorrhoa, Wag). Isis, i831, p. 525°; Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vég. p. 2 (J. £. Orn.

18638, p. 56°).

Carpodacus hemorrhous, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 304°; 1858, p. 303°; 1859, p. 880"; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 205°.

Pyrrhula frontalis, Sw. Phil. Mag. n. ser. i. p. 435 °°.

Carpodacus frontalis, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 5383; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 166; Baird, Mex. Bound.

Surv. i., Birds, p. 14 (?)*; Dugés, La Nat.i. p.140™“; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p- 278 (?) ; Coues, B. N. W. p. 107°.

Nochtototl, Hernandez, Hist. An. p. 31, cap. 81" (apud Wagler’).

Supra fuscus, interscapulio vix striato, alis et cauda fusco-nigricantibus, illis fusco limbatis; superciliis, fronte

late, uropygio et gutture toto late coccineis ; loris et regione parotica dorso concoloribus ; corpore reliquo

subtus pallide fusco, obscure fusco striato; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus nigricante-fuscis.

Long. tota 5°6, ale 3-1, caude 2°5, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0-65. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Q mari similis, inornata, colore coccineo nullo, corpore subtus undique fusco striato. (Descr. feminz ex Mexico,

prope urbem. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico'!? (Deppe*, Mann®), Frontera (Wright 3), Monterey (Couch 18), Tepic

and Durango (Grayson !), Guanajuato (Dugés 4), Guadalajara (Grayson ®, Dugés1*),

CARPODACUS.—LOXIA. 423

Temiscaltepec, Real del Monte (Bullock '), plateau of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 8),

San Andres Gorion (Sadlé®), Oaxaca ° (Boucard’, Fenochio).

Mr. Ridgway decides that this species is the Fringéilla mexicana of Miiller, and on

this point there seems little doubt that he is right, though we regret having to abandon

Wagler’s name of F. hwmorrhoa for it. But Mr. Ridgway is still at fault in his

nomenclature of these birds, mexicana being the oldest name must take precedence

of frontalis! As already stated, we are in doubt if the Frontera and Monterey birds

called C. frontalis by Prof. Baird really belong here, or to the species to which they

were referred. The Carpodacus from Southern Mexico, which we recognize as Wagler’s

C. hemorrhous, is readily distinguishable from C. frontalis by the absence of the rosy

tint over the back, the broader crimson forehead, the vreyer vertex, and the much more

restricted and deeper-coloured crimson throat.

After D’Aubenton’s type, the first specimens obtained were probably those submitted

to Swainson by Bullock, who shot them at Temiscaltepec and Real del Monte in the

tableland of Mexico1°, Deppe subsequently sent examples to the Berlin Museum,

probably from the State of Oaxaca, and it was to his specimens that Lichtenstein gave

the name hemorrhous *, afterwards adopted by Wagler®, who considered the bird to

be the Nochtototl of Hernandez !.

Sumichrast says that C. mexicanus is common throughout the plateau of Mexico,

being also found in the elevated portions of the State of Vera Cruz’. Grayson

observed a Carpodacus in the city of Durango in February, in Guadalajara in May,

and in Tepic in December, May, and June, and observes that it breeds in these

localities, but does not visit the coast-region®. Mr. Lawrence named Grayson’s

birds C. frontalis, and we refer them to C. mexicanus with doubt, not having seen

specimens from that portion of Mexico.

Nothing has been published that we are aware of concerning the nest and eggs of

this species, which most probably resemble those of C. frontalis.

There is a specimen in the British Museum with the red of the head replaced by

yellow, thus resembling D’Aubenton’s figure.

LOXIA.

Loxia, Linneus, Syst. Nat. 1. p. 299 (1766).

Loxia, as restricted to the Crossbills, contains five or six rather indefinite species, the

number depending very much upon the amount of variation accorded to each. The

only one which concerns us is LZ. mexicana, a modification of L. americana or of

L. curvirostra itself. Loxia is a genus of the Palearctic and Neotropical Regions,

being found sporadically and at uncertain seasons over the whole of the north tempe-

rate zone. J. mexicana is probably the only species which passes the tropic, and this

only in the Mexican highlands.

424 FRINGILLID ZA.

The bill of Zoxia is metagnathous, the points of the maxilla and mandible crossing ;

both these members of the bill are strongly falcate, and brought to a knife-like edge

near the end. The nostrils are wholly hidden by small, stiff feathers, which proceed

directly forward from the base of the maxilla. The feet are short, and the tarsi, toes,

and claws strong. ‘The wing is very long, the first, second, and third quills being

subequal and longest, the rest fall rapidly away, the innermost primaries being little

more than half the length of the longest, the longest secondaries slightly exceeding

the innermost primaries. The tail is very short and furcate. Red is the prevalent

colour in the adult male.

1. Loxia mexicana.

Loxia mexicana, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1851, p. 48°; Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1859, p. 83657; Salv. Ibis, 1866,

p. 193°; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 202+.

Loxia americana, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 174°.

Curvirostra americana, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551°.

Lowxia curvirostra, var. mexicana, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 4887; Ridgw. Proc. Biol.

Soc. Wash. i. p. 100 °.

Loxia curvirostra stricklandi, Check-List N. Am. B. p. 257°.

Rubra, alis et cauda nigricante-fuscis ; rostro corneo, maxilla et, mandibula ad apices decussatim positis, pedibus

corylinis. Long. tota 6:0, ale 4, caudze 2-2, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0°65. (Descr. maris ex Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

2 obscure olivaceo-fusca, uropygio flavido, alis et cauda fusco-nigris extus olivaceo limbatis; subtus oleagineo-

grisea, ventre imo albicante. (Descr. feminee ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America, Colorado and Southern Arizona ®.—Muexico (Mann 14, Boucard),

valley of Mexico ( White®), Jalapa (de Oca”), Moyoapam (Sumichrast °); GUATEMALA,

Chuacus (0. S. & F. D. G.°).

The larger size and the stouter bill, especially the mandible, seem to be the only

points by which the Mexican Crossbill can be distinguished from that of the United

States, or, indeed, from the Old-World ZL. curvirostra. These differences seem to be

by no means constant, and the size of the bill apparently increases in these birds as we

pass from north to south—so much so, that we are quite prepared to acquiesce in the

union of all the supposed races of this Crossbill under the comprehensive name of

Loxia curvirostra. But before doing so a larger series of specimens both from the Old

and New Worlds ought to be examined than we have at our command.

In the meantime we call the Mexican bird L. mexicana.

This specific name has lately been suppressed by Mr. Ridgway, and stricklandi

proposed in its stead—the reason apparently for so doing being that Strickland’s name

had previously been used twice over by Linneeus, one of his Loria mexicana (Syst. Nat.

i. p. 304) referring to Spiza americana (Gm.), the other to Pyrangra rubra. The

chance of any confusion arising from continuing to employ Strickland’s name is so

exceedingly small that we adhere to the spirit of the law by retaining the name

LOXTA.—COCCOTHRAUSTES. 425

mexicana for this bird. When cither Spiza americana or Pyranga rubra has to be

called Loxia mexicana a confusion will certainly arise, and then the name stricklandi

will be useful. But is this likely to happen ?

Very little has been recorded of ZL. mevicana in Mexico. Strickland’s type came

into his possession in 1840, and formed part of a collection made by T. Mann probably

in the Mexican highlands¢. Sumichrast only obtained a single specimen at Moyoapam

in the alpine region of Orizaba, at an elevation of about 8200 feet above the sea ®.

Other examples have been secured by White, Boucard, de Oca, and others.

In Guatemala we only met with Z. mexicana on one occasion (in September 1861),

when descending from the ridge which divides the plain of Salama from the valley of

the Motagua. Several birds were feeding in some pine-trees. As we were unable to

secure specimens there is some uncertainty as to whether these birds were really

identical with L. mexicana, but we have not much doubt on the point.

L. mexicana doubtless has the irregular habits of L. curvirostra and L. americana,

which wander from place to place without having any definite migrations. They breed,

too, at various seasons, often in midwinter.

COCCOTHRAUSTES.

Coccothraustes, Brisson, Orn. iii. p. 218 (1760).

Hesperiphona, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxi. p. 424; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 342.

Coccothraustes with its subgenus Hesperiphona contains four or five species, and

is distributed over a large portion of the Nearctic and Palearctic Regions—its

distribution being somewhat similar to that of Carpodacus, except that Coccothraustes

vulgaris is not an uncommon bird in the British Islands, where Carpodacus is

practically unknown. In America two species occur—C. vespertinus in the Western

States and Mexico, and C. abeillw@i in Southern Mexico and Guatemala. ‘The type of

Coccothraustes (C. vulgaris) is peculiar in having the secondary feathers of the wings

splayed out at their extremities; no formation of this kind is present in the American

species. ;

The bill of C. vespertinus is very stout and tumid- towards the base, especially of the

maxilla, the culmen is nearly straight towards the base, but decurved towards the

extremity, the tomia is gradually curved from the rictus and not angulated. The

nostrils are completely hidden by stiff bristly black feathers springing from the base of

the maxilla and lying close to it. The feet are moderate, the tarsus being shorter

than the middle toe and claw, the lateral toes being short with small claws. The wing

is long and pointed, the first, second, and third quills forming the wing end, the rest

rapidly decreasing in length, the longest secondaries being a little longer than the

shortest primaries. The tail is short and slightly furcate.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1886. 54

426 FRINGILLIDA.

1. Coccothraustes vespertinus.

Fringilla vespertina, Cooper, Ann. Lye. N. Y. i. p. 220°.

Hesperiphona vespertina, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 505*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 550°;

Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 449*; Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 65°;

Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 342°.

Coccothraustes vespertinus, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1860, p. 2517; Salv. Cat. Strickl Coll. p. 211°.

Coccothraustes vespertina, Check-List N. Am. B. p. 255°.

Coccothraustes bonapartii, Less. Ill. Zool. t. 34 °°.

Supra oleagineo-brunneus, vertice postica, margine frontali, alis et cauda nigris, fronte et superciliis et scapula-

ribus flavis, secundariis sordide albis ; subtus oleagineo-flavus, capitis lateribus, gula et cervice brunnescen-

tioribus, crisso pure flavo; tectricibus caude superioribus nigris ; rostro viridescente-corneo, apice et tomiis

flavis, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 6:5, ale 4:2, caude 2°4, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0-9. (Deser. maris

ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

@ supra fusca, capite saturatiore; alis et cauda nigris, speculo alari et rectricum apicibus albis; tectricibus

caude superioribus quoque albo maculatis ; subtus dilutior, stria rictali nigra. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Western United States, Michigan!, and eastwards to the great

lakes, New York, and Canada.—Mexico (Mann®*), Monte Alto (Sumichrast *),

Orizaba (Sallé*).

This well-marked species was divided into two races by the authors of the ‘ History

of North-American Birds,’ the southern and Mexican form being called “ montana.”

This attempted separation has since been given up as untenable. Moreover, in the

same work C. vespertinus is said to be found in Guatemala upon Salvin’s authority ;

but some mistake has been made here, the only Coccothraustes found in that country

that we have any knowledge of is C. abeillai.

C. vespertinus cannot be called a common bird in Mexico, though skins of it not

unfrequently occur in collections from that country. Sumichrast knew little of this

species; he speaks of it as a probable inhabitant of the alpine region of Vera Cruz, and

as having met with it in May 1857 in the pine-woods of Monte Alto, about twelve

leagues from Mexico®. Other writers merely record its presence within the limits of

the republic.

In the United States C. vespertinus is much better known, though always observed

with interest. An excellent biography has been given of it from the pen of Dr. Coues® ;

Brewer’s account of the history of the species is also very full 4.

In 1884 its nest and eggs still remained undiscovered °.

2. Coccothraustes abeillzi.

Guiraca abeillii, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41°.

Hesperiphona abeillii, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 505°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550°.

Coccothraustes abeillii, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p.19*; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 865°; Ibis, 1861,

pe 852°; 1866, p. 206".

COCCOTHRAUSTES.—CHRYSOMITRIS. 427

Coccothraustes maculipennis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 251, t. 168. ff. 1, 2°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860,

p. 898’.

C. vespertino aliquot similis, sed corpore supra flavescentiore, capite toto et gula omnino nigris facile distin-

guendus. (Descr. maris ex Chilasco, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

9 a femina C. vespertini capite summo toto nigro differt. (Descr. femine ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (Lesson, Bonaparte*), Orizaba (Sallé, Sumichrast*), Jalapa (de Oca*);

Guatema.a (Skinner *), Volcan de Fuego, Chilasco, Coban § (0. S. & F. D. G.).

This Coccothraustes, which is readily distinguishable from its American ally C. vesper-

tinus, was described by Lesson from Mexican specimens contained in the collection of

Doctor Abeillé of Bordeaux; and it has since been observed in several parts of the

mountains of Southern Mexico. Thus Sumichrast speaks of having met with it near

Orizaba, where also one of M. Sallé’s correspondents obtained the specimens described

by Mr. Sclater as C. maculipennis ®.

In Guatemala we secured specimens of both sexes at several points in the more

mountainous districts, and usually in the oak-forests situated at an altitude of about

6000 feet above the sea.

The discovery of the sexes of this bird together in the mountains near Coban led to

the conclusion that C. maculipennis represented the female or young male of C. abeiliai ® ;

this was confirmed by dissecting a specimen of the female shot in the forests of the

Volcan de Fuego near Duefas.

In its habits this species is shy, and rather sluggish in its movements, frequenting

the lower branches of the forest-trees.

CHRYSOMITRIS.

Chrysomitris, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 822; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 353.

American ornithologists have recently adopted Koch’s name Spinus for the Siskins

on the ground that it was so restricted by Boie in 1826; but in those instances where

types for genera are vaguely indicated and no descriptions given, an author’s subsequent

action ought to be taken into account, and the fact of Boie proposing Chrysomitris for

the Siskins in 1828 ought to be considered to throw some light on his previous appli-

cation of the name Spinuws. Hence we continue the use of Chrysomitris, following the

practice of most authors for many years past.

With the exception of C. pinus, in which the plumage is streaked throughout,

black and yellow or olive are the chief colours in the Central-American species of

Chrysomitris. The bill in C. notata is very acute, the culmen being nearly straight, the

tomia of the maxilla is angulated and has a slight dentate process near the angle, in

front of which is a slight undulation, the bill above it being somewhat tumid; the

nasal fossa is completely hidden by short, bristly feathers lying close to the surface of

the bill; the feet are moderately strong, the middle toe and tarsi being subequal; the

o4*

428 FRINGILLIDA.

wings are long, the first, second, and third quills forming the wing-point; the tail is

moderate, and rather deeply furcate. C. mexicana, in having a shorter, stouter, and less

acute bill and shorter tail, departs considerably from C. notata, and for it and C. psaltria

and C. colombiana Cassin proposed the sectional name Pseudomitris. C. xanthogaster

occupies a somewhat intermediate position, and we doubt the convenience of using

sectional names for the different groups of this genus. Chrysomitris, as a whole, has a

very wide range, being spread over nearly the whole of both continents of America; it

also occurs in Europe, Northern Asia, and the slopes of the Himalayas.

a. Corpus omnino fusco striatum.

1. Chrysomitris pinus.

Fringilla pinus, Wils. Am. Orn. ii. p. 188, t. 17. f. 1’.

Chrysomitris pinus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 174°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550°;

Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 362*; Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 480°.

Carduelis microptera, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 23°.

Chrysomitris microptera, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 515”.

‘Supra fusca, plumis singulis pallide fusco utrinque limbatis; alis et cauda nigricante-fuscis olivaceo extus

limbatis, speculo alari et fascia ad basin secundariorum flavis; subtus alba undique fusco striata, remi-

gibus subtus in pogonio interno flavis; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4°5, alee 2:9, caudee

rect. med. 1:5, lat. 1°85, rostri a rictu 0°55, tarsi 0°6. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

- Hab. Nortu America, generally distributed >—Mextco (le Strange *), valley of Mexico

- (White*), plateau and alpine region of Vera Cruz (Snmichrast ®).

Chrysomitris pinus has been noticed by most of the collectors who have worked in

the Mexican highlands, but Sumichrast is the only one who does more than give a bare

record of its occurrence ; he says that it especially frequents the plateau of Mexico, and

is also found in the alpine region of Vera Cruz, where it reaches to an altitude of 6500,

_and not descending below 3300 feet ®. In the United States it is a well-known species,

_ being found the whole way across the continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In

the winter its migrations are irregular and apparently of limited extent. Its breeding-

. ground in summer extends to the British Provinces and the more northern of the United

States. It is a bird that chiefly frequents the pine-woods, and its nest is principally

‘constructed of pine-twigs with a lining of various materials; the eggs are of a light

green colour, spotted chiefly at the larger end, with light rusty brown ®.

b. Corpus supra plus minusve olivaceum, capite summo nigro.

2. Chrysomitris notata.

Carduelis notata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 106’; Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 2477,

Chrysomitris notata, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 516°; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p- 160°; DuBus, Esq. Orn.

t. 87°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 804°; 1858, p. 3037; 1859, pp. 865 *, 880°; 1864, p.174°°;

CHRYSOMITRIS. 429

Cat. Am. B. p. 124"; Scl..& Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 275"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

i. p. 550"; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 22"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 214”.

g supra oleaginea, uropygio flavescentiore, capite toto cum gutture et tectricibus supracaudalibus nigerrimis ;

alis et cauda nigris, illarum remigibus ad basin (preter rhachides) flavis, hujus rectricibus (preter duarum

mediarum bitrientem basalem) flavis; subtus a pectore usque ad crissum flava, hypochondriis oleagineis ;

rostro plumbeo, tomiis pallidis, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:1, alee 2°5, caude rect. med. 1°4, lat. 1-7,

rostri a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0-5. (Descr. maris ex Santa Barbara, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. juv. capite toto haud nigro, gula cum ventre et vertice cum dorso concoloribus. (Descr. exempl. ex

Calderas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxtco, valley of Mexico (White 1°), temperate region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 8),

Orizaba (Botteri"), Jalapa (de Oca), La Parada ®, Totontepec® (Boucard), Gineta

Mountains (Swmichrast *); Guatemaua (Constancia), Volcan de Fuego, Volcan

de Agua, hills near Antigua, Santa Barbara, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.).

Chrysomitris notata was described and figured by the late Viscomte DuBus from

Mexican specimens, and it has since been found pretty generally distributed over the

whole of the southern portion of that country, where, Sumichrast tells us, it is chiefly

met with in the temperate region. In Guatemala it is equally common in the upland

country, principally in the oak-forests lying at an elevation of 4000 feet and —

upwards.

The sexes of this Goldfinch are almost exactly alike, the yellow colour of the female

being a trifle purer than in the male.

3. Chrysomitris forreri, sp. n.

3 C. notate similis, sed supra magis olivaceus, colore nigro capitis minus extenso, gulam anticam tantum

occupante ; subtus magis olivaceus et speculo alari flava multo minore, distinguendus.

Q mari similis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Ciudad in Durango. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Ciudad in Durango (A. Forrer).

Two specimens obtained by Mr. A. Forrer in the Sierra Madre of Durango, near the

hamlet of Ciudad, on the 19th of June, 1882, differ rather widely from typical specimens

of C. notata from Southern Mexico and Guatemala. The plumage is much greener,

and the black of the head and throat, especially of the latter, much more restricted in

extent. On this account we think it necessary to give the bird another name.

4. Chrysomitris atriceps. (Tab. XXXI. figg. 1, 2.)

Chrysomitris atriceps, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 190*; Ibis, 1866, p. 194°; Ridgway, Ibis, 1884,

p. 43°.

Olivacea; capitis lateribus griseis; abdomine medialiter cinereo ; dorso postico et uropygio viridescente-flavis ;

pileo toto et gula nigris, hac obscuriore ; remige externo omnino nigro, secundi et tertii pogoniis externis

medialiter flavo marginatis, quarti et reliquorum pogoniis externis in parte basali flavis, in parte terminali

nigris flavo marginatis, pogoniis internis omnium flavo marginatis ; secundariorum parte basali flava, parte

terminali nigra, macula olivacea externe terminata ; duabus rectricibus internis nigro-fuscis, reliquis flavis

430 FRINGILLIDA.

nigro terminatis; rostri maxilla fusca, mandibula pallidiore, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 4:85, ale 29,

caude: 2, rostri a rictu 0°5, tarsi 0°55. (Descr. maris ex Quezaltenango, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. GuateMALa, Quezaltenango (0. S.1?).

The two specimens shot amongst a patch of thistles near Quezaltenango in August

1862 are the only ones extant of this peculiar species. These differ from one another,

though both are males, the bird described being apparently the older of the two,

though in more worn plumage. The other specimen is of a much more olive-colour

above and below, this taking the place of the grey colouring of the under surface ; the

yellow wing-patch, too, is considerably less in extent. The bill in this species is like

that of C. notata, but in plumage it more resembles C. spinescens of Colombia, as

Mr. Ridgway suggests °, but there are plenty of differences.

c. Corpus supra cum capite summo omnino nigrum.

5. Chrysomitris xanthogaster. (Tab. XXXI. fig. 3.)

Chrysomitris zanthogastra, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xxii. pt. 1, p. 1521; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1870,

p. 7857; 1879, pp. 508°, 607"; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328°.

Chrysomitris bryanti, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1865, p. 91°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 103";

Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 302°.

Nigra, speculo alari, abdomine toto et cauda ad basin flavis; rostro nigro, pedibus fuscis. Long. tota 4:3,

ale 2:6, caudex 16, rostri a rictu 0-45, tarsi 0-5. (Deser. maris ex Irazu, Costa Rica. Mus. nostr.)

? supra olivacea, alis et cauda nigris, hujus basi et speculo alari flavis; subtus olivacea, ventre imo griseo,

Hab. Costa Rica (Van Patten), Dota ®, Frailes (Carmiol), Irazu (Rogers).—CoLomBia!3;

VENEZUELA? ; Ecuapor; Bo.tvia‘.

This Goldfinch was originally described from specimens procured near Ocafia in

Colombia !, and in the same district Mr. Wyatt also met with it in small flocks near

Canuto, and in the Cocuta valley at an altitude’ of from 5000 to 6000 feet®. Skins of

it also occur in collections made in the neighbourhood of Bogota; and Salmon found

it breeding at Santa Elena in the Cauca valley, and the eggs obtained by him are

described as of a pale greenish white, thickly, but faintly, freckled with lilac and

brownish spots. We have a skin of it from Ecuador, and it also occurs in Bolivia.

Two male specimens from Nairape and Sorata respectively, in the latter country, agree

with the more northern birds, except that the Wing-spot is rather larger and the

colour beneath brighter. Dr. Taczanowski makes no mention of its occurrence in

Peru, but it can hardly fail to exist there. Within our country it is only known from

the highlands of Costa Rica. Cassin described specimens from the Dota Mountains

as C. bryanti, but there can be no doubt that the Costa-Rican birds should be referred

to C. xanthogaster ; we can see no difference between males from Costa Rica and the

Magdalena valley, the countries of the respective types.

CHRYSOMITRIS. 431

6. Chrysomitris mexicana.

Carduelis mexicanus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 435°; Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 525.

Chrysomitris mexicana, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 5162; Baird, U. S. Bound. Surv. i., Birds, p. 14°;

Sel. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 303°; 1858, p. 303°; 1859, pp. 3657, 380°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859,

p. 19°; 1860, p. 34"; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 353"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 882”; ix.

p. 103"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550”; Salv.

This, 1869, p. 314*°; P. Z.S.1870, p.190%"; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 214"; Grayson, Pr. Bost.

Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 282°; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 445 *°.

Astragalinus mexicanus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 159"; J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 7”.

Astragalinus columbianus, Cab. J. £. Orn. 1861, p. 94°.

Chrysomitris columbiand$, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 103°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 302”.

Fringilla melanoxantha, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vig. p. 2 (ef. J. f. Orn. 1863, p- 56”),

Chrysomitris psaltria, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 5167”.

Chrysomitris psaltria, var. mexicana, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 478°; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 278”.

Supra chalybeo-nigra, speculo alari et secundariis internis in pogonio externo ad apicem albis, cauda nigra,

rectricibus tribus utrinque externis in pogonio interno medialiter albis; subtus omnino flava; rostro

flavido, culmine ad apicem fusco, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 42, alee 2°5, caudsee rect. med. 1°6, lat. 1°8,

rostri a rictu 0-4, tarsi 0-5. (Descr. maris ex Quezaltenango, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Q supra olivacea, alis et cauda fuscis olivaceo limbatis; subtus a gula ad pectus pallide olivaceis, ventre flavo.

(Deser. feminze ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Rio Grande valley, Santa Catarina in Nuevo Leon, Agua Nueva in

Coahuila, Parras (Couch), Tres Marias Islands (Grayson !, Forrer), Guanajuato

(Dugeés 1+), Temiscaltepec, Real del Monte (Bullock), Jalapa (de Oca"), Oaxaca 6,

Totontepec (Boucard®), Orizaba (Sumichrast 5), Cordova (Sallé>), Yucatan

(Gaumer *°); Guatema.a (Constancia ® 18), Duefias 1°, San Gerénimo, Coban (0. 8. &

Ff, D. G.); Costa Rica (Hoffmann, v. Frantzius**), San José (v. Frantzius ),

Barranca (Carmiol 1°); Panama, Veraguas (Arcé 1”), Lion Hill (Jf‘Leannan 11 12),

Throughout Mexico and Central America C. mexicana is very constant in its colours;

in the male the whole upper surface is black, and the lateral tail-feathers have a large

white spot on their inner webs. In the north-western portion of South America birds

with these characteristics are also found, but with them in some parts of Colombia

birds occur in which the white spots of the tail show a tendency to disappear, whilst in

others the tail is wholly black. These latter birds have been called C. coloméiana, but

they are not specifically distinguishable from C. mexicana. In North America a Siskin

called C. psaltria by Say occurs in the Southern Rocky Mountains to the Pacific; in this

bird the whole of the upper surface of the body is olive colour instead of black, the

vertex and upper tail-coverts alone being black. On comparing typical specimens of

C. mexicana and C. psaltria the difference between the two is very obvious indeed; but

in Arizona birds in every intermediate form of plumage have been found, and this has

led American ornithologists, after giving this Arizona bird the name of C. arizone, to

treat both it and C. mexicana as races of C. psaltria. From the fact of the great

4392 FRINGILLIDA.

diversity of plumage shown in individuals from Arizona it seems probable that they

are due to the mingling of the more typical forms of C. mexicana and C. psaltria.

This being so, we are not disposed to disturb the status of the Mexican and Central.

American bird with which at present we have to deal, and which we therefore continue

to call C. mexicana.

In Mexico C. mexicana is a very abundant species, being distributed over the whole

of the temperate portion of the country; but it is also found in the more tropical

districts, as both Grayson and Forrer observed it in the Tres Marias Islands, and

Mr. Gaumer in Northern Yucatan. Moreover, it occurs on the line of the Panama

railway in extreme tropical heat. In Guatemala it is also a very common bird, and in

the neighbourhood of Duefias was frequently to be observed feeding on the fruit of a

species of wild Ficus.

SYCALIS.

Sycalis, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 8324; Sclater, Ibis, 1872, p. 39.

In 1872 Mr. Sclater wrote a synopsis of this genus in which he recognized nine

species, and to which a tenth may be added in S. citrina of Pelzeln, which has since

become known to us through specimens collected by Mr. Whitely in Guiana. Nine of

these species are diffused over the whole of South America, the tenth is Sycalis chrysops

of our country, as yet only known from Southern Mexico and Guatemala. In South

America Sycalis has no very near allies, but it is undoubtedly closely related to

Crithagra of Africa.

S. chrysops has a stout bill and arched culmen, the tomia of the maxilla is rather

abruptly curved towards the base, the nostrils are at the inferior extremity of the nasal

fossa, and are bordered above by a membrane; the feet are stout, the toes and claws,

especially the hind claw, are long and slender; the wings are short, the first four quills

forming the point; the secondaries are long, reaching to within 0°4 inch of the tip of

the wing; the tail is moderate and nearly even.

1. Sycalis chrysops.

Sycalis chrysops, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1861, p. 876"; Ibis, 1872, p. 45, t. 2. f. 17; Salv, Ibis, 1866, p. 194° ;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551%.

Supra brunnescens nigricante-fusco striato ; uropygio olivaceo, alis et cauda fuscis sordide olivaceo limbatis ;

loris, regione oculari et corpore subtus flavis, ventre medio albicante, hypochondriis fulvis ; rostro fusco,

pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 4:2, ale 2°5, caude 1:7, rostri a rictu 0°35, tarsi 0°65. (Deser. exempl. ex

Duefas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico1, temperate region of Orizaba (Swmichrast*) ; Guatemata, Duefias (0.8.3).

This little Sycalis is evidently closely allied to S. luteola, a variable and widely

diffused species of South America, its small size and its isolated habitat being

probably its only definite characters. The bird is exceedingly rare, and we are perhaps.

SYCALIS.—ACANTHIDOPS. 433

hardly in a position to speak definitely as to its status with reference to S. luteola. A

Mexican skin sent to Mr. Sclater by the Parisian dealer Parzudaki formed the basis of

the original description !; Sumichrast subsequently found it near Orizaba4. It has only

once been noticed in Guatemala, Salvin having shot a young bird at the edge of some

high grass on the plain of Duefias in September 1862. There was another specimen

with it, and the two were feeding on grass-seeds 3.

Genus Fringillidarum incerte sedis.

ACANTHIDOPS.

Acanthidops, Ridgway, Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. iv. p. 385 (1882); Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 241.

In 1882 Mr. Ridgway described a bird from Costa Rica under the name of Acan-

thidops bairdi from a specimen sent him by Mr. Zeledon. He considered it to belong

to the Dendrocolaptide, and to be most nearly related to Automolus, Phacellodromus,

&c. He sent us the type for inspection, and also a second specimen from the same

country ; these we carefully examined with Mr. Sclater, who wrote a note on the

subject in ‘The Ibis’ for 1884. It was proved that Acanthidops has nine and not ten

primaries, and therefore, according to the prevailing system of classification, it must go

with the Oscines and not the Tracheophones. Our own impression was that both

specimens (marked male and female) were young birds in their first full plumage, and

to this cause was to be attributed the sharpness of the ends of the rectrices. If this

be so, we may look for a very differently coloured bird in the adult male. At the same

time, if the suggested relationship to Chrysomitris is a real one, the coloration of the

adult may be as in C. pinus, and in that case not very different from that of the young.

Then, again, the exposed nostrils militates against any alliance with Chrysomitris, the

position suggested for it by Mr. Sclater.

For the present we suspend our judgment as to the position of Acanthidops, pending

the receipt of more specimens.

In the meantime we give the substance of Mr. Ridgway’s description of the genus

and species :—

Bill about as long as the middle toe, cuneate in all its profiles, somewhat swollen

basally, the culmen and lateral outlines decidedly concave in the middle portion ;

mandibular tomia very strongly inflexed, with a prominent angle near the base, anterior

to which the edge is decidedly concave; maxillary tomia with a decided notch near the

base, immediately above the mandibular angle; gonys very long (about equal to the

exposed portion of the culmen); nostril exposed, small, longitudinal, occupying less

than the lower half of the nasal fossa. Tarsus a little longer than the middle toe and

claw, divided into about six plates, but these entirely fused on the outer side, except

the lower one, which is distinct; lateral toes equal, the points of their claws falling

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., November 1886. 55

434 FRINGILLIDA.

short of the base of the middle claw; inner toe entirely separated at the base from the

middle toe, and the outer with only the first phalanx united ; hallux about equal in length

to the lateral toes, but much stronger, its claw decidedly larger than that of the middle

toe. Wings decidedly longer than the tail, very concave beneath, the third, fourth, and

fifth quills nearly equal and longest, the second a very little shorter, the first about

equal to the seventh. Tail about equal to the wing measured to the end of the

secondaries, nearly even or very slightly rounded, consisting of twelve rectrices, which

are acute, but not stiffened at the points; the outer web of the median rectrices broader

at the base than the inner web.

There is a small notch near the tip of the maxilla; the rictal bristles are hardly

perceptible, and the posterior face of the tarsus on both sides is entirely undivided.

1. Acanthidops bairdi. |

Acanthidops bairdi, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. iv. p. 336°.

“Above dull olive-brown, the back washed with rusty; wings dusky, the middle and greater coverts tipped

with pale rusty, forming two distinct bands, the inner secondaries broadly edged with darker rusty ;

remaining secondaries narrowly skirted with dark umber-brown, the primaries with light dull ochraceous

or yellowish-olive. Tail dusky, the outer webs slightly greenish-olive. Pileum indistinctly streaked with

dusky ; sides of the head and neck dull olivaceous, lighter than the crown and nape; chin and throat still

paler, the feathers pale only beneath the surface, the rest of the lower parts dull, light olivaceous, tinged

with deeper olive across the breast and along the sides. Maxilla blackish, paler along the edge; mandible

whitish ; legs and feet (in the dried skin) light brownish; iris pale blue. Wing 2°5, tail 2-2, culmen 0°58,

commissure 0:65, tarsus 0°8, middle toe 0°6.”

Hab. Costa Rica, Volcan de Irazu (J. Cooper 1).

Species incerte sedis.

1. Sporophila othello, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 498.

Major, nigerrimus, remigibus extus basi late albis, tectricibus inferioribus nigris.

Hab. America Centralis (Mus. Berol.).

This species is placed with S. crassirostris in the section Coccoborus. The description

suggests Oryzoborus nuttingi (anted, p. 848), but the size of the wing-speculum does

not appear to correspond, and there are no dimensions given to guide our judgment.

2. Oriturus mexicanus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 469.

Unicolor, uniformis.

Hab. Mexico (Mus. Lugd.).

Can this refer to Haplospiza uniformis (anted, p. 366)4

G. R. Gray places 0. mexicanus as a synonym of Hamophila rufescens (Hand-l. ii.

p. 91, no. 7343) ; but this cannot be correct, the description corresponding in no way.

Two words of definition are not enough to give a species a proper status.

EUCORYSTES. 43

Section V. OSCINES CULTRIROSTRES.

Fam. ICTERIDA *.

Subfam. I. CASSICINZL.

Nares, nude, apertz, aut operculo corneo obtecte; mesorhinium plus minusve dilatatum, clypeum frontalem

formans.

A. Nares aperte haud operculate.

a. Clypeus frontalis multo dilatatus ad basin incrassatus.

EUCORYSTES.

Eucorystes, Sclater, Ibis, 1883, p. 147; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 311.

The single species contained in this genus was until lately placed in Ocyalus, the

type and now the only species of which is 0. latirostris of the valley of the Upper

Amazons. In 1883 Mr. Sclater separated O. wagleri from Ocyalus and placed it under

a new generic name, Hucorystes, on account of the greater development of the frontal

shield, its extension backwards to a line between the middle of the eyes, its incurved

culmen, nuchal crest, and shorter wings.

The bill of Eucorystes wagleri is elongated and acute, the culmen slightly decurved,

the edges of the maxilla looked at from above are concave, the frontal shield is much

expanded at the base, its proximal margin nearly semicircular and thickened so as to

form a fold over the forehead ; this swollen plate is continued forwards so as to form a

sort of ridge overhanging the nostrils, which are oval, without any surrounding mem-

brane, and directed forwards; the mandible is swollen towards the base, the lower

angle of the sheath reaching backwards as far as the proximal edge of the frontal

shield ; the legs are stout and of insessorial structure, the tarsi being short ; the wings

long (though shorter than in Ocyalus latirostris), the fourth primary is the longest, the

third being slightly shorter, the second is longer than the fifth, which again is longer

than the first ; all the outer primaries are acute though rounded at their tips, the secon-

daries are broad but short and graduated; the tail-feathers are narrow and bluntly

pointed, the central feathers are a little longer than the outer pair, the third on either

side from the centre are the longest pair; the tail is thus somewhat cuneate, but

furcate centrally.

The range of Eucorystes is given under its only species £. waglert.

* This family has very recently been thoroughly revised by Mr. Sclater in the eleventh volume of the

British Museum Catalogue of Birds, in compiling which the author had the whole of our series of specimens

for examination and for incorporation into the National Collection. This catalogue therefore contains a com-

plete list of our specimens up to its issue (April 1886). In preparing our account of the Mexican and Central-

American species of Icteride, we have found this work of the greatest service, and we have followed the

classification there adopted throughout with very slight modification.

50*

436 ICTERIDZ.

1. Eucorystes wagleri.

Cacicus wagleri, Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 342, t. 85*; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 72°.

Ocyalus wagleri, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1857, p. 228°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 19°; P. Z. 8.1864, p. 353°;

1870, p. 886°; 1879, p. 508, t. 43. f.37; Moore, P.Z.S. 1859, p.57°; Cass. Pr. Ac.

Phil. 1860, p. 188°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 9°; Salv. Ibis, 1861, p. 141%; 1872, p. 317”;

P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 142%; 1870, p. 190”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vil. p.297; ix. p. 104”°;

Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 302*"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553°; Nutting,

Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. v. p. 393”.

Eucorystes wagleri, Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 147”; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 312”.

Saturate brunneo-castaneus, crista verticali elongata ejusdem coloris ; interscapulio, alis extus, abdomine medio

et subalaribus chalybeo-nigris ; cauda flava, rectricibus utrinque extimis in pogonio externo et duabus

mediis omnino, nigricantibus; rostro flavicante-fusco-griseo, pedibus nigris. -Long. tota 14:0, ale 8-1,

caude 5:2 (rectr. med. 4°8), rostri a rictu 2°2, tarsi 1°5.

Q mari similis, sed multo minor, interscapulio et abdomine medio magis castaneis. Long. tota 10:5, ale 5:6,

caude 3:8 (rectr. med. 3°6), rostri a rictu 1:6, tarsi 1:2. (Descr. maris et femins ex Choctum, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

flab. Mexico (Sallé*), Cerra de la Defensa (Sumichrast 18); Guatemata, Cahabon

(Skinner *), Lanquin (0. .S.™), Choctum (0. 8. & F. D. G.21); Hoypuras, Chilomo

(Leyland ®), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely®); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt 12); Costa

Rica (v. Frantzius 1017), San José, Turrialba, San Carlos (Carmiol 6), La Palma

(Arcé), line of railway (M‘Leannan * 1), Truando, Nercua (Wood 2).—Cotoms1a? ;

WESTERN Ecuapor.

Eucorystes wagleri is one of the most characteristic species of a large portion of the

hot forest-region of Southern Mexico and Central America, and thence southwards to

Western Ecuador 71, and as far as Piura 21, within the confines of Western Peru, close

to the limit of the forest-region of that part of the coast. It lives in colonies, often

numbering several hundred individuals; these frequent some large isolated tree often

_ by a road-side or near a village in some clearing. The upper branches of a tree thus

situated are densely hung with their curious closely-woven purse-like nests, which are

suspended to the ends of the boughs. Whether the nests are occupied all the year

round we are not able to say, but the birds certainly frequent them when incubation —

and the rearing the young is not in progress. A pine-tree near Lanquin, in Guatemala,

was observed by Salvin, in March 1860, to be hung with nests about which the birds were

busying themselves. In hopes of finding some eggs he had the tree cut down, but the

nests were empty ''. Mr. Nutting speaks of a large colony frequenting a dead tree on

the road from Punta Arenas to San José in Costa Rica; he observed the birds to get

inside their nests and shake them violently, so as to produce a rattling sound. He

was unable to ascertain the object of this curious performance .

Salmon obtained eggs of this species at Pocune, in the valley of the Cauca, Colombia.

They are pale greenish white with sepia spots of various sizes 7.

Reverting to the range of this species it must be remarked that though common in

EUCORYSTES.—GYMNOSTINOPS. 437

the forest-country of the Atlantic or eastern side of Guatemala, up to an elevation of

about 2000 feet, it is not found, so far as we know, anywhere in the forest-lands

bordering the Pacific; it is found in the western forests of Mexico; Sumichrast speaks

of having observed it in the woods of Cerra de la Defensa, but its name is absent

from his Tehuantepec list. Passing southwards, we find, as is so often the case with

birds of purely eastern domicile in the north, that E. wagleri in Nicaragua, Costa Rica,

and Panama frequents the forests of both sides of the mountain-ranges.

GYMNOSTINOPS.

Gymnostinops, Sclater, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 312 (1886).

Gymnostinops, as distinguished from Ostinops, with which the species were classed

until Mr. Sclater separated them in his recent catalogue, contains four species, one of

which, G. montezume, is widely distributed within our limits from Southern Mexico

to Panama. Another, G. guatemozinus, has avery limited range in Northern Colombia

and occurs on our southern frontier. The other two are purely South-American—

one being found near Para, at the mouth of the Amazons, and the other widely dis-

tributed over the whole upper basin of that river. No species of Gymnostinops occurs

in South-eastern Brazil.

The bill of Gymnostinops montezume has the culmen slightly decurved, the frontal

shield is produced backwards, as far as a line between the anterior edge of the eyes;

its posterior outline is semicircular, the nostrils are just visible from above, not hidden

as in Lucorystes; the lateral view of the sheath of the mandible is an isosceles triangle,

and from the base of the sheath below the eye is a large subquadrangular naked patch

divided by a narrow wedge-shaped strip of feathers along the edge of the ramus of the

jaw; the feet are strong and insessorial; the wings are rather short and rounded, the

third and fourth the longest, the second equalling the fifth, the first about equal to

the eighth; the median secondaries are broad and rather longer than the outer ones ;

the tail is much rounded, the rectrices being also rounded at their tips and broad, the

central feathers fall short of the longest, which are the next pair to them.

1. Gymnostinops montezume.

Cacicus montezuma, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 33, t.7*; Scl. P. Z. 8.1856, p. 300°; P. Z.S. 1858, p. 358° ;

P. Z.8. 1859, p. 365+; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 19°; Moore, P.Z.S. 1859, p. 57°;

Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111%; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 71°.

Ostinops montezume, Scl. P.Z.S8. 1859, p. 380°; Ibis, 1883, p. 148°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc.N. Y. vii.

p. 297"; ix.p. 104; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 353°; 1867, p. 279"; 1870, p. 836” ;

Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 302 ; Nutting,

& Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. pp. 383°, 401°; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886,

p. 149”.

Gymnostinops montezume, Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 313”.

438 ICTERIDA.

Supra luride castaneus, capite toto et cervice, tibiis et subalaribus nigris, abdomen versus in castaneum transeunte,

crisso dorso concolori; cauda flava, rectricibus duabus mediis nigricantibus; rostro nigro ad apicem abrupte

flavo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 19-0, ale 10-4, caude 8-0 (rectr. med. 7 0), rostri a rictu 3-0, tarsi 22.

(Deser. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

? mari similis sed multo minor. Long. tota 14:5, ale 7:6, caude 5-7, rostri a rictu 2-3, tarsi 2-0.

Hab. Muxico'*, Cordova (Sadlé*), Jalapa (de Oca +), hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumi-

chrast'°), tierra caliente of the Atlantic coast (Je Strange), Playa Vicente

(Boucard®), Actopam, Barra de Santa Ana, Paso de la Milpa (Perez 2°); Brivisn

Honpuras (Llancaneausx !*) ; Guatemata, Iguana (0. 8.°), Choctum 18, Chisec 18,

Quirigua, Yzabal, between Cahabon and San Luis (0. 8. & F. D. G.), Tucuru and

Tamahu (Sarg); Honpuras, Omoa (Leyland ®), San Pedro (G. I. Whitely 1),

Taulevi (G. C. Taylor **); Nicaragua, Sucuya!’, Los Sabalos!® (Nutting), Blewfields

river (Wickham ++); Costa Rica, San Carlos, Angostura (v. Frantzius 17, Carmiol 12).

Sarapiqui, Tucurriqui, San Mateo, Aguacate, Orosi (v. Frantzius 17); Panama, Lion

Hill (McLeannan 11 8),

The range of Gymnostinops montezume is very similar to that of Eucorystes wagleri,

extending from the Eastern forests of Southern Mexico, through eastern Guatemala,

and in Nicaragua southwards to Panama, embracing the forests of both Atlantic and

Pacific coast-regions. Beyond Panama it does not extend, its place being apparently

taken in Darien by the allied G. guatemozinus. It is absent from the western forests

of the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and from the whole of the Pacific coast-region of

Guatemala.

Sumichrast says G. montezume is confined to the hot region of Vera Cruz, seldom

ascending the mountains to a height of 3300 feet above the sea!6. In Guatemala we

found it at lower elevations, but abundant in all the forest-country north of Coban to

the confines of Peten, and in the lower portions of the valleys of the Polochic and

Motagua rivers. It lives in colonies, and makes a nest, like that of Eucorystes wagleri,

of grasses neatly woven. Lach nest is suspended to the end of an outer bough of some

isolated forest tree, and hangs some two or three feet in length, with the opening at

the top. Often forty or fifty nests may be seen in one tree. Mr. Nutting says the

birds, on entering the nests, shake them violently about, causing them to make a

rustling sound 18,

The cry of this species is very loud and discordant, and as different as possible from

the melodious notes of the various species of Icterus.

When fresh these birds and their immediate allies have a very peculiar odour.

The species most nearly allied to G. montezume is G. bifasciatus of the lower

Amazons valley, a bird we have never seen, but which Cassin pronounced to be quite

distinct, the thighs being chestnut instead of black.

GYMNOSTINOPS. . 439

2. Gymnostinops guatemozinus. (Tab. XXXII.) |

Ostinops guatemozinus, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxvii. p. 833+; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p.138?; Scl.

& Salv. P. Z. §. 1879, p. 508°; Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 149 *.

Cassicus guatemozinus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 71°.

Gymnostinops guatemozinus, Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 814°

Nigerrimus, crista verticali elongata, nigra; dorso medio, alarum tectricibus, supracaudalibus et crisso saturate

castaneis ; cauda flava, rectricibus duabus mediis abbreviatis, nigris ; rostro nigro, apice flavo-aurantiaco,

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 19°5, alee 9°6, caude 7-6 (rectr. med. 5:3), rostri a rictu 2°7, tarsi 2°2.

2 mari similis, sed multo minor. Long. tota 15-5, alee 8-0, caude 6-5 (rectr. med. 4°4), rostri a rictu 2°0,

tarsi 1:8. (Descr. maris et feminse ex Remedios, Colombia. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Turbo (Wood) ?°.—Cotomstia 13 4 8,

The type of this beautiful species was obtained by M. Fontanier in the valley of the

Magdalena river, and sent to the Paris Museum, where it was described by Bonaparte

in 18531. Six or seven years afterwards, Mr. C. J. Wood, who accompanied Lt. Michler’s

exploring expedition to Darien, secured a single male specimen at ‘‘ Camp Abert,” on

the banks of the Truando river, on our extreme southern border. We have no record

of its occurrence further northwards, and along the line of the Panama Railway the

allied G. montezume is found in plenty.

The late T. K. Salmon met with G. guatemozinus during his stay at Remedios, a

village on the mountains dividing the Cauca and Magdalena valleys, situated at an

elevation of 2360 feet above the sea, on the banks of the Ité river, an affluent of the

Magdalena. Here he obtained the eggs of this species, which are pale pinkish white,

sparsely spotted with large red-brown spots. ‘The iris of the living bird is blue °.

In comparing this species with G. montezume, the form of the tail is noticeable, the

middle feathers being very much shortened. At first sight it appears as if they

were not fully developed; but this is not the case. In all the species of Ostinops,

Gymnostinops, and in Eucorystes the central tail-feathers fall short of the longest, but

not nearly so much so as in G@. guatemozinus.

We have figured one of Salmon’s specimens, a male.

OSTINOPS.

Ostinops, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 187 (1851); Sclater, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 315.

Mr. Sclater leaves eight species in Ostinops, after removing four and placing them

in Gymnostinops. Only the most widely-ranging of these eight, viz. O. decumanus,

occurs within our limits, in the State of Panama; the rest are spread over the greater

part of the tropical forests of South America, our 0. decumanus being the only species

found in South-eastern Brazil.

Ostinops is very like Gymnostinops in general structure and the colour of its plumage,

but may readily be distinguished by the space beneath the eye being fully feathered up

to the base of the mandibular sheath.

440 ICTERIDZ.

1. Ostinops decumanus.

Xanthornus decumanus, Pall. Spic. Zool. fase. vi. p. 1, t. 1’.

Ostinops decumanus, Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 200°; Sel. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 508 °; Sel.

Ibis, 1883, p. 1514; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 315°; Tacz. Orn. Per. ii. p. 404°; Salv.

Ibis, 1885, p. 2177.

Cassicus citreus, Miiller, Syst. Nat. Suppl. p. 87; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 68°.

Oriolus cristatus, Bodd. Tabl. Pl. Enl. p. 21”.

Ostinops cristatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 455*°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 188"; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N.Y. vii. p. 297"; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 190; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 191; Wyatt,

Ibis, 1871, p. 828”.

Niger, dorso postico, uropygio et crisso castaneis ; cauda flava, rectricibus duabus mediis nigricantibus ; rostro

eburneo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 17, ale 8-8, caude 7°5 (rectr. med. 7:0), rostri a rictu 2°3, tarsi 2-0.

@ mari similis sed minor. Long. tota 13-5, ale 6-8, caude 6-4 (rectr. med. 6°2), rostri a rictu 19, tarsi 1-7.

(Descr. maris et feminze ex Bugaba, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Bugaba (Arcé}*), Lion Hill (M/*Leannan'*), Chepo (Arcé*), Turbo

(Wood 1),—Sourn America, from Colombia 2? 15 to Bolivia and South-east Brazil ° ;

Guiana’.

This species is best known under Gmelin’s title cristatus, but there can be no doubt

that Pallas described and figured it under the name of Xanthornus decumanus in the

sixth part of his ‘Spicilegia Zoologica,’ published in 1769, nineteen years before

Gmelin’s name appeared; decumanus also antedates Boddaert’s cristatus (1783) and

Miiller’s citreus (1776).

Ostinops decumanus was observed by Mr. C. J. Wood both at Turbo and on the

banks of the Atrato!; and we have received specimens from Chepo, the line of the

Panama Railway, and from as far north as Bugaba, in the Province of Chiriqui, so

that there can be no doubt that the species belongs to our fauna, occupying, as it does,

the whole of the State of Panama. But it does not proceed further into the isthmus,

its name being absent from all the Costa-Rica lists.

Mr. Wyatt found Ostinops decumanus not uncommon in the lower mountain-districts

on the east side of the valley of the Magdalena in Colombia. He found them nesting

during the whole of his three months’ stay in the country. They breed in colonies,

making long pendulous nests. A large colony he observed had established themselves

in a leafless tree, in a valley near San Nicolas, in March. Every evening, just before

sunset, they held a most discordant concert, flying over the valley, wheeling round, and

then diving down to the bottom of their bag-shaped nests, some of which were so

loosely woven that he could see the bird, when in, struggling to get down to the bottom.

The iris, he adds, is bright sky-blue 1.

Eggs obtained by Salmon? at Remedios, on the opposite side of the valley, are

described as pale greenish blue, sparsely spotted with dark brown spots.

CASSIOUS. 44]

b. Clypeus frontalis ad basin vix incrassatus.

CASSICUS.

Cacicus, Cuvier, Leg. d’Anat. Comp. i. t. 2 (1800).

Cassicus, Illiger, Prodr. p. 214; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p- 820.

Mr. Sclater now includes nine species in Cassicus, having removed C. solitarius and

C. holosericeus into the genus Amblycercus since writing his synopsis of this family in

‘The Ibis’ for 1883.

Cassicus, as thus restricted, is divisible into two groups—one having the rump red,

with the barbs of the feathers towards the end destitute of barbules, and the other yellow,

with the barbs of the feathers furnished with short barbules throughout. One of each

of these groups is found within our region, both in the State of Panama, and C. micro-

rhynchus as far north as Nicaragua. The southern species are spread over the whole of

Tropical America to South-eastern Brazil.

The bill in C. microrhynchus has the culmen considerably arched, the proximal end

being rounded ; the nostrils are much as in Ostinops, quite open, and devoid of any

overhanging membrane; the mandible is feathered up to the base of the sheath; the

wings are moderate, the third quill being the longest, the second and fourth equal, and

the first shorter than the fifth ; the tail is moderately rounded.

The different species of Cassicus live in colonies, and build hanging purse-like nests,

similar to those of the various species of Ostinops and of Eucorystes.

1. Cassicus flavicrissus.

Cassiculus flavicrissus, Sclater, P. Z.S. 1860, p. 276".

Cassicus flavicrissus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1871, p. 329°; P.Z. S. 1879, p. 509°; Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 15843

Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 322°; Tacz. Orn. Per. ii. p. 411°

Cassicus icteronotus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 1897 (nec Vieill.).

Cassiculus icteronotus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297°.

Cassiculus chrysonotus ?, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 139° (nec d’Orb. & Lafr.).

Cassicus vitellinus, Lawr. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1864, p. 107"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 66".

Cacicus persicus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 353" (nec Linn.).

Nitide niger, plaga tectricum alarium superiorum, dorso postico, cum tectricibus supracaudalibus, crisso et vix

dimidio caudex basali aurantio-flavis ; rostro eburneo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 11-0, ale 7:1, caude 4:5,

rostri a rictu 1°5, tarsi 1-2.

Q mari similis, sed minor et minus nitida. Long. tota 9-0, ale 5:4, caude 3°8, rostri a rictu 1:3, tarsi 1°1,

(Descr. maris et feminz ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Lion Hill (I/*Leannan § 1°12), Turbo( Wood 7911),—Cotompia22 ; Ecuapor!;

PERv °.

Though noticed on the isthmus of Darien in 1860, and that of Panama in 1861, it

was ten years before this bird was placed under its present name. During this time

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., December 1886. 56

442 ICTERIDZ.

it stood either as the old well-known C. persicus or its synonym, C. icteronotus; as

C. chrysonotus of Peru and Bolivia, or as a distinct species, C. vitellinus. It ultimately

proved to be inseparable from a species of Western Ecuador described by Mr.

Sclater in 1860 under the specific name it now bears!. It hassince been traced further

along this coast to Western Peru® and into the Magdalena? and Cauca ® valleys of

Colombia. In the State of Panama we have no tidings of it beyond the line of

railway.

The bird most nearly allied to C. flavicrissus is certainly C. persicus, but it may

readily be distinguished by the amount of yellow on the tail, which in the former

occupies less than half, and in the latter nearly two thirds of the base of the rectrices.

Myr. Wyatt found C. flavicrissus on the banks of the Lake of Paturia, in the Magdalena

valley, where there were several colonies nesting in the month of March in the low

bushes which overhung the water. Most of the pendulous nests were within reach of the

canoe ; they were not all of the same pattern, some having the entrance at the top, so as

to form a long narrow bag; in others the top was roofed over, and the entrance was at

the side. The hen lays two cream-coloured eggs, blotched with purple and brown. The

iris of the living bird is pale blue 2.

Salmon also found this species breeding at Remedios 2360 feet above the sea. The

eggs he brought home are described as white, sparingly spotted with dark brown, chiefly

at the larger end. THe also says the iris is blue 3.

Mr. C. J. Wood’ observed C. flavicrissus to be very abundant at Turbo, where it was

always seen in large parties and very noisy, especially in the morning, though their notes

were, he considered, rather agreeable.

2. Cassicus microrhynchus.

Cassiculus microrhynchus, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 353’; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. viii.

p- 180°.

Cacicus microrhynchus, Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 142°; 1870, p. 190*; Ibis, 1872, p. 317°.

Cassicus microrhynchus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 65°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 8037; Scl.

Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 325°.

Cassicus uropygialis, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 189°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 297% (nec

Lafr.).

- Intense niger, uropygio coccineo ; rostro viride-eburneo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 8-5, ale 5-0, caude 3°6,

rostri a rictu 1:1, tarsi 1:1.

Q mari similis, sed minor et minus nitida. Long. tota 8-0, ale 4:5, caude 3:1, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1-0.

(Descr. maris et feminee ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt*), Greytown (Holland’); Costa Rica, Tucurriqui

(v. Franizius"), Peje (Carmiol*); Panama, Bugaba 4, Cordillera de Tolé 3, Santiago

de Veraguas®, Santa Fé? (Arcé), Lion-Hill Station (M*Leannan}210), Turbo (Wood?).

Cassicus microrhynchus has a much more northern range than C. flavicrissus, having

CASSICUS.—-CASSICULUS. 443

been found in the Chontales district of Nicaragua by the late Thomas Belt ®, and also at

Greytown by Holland’; and it occurs in all the intervening country as far as the

Truando; but immediately to the southward its place is taken by the closely allied

C. uropygialis, from which it differs in having a much smaller and weaker bill; hence

its name.

Nothing has been written of its habits.

CASSICULUS.

Cassiculus, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 8352 (1827); Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 328.

Cassiculus, as now restricted, is a monotypic genus, its range being restricted to

Western Mexico. In the arrangement of the colours of the plumage it resembles Cas-

sicus flavicrissus and its allies, but its sharper, more cuneiform bill and much straighter

culmen, its occipital crest, and the normal structure of the feathers of the lower back

sufficiently distinguish it. On the other hand, the shape of the nostril, which is that of

typical Cassicine, at once separates it from Amblycercus, from which it is still further

removed by its long wings. The third quill is slightly the longest, the fourth and fifth

are next in length, then the second, the first and sixth being subequal; the tail is rather

long and rounded, the feathers being somewhat pointed.

1. Cassiculus melanicterus.

Icterus melanicterus, Bp. Journ. Acad. Philad. iv. p. 389".

Cassicus melanicterus, Cass. Proc. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 66°.

Cassiculus melanicterus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 880°; Ibis, 1883, p. 156*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus, xi.

p. 828°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 139°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p.278"; Bull. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 23°; Salv. P. Z.S. 1883, p. 422°.

Cassiculus coronatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436".

Icterus diadematus, Temm. PI. Col. 482”.

Niger, crista elongata, nigra ; dorso postico, alarum tectricibus minoribus et crisso flavis; cauda flava, rectricibus

duabus mediis omnino nigris, extima utrinque in pogonio externo quoque nigra; rostro viridi-eburneo,

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 11-0, ale 6-0, caude 5:3, rostri a rictu 1-6, tarsi 1-3.

@ cinerascente-nigra, aliter mari similis, sed rectricibus omnibus in pogonio externo fusco-nigricantibus. Long.

tota 10-5, alee 5°0, caude 4:3, rostri a rictu 1-4, tarsi 1-1. (Descr. maris et femine ex Mazatlan, Mexico,

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico} (M*Clellan 1), Mazatlan (Grayson’, Bishoff', Forrer°), Presidio

(Forrer®), Tepic (Grayson), plains of Colima, Rio de Coahuana (Xantus’), Aca-

pulco? (Markham®), Guerrero (Dugés *), Temiscaltepec (Bullock 1°), Oaxaca ®, Rio

Grande® (Boucard®), Morelia (Je Strange), Barrio, Chihuitan, Tehuantepec city

(Sumichrast *), Tonala, Chiapas (Swmichrast).

This is an abundant species in Western Mexico, from Mazatlan to Tehuantepec, but

56*

444 ICTERIDZ.

we have no records of its occurrence on the eastern side of the cordillera, nor does it

pass into Guatemala.

Grayson, who had abundant opportunities of observing this species in Western

Mexico, says it is common and a constant resident, only shifting its quarters from one

part of the forest to another in flocks of from ten to thirty. The nests are often three

or four feet long, and are hung in the branches of a mimosa, acacia, or any large tree

affording an ample shade. These nests are made of very long, coarse, and tough grass,

and also narrow strips of palm-leaf ; other materials, such as slender pliant creepers, and

even twine and thread from some neighbouring village, are sometimes employed. The

entrance is near the top, and is small, and nearly closed when the bird is at the bottom

of her pocket-shaped nest. The structure is apparently loosely put together, admitting

the air to pass freely through, but it is not easily pulled apart or detached from the

bough to which it is hung without the use of a knife.

The female builds the nest, the male only keeping watch whilst she is inside, or

accompanying her in search of materials. ‘The eggs are usually five in number, rather

longer than those of other members of the Icteride, though similar in other respects.

The ground-colour is pale blue with numerous brownish-black spots and zigzag marks’.

CASSIDIX.

Cassidix, Lesson, Traité d’Orn. i. p. 433 (1831); Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 329.

Cassidix is also a monotypic genus, its single species being a bird of very wide range

throughout the tropics of America, from Southern Mexico to Paraguay.

It has been frequently placed with the Quiscaline section of the Icteride on account,

doubtless, of the general aspect of its plumage; but recently Mr. Sclater has removed

it to the Cassicine, and in so doing we think he acted rightly. The open, non-

membranous nostril and the frontal shield indicate this position for it. The status of

Cassidix as a distinct genus rests chiefly upon the peculiar elongated feathers of the

sides of the neck in the male, and to a less degree in the female. The first primary,

too, is the longest of the wing, an arrangement we do not find in the other genera of

Cassicinee.

The bill is stout, almost Corvine in bulk, the culmen considerably arched; there is a

rather deep groove running from the nostril parallel to the culmen. As already

mentioned, the first primary is the longest of the wing, from it the rest gradually and

regularly decrease in length; the longest secondaries reach to the tip of the sixth

primary; the tail is moderately and evenly rounded.

1. Cassidix oryzivora.

Oriolus oryzivorus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 3867.

Cassidix oryzivora, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 98°; 1859, p. 140°; Ibis, 1884, p. 165*; Cat. B. Brit.

Mus. xi. p. 329°; Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 57°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 3547; 1867,

CASSIDIX.—AMBLYCERCUS. 445

p. 279°; 1879, p. 510°; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1870, p. 191”; Ibis, 1885, p. 219"; Salv. & Godm.

Ibis, 1879, p. 201”; 1880, p. 123"; Tacz. Orn. Per. ii. p. 435“.

Cassicus ater, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. v. p. 363”.

Cassidix ater, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 201°.

Cassidiz mexicanus, Less. Traité d’Orn. i. p. 4337"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 416.

Scaphidura crassirostris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 301”.

Cassidix crassirostris?, Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 57”.

Atro-violaceus, colli plumis elongatis, expansis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 13:5, ale 7°5, caude 6:0,

rostri a rictu 1°5, tarsi 18.

Q mari similis, sed minor et minus nitida. (Descr. maris et femine ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico”, Orizaba®; Guaremata, Choctum (0. S. & F. D. G5); Honpuras,

Chilomo (Leyland ®); Nicaragua, Blewfields River (Wickham 8); Panama, Chitra,

Calobre, Calovevora (Arcé1°), Lion Hill (M‘Zeannan’),—Sourn AMERICA,

Colombia ® to South Brazil 1°19 and Paraguay 15, Amazons valley 1°, Guiana ! 11.

Cassin, when writing his ‘Studies of Icteride,’ attempted to separate Cassidix

oryzivora into a number of species, using for them several of the names previously

proposed by older authors, and supplementing them with some of his own. Mr. Sclater

in his recent examination of this question confessed his inability to recognize more

than one species; nor are we able to do more. Cassidix oryzivora, therefore, to us is

a species of very wide range, with certain trifling points of variation to be expected in

a bird so extensively distributed.

This species is an inhabitant of the tropical forests wherever it is found. We know

little of it in Mexico, but there is a skin in the Sclater collection in the British Museum

said to have come from Orizaba, and it is more than probable that it is to C. oryzivora

that Sumichrast refers as another Quiscalus in the hot region with plumage remarkable

for the brilliancy of its reflections of violet and purple *. In Guatemala it is by no

means a common bird, as we only once met with it at Choctum, a small flock frequenting

the edge of the clearing in which the hamlet is situated; they were noisy, gregarious

birds, but we did not observe any of their breeding-arrangements. Leyland says they

frequent cornfields near Omoa in great numbers®. In the more southern parts of

Central America it apparently becomes more common, judging from the number of skins

sent us, but we have no notes of its habits. In Colombia Salmon found it in several

places in the State of Antioquia®; he sent home two of the eggs, which are quite

white, and thus unlike the usual type of Icterine birds. The iris in life is white.

B. Nares operculo corneo obtecte.

AMBLYCERCUS.

Amblycercus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 190 (1851); Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 326.

Two rather closely allied species constitute this genus, one of which, A. holosericeus,

* Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553.

446 ICTERIDZ.

is @ very common species within our region. Amblycercus has been placed both with

Cassicus and Cassiculus, but no doubt it has characters to distinguish it from both those

genera. In the first place the nostrils are covered by a hard horny operculum, leaving

the nasal orifice a comma-shaped slit, the tail of the comma being directed outwards.

This structure is not found in the more normal Cassicine, and we have had to modify

My. Sclater’s characters in order to include Amblycercus. This operculum is not like

the membranous covering of the nostril in the other subfamilies of Icteride, being as

hard and horny a substance as the sheath of the bill itself. The culmen is straight,

and the points of the jaws rounded horizontally and flattened; the feet are stout, and

the tarsi comparatively longer than in Cassicus. The wings are short and very much

rounded; the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills are subequal, and slightly longer than the

seventh, eighth, and ninth, the third equals the seventh, the second is about equal to

the longest secondaries, and the first is much shorter still. The tail is much rounded.

The short, rounded wing presents another obvious point of difference from Cassicus

and Cassiculus.

As in Cassiculus the feathers of the lower back are normal, the barbs being fully

furnished with barbules.

1. Amblycercus holosericeus.

Sturnus holosericeus, Licht. Preis Verz. Mex. Vog. p. 1 (cf. J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 55)*.

Cacicus holosericeus, Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 262°.

Cassicus holosericeus, Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 163°; Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 445*; Tacz. Orn. Pér. ii.

p. 415°.

Amblycercus holosericeus, Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 327°.

Amblyramphus prevosti, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 150, t. 547.

Amblycercus prevosti, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 10°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 73°; Lawr. Ann.

Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 104"; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 302". oe

Cassiculus prevosti, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 301"; 1859, pp. 365", 880%; 1860, p. 276”; 1864,

p. 174; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 197; 1860, p. 34°; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 853”; 1870,

p. 886; Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 57"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 297”; Ann. Lye.

N. Y. vii. p. 180%; Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 1427; 1870, p. 190”; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553°°.

Cassicus prevosti, Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 23”; Nutting & Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat,

Mus. vi. pp. 383%, 402”.

Cassicus, sp.?, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 115°.

Nigerrimus, unicolor; rostro eburneo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 9°5, alee 4:2, caudes 4:4, rostri a rictu 1:2,

tarsi 1-3. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico" (Deppe*, Sallé*), valley of Mexico (White 16), hot and temperate regions

of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast?°), Jalapa (de Oca), Teotalcingo and Playa Vicente

(Boucard'*), Guichicovi, Sta. Efigenia (Swmichrast?"), Yucatan (Gaumer *); Britise

Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux); Guatemana (Velasquez, Constancia 2), Yzabal 18,

AMBLYCERCUS.—DOLICHONYX. 447

Duefias!” 18 (0. S.), Choctum, Retalhuleu (0. 8. & F. D. G.), Peten (Leyland **) ;

Honpvuras, Omoa (Leyland 71), San Pedro (G. IM. Whitely °°); Nicaragua, Greytown

(Holland 7°), Sucuya 28, Los Sabalos 29 (Nutting) ; Costa Rica (Hoffmann §), San José,

Panama, Calovevora 25, Calobre 2°, Santa Fé *4 (Arcé), Lion Hill Station (/*Lean-

nan \9 22), Paraiso Station (Hughes).—CotomBia ; Ecuapor 4; Peru®; VENEZUELA®,

Amblycercus holosericeus is a very familiar species in Mexico and Central America,

where it is found throughout the hot and temperate districts from Southern Mexico to

Panama, and thence southwards to Ecuador and Peru.

Its habits are very different from those of Cassicus, being of a skulking disposition,

frequenting tangled thickets, where it occupies itself in breaking small dead branches,

probably for insect food.

We never observed it in flocks; but Mr. Nutting, who met with it in several parts of

Nicaragua, says it is probably gregarious 75 9,

Sumichrast, who ascribes 4. holosericeus to the hot and temperate regions of Vera

Cruz, says it does not reach the altitude of Orizaba, the limit of its upward range not

passing 3380 feet 26. In Guatemala, however, we found it to be common at Coban at

an elevation of between 4000 and 4500 feet, and at Duefias at nearly 5000 feet.

The iris in life is light yellow, and the bill yellowish green.

Subfam. Il. AGELAINA.

Nares plus minusve membrano obtecte ; mesorhinum altum haud dilatatum, complanatum aut modice rotun-

datum, culmen fere rectus ; alarum plume secundarix externe haud elongate.

DOLICHONYX.

Dolichonyz, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 851 (1827) ; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 331.

A monotypic genus containing the single well-marked and well-known species

described below.

In coloration Dolichonyx curiously resembles Calamospiza bicolor, but the two birds

are not by any means nearly related.

D. oryzivorus has a short stout Fringilline bill; the commissure of the maxilla is

angulated, but there is no notch near the extremity; the nostrils are large and open,

and situated at the lower end of the nasal fossa, a membrane lying along the upper

margin ; the rictal bristles are very short ; the wings are long, the outermost primary

being the longest, from which the rest fall rapidly away, the longest secondaries being

about equal to the shortest primary; the extremities of the tail-feathers arevery acute; the

tarsi are rather long and the feet stout, the hind claw being long and slightly decurved.

The male assumes a breeding-dress in spring and changes it again in autumn, when

it resembles the female. When in most perfect spring plumage we believe the black

448 ICTERIDA.

feathers of the under surface have light-coloured tips which wear off very soon, probably

before the breeding-season has commenced. One of our specimens from Cozumel L., shot

on 26th April, has the feathers perfect and edged with light fuscous; another, shot on

the 20th May, is almost quite black beneath, but on near inspection the ends of the

barbs of each feather are broken close to the commencement of the black colour.

1. Dolichonyx oryzivorus.

Emberiza oryzivora, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 311".

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 485°; Gould, Voy. ‘ Beagle,’ in. p. 106°;

Gosse, B. Jam. p. 229‘; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 72°; Ibis, 1884, p. 2°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus.

xi. p. 8817; Salv. Ibis, 1864, p. 886°; 1866, p. 194°; 1885, pp. 191°, 218"; Cass. Pr.

Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 15”; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 199°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii.

p. 149™; Coues, B. N. W. p. 178%; Key, N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 400"; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S.

1879, p. 509 "7; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 97**; Zeledon, Cat. Av. de Costa Rica, p.10; Tacz.

Orn. Pér. il. p. 421”.

Niger, nucha lata pallide cervina, interscapulii plumis fusco utrinque limbatis ; secundariis internis et primariis

externis quoque fusco marginatis ; scapularibus et dorso postico cum supracaudalibus albidis, dorso medio

cinerascente; remigibus nigris, ad apicem cinerascentibus; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus

corneis. Long. tota 6°0, ale 3°8, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1:0.

ochraceis, hypochondriis fusco striatis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Lighthouse reef, British Honduras.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nort America, Southern Canada and Eastern States to the Great Plains.—

Mexico, Tableland (Bullock 7), Northern Yucatan 7 and Cozumel Island !° (Gaumer,

Devis); British Honpuras, Northern two Cays, Lighthouse reef (0. 8.5%); Costa

Rica (Zeledon 1"); Panama, Paraiso Station (Hughes"), Chepo (Arcé").—Soutu

America, Colombia!® to Paraguay !4, Amazons valley ‘1° and Guiana !!; GaLapacos

Isuanps °?; Cuspa 18; Jamatca 4.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus is a very familiar species in North America, as it passes over

the whole of the Southern States in its migrations, and breeds in the Northern States

and Canada. ‘The spring migration lasts from March to May, and the autumn during

August, September, and part of October. In winter these birds are scattered over the

greater part of South America as far as Paraguay, and we have records of it in Colombia,

Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the Amazons valley, and Guiana. In Cuba and Jamaica it

appears only as a bird of passage, as it does not remain during the winter months.

Gundlach says it arrives in Cuba at the beginning of September in large flocks, which

during their stay frequent rice-fields, doing much damage to the crops; they soon

disappear for the south, but return again in May for a few days on their journey north-

wards'®. According to Mr. Gosse their stay in Jamaica lasts during October and the

early part of November; they return with the spring rains in April for a few days‘.

The only record we have of the occurrence of this species in Mexico is that of

DOLICHONYX.—MOLOTHRUS, 449

Swainson, who states that Bullock’s specimens submitted to him were obtained on the

tableland 2. In Yucatan and the islands of the east coast of British Honduras D. ory-

zivorus seems to be much more numerous, Mr. Gaumer having procured many examples.

It was on this coast too that Salvin met with it on a small coral islet at the northern

end of Lighthouse Reef, one of two islands called Northern two Cays; this was on the

20th May, 1862, a very late date for the occurrence of individuals so far south.

It also occurs in Costa Rica, its name being included in Mr. Zeledon’s list, but it is

not mentioned by other writers on Costa-Rican birds. In the State of Panama it has

frequently been observed. We thus seem to trace the western limit of the line of the

migration of this species. In passing southwards the western flocks do not, as a rule,

go further westwards than the promontory of Yucatan ; thence they follow the coast-line

southwards to Panama, and then spread at large over the continent of South America,

The eastern border is not so definite. D. oryzivorus is recorded from the Bahamas and

from Grenada, but it is rare in British Guiana; a large number of birds, therefore,

probably cross the Caribbean Sea from Cuba and Jamaica direct to the mainland of

South America.

In their spring migration Dr. Gundlach tells us the male birds arrive in flocks apart

from the females, but that in autumn the sexes all associate together.

As already stated, the males lose their dark plumage after the breeding-season and

assume the female dress, which again is changed at the approach of spring.

Dolichonye oryzivorus makes a flimsy nest of dried grasses on the ground, and lays

four or five eggs of a dull bluish-white colour, sometimes brownish-white spotted and

blotched with dark chocolate or blackish-brown surface-marks and others of paler

colour in the shell },

The notes of this species are described as very pleasing, many males often singing

together.

MOLOTHRUS.

Molothrus, Swainson, Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 277 (1831) ; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 401;

Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 332.

Mr. Sclater, in his recent catalogue of the Icteride, includes nine species of Molo-

thrus which are distributed over the greater part of America, the bird of the northern

continent (Molothrus pecoris) extending from Canada southwards and Molothrus bonari-

ensis of the southern continent reaching the Straits of Magellan. Two species occur

within our region—the northern UV. pecoris in both its forms occurring over the greater

portion of Mexico; M. ewneus, on the other hand, is found throughout our region, and

crosses the Rio Grande into Texas.

The curious habit of all members of this genus of the females laying their eggs in

other birds’ nests, and leaving the duties of incubation and rearing their young to foster-

parents, has been very fully described by various authors—one of the most interesting

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., February 1887. 57

450 ICTERID 2.

accounts being that given by Mr. Hudson (P.Z. 8. 1874, p. 153 e¢ seqg.), in which he

gives the details of his observations on three species of Molothrus found in the vicinity

of Buenos Ayres.

Like Dolichonyx, Molothrus has a short, stout, conical bill, the mesorhinium is

rounded, the culmen being slightly curved, the nostrils are open at the extremity of

the nasal fossa, the tomia of the maxilla is somewhat abruptly bent beneath the

nostril, the feet are stout (especially the hind toe and its claw): the wings are mode-

rately long, the second and third quills being equal and longest; the first falls a little

short of these; the fourth, in JZ. pecoris, is considerably shorter than the first, in

M. ceneus they are equal ; the tail is slightly rounded, each feather being rounded at

the end and not pointed as in Dolichonys.

1. Molothrus pecoris.

Fringilla pecoris, Gm. 8. N. i. p. 910°.

Agelaus pecoris, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 486’.

Psarocolius pecoris, Wag). Isis, 1831, p. 527°.

Molothrus pecoris, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 2134; 1859, p. 365°; 1860, p. 252°; Ibis, 1884, p. 37;

Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 333°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. il. Zool., Birds, p.18°; Cass. Pr.

Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 17°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. 11. p. 154"; Coues, B. N. W.

p. 180”.

Molothrus obscurus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 18’.

Molothrus pecoris, var. obscurus, Lawr. Bull. U. 8S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p, 24"; Mem. Bost. Soc. N,

H. u. p. 280”.

Molothrus ater, Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 402*°; Check-List N. Am. B. p. 248%; Perez,

Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 151”.

Purpureo-niger, viridi-seneo micans ; capite toto undique cum cervice et pectore antico fumoso-brunneis, hoe colore

ad corpus purpureo marginato; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 6-5, ale 3:9, caudew 2:9, rostri a

rictu 0-7, tarsi 0-85.

@ fusca, fere unicolor, dorsi plumis medialiter, alis et cauda vix saturatioribus ; subtus paulo dilutior, gula cseru-

lescente. Long. tota 5:5, ale 3-4, caude 2°3, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. maris et feminze ex

Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. NortH America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and from Southern

Canada southwards.—Mexico ® (Sallé*), Los Nogales (Kennerly®), Mazatlan

(Grayson, Forrer®’), Manzanilla Bay (Xantus 1°), tableland near Mexico (Bullock?),

Orizaba® (Botteri*), Jalapa (de Oca*), Huexotitla (Perez !*), Tehuantepec city

(Sumichrast '4).

There are said to be two races of this well-known bird, differing in size. The larger

and more northern bird has an extensive range throughout the States, and is migratory,

spending the winter months in the south, when it reaches as far south as Southern

Mexico. The smaller bird is stated to be resident in Texas, Arizona, and California,

as well as in Southern and Western Mexico. Thus in the winter months both birds

are found in the same districts..

This difference in size is represented in male specimens before us by a difference in

MOLOTHRUS. 451

the length of the wing of about 0:5 inch. In specimens admitted to belong to

M. pecoris the length of the wing varies from 4°5 to 4:0 inches!®; in one of our

Mexican examples of MV. obscurus it measures 3°9, in another 3°95, and in the average

of M. obscurus 3°75 inches 1°. Thus the dimensions, so far as regards the length of the

wing, of /. pecoris and MW. obscurus appear to show a complete gradation between the

two, and that there is no line of demarcation whereby they may be distinguished.

The habits of J. pecoris, and how the hen bird lays its eggs in other birds’ nests,

have been very fully described by various authors, Dr. Coues’s account being especially

full of interest 12. Little has been recorded of this bird in Mexico beyond a note to the

following effect by the late A. J. Grayson !*:—“ The birds whose nests are selected by

M. pecoris in which to deposit its egg are usually smaller than itself. In the vicinity

of Mazatlan the beautiful and basket-shaped nest of Vireosylvia flavo-viridis seems to

be the one preferred. This Vireo is a summer visitant from the regions of Central

America ; soon after its arrival in May and the early part of June nidification is com-

menced. The nest is generally placed pendent between two branches usually low down.

V. flavo-viridis is an abundant species on a small, thickly-wooded peninsula near the

sea-shore, but a short distance from the city of Mazatlan. Here the Cow-bird was seen

stealthily seeking an opportunity to drop its egg in the nest of the Vireo. Sheat length

finds an opportunity, in the absence of the owners of the nest, but not before one egg

at least has been laid does she deposit hers by its side, otherwise the Vireo would

abandon it. The intruder’s egg is first hatched, and the others a little after.

“ The larger size and the greater strength of the foundling absorbs all the attention

of the poor dupe of a dame, and she proves a very affectionate and assiduous nurse to

the stranger.

“The Cow-bird is very numerous in the region of Mazatlan and Tepic, and is, in fact,

pretty generally distributed over Mexico. About Mazatlan they are seen in large flocks,

often in company with the larger M/. eneus.”

The eggs are white, thickly covered with fine spots of ashy and purplish brown;

others are blotched with large spots of purple and vinous brown.

2. Molothrus sxneus.

Psarocolius eneus, Wag). Isis, 1829, p. 758°.

Agelaius eneus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 90’.

Molothrus eneus, Scl. P. ZS. 1856, p. 300°; 1859, pp. 365*, 381°; Ibis, 1884, p. 4°; Cat. B.

Brit. Mus. xi. p. 884"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 34°; R. Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 61°; Cab.

J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 81"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 18"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix.

p- 104"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 247°; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281"; Sumi-

chrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 552”; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 8303'°; Salv. P. Z. S.

1870, p. 191°"; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 265°; Merrill, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, ii. p. 85”;

Nutting, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. v. p.392”; Boucard, P. Z. 8S. 1883, p. 445”; Perez, Pr. U.S

Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 151”. |

o7*

452 ICTERIDZ.

Icterus bonariensis, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 116” (nec Gm.).

Molothrus robustus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 193 ™.

Sericeo-eneus, alis caudaque nigris, extus purpurascente violaceis, subalaribus et crisso purpureo lavatis. Long.

tota 8-0, ale 4:7, caude 3:3, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. maris ex Calobre, Panama. Mus.

nostr.)

2 obscure fusca, purpureo vix tincta, subtus dilutior. Long. tota 6-8, ale 4:0, caude 2:8, rostri a rictu 0°8,

tarsi 1:0. (Descr. femine ex Duenas, Guatemala, Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Rio Grande valley, Texas !9.—MeExico *4, Mazatlan (Gambel™,

Grayson, Forrer’), Presidio (Forrer’), Manzanilla Bay and mountains of Colima

(Xantus 14), Puente Nacional (Pease), hot and temperate regions of Vera Cruz

(Sumichrast'), Izucar de Matamoros, Chietla, Acatlan (Perez 22) Cordova (Sallé *),

Orizaba (Botteri’), Jalapa (de Oca‘), Yetla (Boucard’), Oaxaca (Fenochio"),

Tapana (Sumichrast 13), Northern Yucatan (Gawmer*1); Guatemaza (Velasquez °°,

Constancia 18), Duefias ®, Retalhuleu, Huamuchal (0. S.), San Geronimo (£. Owen®),

Choctum (0. S. & F. D. G.7); Nicaracua™; Costa Rica’, San José (v. Frant-

zius 101216), Ta Palma (Nutting 2°), Orosi (Kramer™); Panama, Calobre, Chitra

(Arcé1"), Panama (Bell 14).

Molothrus eneus is a very common species throughout our region from the valley of

the Rio Grande southwards to the State of Panama. Such is our experience of it in

Guatemala, and such is the testimony of most travellers in the country. It crosses the

Rio Grande to the Texan side, where it was observed by Mr. Merrill chiefly at

Hidalgo on the Rio Grande and lower down the river. He speaks of the bird as

common throughout the year, a few individuals migrating southwards in the winter;

he also fully describes their breeding-habits, which are similar to those of the allied

species, the female selecting the nests of Cardinalis, Milvulus, Icterus bullocki, and

Icterus spurius in which to lay itseggs. The male during courtship has many curious

habits, the most noticeable of which is that of puffing out the feathers on the sides of

the neck, which are long, in the form of a ruff. In Mexico, Grayson observed this

species near Mazatlan, and watched a female make an unsuccessful attempt to appro-

priate a nest of Pitangus derbianus in which to lay her egg, and subsequently to

examine one of [cterus pustulatus for the same purpose.

In the State of Vera Cruz, Sumichrast states that it is very common in the hot and

temperate lands up to an elevation of about 4600 feet 1°. In Guatemala, as already

stated, it is very common from the sea-level to a height of 5000 feet. On the plain

of Salama, in the neighbourhood of San Gerénimo, Mr. Robert Owen took several

eges he believed to be of this species; these were found in the nests of two species

of Icterus and of Mimus gilvus and Pitangus derbianus °.

The usual resorts of J. wneus are open grassy plains, where a number of individuals

associate in flocks and feed amongst cattle, on the backs of which they may often be

observed. The eggs differ widely from those of WM. pecoris, being of a pale greenish-

white colour without spots or markings. ‘The iris of Jf. wneus, in life, is red.

AGELAUS, 453

AGELAUS,

Agelaius, Vieillot, Anal. p. 33 (1816).

Ageleus, Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 339.

Only two of the fourteen species now included in Ageleus occur within our

region, and these both belong to the section having the bend of the wing brightly

coloured, which, with the exception of those having this portion of the wing yellow,

and which are really aberrant, all belong to the continent of America north of

Panama or to the island of Cuba.

A. pheniceus and A. gubernator are both well-known North-American birds; the

former reaches to Costa Rica in its southern range, the latter does not pass beyond

the limits of Mexico. The culmen of the bill of A. pheniceus is nearly straight, the

mesorhinium being slightly flattened ; the nostril is at the extremity of the nasal fossa,

and is slightly overhung along the upper edge by a flat membrane; the tomia of the

maxilla is slightly angulated ; the tarsi are moderately long; the wing is rather short

and rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills are equal and longest, and the fifth

slightly exceeds the first; the tail is rounded, the rectrices are rounded and not acute

at their ends.

1. Agelzus pheniceus.

Oriolus pheniceus, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 161°.

Agelaus pheniceus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436°.

Ageleus pheniceus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 205°; 1859, p. 3814; Ibis, 1884, p. 10°; Cat. B. Brit.

Mus. xi. p. 840°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Zool., Birds, p. 18"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis,

1859, p. 19°; Moore, P. Z. 8S. 1859, p. 58°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p.10°°; Lawr. Ann.

Lyc. N. Y. ix. p.104"; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281%; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H.i. p. 553”; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 303; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii.

p- 159”; Coues, B. N. W. p. 186"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 265%; Nutting, Pr. U.S.

Nat. Mus. v. p. 892°; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 446”; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886,

p. 151”.

Psarocolius pheniceus, Wag). Isis, 1831, p. 527”.

- Sericeo-niger ; alarum tectricibus minoribus coccineis, mediis ochraceis ; rostro nigro, pedibus obscure corylinis,

Long. tota 9°0, ale 5:0, caude 3-7, rostri a rictu 0°95, tarsi 1:3.

@ nigricans, albido et brunneo striata, superciliis albidis; subtus albida nigro guttata, capitis lateribus et

gutture toto rubido dilute indutis, alarum rectricibus minoribus saturate rufo lavatis. Long. tota 7-3,

ale 3-9, caude 3-0, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 1:05. (Descr. maris et feminz ex Duefas, Guatemala. Mus,

nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America generally, from the Great Slave Lake southwards.—MExico ”°,

Nuevo Leon (Couch), Saltillo and Espia (Kennerly’), Mazatlan (Grayson !”), Real

del Monte and sides of the Cordillera (Bullock?), Tlacotalpam (Sallé*), Orizaba

(Sumichrast *), Chietla (Perez ®°), Oaxaca (Boucard*), Northern Yucatan (Gau-

mer 1°), Cozumel I. (Gaumer); Britise Honpuras, Belize (Leyland®, Blanca-

454 ICTERID A.

neaux®); GUATEMALA, Peten (Leyland®, O. 8.°), Duefias®, Coban (0. S.); Costa

Rica (v. Frantzius 4), La Palma (Nutting 1), Bebedero, Nicoya (Arcé ® 1),

This well-known North-American species appears to be almost equally familiar

throughout Mexico, wherever marshy spots are found suitable to its habits; it is

more or less abundant in Northern Mexico in the State of Durango generally, and in

the lower portion of the Bolson de Mapimi; and its occurrence is mentioned in

many parts of Southern Mexico as well as in Yucatan. In Guatemala we observed it

about the reed-banks skirting the lake of Duefias, the bird being resident throughout

the year; we also found it in similar situations on the banks of the lake of Peten.

In North America A. pheniceus has a bad reputation for the depredation it makes on

the grain crops; but in Guatemala we are not aware that it ever flies far from the

marshes and adjoining meadows. The nest is woven in the reeds, and is constructed

outwardly of rushes and flags. The eggs are of a light bluish ground, and are marbled

and blotched with several shades of dark purple, chiefly at their larger end.

2. Ageleus gubernator.

Psarocolius gubernator, Wag]. Isis, 1832, p. 281°.

Agelaius gubernator, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 1107; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 213°; 1859, p. 363%;

1864, p. 175°; Ibis, 1884, p. 10°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 841°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H. ii. p. 281°; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 152°.

Agelaius pheniceus, var. gubernator, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. u. p. 163%.

A, phenicio persimilis, sed tectricibus alarum mediis sicut minoribus omnino coccineis distinguendus,

2 (aut ¢ juv.) quam femina A. phenicet multo obscurior, corpore supra fere unicolore, abdomine quoque vix

albido striato. (Deser. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. ¢ mus. nostr.; 2 aut g juv. Mus. Brit.)

Hab. Nortu America, Pacific province—Mexico!?, Mazatlan and Tepic (Grayson §),

Valley of Mexico (White), Orizaba (Botteri*), Jalapa (de Oca‘), Laguna del

Rosario, Nativitas (Perez °).

This is a western form of 4. pheniceus, being found throughout the States bordering

on the Pacific Ocean from the Columbia river southwards. In Mexico, Grayson

found it abundantly in the neighbourhood of Tepic; it also occurs in similar localities

near Mazatlan, being resident in both places. The southern limit of its range appears

to be the neighbourhood of Orizaba and Jalapa ; we have no trace of it from any portion

of Guatemala. Its nesting-habits are described by Brewer, and appear to be similar

to those of A. phaniceus; the eggs too are also similar, but somewhat paler and less

heavily marked. The distinctness of this bird from A. pheniceus has been much

questioned of late years by writers on North-American birds, but the most recent lists

treat it as a distinct species, and this we believe to be the correct view. The difference

between the two is undoubtedly slight; but though their ranges overlap in several

points, no intermixture that we know of takes place.

XANTHOCEPHALUS. 455

| XANTHOCEPHALUS.

Xanthocephalus, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 431 (1850); Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 349.

The single species included in this genus is a rather peculiar form, both as to its struc-

ture and coloration. Its longer, stronger tarsi and distinct style of plumage separate it

from Ageleus, the former feature being doubtless due to its terrestrial habits in contra-

distinction to the more arboreal ones of Agel@us.

The bill is formed much as in Agelwus, but the nasal operculum is more strongly

developed and has the lower edge more thickened. The wing is long, the first quill

the longest, the second, third, and fourth nearly as long though gradually shorter; the

tail is long and but slightly rounded.

1. Xanthocephalus longipes. a

Icterus icterocephalus, Bp. Am. Orn. i. p. 27, t. 3. £..1, 2* (nec Oriolus icterocephalus, Linn.).

Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 531°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. il., Zool.

p. 18°; Sel. P. Z.S. 1864, p. 175°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281°; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 167°; Coues, B. N. W. p. 1887; Gundl. Orn. Cub.

p. 100°,

Icterus xanthocephalus, Bp. Journ. Ac. Phil. v. p. 223°.

Agelaius xanthocephalus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 11”. .

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, Check-List N. Am. B. p. 249"; Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886,

p-. 152”.

Agelaus longipes, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436.

Xanthocephalus longipes, Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 14*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 350.

Niger ; capite toto cum pectore aurantiis, regione oculari et mento nigris, pileo postico et nucha nigro transvit-

tatis; alis nigris, tectricibus alarum majoribus albis, alula spuria quoque pro parte alba; rostro et pedibus

nigris. Long. tota 11°5, ale 5:5, caudse 4:0, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. maris ex Presidio prope

Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

@ fuliginosa, capite summo et nucha dorso concoloribus, superciliis et gutture flavis, pectore imo albo guttato.

Long. tota 11:0, ala 5:2, caude 3:7, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. femine ex urbe Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Western Nortu America, from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Texas to the Pacific.—

Mexico, Nuevo Leon (Couch *), Mazatlan (Grayson *), Presidio (Forrer 14), table-

land (Bullock !), valley of Mexico (White 4, le Strange), Chietla, Huehuetlan,

San Martin Texmelucan, Laguna del Rosario (Perez !2).—Cusa 8.

_ Aanthocephalus longipes is a bird of the open or prairie country, resorting to marshy

tracts in large numbers to roost and build their nests. In Northern Mexico the

naturalists of the Boundary Survey observed large flocks in the State of Nuevo Leon, a

roosting-place being on an island in a lagoon near Fort Brown, to which birds assembled

from all quarters between sunset and dark, when for an hour a constant chattering was

kept up; a similar roosting-place was on an island near the mouth of the Rio Grande.

It has also been noticed in the interior of Mexico near the capital and other places on

the plateau. It has been recorded, too, as occurring in the neighbourhood of Mazatlan,

456 ICTERIDZ.

but from nowhere on the eastern seaboard of Southern Mexico. In Cuba it has as yet

only been noticed in the market of Havana, where dead specimens have been bought.

X. longipes builds its nest in marshy places, attaching it to the upright stalks of the

reeds, and making it of flexible grasses, the whole nest being of a lighter structure than

those of other Agela@i; the eggs are of a pale greenish-white colour, profusely spotted

with several shades of purple-brown.

Subfam. II]. STURNELLINA.

Nares plus minusve membrano obtecte; mesorhinium altum, haud dilatatum, complanatum; culmen fere

rectus; ale secundarlis mediis elongatis.

STURNELLA.

Siurnella, Vieillot, Anal. p. 34 (1816) ; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 405; Scl. Cat. B. Brit.

Mus. xi. p. 358.

Mr. Sclater separates the South-American Stwrnelline in which the culmen is slightly

rounded anteriorly and the prevailing colour red from Stuwrnella magna under Bona-

parte’s generic name Trupialis, leaving S. magna the sole representative of Sturnelia.

Its mottled upper plumage, yellow under surface, and conspicuous black pectoral

band render it a very distinct bird. The culmen is nearly straight, in some specimens

even concave where it is flattened over the nostrils, towards the apex it is slightly

depressed ; there is a distinct tumid operculum over the nostrils, which are situated

considerably in advance of the angle of the tomia; the feet are strong, the hind toe and

claw being strongly developed ; the wings are short and much rounded, the first, second,

third, and fourth quills nearly equal and longest; the median secondaries are much

elongated, and reach to the tip of the fifth quill when the wing is closed; the tail-

feathers are rather narrow and acute at their tips.

1. Sturnella magna. V

Alauda magna, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 2897.

Sturnella magna, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 4367; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 174°;

Coues, B. N. W. p. 190*; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 358 °.

Sturnus ludovicianus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 290°; Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vég. p.17.

Sturnella ludoviciana, Scl. P. Z.8. 1856, p. 142°; 1858, p. 858°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 10”;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N.Y. ix. p.104"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 23"; Frantz. J. f. Orn.

1869, p. 803"; Salv. P. Z. 8S. 1870, p. 191“; Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 268%; Ibis, 1885,

p. 219"; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 330"; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 201%; Boucard, P. Z. S.

1883, p. 446”.

Sturnus collaris, Wagl. Syst. Av. fol. 14, p. 6”; Isis, 1831, p. 5277.

Sturnus hippocrepis, Wag]. Isis, 1832, p. 281”.

Sturnella hippocrepis, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 110”; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 90%; Scl. P. Z. S.

1856, p. 801”; 1859, pp. 365°, 38177; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 19%; 1860, p. 834”;

Moore, P.Z.S. 1859, p. 58 °°; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 100“.

STURNELLA. A457

Sturnelia neglecta, Aud. B. N. Am. vii. p. 839, t. 489”; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii., Zool.

Birds, p. 19”.

Sturnella magna, var. neglecta, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281.

Sturnella mexicana, Scl. Ibis, 1861, p. 179”; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 175 °°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866,

p- 24°"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 176%.

- Sturnella magna, var. mexicana, Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 24°.

Sturnella magna mexicana, Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 152”.

Sturnella ?, Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552".

Nigra ; fuscescente-cervina, variegata et transfasciolata ; superciliis posticis et linea verticali pure cervinis, super--

ciliis anticis et corpore medio subtus flavis ; genis griseo-albidis, linea postoculari et torque pectorali nigris ;

hypochondriis et crisso pallide cervinis nigro guttatis ; cauda medialiter nigra, rectricibus quatuor inter-

mediis extrorsum grisescentibus, hoc colore introrsum profunde serrato, rectricibus utrinque tribus externis

fere albis ; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 9, ale 4°5, caude 3, rostri a rictu 1:2, tarsi 1°6.

(Descr. feminze ex Duenas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

3 femine similis.

ffab. Norta America, from Southern Canada southwards. — Mexico ?!?3 (Sallé 5,

Pease **+, Deppe"), Coahuila, Espia (Kennerly °°), Mazatlan (Grayson *4), Ciudad in

Durango (Forrer >), Real del Monte (Bullock *), Valley of Mexico ( White °°), Llano

de Chapulco, Chietla (Perez 4°), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast*'), Jalapa (de

Oca ?*), Oaxaca (Boucard *"), Barrio, Santa Efigenia (Sumichrast °°); Rio Lagartos

(Gaumer 9); British Honpuras, Belize (Leyland °°); Guaremaa (Constancia \),

pine-ridges of Poctun (0. S.°), Duefas (0. 8.75%); Honpuras, Comayagua

(Taylor ®); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 1° 13), San José (Carmiol 11), Cartago (Arcé®,

Rogers ®); Panama, David (Hicks **), Volcan de Chiriqui (Bridges *), Volcan de

Chiriqui, Castillo, Calovevora (Arcé 14).—Sourn America, Colombia 1°, Venezuela °,

Guiana 4; Cupa 7231, |

Few birds have been subjected to more varied treatment as to its name than this

species. At one time Mr, Sclater considered it to be divisible into five separate forms,

or local races, namely Sturnedla ludoviciana of the Eastern States, extending westward

to the high central plains, S. neglecta of the Western States, S. mexicana of Mexico and

Central America, S. hippocrepis of Cuba, and S. meridionalis of Colombia, Venezuela, and

Guiana; this was in 18615. In 1884 he treated all these birds with trinomials after

the method of American authors; and again in 1886° he placed them all under

Sturnella magna, using the other names as indicating subspecies, and in his remarks

he says that so much individual variation occurs that it would be very difficult, if not

impossible, in some cases, to refer specimens to their correct subspecies without pre-

vious knowledge of their locality. In this we quite agree, but as geographical con-

siderations alone cannot be used as a specific character we do not see our way to

recognize any division. The differences after all are very trivial, and consist to a great

extent in differences of size, a slight difference in the extent of the yellow on the throat,

and differences in the width of the black pectoral band; all of these are subject to

considerable variation, and the increase of material for comparison can hardly fail to

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1887. 98

458 ICTERIDA.

obliterate all grounds for separation. As regards its distribution, S. magna probably

occurs in suitable places over the greater part of North, Central, and Northern South

America, and probably few open grassy meadows and savannas are without its presence ;

as these are scattered at short intervals throughout the whole of the wide area indi-

cated above, no great gaps occur in its range. As our list of localities shows, in

Mexico and Central America S. magna must be a very common species: we met with

it ourselves on the’ plains near Duefias, where some pairs certainly remain to breed ;

this was at an elevation of nearly 5000 feet. It also occurs in the savannas of the

department of Peten, which are less than 1000 feet above the sea. In North America

it is partially migratory, at least in some portions of the country; in Guatemala we

observed it to be more abundant in the winter months, but this may be from the

habit the bird has of collecting in small flocks during that season. The nest of

this species is always placed on the ground, and usually sheltered in a thick tuft of

grass, to which a covered passage of withered grass is built. The eggs are white,

freckled and dotted with irregular dark spots of reddish brown, which are either

generally distributed over the whole surface or collected about the larger end.

LEISTES.

Leistes, Vigors, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 191 (1826) ; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 348.

Leistes is a southern genus containing only two closely allied species, one of which

just enters our fauna in the State of Panama, the genus itself being represented over

the greater part of South America, as far south as the Argentine Republic. The bill of

L. guianensis has the mesorhinium slightly elevated and just perceptibly flattened, the

nostril is at the lower extremity of the nasal fossa, and above it is a distinct tumid

membranous operculum, much as in the genus Stwrnella, with which the general style

_ of the plumage shows some points of analogy; the bill, however, is comparatively much

shorter and stouter, the tarsi weaker, and the middle secondaries less developed than in

that genus. The wings are short and rounded, the second, third, and fourth are the

longest quills, the first slightly exceeds the fifth ; the tail is short and the rectrices acute.

The longest secondaries are considerably longer than the shortest primaries, and there

is considerable diversity in the coloration of the sexes.

Mr. Sclater places Leistes with the Ageleine, but we are confident it is best associated

with the Sturnelline.

1. Leistes guianensis.

Oriolus guianensis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 162°.

Leistes guianensis, Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 191°; Ibis, 1885, p. 218°; Tacz. Orn. Pér. ii. p. 427°;

Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 21°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 348°.

Tanagra militaris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 316".

Leistes militaris, Cass. Proc. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 14°.

LEISTES.—ICTERUS. 459

Fuscescente-niger plerumque ochraceo indistincte striatus ; cauda frequenter pallide fusco transvittata, campterio

alari et corpore medio subtus a mento ad medium ventrem coccineis; rostro corneo, pedibus corylinis.

Long. tota 6:5, ale 3:6, caudse 2-4, rostri a rictu 0°75, tarsi 1-1.

2 supra nigricans, cervino variegata, stria verticali superciliis et corpore subtus cervinis, pectoris lateribus

et hypochondriis nigro guttulatis ; campterio alari coccineo, rostro pallide corneo. Long. tota 5:4, ale

3-2, caudee 2:0. (Descr. maris et feminee ex Mina Chorcha, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Panama, Mina de Chorcha (Arcé®), Lion Hill (M*Zeannan *).—Sovrn AMERICA

from Colombia ° to Ecuador *, Amazons Valley °, and Guiana 13,

A well-known species of the northern portion of South America, ranging across the

continent from the mouth of the Amazon to Ecuador and Colombia; it just enters our

region in the State of Panama, whence we have specimens both from the line of the

railway and from the neighbourhood of Chiriqui. Nothing has been recorded of its

habits.

Subfam. IV. JCTERINA.

Nares plus minusve membrano obtecte ; mesorhinium altum, haud dilatatum, rotundatum ; tarsi breves, cauda

rotundata.

ICTERUS.

Icterus, Brisson, Orn, ii. p. 85 (1760) ; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 362.

It is now, we believe, generally admitted that the genus Jcterus cannot be satisfac-

torily divided, though several attempts have been made to do so. Cassin, who carried

this subdivision to the greatest extent, split up Jcterus into three genera, and each of

these into a number of sections or subgenera; but this treatment of the genus has not

met with much favour. Mr. Sclater, in the ‘ Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum,’

vol. xi., placed all these names as synonyms of Jcterus, and adopted the three sections of

it tentatively proposed by Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway in the ‘ History of North-

American Birds.’ The definitions of these divisions are hardly satisfactory, for it will

be seen that the first (A) and the third (C) only differ by one having the culmen and

gonys “straight” and the other “nearly straight,’ and this character is hardly borne

out by an examination of specimens.

So intimately connected are the extreme forms of Icterus that we do not see our way

to attempt grouping them by any but colour-characteristics, and such as are shown by

the difference or similarity of the sexes. ‘These are mere guides to the determination

of the species, and only serve to indicate the relationship of the species grouped together,

rather than that of the groups themselves.

The species of Jcterus are for the most part very well defined, if we make some allow-

ance for differences of size and intensity of colour.

Of the thirty-eight species included in Mr. Sclater’s Catalogue, to which we now add

one, no less than nineteen belong to our region *. The rest are distributed throughout

* The habitat, Panama, of J. dubusi is not sufficiently authentic for us to include the species in this work,

58*

460 ICTERIDA.

Tropical South America and the West-Indian Islands ; but no one district possesses nearly

so many species as are to be found in Southern Mexico or Guatemala. Some of our

species, such as J. baltimore and J. spurius, are migrants from the north which spend

the winter months in Central America.

The bill of Zcterus varies a good deal in shape: in J. baltimore and I. sclateri the

culmen is nearly straight and but slightly depressed towards the tip; in J. ewcullatus

and J. parisorum and others it is gradually curved from the base; but in this character

there seems to be almost every gradation between the extremes. The gonys follows the

culmen, and is nearly straight or curved according as the bill is stout or slender; the

tarsi are short, in conformity with the arboreal habits of the birds. The wings in J. dal-

timore and the allied species are rather long, the first quill being equal to the fourth,

and slightly shorter than the second, which is the longest in the wing; in J. spurius

the first, second, third, and fourth are subequal: in the more sedentary species, such as

I. cucullatus, I. sclateri, &c., the wing is more rounded, the second and third quills

‘considerably exceed the first; the tail in the latter birds is more rounded than in

I. baltimore and its allies, though the differences are not great. All the species are skilful

nest-builders, as will be seen in our account of several of them given below; all,

too, are good songsters, and if their notes are not very varied, their quality is excellent.

They inhabit wooded districts, not so much the virgin forests as the less heavily timbered

country, some frequenting the plains where Cacti and Mimose are prevalent, others

preferring the oak-forests at high elevations.

Glossy black enters more or less into the colour of the plumage of the adult males,

associated more or less with yellow or orange, or in some cases chestnut.

A. Caput summum nigrum.

a. Sexus dissimiles.

al. [ectrices externe fere omnino flare.

1. Icterus baltimore.

Oriolus baltimore, Linn. 8. N. 1. p. 162°.

Xanthornus baltimore, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436’.

Icterus baltimore, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vig. p. 1°; Bp. P. Z. 8S. 1837, p. 116%; Scl. P. Z.S.

1864, p. 175°; Ibis, 1883, p. 854°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 364°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N.Y.

vil. p. 881°; vill. p. 176°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. §. 1864, p. 353°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H.i. p. 553"; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 195; Coues, B. N. W.

p- 193; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 95; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1880, p. 123”; Salv. Cat. Strick].

Coll. p. 262%.

Yphantes baltimore, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 90%.

Hyphantes baltimore, Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 57"; Cab. J. £. Orn. 1861, p. 7%; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil,

1867, p.62”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 104"; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p, 303”.

Yphantes baltimorensis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 142”.

ICTERUS. 461

Hyphantes baltimorensis, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 205 *; 1859, p. 365”.

Icterus baltimorensis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 20%; P. Z. S. 1867, p. 2797"; 1870, p. 836”; Salv.

P. Z. S. 1870, p. 190”; Ibis, 1872, p. 317.

Icterus galbula, Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 83922; Check-list N. Am. B. p. 252”;

Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 149°.

Aurantiacus, capite undique cum gula et dorso superiore nigris; alis nigris, tectricum majorum apicibus et

remigum marginibus externis albis, tectricibus minoribus et campterio aurantiacis; subalaribus flavis ;

remigum marginibus internis albis; cauda nigra, hujus basi et rectricum lateralium apicibus latis auran-

tiacis ; rostro plumbeo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 7-3, ale 3-8, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0-8.

(Descr. maris ex Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

2 supra griseo-fusca, capite summo et uropygio flavo tinctis; alis nigricantibus extus albo limbatis; cauda

flavicante-fusca; subtus albida, pectore et crisso aurantio indutis. (Descr. femine ex Calobre, Panama.

Mus. nostr.)

do juv. femine similis, sed subtus magis aurantius et gula plus minusve nigro variegata.

Hab. Norta America}, from the Atlantic coast to the high central plains.—MExico

(Deppe*, Pease*"), Real del Monte, Tableland (Bullock ?), Valley of Mexico

(White*), Teziutlan (Perez **), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 11), Jalapa (Sallé 4,

de Oca®>, Perez®*), San Andres Tuxtla (Sailé 24); British Honpuras (Blancaneauc),

Cays between Belize and Omoa (Leyland!) ; Guaremata ( Velasquez*, Constancia 1°),

Vera Paz (Skinner *°), Choctum, Cahabon, Coban, Volcan de Fuego, Escuintla, San

Pedro Martyr (0. S. & F. D. G.7); Honpuras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely ?°);

Nicaragua, Blewfields River (Wickham ?"), Chontales (Belt *°), Omotepe I. (Nut-

ting *'); Costa Rica (v. Hrantzius **), Bebedero, Nicoya (Arcé7), San José (Ellen-

Bugaba (Arcé"), Calobre (Arcé?°), Lion Hill (McLeannan®® 1), Paraiso Station

(Hughes *).—Cotomsia }° ; Cusa 4.

Throughout Mexico and Central America the Baltimore Oriole is a migratory species,

though in the Rio-Grande valley, and probably some distance south of it, some birds

remain to breed; in Southern Mexico and in the Tablelands it has frequently been

noticed, but it does not extend to any portion of the Pacific coast, at least so far as

Mexico is concerned. In Guatemala, however, we observed it on the low-lying lands

bordering on the Pacific, but it was much less common than in Vera Paz, especially in

the vicinity of Coban, where the native hunters obtained us many specimens in the

winter season in the neighbourhood of the town. Its range southward hardly extends

beyond the Isthmus of Panama; but we have specimens from the Sierra Nevada of Santa

Martha, which is, so far as we know, its extreme limit. In Cuba Dr. Gundlach observed

specimens in the neighbourhood of Havana and Cardenas, but none of them in adult

plumage. In North America its range extends as far north as the fifty-fifth parallel of

latitude; and it is common throughout the eastern States as far as the Mississippi

river, and more sparingly to the Rocky Mountains; it is rare, too, in Florida.

The nest is a pendulous, nearly cylindrical, pouch, hung from the extremity of some

branch ; it is constructed of flexible plants, which are woven together so as to form a

462 ICTERIDA.

fabric of great strength; sometimes the nest is made of Til/andsia. The eggs are

white, variously marked and marbled with spots and blotches, and with wavy lines of

purplish brown. —

2. Icterus bullocki.

Xanthornus bullockii, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436°.

Icterus bullocki, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1869, p. 862°; Ex. Orn. p. 188°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N.

Am. B. ii. p. 199*; Coues, B. N. W. p. 195°; Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 854°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus.

xi. p. 865"; Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 150°.

Hyphantes bullocki, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 62°.

Yphantes bullockii, Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 139”.

Aurantiaco-flavus, pileo, dorso superiore, loris et linea per oculos ducta cum gula nigris ; alis nigris, tectricibus

minoribus et mediis et remigum marginibus externis albis, campterio alari et subalaribus flavis, remigum

marginibus internis albicantibus; cauda flava, rectricibus quatuor mediis preter basin nigris, ceteris plus

minusve nigro terminatis ; rostro obscure plumbeo, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 6:8, ale 3-9, caude 3-2,

rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q fusca, capite summo et cauda flavicante-olivaceis ; subtus sordide alba; superciliis, pectore et crisso flavidis.

(Descr. feming ex California. Mus. Brit.)

Hab. Western Nortu America.—Mexico® (Dugés®), Tableland (Bullock +), Valley of

Mexico (le Strange), Huehuetlan (Perez §).

Though quite distinct in its markings from the Baltimore Oriole, Jcterus bullocki

seems to take the place of that species in Western America from the high central plains

to the Pacific Ocean; it extends northward to British Columbia, and is found as far

south as Central and Southern Mexico. It is certainly a migratory species in the

northern portion of its range, and, indeed, as far south as the Mexican frontier; but we

are unable to say whether it breeds in Mexico itself or only uses that country as winter-

quarters. Doctor Coues saw much of this species during his visits to Arizona and New

Mexico, and has given an account of its habits, with special reference to its nesting >.

The nest he describes as a carefully woven structure, from six to nine inches long, with

the hole sometimes at the top, sometimes in the side. The materials used vary consi-

derably—sometimes of vegetable fibre, sometimes of pine-needles. The egg is rather

elongated, being much pointed at the smaller end; in colour it is pale bluish white, and

everywhere overrun with rather fine lines of blackish brown.

8. Icterus abeillei.

Xanthornus abeillei, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 1017.

Icterus abeillii, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 252°; 1864, p.175°; Ibis, 1883, p. 355‘; Cat. B. Brit. Mus.

xi. p. 366°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1869, p. 362°; Ex. Orn. p. 187, t. 947; Dugés, La Nat.

i. p. 189°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 262°.

Hyphantes abeillet, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 62”.

Icterus bullockit, var. abeillei, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 184".

Psurocolius costototl, Wagl. Isis, 1829, p. 757 (?)*.

ICTERUS. 463

Supra nigerrimus, alarum tectricibus mediis et remigum marginibus externis albis, linea inter nares et oculos

et corpore medio subtus flavissimis, gula media et hypochondriis nigris, subalaribus flavis, remigum mar-

ginibus internis cineraceo-albis ; cauda flava, rectricibus quatuor mediis fere omnino nigris et ceterarum

apicibus nigro terminatis; rostro plumbeo-nigro, pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 7-3, ale 4-2, caude 3°5,

rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico} (de Saussure ®, T. Mann’), Guanajuato (Dugeés ®), valley of Mexico (White 3,

le Strange ®), Orizaba (Boucard 2).

Abundantly distinct, though evidently allied to I. bullock, this species is restricted

in its range to Central Mexico. It was obtained by M. Boucard in the vicinity of

Orizaba?, but Sumichrast is silent as to its occurrence in the State of Vera Cruz. We

have not unfrequently met with specimens from the vicinity of the city of Mexico;

and Dugés records it from Guanajuato. Of its habits nothing has been put on record.

We have little doubt that Wagler’s description of his Psarocolius costototl refers to this

bird, being based upon a somewhat immature individual. Whether it is the “ Costototl ”

of Hernandez, the Oriolus costototl of authors, is more than we can say. We have no

female of this species accessible for description. The bird described as a female by

Mr. Sclater appears to us to be a young male commencing to assume its adult dress.

b'. Rectricum eaternarum dimidium basale flavum.

4. Icterus parisorum.

Icterus parisorum, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p.110'; Sel. P. ZS. 1858, p. 303°; 1860, p. 251°; 1864,

p. 175°; Ibis, 1883, p. 365°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 374°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv.,

Zool. Birds, p. 19, t. 19. f. 17; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 54°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. i. p. 553°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 188”; Scott, Auk, ii. p.1";

Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 150”.

Icterus melanochrysura, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 105 ™.

Icterus scottii, Couch, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1854, p. 66™.

Supra nigerrimus, dorso postico et tectricibus alarum minoribus flavis, tectricibus majoribus ad basin albis, his

et secundariis internis albo terminatis ; subtus ad medium pectus niger, abdomine et tectricibus subalaribus

flavis, caude rectricum utrinque quatuor dimidio basali flavis, dimidio apicali et rectricibus quatuor

mediis pro majore parte nigris ; rostro nigro, mandibulx basi et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 7°5, alz 4:2,

caudee 3-4, rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 0°95. (Descr. maris ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q olivacea supra fusco variegata, cauda olivaceo-fusca, alis albo bifasciatis; subtus flavicantior, ventre medio

flavido. (Descr. exempl. ex urbe Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Texas, Arizona!, Lower California.—Mexico! 8 13 (Sallé *), Nuevo

Leon and Coahuila (Couch 14), valley of Mexico ® (White+), San Bartolo (Perez 12),

temperate and alpine regions of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast°), La Parada (Boucard ®),

Icterus parisorum occurs in numbers in the States joining our northern frontier—

Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, where it resides during the summer months from

April to September, and where it breeds; it is also common in lower California. In

winter it passes southwards as far as Central Mexico and the States of Puebla and Vera

464 ICTERID A.

Cruz; and Sumichrast includes it amongst the birds of the temperate and alpine regions

of the latter State. It breeds, he says, in the temperate region, and is found as high as

between 5000 and 6000 feet above the sea in the neighbourhood of Orizaba, and at

even higher altitudes in the plateau.

Mr. Scott has recently given a good account of his observations on the species in the

Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona, where he found it breeding, and where he

obtained several nests. These were usually placed in a species of Yucca (Yucca brac-

cata), and carefully hidden under the half-dead and dry leaves that hung down close to

the stem of the plant. He describes the nest as sewn to the leaves and as partly

pendent. The nests are composed of fibre of the Yucca and fine grasses, and lined with

finer grass and threads of cotton waste. The eggs, he says, are bluish white, with

chocolate-brown and lighter lilac-brown spots, chiefly at the larger end.

ce. Cauda nigra albo stricte terminata.

5. Icterus spurius. ”

Oriolus spurius, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 1627.

Icterus spurius, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 116°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 380°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi.

p. 866°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 331°; vil. p.176°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864,

p- 353"; 1870, p. 837°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553°; Baird, Brew., &

Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 190"; Coues, B. N. W. p. 192"; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 96”; Salyv.

Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 262; Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 392™.

Xanthornus spurius, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 8”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 104°; Frantz. J.

f. Orn. 1869, p. 803”.

Pendulinus spurius, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 61”.

Xanthornus affinis, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. v. p. 113”; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 140°.

Icterus affinis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 20”; Ibis, 1860, p. 84°"; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p.175 *.

Pendulinus affinis, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 61™.

Bananivorus affinis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 801”; 1859, p. 365°.

Icterus spurius, var. affinis, Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 24°7; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

li. p. 279”.

Oriolus varius, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 890”.

Icterus varws, juv., Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p.1; J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56%.

_ Supra niger, tectricibus alarum minoribus et dorso postico castaneis; alis nigris, remigibus et tectricibus mediis

anguste sordide albo limbatis ; subtus castaneus, gutture toto nigro ; subalaribus ventre concoloribus ; cauda

nigra, rectricum apicibus anguste albido terminatis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 6-3, ale 3-0,

caudee 2°75, rostri a rictu 0-7, tarsi 0-8. (Descr. maris ex Rio de la Pasion, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

® supra olivacea-fusca, superciliis indistinctis, corpore subtus flavicantibus, alis extus sordide albo limbatis,

(Descr. feminze ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

3 ju. femine similis, sed gula nigra.

Hab. Nortu America, from the Atlantic to the high central plains— Mzxico * (Deppe®®,

Galeotti '*), Presidio (Forrer +), Mazatlan (Grayson °°), plains of Colima (Xantus ?8),

valley of Mexico (White*3), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ®), Cordova (Sallé%5),

ICTERUS. 465

Jalapa (de Oca 6), Playa Vicente (Boucard*), Chihuitan, Santa Efigenia, Tehuan-

tepec city (Sumichrast 2"), Jolbox I., Cozumel I. (G. 7. Gaumer 4); British Hon-

DURAS, Belize (Blancaneaux); Guatemata (Velasquez, Constancia 3, Skinner 2"),

Duefias **, Retalhuleu, Coban 22, and Escuintla, and throughout the Costa Grande

in January and February, Cahabon 4, Choctum (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras,

Ruatan I. (@. F. Gawmer), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely*); Nicaragua, Omotepe I.

(Nutting *); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 517), San José (v. Frantzius 16, Carmiol 18),

Trazu (Rogers *); Panama, David (Hicks ®), Lion-Hill Station (M+Leannan* °"),

Line of Railway (Arcé 4).—Cotomaia, Atrato 2°; Cusa 2,

As will be seen from the above list of localities, Icterus spwrius is a very widely

distributed and common species throughout our region, where it lives during the

winter season. It breeds on the Texan side of the Rio Grande valley ; but whether it

does so in any portion of Mexico remains yet to be proved. It hardly passes beyond

our limits in its southern migration. We are not aware that it ever occurs in the trade

collections made in the interior of Colombia, nor did Salmon meet with it in the Cauca

valley ; but a single male was obtained during Lieut. Michler’s exploring expedition on

the banks of the Atrato, and Dr. Cabanis records a young bird from Cartagena. It

also occurs in Cuba, but apparently in no great numbers, though it is abundant on the

coast of Yucatan and the adjoining islands. In Guatemala we not unfrequently met with

young males moulting into their adult plumage; but it is not clear to us by what

sequence of change of feathers this process is carried out. We have young males in

the female plumage, but with black throats and a few of the chestnut feathers just

showing, which were shot in November and December; others, again, killed in August

and the beginning of September, have nearly assumed their fully adult plumage,

though the black feathers of the upper surface are broadly edged with pale brown.

From the state of the plumage of these birds it would seem that they were in very

rapid moult when they were killed.

Birds of this species were observed at Duefias to be common in July, and it is therefore

more than probable that they were birds that bred in the neighbourhood and their

young broods; but we never observed their nests. As regards the peculiarities of the

moulting-periods of this species generally, it may be that birds reared in the highlands

of Guatemala moult at a different season from those which migrate northwards; but

this is only a suggestion, for the point requires further investigation.

The nest is usually formed of long flexible grasses, which are dexterously woven

together ; the depth does not exceed three inches, but this depends to some extent on

the stability of the branches of the tree to which they are attached. The eggs are pale

bluish white, blotched with pale purple, and splashed at the larger end with markings

of dark purple-brown.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1887. 09

466 ICTERIDZ.

b. Sexus similes.

6. Icterus wagleri.

Psarocolius flavigaster, Wagl. Isis, 1829, p. 756* (nec Vieillot).

Icterus wagleri, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 7°; 1859, p. 381°; Ibis, 1883, p. 862*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus.

xi. p. 872°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Zool., Birds, p. 19, t.19. f. 2°; Scl. & Salv.

Ibis, 1859, p. 207; Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 468°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552°;

Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 338°°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p. 279"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 263; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 150™.

Pendulinus wagleri, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 55 ™*.

Icterus dominicensis, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436 '°.

Nigerrimus ; dorso postico tectricibus alarum minoribus subalaribus et ventre toto flavis, hoc aurantiaco tincto,

crisso nigro; alis caudaque nigerrimis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 8-4, ale 4-0, caudex 4:1, rostri

a rictu 1-0, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Duenas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. juv. supra olivacea, interscapulii plumis medialiter fuscis; alis et cauda fuscis, illis pallide fusco limbatis ;

subtus sordide flava, gula nigra. (Descr. exempl. ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. pull. subtus omnino flavicans.

Hab. Mexico 1, Saltillo, Coahuila (Couch °14), Mazatlan (Grayson 11), Presidio (For-

rer®), Guadalajara ° 4, Tepic 1! (Grayson), Tableland, Temiscaltepec (Bullock 1),

Huehuetlan (Perez 1%), State of Vera Cruz, Cordova (Suwmichrast®), Villa Alta

(Boucard *), Oaxaca (Boucard *, Fenochio®) ; Guatemata (Constancia 1”), Duefias 7,

Calderas on the Volcan de Fuego ®, San Gerdnimo (0. S.).

Icterus waglert ranges throughout Mexico and a large portion of Guatemala, being,

according to our experience in Guatemala, an upland species frequenting the wooded

mountains at elevations lying between 3000 and 6000 feet above the sea. In Mexico,

Sumichrast states ® that it belongs to the hot region of the State of Vera Cruz in the

district of Cordova, its vertical range reaching to about 3300 feet; but as the bird

obtained by Sallé in this locality proved to be Icterus prosthemelas, Sumichrast’s bird

may have been wrongly identified. Grayson observed it in the garden of Jauja in

Tepic, where a few pairs resided"; he considered it a rare species in Western Mexico,

but Forrer found it in the neighbourhood of Mazatlan. In the neighbourhood of

Duefas in Guatemala, Icterus wagleri is one of the commonest birds of the genus in

the shrubby woods clothing the hill-sides and in the second-growth woods on the

Volcan de Fuego; here it breeds, making a shallow nest of interwoven grasses 5,

In the ‘History of North-American Birds’ this species is noticed in a footnote

(vol. ii. p. 188), and is there stated to be found in Costa Rica; but this extension of

its range requires confirmation, as its name is absent from all the recognized lists of

the birds of that country.

7. Icterus prosthemelas.

Xanthornus prosthemelas, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1850, p. 120, t. 62).

Icterus prosthemelas, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 8017; Ibis, 1883, p. 863°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi,

ICTERUS. 467

p. 873°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 20°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 279°; 1870, p- 837’;

Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 58°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189°; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 23.

Pendulinus prosthemelas, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 56"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 104”;

Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 802%.

Pendulinus lessoni, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 432“.

Nigerrimus ; dorso postico, tectricibus alarum minoribus, subalaribus et ventre cum crisso flavis ; pectore nigro,

ad ventrem castaneo marginato; rostro nigro, mandibula ad basin plumbea, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 7°8,

alee 3:6, caude 3-75, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr. )

2 mari similis,

Hab. Mexico 4, Guanajuato (Dugés®), Cordova (Sallé?), Chihuitan, Tehuantepec

GuateMALa! (Skinner *), Choctum4, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, San

Pedro (G. M. Whitely"), Comayagua (Leyland *); Nicaragua, Blewfields River

(Wickham ®); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius }8), Peje (Carmiol 4), Tucurriqui (Arcé !),

This bird is closely allied to J. wagleri, but may be at once distinguished by the

colour of the under tail-coverts, which are wholly yellow instead of being tipped with

black; it is of a paler yellow beneath, and rather smaller in size. In Guatemala we

only met with it in the forest-region of Vera Paz, where it is found at an elevation of

1200 feet, and of 4000 feet in the neighbourhood of Coban. We are not aware of its

occurrence on the Pacific side of Guatemala, but Sumichrast records it from the Isthmus

of Tehuantepec. M. Sallé also found it at Cordova on the eastern side. Dr. Dugés

identifies a bird as of this species from Guanajuato, but we think it more than probable

that some mistake has been made here. Passing southwards, I. prosthemelas has been

noticed at many points of Eastern Central America as far south as Costa Rica, beyond

which country it appears not to pass. We never met with the nest of this species,

though we were some time in the districts frequented by it in Northern Vera Paz.

Like its congeners, it is found on the edges of the forest and in second-growth woods.

8. Icterus maculi-alatus.

Pendulinus maculi-alatus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1847, p. 832'; 1867, p.567; Journ. Ac. Phil. ser. 2,1.

p. 137, t. 16. f. 1°.

Icterus maculialatus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 898*; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 139°; Scl. Ibis, 1883,

p. 363°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 8737.

Nigerrimus ; dorso postico, tectricibus alarum minoribus, subalaribus et abdomine cum crisso aurantio-flavis ;

tectricibus alarum majoribus macula apicali alba notatis ; remigibus quoque externis (preter primam)

medialiter albo limbatis ; rostro nigro, mandibula ad basin et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 8-2, ale 3:9,

caude 3:8, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 1. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de Agua. Mus. nostr.)

d juv. virescens; subtus flavicantior, gutture nigro; alis fuscis viridi-fusco limbatis. (Descr. exempl. ex

Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Gvuatemaia, Volcan de Fuego +4, Volcan de Agua above San Diego’, San Pedro

Martyr (0. S.), Escuintla’, Aguna? (Fraser).

59*

468 ICTERIDZ.

Dr. Dugés includes this species in his list of Guanajuato birds®; but it is more than

probable that a wrong identification has been made, for there are no other records of its

occurrence in Mexico, the bird being, so far as our knowledge goes, strictly confined to

the forest-clad slopes of the mountains trending towards the Pacific coast of Guatemala.

In this district most of our specimens were obtained at various points at elevations

ranging between 1500 and 3500 feet above the sea, but we sometimes met with it at

higher elevations in the Volcan de Fuego. Cassin states that the original specimen in

the Academy of Philadelphia is labelled as coming from Coban in Vera Paz; but this

locality we think more than doubtful, since Coban, being the headquarters of the bird-

collectors of Vera Paz, has been thoroughly explored ; and we have examined hundreds

of specimens obtained in that district, but Icterus maculi-alatus was never amongst

them. ‘The species is very like Jcterus wagleri and Icterus prosthemelas, but may at

once be recognized by the less extent of the black on the throat and the conspicuous

white markings on the wings.

9. Icterus melanocephalus.

Psarocolius melanocephalus, Wag). Isis, 1829, p. 756’.

Icterus melanocephalus, Hahn, in Kiister, Vog. aus Asien, Lief. vi. p. 2, t. 3°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil.

1848, p. 90°; 1867, p.53°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 801°; 1858, p. 97°; 1859, p. 3657;

Ibis, 1883, p. 365°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 875°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i.

p- 553°°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 23”.

Icterus melanocephalus, var. auduboni, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 186”.

Icterus auduboni, Giraud, B. Texas, p. 1”; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Zool., Birds, p. 194; Sel.

P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 881%; 1864, p. 175"; Ibis, 1883, p. 366"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867,

p. 53; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 553”; Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv.

p. 26”; v. p. 399”; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 150”.

Icterus graduacauda, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 105”.

Oleagineo-flavus ; capite toto undique, alis et cauda nigris, tectricibus alarum minoribus, abdomine toto

subtus et subalaribus flavis, gutture toto ad medium pectus nigro; rostro nigro, mandibule basi et pedibus

plumbeis. Long. tota 7:5, ale 3-7, caude 3°8, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi l-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Rio Grande valley 2° 21.—Muxtico ! 22 28 (Sal/é5), Charco Escon-

dido, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon (Couch 1418), valley of Mexico (White 16), temperate

region of Vera Cruz, Orizaba (Sumichrast 1° 19), Jalapa (Pease, Perez 22, de Oca ’)

Mirador (Sartorius*), Orizaba (le Strange), Juquila (Boucard 5), Guichicovi

(Sumichrast ™).

Two forms of this bird have generally been recognized, under the names of Jcterus

melanocephalus and Icterus auduboni, the former being distinguished from the latter by

its smaller, stouter, and more curved bill and the absence of any white on the wing.

These characters, however, do not seem to be constant, and the ranges of the two

forms coincide. The valley of the Rio Grande is its extreme northern limit, and here

ICTERUS. 469

Mr. Sennett found it in some numbers at Lomita and Hidalgo on the Texan side of the

river. He also found some nests, which were composed of dry grasses woven amongst

the growing twigs and leaves, and were open, rather shallow, half-pensile structures. The

eggs are white, covered with fine flecks of brown, over which, chiefly at the larger end,

are irregular stains and splashes of deeper brown, sometimes mixed with lilac; over

these, again, are dark brown or black hieroglyphics.

It is a bird often met with in cages, as its powers of song are considerable. In

Mexico it occurs in the temperate region of the State of Vera Cruz, and it is very

common in the State of Orizaba, where it also builds. The southern limit of its range

is the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. We have never met with it in Guatemala.

B. Caput summum flavum aut aurantiacum.

c. Serus similes ; ale nigre haud albo limbate, cauda haud albo terminata.

d’. Cauda nigra.

10. Icterus giraudi.

Icterus giraudi, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1847, p. 3331; 1860, p. 1407; 1867, p. 52°; Journ. Ac. Phil.

ser. 2, i. p. 188, t.17+; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 228°; Ibis, 1873, p.373°; 1883, p. 3667; Cat.

B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 879°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 20°; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 353"; 1879,

p- 509"; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297”; Salv. P.Z.S. 1867, p. 142”; 1870, p. 190";

Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 263°; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 330°°; Zeledon, Cat. Av. de Costa Rica,

p- 9"; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 445 ™.

Icterus melanopterus, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 275, Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 58 ®.

Xanthornus chrysater, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 4847.

Flavus, aurantio tinctus ; fronte capitis lateribus ab oculis, gula, alis et cauda nigris ; rostro et pedibus plumbeo-

nigris. Long. tota 8°2, ale 3:8, caude 3-8, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1-0. (Descr. maris ex Volcan de

Fuego, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico 1, Santecomapam (Boucard*®), Yucatan (Gauwmer 18); Guatemaa (Skin-

ner °, Constancia »), Volcan de Fuego’, Duefias’, San Antonio Nacoil, Motagua

valley, Tactic ’, Coban (0.8. & F.D.G.); Honpuras, Omoa (Leyland°), Ruatan I.

(Gaumer); Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt *); Costa Rica (Zeledon 17); Panama,

Chitra 4, Boquete de Chitra, Castillo, Santa Fé! (Arcé), Lion-Hill Station

(M‘Leannan '° 12), Chepo (Arcé"), Truando, Nercua (Wood *).—CoLomBia ! 1116 ;

VENEZUELA ! 19,

This Jcterus does not appear to be a common bird in Southern Mexico, and is

not included in Sumichrast’s list of the birds of the State of Vera Cruz; but Boucard

found it at Santecomapam °, and we believe that the bird described from Mexico

by Bonaparte as Xanthornus chrysater refers to the same species; but in Yucatan

Mr. Gaumer says it is common, and it certainly is so over a large portion of Guatemala,

where it occurs at various elevations from the sea-level to an altitude of 6000 feet and

more in the Volcan de Fuego; thence we trace it southwards to Colombia and

470 ICTERID 2.

Venezuela. Mr. Wyatt considered it a bird of the temperate region of the former

country, its range in altitude extending to about 7000 feet, and Salmon met with it at

Medellin and other-places in the Cauca valley at an elevation of about 6000 feet. The

last-named collector obtained its eggs, which are pale grey blotched and streaked with

dark brown and grey. |

A good deal of variation is shown in specimens of this species, both as regards size

and the tint of the yellow portion of the plumage. The bird we have described from

the Volcan de Fuego is rather dark; we have a much paler example from Tactic, but

the palest of all is from the island of Ruatan. In spite of these differences, we believe

they all belong to one and the same species. We never obtained the eggs of this bird

in Guatemala; but we have a young bird shot early in August in the Volcan de

Fuego, at an elevation of 6000 feet, which is just commencing to change its first

plumage for its adult dress.

e’. Caude rectrices externe flave.

11. Icterus mesomelas.

Psarocolius mesomelas, Wag). Isis, 1829, p. 755’.

Icterus mesomelas, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 301°; 1860, p. 277°; Ibis, 1883, p. 8367*; Cat. B. Brit.

Mus. xi. p. 378°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 34°; P. Z. S. 1864, p. 354"; 1867, p. 279°;

1870, p. 837°; 1879, p.509”°; Moore, P. Z. 8.1859, p. 58*'; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc.

N. H.i. p. 553”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 297°; viii. p. 180"; Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 23"; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p.51*°; Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi.

p. 402°"; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 445°; Tacz. Orn. Pér. ii. p. 417”.

Icterus atrogularis, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 73, t. 22”.

Oriolus musicus, Cabot, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 155”.

Icterus salvini, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 51”; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 104”; Frantz. J. f.

Orn. 1869, p. 302”.

Citrinus, capite summo sericeo-aurantio; loris, oculorum ambitu et gutture toto nigris; alis nigris, tectricibus

alarum minoribus et subalaribus flavis ; secundariis mediis plerumque albo stricte limbatis ; caude rectricibus

utrinque tribus externis plus quam dimidio apicali gradatim flavis, ad basin et tectricibus reliquis nigris ;

rostro nigro, mandibul basin et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 8:5, ale 3°5, caude 4:3, rostri a rictu 0-9,

tarsi 1-1. (Descr. exempl. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico}, Cordova (Sallé?), hot country of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 12), Orizaba 5,

Guichicovi (Swmichrast 1°), Yucatan (Cabot *"), Calotmul (Gawmer 18); Britise

Honpuras, Corosal (foe °), Belize (Blancaneaux*®); Honpuras, Omoa (Leyland 1),

San Pedro (G. M. Whitely®); GuatemaLa, Coban (0. 8.%), Choctum (0. 8. &

Ff. D. G°); Nicaracua, Blewfields River (Wickham ®), Greytown (Holland 14),

~~ Los Sabalos (Nutting 1"); Costa Rica, Valza (Carmiol®), San Carlos, Turrialba

(v. Frantzius*4, Carmiol**); Panama, Lion Hill (M‘Leannan™ 8), Chepo (Arcé5).

—Co.tomsBia!®; Ecuapor?; Perv).

Though described from Mexican specimens, Jcterus mesomelas appears to be restricted

ICTERUS. ATI

to the Atlantic seaboard of the State of Vera Cruz, where Sumichrast says it ascends

the mountains to a height of about 3300 feet ; it is also found in Yucatan, and thence

passes southwards, still keeping to the eastern side of the mountain-ranges until we

reach Nicaragua, where its range embraces the lowlands bordering both oceans. Its

range southwards extends to Western Peru, where Captain A. H. Markham obtained

an example at Payta and Stolzmann at Tumbez, and other places in the interior as high

as 4800 feet above the sea. In Guatemala we only met with it in the forest country

north of Coban in Vera Paz at an elevation of about 1500 feet above the sea *.

Cassin separated Costa-Rican and southern birds from those of Mexico and Guatemala

under the name of Jcterus salvini, on account of their reputed larger size and the absence

of the white edging to the middle secondaries. On examining a large series from all

parts of its range we find that these characters are not sufficiently pronounced to admit

of any separation of the two forms. The yellow tail of this species renders it easily

distinguishable from all other members of the genus with the exception of Icterus

baltimore and its immediate allies, which, again, have the upper parts of the head as

well as the back black.

Several writers speak of the excellence of the powers of this bird’s song, and

Herr Stolzmann has put its notes to music 29.

d. Sexus dissimiles, ale plus minusve albo limbate, cauda griseo-alba terminata.

f’. Rostrum debile acutum.

12. Icterus cucullatus. ~~

Icterus cucullatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 4861; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 3017; 1864, p. 175°;

This, 1883, p. 364°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 876°; Scl. & Saly. Ibis, 1859, p- 20°; Baird,

Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Zool., Birds, p. 19"; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189°; Sumichrast, Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p.553°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 193°; Gundl. Orn. Cub.

p- 96"; Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 25%; v. p. 398"; Merrill, Pr. U. S. Nat.

Mus. i. p. 134; Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 445°; Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p.570°;

Perez, Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 150”.

Pendulinus cucullatus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 60. .

Icterus cucullatus igneus, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 19”.

Aurantius ; fronte, regione oculari, gutture, interscapulio nigerrimis; alis et cauda nigris, illis extus albo

anguste limbatis albo quoque bifasciatis, hac tenuissime albo terminata; subalaribus flavis; rostro et

pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 7-5, ale 3-5, caudee 3:8, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0-9.

subtus sordide flava, abdomine dilutiore. (Descr. maris et femine ex insula Jolbox, Yucatan. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Norra America, Texas !2 13 14_Mpxico, Temiscaltepec (Bullock 1), Charco Escon-

dido, Tamaulipas (Couch’), Guanajuato (Dugés*), valley of Mexico (White),

Chietla, Atlixco (Perez1"), hot region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast®), Cordova

(Sallé?), Merida in Yucatan (Devis®), Silam in Yucatan (Gaumer 5), Jolbox L.,

* The young bird from Duefias called J. mesomelas (Ibis, 1860, p. 34) should have been referred to I. wagleri.

472 ICTERIDZA.

Mugeres I. (Gaumer), Cozumel I. (Benedict !°, Gaumer*); British Honpuras,

Belize (O. S.°).—Cubal}.

Mr. Ridgway has recently proposed a division of Jcterus cucullatus into three races 19,

retaining the name J. cucullatus for the bird of Central Mexico and the Rio Grande

valley, calling the bird from Arizona and Lower California J. cucullatus nelsoni, and

that from Yucatan J. c. igneus. Whilst recognizing the distinction of the Arizona

bird, we have not succeeded in separating the Yucatan bird from that of Eastern

Mexico. Mr. Gaumer has recently sent us a good series of specimens from Yucatan

and the islands off the coast, and amongst these we find every gradation of colour, from

almost a blood-orange tint, which suggested the name igneus to Mr. Ridgway, to the

ordinary colour of the typical bird. A male shot by Salvin at Belize in December 1857

is quite typical.

In Texas J. cucullatus appears to be a common bird. Mr. Sennett says that it is

more plentiful than all the rest of the genus combined in the neighbourhood of Browns-

ville and Hidalgo as well as at Lomita.

The nest appears to be nearly always placed in a bunch of Spanish moss (Zi/landsia),

which material is used in its construction, and interwoven with the living plant in the

dexterous way for which members of this genus are noted. The eges are described

as white tinged with blue or buff, and nearly covered with scattered fine brown spots,

with larger blotches of the same colour at the large end. In the State of Vera Cruz,

Sumichrast says it is a bird of the hot region, rarely found above an elevation of

2000 feet. In Yucatan and the joining islands it lives close to the sea-level. We never

met with it in the interior of Guatemala. It has been noticed in Cuba according to

Dr. Gundlach 11.

13. Icterus nelsoni.

Icterus cucullatus nelsoni, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vin. p. 19°.

Icterus cucullatus, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. il. p. 279°; Scott, Auk, ii. p. 159°.

I. cucullato similis, sed colore aurantio magis sordido, fronte ipsa haud nigra, alis extus albicantioribus, forsan

distinguendus.

Hab. Norta America, Arizona*, Lower California \—Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson 2,

Forrer), plains of Colima (Xantus), Western Mexico (fébouch).

We have three male specimens of this Oriole—one from La Paz in Lower California,

one from Mazatlan in Western Mexico, both collected by Mr. Alphonse Forrer, and one

from Western Mexico by M. Rébouch. We have no difficulty in ascribing them to the

race recently separated by Mr. Ridgway as Icterus cucullatus nelsoni, a close ally of

I. cucullatus, but, according to Mr. Ridgway, separable by constant characters as shown

by thirty specimens examined by him. On this point we have only to remark that if

the characters are constant, two names instead of three are sufficient for purposes of

nomenclature.

ICTERUS. 473

Mr. Scott has given a good account of this species as observed by him in the Santa

Catalina Mountains in Arizona. He describes at length ten nests taken by him within

a small area. They differed considerably in their form and in the materials of which

they were composed—coarse grasses and the fibre of the yucca being the chief materials

employed, which were woven in the skilful manner peculiar to members of the genus.

It will be noticed that the materials used by J. nelsoni differ from those employed by

I. cucullatus, at least so far as the Rio Grande valley is concerned ; this may be due to

the absence of suitable 7¢//andsia in this part of Arizona, but on this point we have no

information.

This bird has been traced as far north as Santa Barbara in California, and southwards

it reaches Mazatlan, where, according to Grayson, it is rare, and where he only obtained

two examples, both from the same tree. Here they were feeding on the fruit of the

wild fig (ficus americanus) in company with other Orioles.

Xantus obtained specimens of an Oriole at Colima ascribed by Mr. Lawrence to

I. cucullatus, which probably belong to J. nelsoni; but on this point we cannot be

certain without a reexamination of the specimens. Xantus also found this species to

be very abundant at Cape St. Lucas in Lower California, and he took many nests and

egos, the former being placed in very varied situations, some in acacia trees, others in

yuccas, and one in a convolvulus growing on a perpendicular rock.

Both the Mazatlan specimen and that obtained by Rébouch in Western Mexico have

the feathers of the black portion of the back edged with yellowish.

14. Icterus auratus. (Tab. XXXIII. fig. 2.)

Icterus auratus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 4851; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 271°; Boucard, P. Z. 8.

1883, p. 445°; Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 369*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 382’.

Intense aurantius interscapulio incluso; loris et gutture medio nigerrimis; alis nigris, tectricibus minoribus

aurantiis, tectricum mediorum apicibus et remigum marginibus externis albis; cauda nigra, rectricibus

(preter quatuor medias) albo terminatis; rostro et pedibus plumbeo-nigris. Long. tota 7°6, ale 3-6, caude

3°5, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0°9. (Descr. exempl. ex Yucatan. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Yucatan ! (Schott 2, Gaumer 3).

Though described by Bonaparte under a MS. name attached to a specimen in the

Brussels Museum by Vicomte Du Bus, this Jcterws was not subsequently recognized

until 18692, when Mr. Lawrence determined the specimens obtained by Dr. Schott

in Yucatan to belong to [cterus auratus, and we have no doubt that his view, though

differing from that of Cassin, is correct. It is apparently a rare bird in Northern

Yucatan, where alone it has been met with. Mr. Gaumer, to whom we are indebted for

the three skins we possess, speaks of its great rarity, for at the time the paper written

on his birds was published (in 1883) he had only secured two examples*. ‘This rarity

may be more apparent than real, for the resemblance of J. auratus to the very common

I. cucullatus is great, and the difference between them might readily be overlooked.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. [., April 1887. 60—

474 ICTERIDA.

The middle of the back is orange, of the same tint as the head and rump, in J. auratus ;

whereas in J. cucullatus this portion is black—a difference not easily recognized in the

living birds at a distance. Nothing has been recorded of the habits of this species.

o', Rostrum robustum.

a. Dorsum medium omnino aut fere omnino nigrum.

15. Icterus pectoralis.

Psarocolius pectoralis, Wag]. Isis, 1829, p. 755°.

Icterus pectoralis, Des Murs, Icon. Orn. t. 102; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 205°; Ibis, 1873, p. 373*;

1883, p. 372°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 885 °; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 207; Cass. Pr.

Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 48°; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 23°; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869,

p. 802"; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 264”.

Icterus pectoralis espinachi, Nutt. Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. v. p. 892”.

Icterus guttulatus, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1844, Ois. t. 52"; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 9™.

Aurantius ; loris, gutture et interscapulio nigerrimis ; alis nigris, speculo alari minuto et secundariis mediis extus

late albis, tectricibus alarum minoribus et subalaribus flavis; pectore toto nigro guttato; cauda nigra ad

basin alba, rectricibus tribus utrinque externis cinereo albo terminatis; rostro nigro, mandibule basi et

pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 9:0, ale 4:2, caude 4:3, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1°1.

2 mari similis, sed minus nitida, interscapulio fusco variegato et maculis pectoralibus vix ullis. (Descr. maris

et femine ex San Gerdnimo, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxtco 12 (Sallé3), Putla (Rébouch ®), Juchitan ®, Santa Efigenia °, Tonala ° (Sumi-

chrast); GuaTEeMALa (Constancia 11), Vera Paz (Skinner”), Retalhuleu °, Escuintla,

Savana Grande ®, San Geronimo ¢ (0. S.& F. D. G.); Satvapor !*, Acajutla (0. 8.) ;

Nicaragua, Chontales (Belt +), San Juan de Nicaragua’; Costa Rica (Hoffmann 14),

La Palma (Nutting 1).

This Icterus is chiefly an inhabitant of the hot region of Western America, from

South-western Mexico to Costa Rica, being abundant throughout what is called the

Costa Grande of Guatemala; but it is not strictly confined to this district, for we met

with it in some numbers near San Gerénimo in Vera Paz, where it associated with

I. qularis and I. sclateri. The distinct pectoral spots render it a conspicuous species,

and not easily confounded with any of its many allies.

There seems to be some variation in the size of different specimens of this bird, and

small examples from Western Costa Rica have been separated under the name of

I. pectoralis espinachi. But we hesitate to allow size alone to be a sufficiently

differential character; moreover it appears that the bird we have described from

Guatemala only exceeds in the length of its wing the largest of Mr. Nutting’s speci-

mens by 0°15 inch, a very insignificant difference.

Like 7. gularis this species frequents the scattered trees of comparatively open country

rather than the dense forest. The song of the male, though short, has the clear musical

notes possessed by so many species of Levert.

ICTERUS. 475

16. Icterus gularis.

Psarocolius gularis, Wag). Isis, 1829, p. 754°.

Xanthornus gularis, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 110’.

Icterus gularis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 1°; Des Murs, Icon. Orn. t. 9*; Cass. Pr. Ac.

Phil. 1848, p. 90°; 1867, p. 49°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, pp. 2057, 228°; 1858, p. 358°; 1859,

p. 865°; Ibis, 1883, p. 371”; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 384% Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859,

/p. 19”; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 111**; R. Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 62”; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat.

Mus. no. 4, p. 23°°; Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 150.

Icterus mentalis, Less. Cent. Zool. p. 111, t. 41.

Icterus mexicanus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436”.

Aurantius ; interscapulio, loris, gutture medio et cauda nigris; alis nigris albo limbatis, tectricibus alarum

minoribus flavis ; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 9:5, ale 4-7, caudex 4:2, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1°15.

(Descr. exempl. ex Savana Grande, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

2 sordide flava; interscapulio olivaceo-fusco ; alis fuscis albo limbatis; cauda fusca olivaceo lavata; gula media

fuscescente. (Descr. exempl. ex San Gerdénimo, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Muxico118 (Deppe?, Pease5, Sailé7), Tableland, Temiscaltepec (Bullock 19)

Actopam (Perez 1"), San Andres Tuxtla (Saillé §), Jalapa (de Oca 1°, Hoge 12), Putla

(Lébouch !*), Barrio 16, Chihuitan 1°, Juchitan !°, Santa Efigenia 16, Tonala 112

(Sumichrast), Yucatan (Gaumer 1), Cozumel I. (Gauwmer !) ; British Honpuras,

Corosal (foe 1"); Guaremanta, Vera Paz (Skinner 13), San Gerénimo (Owen "),

Retalhuleu, Savana Grande 1°, San Pedro Martyr 2, Zacapa (0. S. & F. D. G.);

SaLvaDor, Acajutla (0. S.); Honpvuras, Comayagua (Taylor °); Nicaragua °,

Icterus gularis is extensively distributed through Southern Mexico, where it has been

obtained on both sides of the mountain-range, and according to Swainson on the table-

land, but this we think is probably an error; it is omitted from Sumichrast’s list of the

birds of the State of Vera Cruz, but he met with it abundantly on the Pacific side of

the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Mr. Gaumer has sent us a specimen from Yucatan and

many examples from the island of Cozumel. In Guatemala its distribution is rather

local, for skins of it do not occur in collections made by the natives of Coban ; but about

the plains of Salama and Zacapa, where the vegetation is much less dense, it is far from

uncommon; it also spreads throughout the coast-region of Guatemala bordering the

Pacific up to an elevation of about 3000 feet. It is thus a bird of the lowlands, and

we have no record of it from the higher portion of the mountain-ranges. Mr. R. Owen

secured an egg of this species together with the hen bird at San Gerénimo in 1860; it

is pale grey, blotched and streaked with very dark brown.

There is a good deal of variation in the intensity of the orange colour of this bird,

as well as in the general dimensions, but we do not think any satisfactory division is

possible.

60*

476 ICTERIDZ.

17. Icterus sclateri. (Tab. X XXIII. fig. 1.

Icterus sclateri, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 49°; Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 371°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi.

p- 385 *.

Icterus mentalis, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 1854; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 275°; R. Owen, Ibis,

1861, p. 62, 1 2.£.5°.

Icterus formosus, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. x. p. 1847; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 23°; Scl.

This, 1883, p. 372°.

I, gulari affinis, sed rostro debili, interscapulio aurantio variegato et colore nigro ad rostri basin latiore sat

diversus.

Hab. Muxico, San Juan del Rio (Rébouch*), Santa Efigenia ’, Juchitan 7 8, Tonala 3

(Sumichrast) ; GuatTemaLa, San Gerénimo (0. 8. & F. D. G.*, R. Owen ®) ; Nicar-

agua, San Juan 1,

This Jcterus is best known to us as a common bird in the neighbourhood of San

Geronimo in Guatemala, where it is a resident and builds in considerable numbers. I¢

was here that Mr. Robert Owen took several nests with their eggs, and respecting them

he has given us the following note °:— The materials used by this bird for its nest vary

considerably; the structure, however, is the same in all. It isa compact and firmly

woven nest, attached at the top to the ends of a bough, its length varying from one to

two feet. In some the materials used are fine dried creepers and twigs, with here and

there a leaf; in others fibrous roots and the stringy centres of the Maguey leaves; while

others are formed exclusively of a species of 7illandsia. All are spherical at the bottom,

and have a long loophole at the top for an entrance.

“ The eggsare a pale grey, spotted and streaked with very dark brown; on some there

are marks of faint lilac. They measure, axis 1:05 in., diam. 0-7.

“The ‘ Chorcha’ * generally nests in colonies of four or five. I have never found more

together ; but it not unfrequently selects a completely isolated spot for its graceful,

pendent nest. The breeding-place is mostly chosen on the banks of rivers or upon

some tributary stream, over which the nest swings securely in the breeze. At first I

experienced some difficulty in taking these nests, as they hang from the extreme points

of the boughs, and being rarely less than eighteen feet from the ground, are inaccessible

to the climber. ‘The only way to obtain them is to provide oneself with a long light

cord with a running noose at the end, and a few wild canes lashed together, so as to

make two rods of the required length. At the extremity of one a bush-knife must be

tied firmly, so that, when the rod is held up with the knife uppermost, the latter points

to the ground, the edge facing the cane at a small angle. By means of the other rod the

noose is slipped over the nest a little below the aperture through which the bird passes,

and the other end left hanging down. When the bird returns to the nest the string is

drawn tight, and nothing remains but to cut the twig by which the nest hangs,

first twisting the other rod into the top of the nest, so as to lower it gradually when

* A name common to all the species of Jcterus.

ICTERUS. ATT

free. The number of eggs laid by one bird is two. There are, however, often eggs

of the ‘ Tordito ’* in the nest.”

At one time the San Gerdnimo bird was considered to belong to I. mentalis of Lesson ;

but that name being now placed as a synonym of J. gularis, Cassin proposed the name

I. sclateri for the present bird. The same species was described as J. formosus by

Mr. Lawrence, from specimens obtained on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by Sumichrast.

We have examples of this form from South-western Mexico, and though we notice that

they are slightly smaller and have rather more white on the wing, we do not on that

account consider them to be sufficiently distinct to be called by separate names, and we

follow Mr. Sclater in placing them all under J. sclateri.

B. Dorsum medium guttatum.

18. Icterus pustulatus.

Psarocolius pustulatus, Wagl. Isis, 1829, p. 757°.

Icterus pustulatus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 426°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 303°; Ibis, 1883, p. 373‘;

Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 386°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 48°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H.i. p. 552"; Scl. & Salv. Hx. Orn. p. 47, t. 24°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p- 280°; Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 264°; P. Z. S. 1883, p. 422"'; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat.

Mus. 1886, p. 150”.

Pendulinus californicus, Less. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 436”.

Aurantius rubro tinctus; interscapulio nigro guttato; alis nigris albo late marginatis; cauda nigra ad basin

flavida, rectricibus quatuor utrinque externis cinereo-albo terminatis ; loris et gutture nigris; rostro nigro,

mandibule basi et pedibus plumbeis. Long. tota 82, ale 3:9, caude 3:8, rostri a rictu 0°85, tarsi 0°9.

(Descr. maris ex Puebla, Mexico, Mus. nostr.)

Q mari similis, sed flavescentior ; interscapulio olivaceo nigro guttato; cauda olivacea.

Hab. Norra America, Lower California > 18 ?—Muxtco 12 (Galeotti 1°), Mazatlan ° (Xan-

tus °, Bishoff’®), Tepic (Grayson ®), Presidio (Lorrer®), Plains of Colima, Manzanilla

Bay (Xantus°), Acapulco (Markham 11), hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast"),

Puebla®, La Parada %, Atlisco® (Boucard), Chietla, Ianhuiatlan (Perez 17), Tonala

(Sumichrast ®).

This species of Jcterus has a wide range throughout Mexico, and it is doubtful if it

is found beyond the limits of that country, though we have a skin reputed to be from

California, from which country Lesson’s type of P. californicus is said to have come.

Though it occurs in the State of Vera Cruz as well as that of Puebla, it is probably

more abundant on the western side of Mexico from Mazatlan to Tehuantepec. Grayson

has the following note concerning it :— |

‘“‘Of the numerous species of Orioles inhabiting the tropics, this one is the most

familiar about the locality of Mazatlan, and indeed of all Western Mexico. I found it

as far south as Tehuantepec, Guadalajara, Tepic, and other places, where I always met

with it as a well-known and common species. Its long pensile nest, its sprightly little

* Molothrus ceneus.

478 ICTERID Z&.

song, and more especially the gay plumage of a fully adult male, render it a con-

spicuous bird among the feathered songsters of its native woods.

“ The nests are generally suspended from a bough, slender branch, or recumbent twig

of the acacia-tree, protected from the intense rays of the sun by the beautiful canopy of

its fringed foliaged branches. Such a tree as the tamarind acacia is often selected, and

one or two nests are sometimes seen swaying in the breeze, beneath the generous shade

of this perennial beauty of the forest. The nest is composed of the thread-like or

elastic fibres of the maguey plant. I have seen some in which the cotton-thread and

twine were component parts of its elastic and firm structure. The nests are of various

lengths, conformable to the materials at hand for the intricate formation of the warp

necessary for the weaving this unique and airy abode in which to rear their little family.

The inside bottom is lined with the downy substance of the tree cotton intermixed with

a few feathers. In one nest I found an entire skein of yellow silk which it had doubt-

less picked up where some village brunette had dropped it.

“The eggs are generally five in number, rather long, of a pale blue ground, with

numerous hieroglyphic scratches confluent round the larger end.”

y. Dorsum medium fere omnino flavum.

19. Icterus graysoni.

Icterus graysoni, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1867, p. 48‘; Grayson, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. xiv. p. 280’;

Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 336°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 280‘;

Scl. Ibis, 1883, p. 374°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 387°.

Flayo-aurantius, subtus clarior; loris et gutture medio nigris; interscapulio maculis parvis nigris ornato ; alis

nigris albo marginatis, harum tectricibus minoribus flavis nigro guttatis ; cauda nigra ad basin flavido-alba,

rectricibus quatuor utrinque externis albido terminatis ; rostro corneo, pedibus nigricantibus. Long. tota 7-5,

alee 4:0, caudee 3-2, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1:0.

Q supra olivacea, subtus flavida; alis fuscis albido limbatis; cauda olivacea; loris et gutture medio nigri-

cantibus. (Descr. maris et femine ex insulis Tres Marias. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Tres Marias Islands (Grayson 124, Forrer °).

As yet Icterus graysoni is only known to occur on the Tres Marias Islands, off the

coast of Western Mexico, where the late Col. A. J. Grayson discovered it, and where

Mr. Alphonse Forrer subsequently found it. To the latter naturalist we are indebted

for the specimens we possess. Some of Grayson’s specimens were fully described by

Cassin, and others at great length by Dr. Finsch. The discoverer of this interesting

species has published the following notes respecting it ?:—

“This superb Oriole is one of the most beautiful of its kind and is entirely confined

to the islands of the Tres Marias, where it is the only representative of its genus. There

is a closely allied variety on the main coast (Icterus pustulatus), but on comparing the

two the difference in the marking is at once observable, as also the larger size of the

island bird .... The nest of this Oriole, like that of all of its congeners, is pensile ;

ICTERUS.—SCOLECOPHAGUS. 479

generally suspended from the extreme end of a slender decumbent branch or twig in

some shady spot, where it may swing to and fro in the breeze free from entanglement

with other branches. The nest, which is purse-shaped, and about twelve or thirteen

inches in length, with the entrance near the top, is composed of a long narrow grass or

the fibres of maguey leaves, which are very strong and elastic, and lined with silk-cotton ;

it is firmly and well woven together, and would be difficult to pull apart; it differs a

little in form from those found in the vicinity of Mazatlan. Few birds surpass this

Oriole in discovering the hiding-places of the various kinds of insects and their larvee

upon which it feeds. With its exceedingly sharp bill it searches and probes every

crevice in the bark and leaves of trees and with unceasing industry; the number it

destroys in one day alone must be very great. Thus we see beauty and elegance com-

bined with utility in the place assigned to this species in the great economy of nature

in checking the accumulation of insects. During my stay upon the islands I often saw

them clinging about decaying logs or branches, sometimes with their heads downwards,

busily engaged in piercing the rotten wood in search of wood-worms or borers and white

ants; it also feeds on various kinds of fruit, Pitahaya (Pitajata cactus) they are very

partial to. In the islands of the Tres Marias these birds become excessively fat, finding

there an abundance of food, with nothing to molest them in their peaceful green island

home.”

Subfam. V. QUISCALIN AL.

Nares plus minusve membrano obtecte ; mesorhinium altum, haud dilatatum, rotundatum; tarsi longi; cauda

cuneata.

SCOLECOPHAGUS.

Scolecophagus, Swainson, Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 494 (1831); Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 390.

There are two recognized species of Scolecophagqus, both belonging to North America,

one of which extends its range over the greater part of Mexico. The genus has some

affinities to the next genus, Dives ; but the wings are considerably longer, the bill shorter,

and the membrane above the nostrils more fully developed, the tarsi and toes also are

more slender; both, however, have a slightly rounded tail, and in this respect they

differ from the members of the genus Quiscalus, the tail of which is distinctly wedge-

shaped. The bill of S. cyanocephalus has a slightly rounded culmen, the mesorhinium

being rounded, not flat or dilated; the nasal fossa is deep, the nostrils lying along its

lower edge, and margined above by a well-developed membrane; the maxilla is slightly

compressed towards the tip, and its tomia considerably incurved ; the legs are long, the

tarsi and toes being rather slender; the wings are moderately long, the second quill

slightly the longest, the first and fourth being nearly equal, the longest secondaries are

equal to the seventh quill; the tail is slightly rounded, the feathers themselves being

rounded at their ends. The male considerably exceeds the female in size; they nest in

colonies, and are probably polygamous.

480 ICTERID.

1. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus.

Psarocolius cyanocephalus, Wag]. Isis, 1829, p. 758’; 18381, p. 527°.

Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Zool., Birds, p. 20°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil.

1866, p. 413*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N.

Am. B. ii. p. 206°; Coues, B. N. W. p- 199"; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. u. p. 281°;

Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 151°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 390"; Perez, Pr. U. 8S. Nat Mus. 1886,

p. 152".

Scolecophagus mexicanus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 802"; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 423”.

Niger neo lavatus; capite undique et collo purpureo nitentibus; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 9:0, ale

5°2, caude 4-0, rostri a rictu 1:0, tarsi 1-5. (Descr. maris ex urbe Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Long. tota 8°0, ale 4:8, caude 3-7, rostri a rictu 0°8, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. feminze ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.) ’

Hab. Nortu America, from the plains to the Pacific and from the Saskatchewan R.

southwards.—Mexico!? 412, Santa Rosalia (Couch *), Mazatlan (Grayson 8), Ciudad

in Durango (Horrer 1), valley of Mexico ! (le Strange), plateau of Mexico (Sumi-

chrast °), Oaxaca (Fenochio 1), San Baltazar, Nativitas (Perez 1).

Scolecophagus cyanocephalus was described from Mexican specimens now in the

Berlin Museum, and Sumichrast tells us that it is very abundant on the plateau of that

country, but that it rarely shows itself in the valley of Orizaba except in winter®. We have

an example from the State of Oaxaca, which is probably the southern limit of its range.

In the United States it isa common bird from the high central plains to the Pacific,

and, except perhaps in the more northern localities, it appears to be a resident, congre-

gating in flocks during the winter months, which again disperse during the summer

season. Dr. Coues has given a good account of its habits, as observed by himself

chiefly in Arizona’; he describes the nest as usually placed in the fork of a tree several

feet from the ground, and as of a bulky structure like a miniature crow’s nest, but deeper

and more compact; the basement and outer wall are composed of short crooked inter-

laced twigs matted with a variety of softer materials, and rarely plastered with mud,

which, however, is not used in great quantity, often apparently no more than sticks to

the roots, weeds, &c. The lining consists of a quantity of hair, rootlets, &c. The eggs

are dull olivaceous grey, pale bluish, or greenish grey, thickly scattered all over with

various shades of brown from dark chocolate to light umber.

DIVES.

Dives, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 418; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 391.

Three species of Dives are now recognized, of which D. sumichrasti of Mexico and

Guatemala is the only one which here concerns us; the other species are D. warszewiczi

of Western Ecuador and Peru, and D. atroviolaceus of Cuba. The sexes are alike in

D. swmichrasti both in colour and size, which probably indicates different domestic

arrangements to those of Scolecophagus; the bill is rather long and stout, the culmen

DIVES.—QUISCALUS. 48]

being slightly incurved; the nostrils are at the end of the nasal fossa, and have but a

slight membrane along their upper edge, the tomia of the maxilla is slightly undulating

and somewhat incurved; the legs and toes are rather strong; the wing is short and

rounded, the fifth primary being the longest, the first slightly longer than the ninth,

the longest secondaries reach to the end of the seventh primary. ‘The tail is rounded,

each feather being rounded at its tip.

1. Dives sumichrasti.

Icterus dives, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p.1; J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56’.

Lamprospar dives, Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 4462.

Scolecophagus dives, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 413°.

Quiscalus sumichrasti, de Sauss. Rev. Zool. 1859, p. 119%, t. 3. f. 2-4; Sel. P. Z. 8. 1859, pp. 365’,

381°; 1864, p. 175"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

1. p. 553°.

Dives sumichrasti, Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 1527’; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 892”.

Dives dives, Perez, Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 152”.

Quiscalus, sp.?, Scl. P. Z. 8S. 1856, p. 300.

Sericeo-niger, unicolor; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 9-5, ale 4:6, caude rect. med. 4-1, rect. lat. 3°6,.

rostri a rictu 1-1, tarsi 1-4. (Descr. feminee ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

¢ omnino similis, sed paullo major.

Hab. Mexico ” (Deppe'), Chiltepec, Cosamaloapam, Valle Real (Deppe, in Mus. Berol.),

valley of Mexico (White"), tierra caliente of the Atlantic slope (de Strange), hot

and temperate regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast®), Plan del Rio (Perez 12), Jalapa

(de Oca®, Hoge), Orizaba (Botteri 1), Playa Vicente (Boucard ®), Merida in

Yucatan (Gaumer?, Devis 14); British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneausz 11); Gua

TEMALA, Choctum 11, Achil, Coban 8, Tactic’ (0. 8. & F. D. G.).

This species has a somewhat restricted range, being confined to the eastern slope of

the mountains of Southern Mexico, Yucatan, and thence southwards to the highlands of

Vera Paz. Sumichrast says it is very common in the hot and temperate zones of the

Department of Vera Cruz up to an elevation of about 4000 feet; he adds it is a bird of

the woods and less sociable than the rest of its tribe. In Yucatan Mr. Gaumer speaks

of it as one of the commonest birds, that it is abundant in all the towns as well as in

the forests, that he has seen it in the busiest streets of Merida, even entering houses in

search of food. In Guatemala its range is very restricted, and it is first met with near

the village of Tactic (that is, near the border of the most rainy district of Alta Vera Paz) ;

and it is quite common in Coban, where it frequents the fruit and other trees so freely

distributed about the town.

QUISCALUS.

Quiscalus, Vieillot, Anal. p. 36 (1816); Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 393.

The species of Quiscalus with which we are chiefly concerned belong to the section

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1887. 61

482 ICTERIDZ.

called Megaquiscalus by Cassin, which contains the largest species of the genus. Mexico

and Central America, indeed, appear to be their headquarters, for only Q. major, of

the Atlantic States of North America, from which Q. macrurus is barely separable,

appears to be found outside our limits, though Q. macrurus spreads southwards into

Western Peru. One other species is ascribed to Mexico, Q. mexicanus, which, according

to Cassin (for we do not know the bird), belongs to the section Holoquiscalus, of which

Q. lugubris is a better known member.

Q. macrurus, one of the most familiar birds in Central America, lives in societies,

building in trees and reeds; the male much exceeds the female in size, and they are

probably of polygamous habits. The bill of Q. macrurus is long, the culmen slightly

depressed for the greater part of its length, and rather abruptly curved towards the tip ;

the tomia is slightly incurved, and there is hardly any apparent angle towards its base ;

the nostrils are bordered above by a conspicuous membrane ; the rictal bristles are very

short; the tarsi and toes are very strong, especially the former, and the hind claw well

developed; the wings are pointed, the third primary being the longest, the first equalling

the fifth, the longest secondaries falling a little short of the seventh; the tail is long

and cuneate, and the lateral feathers, when the bird is in flight, are brought together

over the median feathers, hence their trivial name of “ boat-tails.”

The general colour of the male is black with a rich purple hue, the females are more

or less brown beneath; this difference in the plumage of the sexes applies chiefly to

the larger members of the genus, in others the sexes are alike.

1. Quiscalus macrurus.

Quiscalus macrurus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 299*; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 424°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1856,

p. 800°; 1858, p. 858°; 1864, p.175°; Ibis, 1884, p. 156°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 396’;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 20°; P. Z. 8S. 1870, p. 837°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 112°; Lawr.

Ann. Lyc. N.Y. viii. p. 180"; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4. p. 24; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866,

p-410°°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p.553™; Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 303 ;

Salv. Cat. Strickl. Coll. p. 270°; Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 383"; Nutt. &

Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 392"; vi. p. 402”; Boucard, P. Z. 8S. 1883, p. 446”;

Ridgw. Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 570”.

Quiscalus macrurus?, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 188”; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 191”.

Chalcophanes macrourus, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 82™.

Quiscalus major, var. macrurus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 225”; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281”.

Quiscalus major, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 110; Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 58”; Salv. Ibis, 1866,

p. 194°°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 281”.

Quiscalus peruvianus, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 354°; Cass, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 412”.

Quiscalus assimilis, Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 141°; Ibis, 1884, p. 156; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 896” ;

Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 330°; Tacz. Orn. Pér. ii. p. 481°.

Nitide atro-purpureus in dorso et ventre imo in #neum transiens ; alis caudaque eneo-nigris ; rostro et pedibus

QUISCALUS. 483

nigris. Long. tota 17-0, ale 8-0, cauds rect. med. 9-0, rect. lat. 5°3, rostri a rictu 1:8, tarsi 2-0. (Deser.

maris ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Long. tota 14-3, ale 6-0, caudex rect. med. 6-0, rect. lat. 4-0, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 1-6. (Descr. feminz

ex Duefas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Texas.—Mexico? 25, Manzanilla Bay, Plains of Colima (Xantus °°),

Guadalajara (Grayson *°), Real del Monte !, valley of Mexico ® (White), temperate

and alpine regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast 14), Cordova (Sallé3), valley of

Cuernavaca (le Strange), Orizaba (Botteri*), Oaxaca (Fenochio’), Barrio, Juchitan

(Sumichrast '*), Merida in Yucatan (Gawmer ?°), Cozumel I. (Benedict 21, Gaumer) ;

British Honpuras, Belize (Blancaneaux), Half-Moon Cay (0. S.2°); GuaTEMALA

(Constancia 1°), everywhere about houses and villages (0. 8S. & F. D. G.), San José

de Guatemala, Escuintla, Duefias ®, Guatemala city, San Gerénimo, Choctum 7, &e.

(0. 8S. & 2. D.G.); Honpouras, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely °), Comayagua (Taylor 4 1),

Omoa (Leyland **); Nicaracua, Greytown (Holland ™), Sucuya 17, Los Sabalos 19,

Omotepé 1.13 (Nutting); Costa Rica (Eilendorf??); Panama, Calobre, Calovevora

(Arcé**), Lion Hill Station (M/‘Leannan !)—Cotoms1a23 %4 ; Perv 31 37,

The birds inhabiting the more southern portion of the range of this species (that is

to say, from the State of Panama to Western Peru) have been separated, on account of

their smaller size, from the more northern birds; but on closely comparing the two we

find that, though the average dimensions of the northern bird are greater than those of

the southern, no definite separation can be made between them with any regard to their

geographical distribution. It will also be seen that the range of the species, as a whole,

is practically uninterrupted from Texas to Peru. The bird of Western Mexico, which

Mr. Sclater has recently separated under the name of Quiscalus graysoni, also rests on

its much smaller dimensions; but as we have no materials to prove that gradations in

size exist between the two we here treat it as distinct, although we should not be surprised

to find that it too is but an extreme form of the true Q. macrurus.

The northern range of this species extends into Texas, where it breeds, and whence

it spreads over the greater part of Mexico, to the exclusion perhaps of the north-western

portion; it is also found throughout Central America, where it frequents the larger

towns as well as villages, its favourite resort being the stable, occasionally perching on

the backs of the horses and mules, or invading the manger and picking up stray grains

of maize. It breeds in numbers near Duefias, making its nest both in the willows that

grow near the lake and in the reeds on its banks. The breeding season extends over

some time; the young birds and eggs were found in adjacent nests, and on the coast-

region young birds were seen able to fly in the early part of March. The nest is usually

made of grass and placed amongst upright branches, the grass being entwined round

each twig to support the structure. The eggs vary a good deal in their ground-colour,

some being greyish white, others light drab, and others again of a deep drab; the

61*

484 ICTERIDA,

markings are principally of a dark brown, and are distributed in the shape of drops or

irregular patches and undulating lines; intermingled with these dark markings are

others of purplish brown.

Mr. Gaumer has recently sent us a series of specimens from Ruatan Island, and also

from Mugeres Island, off the coast of Yucatan, and we note that females from these

places are rather darker than is usual in individuals of the same sex from the mainland ;

the males do not differ in colour, but they are perhaps a trifle smaller. It is said that

these birds are polygamous, and the great difference in size between the sexes supports

this view; but we have no direct evidence on this point.

2. Quiscalus graysoni.

Quiscalus graysont, Scl. Ibis, 1884, p.157*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 397°.

Quiscalus palustris, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 411°.

Quiscalus major, var. palustris, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 282+.

Preecedenti persimilis quoad corporis colores, sed multo minor. Long. tota 14-0, alee 6-4, caude rect. med. 6-7,

rect. lat. 4:4, rostri a rictu 1°5, tarsi 1°8.

2. Long. tota 10-6, ale 5-3, caude rect. med. 4:8, rect. lat. 3-4, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 1°5. (Descr. maris

et feminez ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson? 4, Forrer 32),

This is the bird considered by Cassin to be the species described by Swainson as

Quiscalus palustris ; but this identification was questioned by Mr. Sclater, and we think

rightly so. It is exceedingly closely allied to Q. macrurus, but its smaller size and

much shorter tail perhaps sufficiently distinguish it. Grayson says of it, that it is very

common in the coast-region of Mazatlan, where it is seen in flocks frequenting the

marshes on the esteros or creeks in search of small crabs and water-insects. Many of

them, however, take up their abode in towns and villages and become very docile; they

are there attracted by the grains of waste maize and the refuse crumbs and meat thrown

from the dwellings. In the town of San Blas they are so numerous and domestic as to

be a nuisance, often entering the houses and carrying off whatever kind of provision

they can find, meat as well as grain. At the hotel where he was stopping in that town

it was necessary to keep a servant watching the table whilst the meals were being

prepared to keep them from demolishing the tortillas and beans. In the city of

Mazatlan about twenty congregated in front of his window to receive their daily bread,

a few crumbs of which he used to throw to them every morning. |

They always build their nests in communities, selecting a grove of ordinary sized

trees, usually near some freshwater lagoon, and sometimes in the trees that ornament

the dwellings of the natives. The nests are placed in the topmost branches, and are

composed of coarse grass and roots externally and plastered inside with cowdung or

mud. ‘The eggs are usually five, of a pale blue colour, with numerous zigzag marks

of black 4.

QUISCALUS. 485

3. Quiscalus tenuirostris.

‘Quiscalus tenuirostris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 299'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 424°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil.

1866, p. 411°; Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 157, t.5*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 397°.

Scaphidurus palustris, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436°.

Atro-purpureus, unicolor; alis et cauda nitenti-nigris; tibiis brunnescentibus ; rostro tenui. Long. tota 13,

ale 6-8, caude rect. med. 7:3, rect. lat. 4-4, rostri a rictu 1-65, tarsi 2:0. (Deser. exempl. ex Mexico.

Mus. Brit.)

2 supra fusca ; dorso postico, alis et cauda nigricantibus ; superciliis distinctis et corpore subtus pallide brunnes-

centibus ; gula et abdomine medio albicantioribus ; tibiis et crisso nigricante-fuscis ; rostro nigro, pedibus

nigricantibus. Long. tota 11:0, ala 5:0, caude rect. med. 5:0, rect. lat. 3-4, rostri a rictu 1°3, tarsi 1-55.

(Descr. exempl. ex urbe Mexico. Maus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico %, near the city ! (Bullock *, Boucard +),

This Quiscalus appears to be confined to Central Mexico, for all the specimens we

have seen were obtained, we believe, in the neighbourhood of the city of Mexico itself,

and we agree with Mr. Sclater that it is extremely probable that Swainson applied the

name Scaphidurus palustris to the same bird, which he says was found frequenting the

marshes in the neighbourhood of Mexico. Q. palustris is the older name; but, as

there is some doubt as to its application, it is better to call the bird Q. tenwirostris,

according to recent custom, the name being very appropriate. The male of this species

is readily distinguishable from Q. macrurus by its slender bill. The female is still

more divergent, the breast being much paler than that of the female of the allied

species, and there is a prominent superciliary streak which is characteristic. Nothing

has been recorded of the habits of this species, except that it inhabits the marshes near

the city of Mexico.

4. Quiscalus mexicanus, = 44+ 4

Quiscalus mexicanus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p.408'; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4. p. 24°.

“Black, entire plumage of the head and body with a rich golden purple or violet lustre, especially on the neck

behind, and breast; shoulders bluish purple; wings and tail and under tail-coverts with green lustre; the

upper tail-coverts also show a green lustre in some lights, but are tinged also with purple; bill and feet

black.

‘* Adult male. Bill longer than the head, thick, curved, especially in the terminal third of its length; wing

moderate, second and third quills longest; tail moderate, graduated ; legs and feet strong. Total length

92 to 10% inches, wing 43, tail 4} to 44 inches.”

Hab. Mexico! (Bruzin), Guichicovi (Sumichrast 2).

We have not yet recognized this bird, which, according to Cassin, belongs to a

different section of the genus from that of which we have just been treating, as it is

more nearly allied to @. /ugubris than to the larger members of the genus. The type is

in the Museum of the Academy of Philadelphia, and formed part of a large collection

made in Mexico by M. Bruzin. Mr. Lawrence recognized a specimen of Sumichrast’s,

obtained in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, as belonging to this species.

486 CORVIDZ.

Fam. CORVIDA*.

Subfam. COR VINE.

Ale elongate, acute, cauda plerumque brevis.

CORVUS.

Corvus, Linnzus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 155 (1766); Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 2323

Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iu. p. 18.

So far as America is concerned Corvus is a Nearctic genus, well represented by

several species in North America, of which at least three are found within our limits, |

viz. :—the Raven (C. coraz) as far south as Honduras; the peculiar Mexican C. mexicanus,

whose range seems restricted to a limited district in Western Mexico; and C. crypto-

leucus, which occurs in the northern frontier States of Mexico. Two of these, viz.

C. coraz and C. cryptoleucus, are typical species of Corvus, whilst C. mexicanus belongs

to the section Corone, which Mr. Sharpe treats as a separate genus.

Corvus has been so often characterized that it seems superfluous to do so here; but

we may remark that we use the name in the wide sense as employed by Messrs. Baird,

Brewer, and Ridgway, keeping the Ravens, with their long lanceolate, narrow throat-

feathers, and the Crows, in which these feathers are of normal shape, under one generic

name. Greater diversity of form is found in members of this section of the family in

other parts of the world than in America, and these have been treated of by Mr. Sharpe,

who has given an elaborate key of the genera. This key strikes us as rather artificial

in some respects, bringing into proximity forms not really by any means related.

1. Corvus corax.

Corvus coraz, Linn. Syst. Nat.i. p. 155*; Coues, B. N. W. p. 204°; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.

ill. p. 14°.

Corvus carnivorus, Bartr. Trav. E. Florida, p. 290*; Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 252°; Dresser, Ibis,

1865, p. 494°; Dugés, La Nat. 1. p. 1897,

Corvus corax, var. carnivorus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 234°; Lawr. Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. i. p. 283°; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 25”.

Corvus sinuatus, Wag). Isis, 1829, p. 748”.

Corvus corax sinuatus, Check-List N. Am. B. p. 245%; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 153".

Corvus cacalotl, Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 527"; Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 115%; Consp. Av. i. p. 8877";

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 21°"; 1860, p. 84°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 112’°; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 553”.

Corvus nobilis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1837, p. 79*'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 386”.

Nitente purpureo niger, unicolor ; plumis ad basin griseis; gule plumis lanceolatis elongatis; rostro et pedibus

* We are largely indebted, in writing on this family, to Mr. Sharpe’s ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of the British

Museum,’ vol. iii., wherein the Corvide of the world are treated of.

CORVUS. 487

nigris. Long. tota 24:0, ale 17-3, caude rect. med. 9°5, rect. lat. 7*2, rostri a rictu 3:0, tarsi 2:7.

(Deser. feminz ex Duefias, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norte America generally? 8, Texas &—Mexico 1! 14 21, Mazatlan (Grayson °),

Guanajuato, Guadalajara (Dugés"), Orizaba (Sallé*), alpine region of Vera Cruz

and Cerro Colorado near Tehuacan (Sumichrast *°), Jalapa and State of Puebla

(Perez 1%), Barrio, Tapana (Sumichrast 1°); Guatemata (Velasquez 1°), Estansuelas,

Duefias, Chimaltenango (0. S.1"), ridge above Calderas (8300 feet), Volcan de

Fuego (12,000 feet), Volcan de Atitlan, Quezaltenango, San Gerdénimo (0. 8. &

F. D. G.); Honpuras, between Opotelma and Siguatepeque (Taylor !°).—Widely

distributed throughout Evrops and Northern and Central ASIA.

Mr. Sharpe, in compiling his third volume of the ‘Catalogue of the Birds of the

British Museum,’ examined very carefully a large series of Ravens from many parts of

the world; and the conclusion he came to, which is also that of Mr. Dresser, was that

the species into which Corvus corax is sought to be divided are untenable, and that only

one species of this form is found throughout Europe, Northern and Central Asia, and

the whole continent of North America. It is true that North-American writers still

apply a third name to the bird of the North-American continent, but tangible characters

whereby to distinguish it altogether fail us. Several names have been applied to the

bird from Mexico, where its presence has been noted since the days of Hernandez, in

whose work it appears as the Cacalotl, a name adopted by Wagler in 1831, and one under

which the Raven is frequently mentioned by writers on Mexican and Central-American

birds. .Sumichrast says it is the only species of this genus inhabiting the State of Vera

Cruz, where it is found in the alpine region; he adds that it is rarely seen except within

the limits of the plateau, where it is abundant. The Cerro Colorado, near Tehuacan,

to the south of the State of Puebla, is the rendezvous of a large number of these birds.

At the time of the flowering of the maguey (Agave), with which the sides and summit

of that mountain are covered, the Ravens gather there in greater abundance than at any

other time. The blossom of the Agave is their favourite food, as it is also of other

birds, owing to the honeyed sweetness of their corolla. In Guatemala the Raven is

chiefly met with in the highlands, its principal resort being such places as Duefias,

Chimaltenango, Quezaltenango, &c., and we have observed it in the Volcan de Fuego

as high as 12,000 feet above the level of the sea; but it is not exclusively confined to

these high elevations, for it is found not unfrequently in the plain of Salama, at an

elevation of 3000 feet, and on the plain of Zacapa, which is less than 1000 feet above

the sea. In Honduras Mr. Taylor saw two large crows on a lofty pine-tree on the

ridge between Opotelma and Siguatepeque, which he refers to this species. Though

he did not obtain a specimen, it can hardly be doubted he was right in so doing. This

point marks the southern limit of the Raven in Central America, so far as our present

knowledge goes.

488 CORVIDA.

2. Corvus cryptoleucus.

Corvus cryptoleucus, Couch, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1854, p. 66°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. Zool. ii., Birds,.

p. 20°; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 494°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. p. 242+.

The fourth quill is longest ; the third and fifth equal; the second longer than the sixth; the first equal to the

seventh. Glossy black with violet reflections, feathers of neck all round black, and breast snow white at

the base. Length about 21:00, wing 14:00, tail 8°50. Feathers of the throat lanceolate; bristly

feathers along the base of the bill, covering it for nearly two thirds of its length. (Baird, Brew., and

Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 242.)

Hab. NortuH America along the southern border of the United States.—Mexico,

Tamaulipas (Couch 1), Janos (Kennerly 2), Charco Escondido (Couch 2).

This species was described from Mexican specimens obtained during the United

States Boundary Survey, and it appears to be not uncommon in the States of Northern

Mexico, in the valley of the Rio Grande, and in that of the Gila, but nothing is known

of it in Central or Southern Mexico. We have no specimen of this species, nor are:

there any in the British Museum, and we have nothing to add to the account given in

the ‘ History of the North-American Birds.’

8. Corvus mexicanus.

Corvus mexicanus, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 375"; Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p.1, cf. J. f. Orn.

1863, p. 56°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 233°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

li. p. 283 *.

Nitente purpurascente-niger ; capite summo magis purpurascente; corpore subtus eneo-viridi micante; rostro:

et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 14:0, ale 10-3, caude 6:5, rostri a rictu 1°8, tarsi 1-7. (Deser. maris ex

Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico} (Deppe?), Mazatlan (Grayson +, Xantus *).

This pretty little Crow, which has been identified with the Corvus mexicanus of

Gmelin, is distinguished by the lustre of its plumage, which is almost exactly of the

same tint as that of the male of Quiscalus macrurus. Its range appears to be very

restricted, and we only know of its occurrence at Mazatlan and at San Blas, on the sea-

coast of North-western Mexico. Grayson says that it is quite common at the latter

place, where it breeds, forming its nest in the tall cocoa-nut palms that grow in the

town ; he also found it breeding in similar situations in the suburbs of Mazatlan: but

it is more numerous on the Mazatlan river, where he found its nest in the thorny

Mimosa-trees. The nest is composed of small sticks and grass, much like that of the

Common Crow (C. americanus) ; the eggs, too, are much like those of that species, only

smaller. Its habits resemble those of the Common Crow, though the present species

is a little more arboreal, feeding on the various kinds of fruits which it finds in the

tropical forests. Like the Common Crow, however, it often descends to the ground in

search of insects and their larve, which it hunts for by turning up bits of wood and in

the newly-ploughed fields; but it may more frequently be seen upon the shore at low

CORVUS.—CYANOCITTA. 489

tide, near the mouths of the esteros or creeks, searching for the small crabs, snails, and

other shell-fish which abound in such localities.

In the autumn and winter months they congregate in large flocks, visiting the fields

of Indian corn first ripened, in which they do considerable damage ; but, unlike the

American Crow, it is not persecuted to death for this bit of roguery. The natives

seldom molest them. They sometimes visit the sand-bars of the rivers in large flocks

for the purpose of bathing. The voice of this Crow is somewhat like that of the

common species, but less harsh—indeed some of its notes are quite musical.

Subfam. GARRULINA.

Alz breves, rotundate; cauda plus minusve elongata.

A. Nares plus minusve plumis setosis obtecte.

a. Plume nasales distincte a plumis frontis bene distinguende.

CYANOCITTA.

Cyanocitta, Strickland, Ann. & Mag. N. H. xv. p. 261 (1845) ; Sharpe, Cat. 'B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 106.

We now confine this generic name to the crested Jays of the northern continent,

whereof C. cristata is the typical species. The distinctive characters of the members

of this genus are not very pronounced, at least so far as regards C. stelleri and its allied

forms—so much so that the authors of the ‘ History of North-American Birds’ admit

only two birds to rank as species, namely C. cristata and C. stelleri. It is with the

latter alone we now have to deal. We recognize without much difficulty three forms

of C. stellert in Mexico, namely C. macrolopha, a northern species found at least as

far south as the Mexican State of Durango, C. diademata of the central highlands, and

C. coronata of the southern highlands, the last-named species spreading southwards

through the highlands of Guatemala to Honduras. The range of the two latter in

Mexico has not yet been satisfactorily determined.

Cyanocitta can be distinguished from Aphelocoma by its elongated crest, and by the

wings being distinctly barred with black; these two genera have a common arrange-

ment of the supranasal and frontal feathers.

1. Cyanocitta macrolopha.

Cyanocitta macrolopha, Baird, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1854, p. 118; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p- 110°.

Cyanura stelleri, var. macrolopha, Coues, B. N. W. p. 214; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii.

p- 281°.

Capite toto undique cum gutture et crista elongata nigris; gula cinerascente; fronte longitudinaliter sparsim

albo striata ; macula supra et infra oculos alba ; dorso medio fuliginoso, imo ceruleo ; alis nigris, extrorsum

ceruleis, secundariis lete cyaneis, internis nigro striatis, tectricibus majoribus quoque nigro maculatis,

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1887. 62

490 CORVIDZA.

cauda cyanea nigro obsolete transvittata ; subtus cerulea; tibiis et subalaribus nigricantibus ; rostro et

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 10-0, ale 5°7, caude 5:0, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 1°6. (Descr. maris ex

Ciudad, Durango, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norta America, Central Rocky Mountains from Canada southwards.—MExico,

Ciudad in Durango (Forrer).

According to American authors this is a form of Cyanocitta stelleri, ranging through

the central Rocky Mountains to New Mexico and Southern Arizona, and, as we now

see, to the Sierra Madre in the State of Durango. From (C. stelleri itself it may

readily be distinguished by the white spots above and below the eye, and it is the only

one of the northern forms that possesses this feature, though it is shared by both the

species which follow. C. macrolopha is a resident species wherever it is found, living

chiefly in the pine-woods, up to an elevation of about 10,000 feet. Mr. Ridgway

found its nest in the Wahsatch Mountains in a small fir-tree on the edge of a wood;

it was constructed of coarse strong sticks, rudely put together, and upon these a thick

plastering of mud of uniform concave shape is added; the lining being of fine wiry roots.

The eggs are of a light sea-green ground-colour, somewhat sparingly and finely spotted

with olive-brown and, lighter markings of violet or purple-brown.

2. Cyanocitta diademata.

Cyanogarrulus diadematus, Bp. Consp. Av. 1. p. 377°.

Cyanocitta diademata, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 252°; 1864, p. 175°.

Cyanocitta stelleri diademata, Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 152%.

Preecedenti similis, dorso medio cyaneo tincto, dorso imo et supracaudalibus intense cyaneis, forsan distin-

guenda.

Hab. Mexico, Zacatecas 1, valley of Mexico (White ?), Hacienda de San Pedro, State

of Puebla (Perez +), Orizaba (Sallé ).

Mr. Sharpe, in the third volume of his Catalogue of Birds, in treating of these Jays

seems not to have appreciated the differences between C. diademata and C. coronata, for

his description of the former is clearly based upon a specimen of the latter, as his

reference to the colour of the crest shows, and from the notes appended to his account

of the two birds it appears that he was of opinion that the blackness of the crest is pro-

bably a characteristic of the female or young bird. Under these circumstances we are

unable to refer Mr. Sharpe’s names to their proper place with any certainty. We use

the names precisely in the sense of Bonaparte, and we think there can be no doubt

whatever that the name C. diademata refers to the black-crested bird, and C. coronata

of both Bonaparte and Swainson to that with the blue crest. That the colour of the

crest is due to sex or age we do not believe, for with a familiar acquaintance with

C. coronata in Guatemala we never met with a black-crested bird, and we have a young

specimen before us in its first plumage in which the crest is distinctly blue. We have

CYANOCITTA. 49]

not been able to trace the range of C. diademata very satisfactorily. It was described

by Bonaparte from a specimen in the Darmstadt Museum from Zacatecas, and we have

examples from the neighbourhood of the city of Mexico. Oaxaca birds all appear to

belong to OC. coronata, which, according to Sumichrast, is the form found in the State

of Vera Cruz, and we have certainly no trace of C. diademata in Guatemala. It occurs,

however, in the Mexican State of Puebla‘, which is probably its most southern limit.

It doubtless spreads thence through the tablelands of Central Mexico, until its place is

taken further north by C. macrolopha.

8. Cyanocitta coronata.

Garrulus coronatus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 437°; Jard. & Selb. Ill. Orn. ii. t. 64°.

Cyanocoraz coronatus, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, pp. 109°, 115*; Scl. P.Z. 8. 1859, p. 365°.

Cyanogarrulus coronatus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 377 °.

Cyanocitta coronata, Scl. P. Z.S. 1858, pp. 3027, 359°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 112°; Lawr. Bull.

U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 247°; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189".

Cyanurus coronatus, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 22”; Scl. P.Z.S. 1859, p. 381; Sumichrast,

Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.i. p. 554".

Preecedenti similis, sed dorso, pectore et crista ceeruleis haud difficile distinguenda.

Hab. Mexico 3%, tableland (Bulloch 12), alpine region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast \),

Jalapa (de Oca*), La Parada (Boucard’), Cienguilla (Swmichrast'°), Juquila

(Boucard 8); Guaremata (Velasquez), Volcan de Fuego 6000 to 8000 feet,

Barranco de los Chocoyos 22, Totonicapam, San Raymundo, Santa Barbara, Chilasco

(0. S.& F.D. G.); Honpuras, between Siguatepeque and Taulevi (Taylor ® °).

Swainson’s type of this species * was said to have been procured by Bullock in the

tablelands of Mexico, but no special locality is mentioned. Sumichrast speaks of it

as a resident in the alpine region of Vera Cruz, where it reaches to the extreme limits

of vegetation on the Volcano of Orizaba, confining itself to the forests of pines and

oaks; he adds that it does not descend below an elevation of 4500 feet, and that it is

never seen on the plains. In Guatemala it is an abundant species in the upland oak

and pine forests lying at an elevation of from 5000 to 8000 feet, and it inhabits a

higher zone than Cyanolyca melanocyanea, which for the most part takes its place at

a lower level. C. coronata is usually found in small flocks of four or five individuals,

which have the noisy habits common to the members of this section of the Corvide.

Some Mexican specimens of this bird have the blue colour of the crest of a deeper tint

than others, and for the most part the crest of Mexican examples is darker than that of

Guatemalan birds; but it isalways obviously blue, and so is the throat, and these points

* The actual type appears to be no longer extant, so that it cannot be referred to to decide the colour of

the crest ; but Swainson’s description seems sufficiently explicit. It runs as follows :— Crested ; blue, sides

of the head blackish ; chin, front, and eyebrows whitish ; wing covers and tertials banded with black lines;

tail rounded.”’

62*

492 CORVIDA.

sufficiently distinguish it from C. diademata. One of these dark birds, formerly in

Bullock’s collection, is figured by Jardine and Selby?. The bird obtained by Mr. Taylor

in Honduras, according to Mr. Sclater, agrees with Guatemalan examples *.

APHELOCOMA.

Aphelocoma, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 221 (1851) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. ii. p. 112.

This genus may be distinguished from Cyanocitta by the absence of an occipital

crest, and the wings externally being destitute of black bands, but it agrees with that

genus in the supranasal and frontal feathers; the limits of the genus here adopted are

exactly those of Mr. Sharpe, though we divide it into three instead of two main

sections. That in which the under surface of the body is greyish white is the only

one which passes north beyond the limits of our region. In the United States this is

represented over a considerable area including the south-western States, California,

and the peninsula of Florida. As in the case of Cyanocitta, several of the forms are not

very well defined ; and it is a question whether the Mexican form of A. californica is

not separable from the northern bird, though we have not so treated it here. We

fully expect to find that another species of this section of the genus, A. woodhousii,

will be found in Northern Mexico, as it occurs in the frontier States of New Mexico and

Arizona. Each of the other sections of the genus include but a single species, one of

which, A. wnicolor, is common to the highlands of Southern Mexico and Guatemala;

the other section contains A. nana only, a bird of very limited range in the highlands

of Southern Mexico.

a. Corpus subtus sordide albidum.

1. Aphelocoma californica.

Garrulus californicus, Vig. in Beechey’s Voy. Zool. p. 21, t.5°.

Cyanocitta californica, Strickl, Ann. & Mag. N. H. xv. p. 342°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1858, p. 302° ;

1859, p. 881*; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 862°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H.

1. p. 554°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 2887.

Aphelocoma californica et A. sumichrasti, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 118 °.

Cyanocitta floridana, Scl P.Z. 8. 1856, p. 300°.

Cyanocitta sumichrasti, Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 283°.

Cyanocitta californica, var. sumichrasti, Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 24". |

Azurea ; dorso medio et scapularibus fuscis ; superciliis indistinctis albis ; loris et regione parotica nigricantibus ;

subtus sordide alba; gula et pectore vix fusco striata; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 11:3, ale 5:6,

caude 5:8, rostri a rictu 1-3, tarsi 1:6. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Norva Amurica, Pacific coast-region from the Columbia river southwards, Mon-

terey —Mexico (Sallé ®, le Strange®), alpine region of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ®),

Cinco Sefiores+, La Parada ? (Boucard), Oaxaca > (Boucard, Fenochio), Nacaltepec

(Sumichrast 11),

The white superciliary mark is not quite so apparent in Mexican specimens of this

APHELOCOMA. 493

‘species as in Californian, and the size of the former slightly exceeds that of the latter.

‘These differences induced Mr. Ridgway to separate the Mexican bird under the name

of Cyanocitta sumichrasti, and Mr. Sharpe adopted this name. We have carefully

examined specimens from both countries and have come to the conclusion that the

differences are not sufficiently marked to render it desirable to make any nominal

distinction between them. The superciliary streak is certainly evanescent, and a

‘difference of size is the most unsatisfactory of differential characters.

The Californian Jay, as this bird is called in the United States, has a wide range

along the Pacific coast-region of North America, being found as far north as the

‘Columbia river ; it thence passes southwards through Lower California to Cape St.

Lucas. We have no record of its occurrence anywhere in Northern Mexico, and it is

very probable that its place is there taken by A. woodhousii, which is the common

resident bird of Arizona; future investigation can, however, alone clear up this point.

In Southern Mexico it occurs in the alpine region according to Sumichrast, and where

‘also Mr. le Strange obtained specimens ; it also occurs in the State of Oaxaca, whence

we have examples sent us by Mr. Fenochio, and where also Mr. Boucard obtained it.

A. woodhousii is closely allied to the present species, but may readily be distinguished

by its darker under surface and its pale blue under tail-coverts as well as by other

minor points. Should the range of A. californica be completely severed, and its place

‘taken throughout the highlands of Northern Mexico by the allied form, it will be a fact

of distribution of considerable interest. _A. californica breeds abundantly throughout

the western parts of California, and constructs a nest of roots and strong grass, and

places it in a low tree or bush. The eggs are dark green, marked with numerous pale

‘brown blotches and spots.

2. Aphelocoma ultramarina.

Garrulus ultramarinus, Bp. Journ. Ac. Phil. iv. p. 387!; Temm. Pl. Col. p. 439 ”.

Cyanocitta ultramarina, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 378°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii, Birds,

p. 21, t. 22. f. 2°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 554°.

‘Cyanocorax ultramarinus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 204°; 1859, p. 3657.

Aphelocoma ultramarina, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 115°.

Pica steberi, Wagl. Syn. Av. fol. 21, p. 12°; Isis, 1829, p. 750 ™°.

‘Cyanocitta siebert, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 878%.

Garrulus sordidus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 437%; Zool. Ill. ser. 2, ii. t. 86 *

Cyanocitta sordida, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. p. 21, t.22. £1; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H. i. p. 554; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189°.

Aphelocoma sordida, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 116”.

Corvus azureus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vig. p. 1”.

Cyanocitta couchi, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 588, t. 60. f. 2”.

Aphelocoma couchi, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 116”.

Cyanocitta ultramarina, var. couchi, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 29372.

494 CORVIDA.

Azurea; dorso et interscapulio obscurioribus ; loris nigricante-ceeruleis ; regione parotica quam pileus obscurior ;

subtus griseus; ventre imo et crisso albicantibus ; tibiis griseis ; rostro nigro nonnunquam flavo variegato ;

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 12:5, alz 7-0, caude rect. med. 6:5, rect. lat. 5-6, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 1°6.

(Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico (Deppe), south side of the Rio Grande, Monterey (Couch '*), Real del

Monte (Bullock), Guanajuato (Dugeés), near the city of Mexico (le Strange), plateau

and alpine region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast® '), Jalapa (Sallé, de Oca").

Some doubts hang around Bonaparte’s name Garrulus ultramarinus, and neither the

authors of the ‘ History of North American Birds’ nor Mr. Sharpe give a very satisfactory

account of it, and none of them seem to have examined a specimen exactly answering to

Bonaparte’s description. Neither have we; but we altogether doubt the existence of

two distinct species of this form being found in Mexico proper, and we think it more

than probable that the squareness of the tail of Bonaparte’s type was due to the feathers

being in a state of moult, or to the absence of the outer pair. At the same time we

notice some variation in the graduation of the tail in the specimens before us; in one

from Jalapa the difference in the length between the outermost and the middle feathers

is nearly an inch. In Swainson’s type of A. sordida it is a little more than three-

quarters of an inch, whilst in one of Sallé’s examples from Southern Mexico it is only

half an inch. It is thus evident that the graduation of the tail is not a definite specific

character. Thus the differences said to exist between A. ultramarina and A. sordida

break down, and A. uwltramarina remains as the oldest title of the species, having been

bestowed upon it by Bonaparte in 1825, Swainson’s name A. sordida and Wagler’s

A. sieberi, both based upon Bullock’s specimens, dating from 1827.

Two forms of this bird have been separated by North-American writers, namely

A. couchi from the Rio Grande valley, and A. arizone from Arizona; the latter of these

seems to be the most distinct, but it has not yet been noticed within our boundary.

A. couchi seems to differ chiefly in size and in having the dorsal region rather greyer.

It occurs near Monterey and in Chihuahua and at Parras. In Southern Mexico

A. ultramarina has a wide range throughout the plateau and alpine region, and it

has been observed by most collectors who have worked in the upland country. Sumi-

chrast places its range in altitude between 5000 and 11,000 feet above the level of

the sea.

B. Unicolor, corpore subtus cum gula dorso concoloribus.

8. Aphelocoma unicolor.

Cyanocorax unicolor, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 103°; Esq. Orn. t. 17°; Sel. P. Z. 8.

1857, p. 204°; 1859, p. 365°; Schl. Mus. P.-B. i. Coraces, p. 49°.

Cyanocitta unicolor, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 878°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 175°; Salv. Ibis, 1866,

p. 194°.

APHELOCOMA. 495

Aphelocoma unicolor, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 118°.

Cyanocorax concolor, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, pp. 26”, 90%.

Saturate azurea, unicolor, alis nigricantibus, extus dorsi colore limbatis, loris cxruleo-nigris, alis et cauda

nigris. Long. tota 12°5, ale 6:3, caude 6°4, rostri a rictu 1-5, tarsi 1-5. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa,

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico! 10, valley of Mexico (White’), Puebla (Pease), Jalapa (Sallé,

de Oca*).—GuatTEMALA, Totonicapam, Quiche, Chilasco (0. 8S. & F. D. G.8).

This species appears to be somewhat locally distributed in the mountains of Southern

Mexico. Mr. Pease states that it is common in the hills bordering on the plains of

Puebla, at Pinal, and the mountains skirting the valley of Mexico, where it remains all

the year!!, Though included in both Sallé’s and de Oca’s collections made in the

vicinity of Jalapa, no mention is made of this species by Sumichrast as an inhabitant of

the State of Vera Cruz, which is somewhat strange, and leads us to suspect that some

of the Jays at least of his list may have been incorrectly determined. In Guatemala

A. unicolor is a very local species; we first met with it in the upland forests on the

ridge which divides the plain of Salama from the valley of the Motagua, and again

in the district of Chilasco which overhangs the valley of the Polochic, at elevations

varying from 4000 to 6000 feet. We subsequently found it on the ridge between

Quiche and Totonicapam, at elevations reaching as high as 10,000 feet. We are not

aware that it ever occurs in collections made near Coban, and we saw no sign of it in

the upland forests of the volcanos. A. wnicolor in its habits resembles its congeners.

It lives in pine-woods, associating in flocks of five or six individuals.

y:. Corpus subtus ceruleum, gula ceruleo-albida.

4. Aphelocoma nana,

Cyanocorax nanus, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 103°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 20475; Sel.

P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 365 *.

Cyanocitta nanus, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 878%; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 381°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost.

Soc. N. H.i. p. 554°.

Aphelocoma nana, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 1187.

Saturate azurea, subtus sordidior ; alis et cauda extus concoloribus ; pileo cyaneo tincto; fronte et superciliis

indistinctis magis canescentibus ; oculorum ambitu et capitis lateribus nigris; gula tota albida ceeruleo vix

tincta. Long. tota 8-1, ala 4:1, caude 4:0, rostri a rictu 1-0, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa,

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico!4, alpine region of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast ®), Jalapa (Sallé?, de Oca?),

Cordova’, Llano Verde (Boucard°), near the city of Mexico (Mus. nostr.).

According to Sumichrast, this species is a native of the alpine region of Vera Cruz, that

is to say, between 5000 and 11,500 feet above the sea, where it occurs with several other

Jays, such as Cyanocitta coronata, but he gives no special account of its habits. Other

collectors have also met with it in this portion of Mexico; but it would appear, from

496 CORVIDA.

the nearly total absence of any mention of it in other parts of the country, that it is

restricted to very narrow limits, probably not extending beyond the slopes of the great

volcanos.

b. Plume nasales a plumis frontis haud distincte, he plus minusve projecte aut erecte.

CYANOLYCA.

Cyanolyca, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 223 (1850).

Xanthura, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 128 (partim).

In Mr. Sharpe’s arrangement of the eight species we include under this generic

name, four are placed in Xanthura and the rest in Cyanocorax; but we cannot help

feeling that comparative measurements of tail, wings, &c., upon which Mr. Sharpe

relies, have led him to associate birds by no means nearly allied, judging by their

colours, and it seems to us that his section 2 of the genus Xanthura had best be

separated and associated with his section ¢ of his genus Cyanocorax. This treatment

brings together a group of birds which are not structurally dissimilar, and which more

or less share the same colours in different combinations, and we have no such discordant

element as X. /wawosa, in which the colours depart entirely from the rest.

The eight species we now include under this name fall naturally into several groups.

C. sanblasiana, the type of the genus Cissolopha of Bonaparte, can readily be distin-

guished by its peculiar elongated frontal crest. C. beecheyi and C. yucatanica have

yellow legs, and the colour of the bill differs in the sexes, moreover the female of

C. yucatanica has white tips to the outer tail-feathers. The other species have no

abnormal characters; but C. ornata has the frontal feathers more distinctly erect than

in C. melanocyanea.

The type of the genus Cyanolyca of Cabanis is C. armillata from Colombia, a species

not represented in our region by any near ally.

a. Crista frontalis tenuis, valde elongata, nigra ; venter omnino niger.

1. Cyanolyca sanblasiana.

Geai de San Blas, Néboux, Rev. Zool. 1840, pp. 290, 323?.

Pica sanblasiana, Lafr. Mag. Zool. 1842, Ois. t. 28°.

Cissolopha sanblasiana, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 380°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 284°.

Cyanocitta sanblasiana, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1876, p. 269°.

Xanthura sanblasiana, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 182°.

Cyanocorax de San Blas, Prév. et Desmurs, Voy. ‘ Venus,’ v. p. 200".

Supra azurea, uropygio et cauda saturatioribus; alis magis viridescentibus ; capite toto cum collo et corpore

subtus nigerrimis ; tibiis et crisso indigoticis ; crista frontali elongata, nigra; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis.

Long. tota 12:0, alee 5-2, caudex 5°7, rostri a rictu 1-4, tarsi 1:5. (Descr. femine ex Colima, Mexico.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico ?, San Blas, Acapulco (Wéboue } 2), plains of Colima, Manzanilla Bay, Los

Trochos (Xantus *).

CYANOLYCA. 497

This Jay appears to be extremely local, and its range restricted to Western Mexico

from San Blas to Acapulco, in both of which places specimens were obtained by the

officers of the French exploring frigate the ‘Venus.’ The only examples we have seen

to which a precise locality was attached are those obtained by Xantus in the State of

Colima, one of which was kindly given us by the authorities of the Smithsonian Insti-

tution. The figure of this bird in the ‘ Magasin de Zoologie’ represents the bill yellow;

but perhaps this is a variable rather than a sexual character, as in our example, marked

a female, the bill is black; the sex of the latter, however, may have been wrongly

determined. In the allied species, C. beecheyi and C. yucatanica, the bill in the male is

black, in the female yellow.

B. Pedes flavi, rostrum in mari nigrum, in femina flavum ; venter omnino niger.

2. Cyanolyca beecheyi.

Pica beecheyi, Vig. Zool. Journ. iv. p. 353°; Zool. Beechey’s Voy., Birds, p. 22, t. 6’.

Cyanocorax beecheyi, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, i. p. 333°.

Cyanocitta beecheyi, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 283°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z.S. 1876, p. 270°.

Xanthura beecheyi, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 133°.

Cyanocitta crassirostris, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 378".

Cyanocorax geoffroyi, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxi. p. 564°.

Lette purpurea ; alis et cauda saturatioribus; capite toto cum collo et corpore subtus nigerrimis; rostro nigro,

pedibus pallide corylinis. Long. tota 16-0, ale 6-8, caude 7-7, rostri a rictu 1°8, tarsi 2-0. (Descr. maris

ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Maus. nostr.)

@ mari similis, sed rostro flavo distinguenda.

Hab. Muxico, Mazatlan (Grayson? *, Bischoff'*, Forrer), Tres Marias Is. (Xantus*), San

Blas (Mus. Paris).

Grayson, who was well acquainted with this bird, says that it is much more abundant

in the State of Sinaloa than further south; he usually met with it among the low

scrubby forests of the poorer lands of that State, to which it seems more partial than to

the rank woods found in some parts of the country. Its food consists of grubs, beetles,

and various kinds of insects, also many kinds of fruit; it is likewise very fond of meat

and corn when to be had. ‘The iris of the male, he says, is yellow, while that of the

female is grey.

The types described by Vigors were obtained during Beechey’s voyage, and figured in

the volume describing the expedition; but these specimens seem to have been lost, as

they are not extant in the British Museum. It was subsequently obtained by the

officers of the French frigate ‘ Venus,’ who visited this portion of the Mexican coast;

one of these examples, from Mazatlan, Bonaparte described under the name of Cyano-

corax geoffroyi, the type so marked being now in the Paris Museum. This species also

occurs on the Tres Marias Islands, where Xantus found it, but where neither Grayson

nor Forrer met with it.

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., April 1887. 63

498 CORVIDZ.

3. Cyanolyca yucatanica. (Cyanocitta yucatanica, Tab. XX XV.)

Cyanocitta yucatanica, Dubois, Bull. Ac. Brux. ser. 2, xl. p. 797"; Boucard, P. Z.S. 1883, p. 446°.

Xanthura yucatanica, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 183°.

Corvus (Pica) beecheii, Eyd. & Gerv. Mag. Zool. 1836, cl. 11. t. 724; Voy. ‘ Favorite,’ t. 20°.

Cyanocitta beecheii, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 378°.

Cyanocitta crassirostris, Puch. Rev. Zool. 1858, p. 1967; Moore, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 57°; Salv. Ibis,

1861, p. 353°; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 201”.

Cyanocitta germana, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1876, p. 270”.

Viridescente-azurea; uropygio et cauda supra cyanescentioribus; capite toto cum cervice et corpore subtus

nigerrimis ; rostro nigro, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 12°5, alee 5:4, caude 6-5, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 1°4.

Q mari similis, sed rostro flavo et cauda rectricibus utrinque quatuor externis albo terminatis. (Descr. maris et

femine ex Meco Ins. Yucatan. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico, Yucatan (Schott °, Gawmer?, Cabot), Meco I. and Mugeres I., Yucatan

(Gaumer); British Honpuras (Dyson ?), Old River (Leyland?7, O. S8.); Guave-

MALA, near Lake Yaxha (0. S.).

This bird for a long time passed under the name of Cyanocitta crassirostris of Bona-

parte, but it has been proved that this title really belongs to C. beecheyi of Western

Mexico; the discovery was made nearly at the same time by Dubois and by Sclater and

Salvin, both of whom proposed names for the present species, that of Dubois having a

slight priority. |

C. yucatanica, under which name this Jay now stands, is a fairly isolated species, no

other member of the family having the sexes so markedly different, though C. beecheyi

has the same sexual differences in the colouring of the bill. Its range is very restricted,

being practically confined to the promontory of Yucatan and those portions of Guate-

mala and British Honduras immediately joining ; it is also found on Meco and Mugeres

Islands, off the extreme north-eastern coast. Mr. Gaumer speaks of it as exceedingly

abundant in Northern Yucatan, and often very destructive in cornfields and amongst

fruit; he adds, that from twenty to one hundred individuals associate in flocks, which,

on being approached, utter loud cries. On his journey from Peten to the coast down

the Belize river, Salvin not unfrequently met with this Jay, chiefly in logwood scrubs,

such as abound about the lake of Yaxha; here, too, they were seen associated in flocks,

though not so large as Mr. Gaumer speaks of.

y. Caput totum nigrum, venter cyaneus.

4. Cyanolyca melanocyanea.

Garrulus (Cyanocorax) melanocyaneus, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 215°.

Cyanolyca melanocyanea, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 223°.

Cyanocitta melanocyanea, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 878°; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 21, t. 5. f. 64;

R. Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 63°; Scl. Ibis, 1873, p. 373°.

CYANOLYCA. 499

Cyanocorax melanocyaneus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p- 859"; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 112°; Schl. Mus.

P.-B. i. Coraces, p. 45°.

Xanthura melanocyanea, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 134, t. 6.

Viridi-azurea ; uropygio et cauda saturatioribus; capite toto cum collo et corpore subtus usque ad ventris

medium nigerrimis ; corporis subtus reliquo cyanescente; rostro nigro, pedibus obscure corylinis. Long,

tota 12:0, ale 5:5, caude 6°5, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 1:6. (Descr. maris ex San Gerénimo, Guatemala.

Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Guatemaa 1%, Duefias (0. 8.4), Volcan de Fuego up to 8000 feet, Santa Maria

below Quezaltenango, San Gerdénimo, Tactic, Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.), San Gerd-

nimo (f. Owen®); Honpuras, between Siguatepeque and Taulevi (Taylor 7 8);

Nicaragua, Chontales (Belé °).

This Jay is a characteristic bird throughout the lower portions of the Guatemalan

highlands, being found as low as the plain of Salama, and occasionally, but very rarely,

as high as 8000 feet in the volcanos: it is, however, very seldom seen at so great an alti-

tude, the Jays of that region being Cyanocitta coronata and Cyanolyca pumilo. Near

Dueifias, at an altitude of about 5000 feet, it is the only species of J ay; it is here resident

all the year in the wooded parts, breeding in the months of April and May. It makes

a loose nest of small twigs, which is placed in a thick bush about six feet from the

ground ; the eggs are usually four in number, and are of a brick-red colour, spotted and

blotched with a darker shade of the same*. In Honduras Mr. Taylor only found this

species on the elevated plain between Siguatepeque and Taulevi, where, however, they

were tolerably common. In Nicaragua we only know of its occurrence from a single

specimen obtained by Mr. Belt ®; this is darker, as regards the blue colour, than any

Guatemalan specimen we have, but does not differ in other respects; moreover, Guate-

malan specimens differ somewhat in this point.

8. Vertex posticus et nucha albo-cerulea.

5. Cyanolyca ornata.

Pica ornata, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41’.

Cyanocorax ornatus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 89°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 204°; 1859, p. 365°;

Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 127°; Perez, Pr. U. 8. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 153°

Cyanociita ornata, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 879"; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 21°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859,

p- 881°; 1864, p. 175°°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 554".

Saturate cyanea; alis et cauda extus dorso imo concoloribus; dorso medio purpureo tincto ; capite toto cum

collo undique nigris ; pilei dimidio postico et nucha argenteo-ceruleis extrorsum albo distincte limbatis ;

rostro et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 12:5, ale 5-5, caude 6:3, rostri a rictu 1°3, tarsi 1-1. (Deser.

exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

(Sumichrast 1), Jalapa (Sallé%, de Oca +, Perez®), Yeotalcingo (Boucard®); Guare-

MALA, Cahabon (Skinner §), Coban (0. S. & F. D. G.).

63*

500 CORVIDA.

This species is restricted to Southern Mexico and Guatemala. Sunjiichrast says that

it is found in the temperate region of Vera Cruz, where it prefers the pine-woods

rather than the denser forests that cover the more elevated portions of that region; it

occurs also in the State of Puebla. In Guatemala, so far as we know, it only occurs in

Alta Vera Paz, in the neighbourhood of Coban, and the country lying in the direction

of Cahabon. It is one of the birds frequently met with in collections from that district.

In the original catalogue of the birds of Guatemala it is stated to occur in Honduras 8,

but on what authority we are now unable to say. The bird found in Costa Rica, as

will be seen below, is slightly different.

6. Cyanolyca cucullata.

Cyanocorax cucullatus, Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 237.

Cyanocitta ornata, Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 114.

Preecedenti persimilis, sed paullo minor, plaga capitali caerulea haud albo marginata, ut videtur, distinguenda.

Hab. Costa Rica (Carmiol *), Rio Sucio, Navarro (Zeledon ),. Von am 6 Venagua (fhe S )

We have long possessed specimens of this bird both from Costa Rica and from the State

of Panama, but we hesitated to describe this southern form of C. ornata as a distinct

species, the differential characters being so slight, and Mr. Sharpe treated them in the

same way. Mr. Ridgway, however, has recently separated the Costa-Rican bird as

C. cucullatus', giving characters which we are able to recognize; we therefore employ

his name. The first Costa-Rican specimen that came under our notice was obtained by

Carmiol in 1869, and this bird was referred to Cyanocitta ornata*?; our examples from

the State of Panama were acquired at a later date. The examples described by

Mr. Ridgway were collected in Costa Rica by J. Cooper, and were obtained on the

Atlantic slope of the mountains—at Rio Sucio at an altitude of 800 feet above the sea,

and at Navarro, at an altitude of 3500 feet. The specimens from the State of Panama

were doubtless obtained from the western or Pacific side.

e. Vertex ceruleus, linea sincipitali alba.

7. Cyanolyca pumilo.

Cyanocorax nanus ?, Strickl. Contr. Orn. 1849, p. 122, t. 337.

Cyanocorax pumilo, Strick]. Contr. Orn. 1849, p. 122, t.383?; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 127’.

Cyanocitta pumilo, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 378%; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 21°; Salv. Cat. Strick.

Coll. p. 292°.

Saturate azurea; alis extus et cauda dorso concoloribus; capite summo et cervice undique cyanescentibus; gula

nigra ; fronte et capitis lateribus quoque nigris, ad pileum stricte albo marginatis; rostro et pedibus nigris.

Long. tota 10-0, ale 4-6, caudse 5-0, rostri a rictu 0°7, tarsi 08. (Descr. maris ex Volean de Fuego, Guate-

mala. Mus. nostr.)

Av. juv. lineola capitis alba caret.

Hab. Guatemata* (Constancia 125), Calderas, Volcan de Fuego, Sierra de las Nubes,

San Pedro Carcha (0. S. & F. D. G.).

c ’

CYANOLYCA.—XANTHURA. 501

C. pumilo is a very local species in Guatemala, and it was only in the forests of the

Volcan de Fuego, lying at an elevation of 7000 to 8000 feet, that we found it in any

numbers: here it frequented the oak-forests in small flocks of five or six individuals, its

habits resembling those of its congeners. We never saw it in a living state in the

department of Vera Paz; but in a collection made near San Pedro Carcha we noticed a

specimen, and there is an example in the British Museum said to have come from

Coban. |

The exact origin of sitrckland’s type has not been recorded; but as it was sent him

by Constancia, who lived in Antigua, it was probably obtained in the vicinity of that

town, very likely on the volcano itself.

8. Cyanolyca argentigula. (Cyanocitta argentiqula, Tab. XXXIV.)

Cyanocitia argentigula, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. xi. p. 88'.

Cyanocorax argentigula, Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1876, p. 268°; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 128°.

2 capite cum cervice nigris ; gutture medio et superciliis elongatis (in medio occipitis junctis) ceerulescente-

albis; corpore reliquo cyanescente-nigro ; alis et cauda extus cyaneis; rostro et pedibus nigris. Long.

tota 10°5, ale 4-7, caude 5:2, tarsi 1:4, rostri a rictu 1:25. (Descr. exempl. typ. ex Talamanca, Costa

Rica, U. 8. Nat. Mus.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Boucard), Talamanca (J. Cooper 1).

Our description and figure of this beautiful species were taken from the typical

specimen described by Mr. Lawrence, which was kindly lent us by the authorities of

the United-States National Museum. We have no example of it ourselves, and the only

other one we are acquainted with is in the possession of M. Boucard. Mr. Lawrence,

in his description, compares it with C. ornata, C. nana, and C. pumilo, but we are inclined

to think that C. pumilo is perhaps its nearest ally ; there can be no doubt, however, but

that the species is a very isolated one. The type was obtained during Professor Gabb’s

expedition to the district of Talamanca, Costa Rica, a little-frequented portion of that

country lying on the eastern face of the cordillera.

XANTHURA.

Xanthura, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 380 (1850) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 128 (sect. a).

We restrict this generic name to the group of Jays in which green and yellow are

the predominating colours, which thus forms a natural group containing four fairly

marked species. The one having the widest range as well as being most distinct

in its characters is X. incas, a species known to Buffon. This bird is found on the

slopes of the Andes, from Bolivia to Western Colombia; a second species is found in

the interior of Colombia; a third in Venezuela; the fourth is that of our country, which

spreads from the valley of the Rio Grande to Honduras. Curiously enough no member

of this group of Jays is found in the southern section of our country. In the formation

502 CORVIDZA.

of the frontal feathers and in having a large blue malar spot on either side of the jaw,

Xanthura approaches Cyanocorax, but its slender form and distinct coloration indicate

its distinctness; the tail, moreover, is more rounded than in Cyanocorax.

1. Xanthura luxuosa.

Garrulus luxuosus, Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 100°.

Xanthoura luxuosa, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 880°; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii, Birds, p. 21°;

Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 495*; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 554°; Lawr. Mem.

Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 285°; Merrill, Pr. U. 8S. Nat. Mus. p. 186°; Sennett, Bull. U.S.

Geol. Surv. iv. p. 29, & v. p. 400°; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. i. p. 182°; Scl. Ibis, 1879,

p. 87”.

Cyanocorax luaxuosus, DuBus, Esq. Orn. t. 18%; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 300”; 1859, p. 865;

1864, p.175™; Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 201”.

Cyanocitta luxuosa, Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 189".

Xanthoura incas, var. luxuosa, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 2957; Merrill, Bull. Nutt.

Orn. Club, i. p. 89”.

Cyanocorax peruvianus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1848, p. 89°".

Corvus peruvianus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 1”.

Xanthoura guatemalensis, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 380 * ??

Cyanocorax guatemalensis, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 22”; P. Z.8. 1870, p. 837”; Moore, P.Z.S.

1859, p. 57™; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 113”.

Xanthura guatemalensis, Lawr. Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 25.

Xanthoura incas, var. guatemalensis, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. il. p. 2957.

Cyanocorax cyanocapillus, Cab. in Tsch. Faun. Per., Aves, p. 233”.

Xanthura cyanocapilla, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 131”.

Xanthoura incas, B. cyanocapilla, Dubois, Bull. Ac. Belg. xxxviii. p. 493 °°.

Viridis ; caude rectricibus quatuor intermediis obscurioribus et cyaneo tinctis, quatuor utrinque externis flavis ;

capite summo lete cyaneo; stria postfrontali transversa albida; macula malari triangulari magna cyanea

alteraque supra oculos ejusdem coloris; loris, oculorum ambitu et regione parotica et gutture toto nigris ;

corpore subtus reliquo flavo viridi plus minusve lavato; rostro nigro, pedibus corylinis. Long. tota 10-7,

alee 4°5, caudee 5:3, rostri a rictu 1:2, tarsi 1:5. (Descr. maris ex Cordova, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Nortu America, Texas +? §, valley of the Rio Grande !".—MeExico 17°, San Diego

in Nuevo Leon (Couch 3), Sierra Madre (Xantus °), Guanajuato (Dugés 1°), valley of

Mexico (White 4), Perote, Puebla (Pease 1°), hot and temperate region of Vera

Cruz (Sumichrast®), Cordova (Sallé}*), Jalapa 2° (de Oca }8), Cacoprieto, Santa

Efigenia 7° (Sumichrast), Merida in Yucatan (Schott !, Gauwmer); British Honpuras,

Belize (Blancaneaux); GuaTeMALA?!, Cahabon (Skinner **), Yzabal, Choctum,

Zapote, Savana Grande, Rio Chiguati, Patio Bolas, Retalhuleu (0. 8S. & F. D. G.);

Honpuras (Yaylor *°), Omoa (Leyland *4), San Pedro (G. M. Whitely 2°).

We entirely subscribe to Mr. Sclater’s views as to the subdivision of Xanthura incas

and its allies published in his ** Note on the American Crows of the subgenus Xanthura,”

XANTHURA.—CYANOCORAX. 503

and we altogether fail to appreciate the differences sought to be made between Mexican

and Guatemalan examples of X. /uxuosa; the only point that seems necessary to refer

to as regards the variation of the species within our region is that birds from Northern

Yucatan have the under surface rather purer yellow than those from other parts of

Mexico and Guatemala ; in this respect they approach the Venezuelan form X. ceru-

leocephala, in which the green shade is wholly absent.

Xanthura lweuosa is a well-known bird in the Rio Grande valley, occurring both on

the Texan and on the Mexican side of the river; all collectors who have worked in this

district have noted its presence. Dr. Merrill and Mr. Sennett found it breeding about

Lomita and other places in Texas: the nest is described as built of twigs and rootlets,

but so thin that the eggs could be seen from beneath; it is not easily found, for

it is always concealed in thickets or in the heavy undergrowths of dense woods.

The ground-colour of the eggs is usually drab, faintly tinged with green, distinctly

spotted, speckled, or streaked with brown markings, chiefly at the larger end; occa-

sionally, however, the spots are indistinct and clouded. In Southern Mexico_X. luxuosa

is a well-known bird on the eastern side of the cordillera; in the State of Vera Cruz,

Sumichrast says, it is one of the most generally diffused species throughout the Depart-

ment in the hot and temperate regions, even as high as 6500 feet above the sea. Pease

found it in the State of Puebla; but it seems absent from all the western slope of the

mountains and from the State of Oaxaca until we come to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,

where Sumichrast found it in numbers. In Northern Yucatan Mr. Gaumer says that

it is abundant near the city of Merida, and all towns and villages, being seldom seen

in the forests, though frequently along the roadsides; it is a bird, though common, but

little known to the people of Yucatan, due probably to its resorting to those trees having

green foliage like the colour of its plumage. In Guatemala it is a familiar bird in the

forest regions on both sides of the cordillera up to an elevation of about 3000 feet, and

it seems equally abundant in the lowlands lying to the northward of Coban as throughout

the whole country bordering the Pacific. Its habits are much like those of other J ays,

and it frequents the roadsides and the edges of clearings rather than the dense forests.

Southward of Guatemala it has been recorded only from Honduras, and it is a remark-

able fact that at present we have no record of any species of this form from any portion

of the southern section of our country; it appears to be entirely absent from Costa

Rica and the State of Panama. Immediately we enter South America we find the true

X. ineas occurs in the Cauca valley of Colombia, and in Venezuela the exceedingly

closely allied X. cwruleocapitia is found.

504 CORVIDA.

CYANOCORAX.

Cyanocoraz, Boie, Isis, 1826, p. 975; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 119.

Cyanocoraz, after separating Cyanolyca ornata and its allies, contains, according to

Mr. Sharpe, thirteen species, divisible into two sections—one having all the tail-feathers

tipped with white, the others not so marked. The only species found in our region

belongs to the former section, which contains eight nominal species, two or three of

which are perhaps of doubtful value. The frontal feathers of C. affinis are directed

forwards and upwards so as to form an upright crest, the supranasal feathers just

covering the nostrils. The bill is short, but stout and strong; the wings are short, the

primaries barely exceeding the secondaries in length.

The range of the genus extends over a large portion of Tropical South America

from the basin on the La Plata northwards; it penetrates our region as far north as

Costa Rica.

1. Cyanocorax affinis.

Cyanocorax affinis, Pelz. Sitz. Ak. Wien, xx. p. 1641; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 354°; 1879,

p. 510°; Salv. P. Z. 8. 1870, p. 191*; Salv. & Godm. Ibis, 1879, p. 201°; Sharpe, Cat. B.

Brit. Mus. iti. p. 121°; Zeledon, Cat. Av. de Costa Rica, p. 10’.

Cyanocorax pileatus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 188°.

Uroleuca pileata, Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. vii. p. 296°.

Supra purpurascente-brunneus ; nucha, uropygio et cauda lete purpurascentioribus, hujus rectricibus omnibus

lactescente albo terminatis; capite toto cum gutture nigris; plaga malari maculisque duabus, una supra,

altera infra oculos cyaneis; corpore subtus reliquo cum tibiis et subalaribus lactescente-albis ; rostro et

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 13-5, ale 6-2, caude 7-0, rostri a rictu 1:4, tarsi 2-0. (Deser. exempl. ex

Chepo, Panama. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Costa Rica (Zeledon™); Panama, Bugaba, Calobre (Arcé*), line of railway

(MU*Leannan?*), Chepo (Arcé®), R. Truando and Nercua (Wood §).—Co.omsta ! 35,

Cyanocorax affinis is a Colombian species, whose range embraces the State of Panama,

as we have specimens from as far north as the district of Chiriqui. Mr. Zeledon

includes it in his list of Costa-Rican birds. M‘Leannan found it not uncommon on the

line of the Panama railway; and Cassin records it under the name of Cyanocorax

pileatus from the rivers Truando and Nercua on the Isthmus of Darien, where Mr. Wood

observed it in flocks on high trees near the base of the mountains; he adds that they are

very shy and noisy birds, calling out loudly whenever an attempt was made to approach

them. Salmon found the nest and eggs of this bird in the Cauca valley in Colombia;

the former is composed of sticks, and all he saw were placed with considerable skill in

situations difficult to find, generally a good way out on a branch. He adds that, though

a noisy bird at all other times, it is usually quiet when near its nest. The eges are

clay-brown, thickly spotted, especially at the larger end, with spots of several shades of

yellowish brown.

PSILORHINUS. 505

PSILORHINUS.

Psilorhinus, Riippell, Mus. Senckenb. p. 188 (1837) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 139.

Psilorhinus is usually placed amongst the genera in which the nostrils are completely

exposed, and we have seen specimens in this condition; in others the supranasal feathers

thinly cover the nostrils, and the arrangement of the feathers of this portion of the

head is but a slight modification of that of Cyanocoraz ; there is also an indication of a

malar spot which points to a similar affinity. Ps¢lorhinus nevertheless is a fairly definite

genus, having a much stronger bill than any of the American Garruline. The wings

too are longer than in Cyanocorax, the primaries exceeding the secondaries by nearly

an inch and a half.

Psilorhinus is peculiar to our region, and is represented by two species—one of which

spreads from the Rio Grande to Costa Rica, the other occupies an, at present, ill-defined

area in Mexico.

1. Psilorhinus morio.

Pica morio, Wag]. Isis, 1829, p. 751*; 1831, p. 527°.

Corvus morio, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vég. p. 1; J. £. Orn. 1863, p. 56°.

Corvus morio, Eyd. & Gerv. Voy. ‘ Favorite,’ Zool. p. 54%.

Psilorhinus morio, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 881°; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1856, p. 800°; 1859, p. 83657; Sel. &

Salv. P. Z.S. 1869, p. 363°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 554°; Baird,

Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 304°; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 25";

Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 189"; Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 153”,

Pica fuliginosa, Less. Traité d’Orn. p. 333 ™.

Brunneus ; alis et cauda vix dilutioribus ; capite undique cum gutture toto saturatioribus ; corpore subtus reliquo

pallide brunneo ; rostro nigro, interdum flavo variegato, pedibus nigris. Long. tota 15'8, alx 8-0, caudee

rect. med. 8:0, rect. lat. 6°3, rostri a rictu 1:6, tarsi 1-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus.

nostr.)

Hab. Mexico? ?%, Rio Grande valley 12, Boquillo and China in Nuevo Leon (Couch 10).

city of Mexico (/e Strange’), State of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast °), Cordova (Sallé®),

Jalapa (de Oca", Perez 1), Mirador !°, Plan del Rio (Perez 13), Guichicovi (Sumi-

chrast 11).

The differences between this bird and P. mexicanus are obvious enough at first sight,

the white tips to all but the central feathers of the tail in the latter bird being a

conspicuous character; but their range is hardly what would be expected, both forms

being found in the same districts of Mexico, as at Mirador and elsewhere.

But P. morio is a purely Mexican bird, and is confined to the hot and temperate

regions. According to Sumichrast, it inhabits the greater portion of the State of Vera

Cruz up to an elevation of about 5000 feet. Its habits are described as gregarious and

extremely noisy ; it frequents the forests of high trees. Nothing has been recorded of

its nesting-habits which can be relied upon; but Sumichrast says that he was assured

BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., ApriZ 1887. 64

506 CORVIDA.

that it never makes a nest of its own, but invariably lays its eggs in those belonging to

other birds.

2. Psilorhinus mexicanus.

Psilorhinus mexicanus, Riipp. Mus. Senck. ii. p. 189, t. 11. f.27*; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. 8. 1869, p. 363°;

1870, p. 837°; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 140*; Boucard, P. Z. 8. 1883, p. 447°.

Corvus morio, Wag). Isis, 1829, p. 75] °.

Psilorhinus morio, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p. 21"; Moore, P. Z.S. 1859, p. 57°;

Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 22°; Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p.118°; Cab. J. f. Orn. 1861, p. 83” ;

Lawr. Ann. Lyc. N. Y. ix. p. 104”; Frantz, J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 38 ; Baird, Brew., &

Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 804 (partim) *.

Corvus vociferus, Cabot, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 155.

Psilorhinus cyanogenys, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 140, t. 9”.

Precedenti similis, sed corpore subtus a pectore usque ad crissum albidis, caude quoque rectricibus omnibus,

preter duas medias, albo late terminatis. Long. tota 16-0, ale 7-9, caude rect. med. 7-8, rect. lat. 5°3,

rostri a rictu 1°7, tarsi 1-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Choctum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.)

Hab. Mexico ®, Tamaulipas ( fide Riippell '), Boquillo and China in Nuevo Leon (Couch "),

Mirador !4, Northern Yucatan (Gauwmer); British Honpuras, Belize (Leyland °) ;

GuatemaLa, Yzabal, Quirigua ®, Iguana®, Teleman, Choctum (0. 8S. & F. D. G.);

Honpuras, Taulevi (Taylor !°), Omoa (Leyland §), San Pedro (G. MZ. Whitely®) ;

Nicaragua, Pearl Cay Lagoon (Wickham 1%); Costa Rica 14, Turrialba !*, Potrero

Cerrado 1°, Nicoya 18 (v. Frantzius).

Psilorhinus mexicanus was described by Riippell from a specimen said to have been

obtained in the State of Tamaulipas, and it appears that similar birds were met with

by Lieut. Couch in the State of Nuevo Leon, and others at Mirador and in other parts

of Mexico. It occurs also in Northern Yucatan, where Mr. Gaumer says that it is very

common in the great forests, but is shy, living in flocks of twenty or more.

In Guatemala we met with it in abundance in the lower heavily-forested portions of

the Motagua valley, and also in that of the Polochic, both at Yzabal and Teleman,

and can confirm the description of its habits given by other writers, both as to its

associating in flocks and as to its extreme noisiness.

Both Leyland and Mr. Taylor speak of it as common in Honduras, but neither of

them brought home specimens. Mr. Wickham’s example, which formed the type of

P. cyanogenys, was obtained on the shores of the Pearl Cay Lagoon, on the Mosquito

coast of Nicaragua. South of Nicaragua its range includes the Pacific side of the

continent, being found in Costa Rica, on the shores of the Gulf of Nicoya, as well as

on the eastern slope of the mountains.

Regarding P. cyanogenys of Sharpe, we have little hesitation in placing it here; the

plumage of the type in the British Museum is in exceedingly faded and worn condition,

and this has brought into prominence the malar spots, which are always present in

CALOCITTA. 507

Psilorhinus, but scarcely visible in freshly-moulted birds. The figure does not give the

idea of the state of the specimen from which it was drawn, but doubtless represents an

artistic restoration of the same; but the spots near the eye and the base of the lower

jaw should have been made brown and not blue, and then we should have had an

excellent figure of the normal P. mexicanus.

B. Nares aperte, plumis haud obtecte.

CALOCITTA.

Calocitia, Gray, List Gen. B. 1841, p. 50; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 88.

This genus is the only one of the American Jays which has a completely open nostril,

uncovered with bristly feathers; it is further characterized by its long occipital crest

composed of slightly recurved feathers, and by its long cuneate tail. Like Psilorhinus,

Calocitta is restricted to our region—C. collie’ being found in a very limited district in

Western Mexico; while C. formosa is spread from Colima southwards to Costa Rica,

and is found chiefly, but not exclusively, on the Pacific side of the cordillera.

1. Calocitta colliei.

Pica colliet, Vig. in Zool. Beechey’s Voy. p. 22, t. 7°.

Cyanurus colliei, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 3817; Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 139°.

Calocitta colliei, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, i. p. 334‘; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii.

p. 284°; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 89°.

Pica bernettii, Gray in Griff. ed. Cuv. An. Kingd., Aves, ii. p. 334, t.7.

Calocitia elegans, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. z. Bremen, i. p. 335°.

Pica bullocki, Aud. B. Am. iv. p. 105, t. 227°.

Azurea ; cauda cyanescentiore ; fronte et crista elongata nigris, hujus plumis ceruleo terminatis ; capitis lateribus

et gutture toto nigris; macula supra oculos altera malari ad oculos extendente ceeruleo-albis; corpore

subtus reliquo albo; cauda valde elongata, rectricibus quatuor utrinque late albo terminatis; rostro et

pedibus nigris. Long. tota 26-0, ale 7-9, caude rect. med. 18:0, rect. lat. 5-0, rostri a rictu 1-7, tarsi 1°7.

(Descr. maris ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Q aut, ut dicitur, av. juwv. plumis frontis et cristae elongatis albo terminatis.

Hab. Muxico!?, Mazatlan (Grayson***, Bishoff'®, Xantus®, Forrer), Guanajuato,

Guadalaxara (Dugeés *).

This remarkable species has a very limited range in Western Mexico, where it was

discovered during Captain Beechey’s voyage at San Blas, and where Grayson and others

found it at Mazatlan. Dr. Dugés includes it in his ‘List of Birds of Guadalajara ;’

this is the only record we have of it inland away from the coast of the Pacific. The

great variation of the markings of the head and throat of this species has given rise to

a good deal of perplexity as to whether these variations are due to immaturity or to

sexual differences; judging from a pair sent us by Mr. Forrer, which have the sex of

| b4*

508 CORVIDZ.

each carefully marked, and which show no sign of immaturity, the female has the

frontal and crest-feathers tipped with white and those of the male with blue. As in the

other species of Calocitta there certainly seems to be a sexual difference in the markings

of the head, we are inclined to think that the sexes can be distinguished by their

markings in this species ; on the other hand is Grayson’s positive statement that they

are alike, so that further observations are desirable to clear up this point.

Grayson says that after the month of September the Urracas (C. colliez), in families

of seven or eight, will almost invariably be found with the small flocks of Double-

crested Orioles (Cassiculus melanicterus), with whom they continue all the winter till

the breeding-season arrives. They follow the Orioles through all their peregrinations

in the woods, in order to share a part of the various beetles, grasshoppers, and other

insects and their larve, which the more active Orioles are better fitted to uncover

from their hiding-places in the bark and leaves of trees. They thus pass the time

hunting amicably together, the Orioles seeming to be satisfied with their society, and

at the same time the ever vigilant Urracas, being on the alert, give timely warning of

danger.

The Urraca Jay builds its nest in May; it is composed of rough thorny sticks, and

lined with moss or fibres of roots and grass; it is about as large as that of the Magpie,

and, like that bird, a great deal of caution is observed in locating it in some inaccessible

thorny tree.

It is an inhabitant of Western Mexico, generally met with in the thick and virgin

forests of the tierra caliente, near the Pacific coast.

2. Calocitta formosa.

Pica formosa, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 437°.

Calocitta formosa, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 22°; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 381°; Salv. Ibis, 1870,

p. 114°; P. Z. 8. 1888, p. 423°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 285°; Bull. U.S.

Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 24"; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iii. p. 88°; Nutt. & Ridgw. Pr. U.S.

Nat. Mus. vi. p. 892°; Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 153°.

Pica bullocki, Wagl. Syst. Av. fol. 21, p. 6”.

Cyanurus bullocki, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 115” ; Consp. Av. i. p. 380”.

Calocitta bullocki, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 358 ™.

Garrula gubernatriz, Temm. Pl. Col. p. 436 (Jan. 1828) ™.

Cyanurus gubernatrix, Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 113°.

Czeruleo-grisea ; pileo postico et nucha azureis ; alis extus azureo-limbatis ; loris, capitis lateribus et gutture albis

undique nigro marginatis ; crista elongata nigra, plumarum longissimarum dimidio basali griseo ; corpore

subtus albo; cauda supra cyanea subtus nigra, rectricibus utrinque quatuor albo late terminatis; rostro

et pedibus nigris. Long. tota 24-0, ale 7-4, caude rectr. med. 13-0, rectr. lat. 5:0, rostri a rictu 1°6,

tarsi 1-7. (Descr. maris ex Oaxaca, Mexico. Mus. Brit.)

Q mari similis, sed criste plumis elongatis omnino nigris, nucha nigra, pileo postico tantum ceruleo lavato.

Hab. Muxico™ ™, Temiscaltepec (Bullock 1), Manzanilla Bay, Rio de Ameria (Xantus 6),

CALOCITTA. 509

Acapulco (A. H. Markham*), San Juan del Rio (Rébouch 8), Chietla State of

Puebla (Perez 1°), Oaxaca (Boucard 3), Juchitan, Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast*) ;

GuaTEeMALA (Velasquez '*), hot districts of both sides of the cordillera 2, Savana

Grande, Escuintla, Retalhuleu, Rio Motagua below Chol, Chuacus, Zacapa (O. S.

& I. D. G.); Honpuras, Tigre I., Comayagua (Taylor 16); Nicaragua (Sailé §),

Omotepé I. (Nutting ®) ; Costa Rica (Carmiol *).

Swainson founded his description of this species on specimens obtained by Bullock

at Temiscaltepec, and Wagler’s types of his Pica bullocki came from the same source,

the two names appearing nearly at the same date. Temminck’s name (G4. gubernatriz)

is obviously a synonym of the same bird. The range of this species is somewhat limited

in Mexico, being chiefly restricted to the hot region of the Pacific side of the cordillera

from the State of Colima southwards to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec ; it also occurs in

the State of Puebla, but the name is absent from Sumichrast’s list of the birds of Vera

Cruz. This writer states that it is one of the most widely-distributed of the birds of

Tehuantepec, where it makes its presence known in the obtrusive and noisy way so

common to all Jays, and especially to members of this genus.

As in Mexico, so in Guatemala, this Jay is only found in the hotter parts, occurring

in greatest abundance in the forest-country bordering on the Pacific, up to an elevation

of about 2500 feet. To travellers in these districts it is exceedingly familiar, as it often

keeps pace with them, crossing and recrossing the road in flocks, all the time keeping

up discordant cries; it will thus follow a party sometimes for a mile or more, and then,

as if satisfied with this performance, abruptly disappear. The only other portion of

Guatemala in which we noticed this bird was the valley of the Motagua river, where

it occurs from the bridge which crosses the river between Vuelta Grande and Chol and

the vicinity of Gualan below the plain of Zacapa; it occurs also in the valleys opening

into the Motagua, such as that in which the village of Chuacus is situated. All this

country is occupied by thin scrubby forest, largely composed of Mimosee, and it is woods

of this description rather than denser forests that this bird frequents. It is not found

about Salama or any other portion of the Department of Vera Paz, nor does it occur

in Yucatan. In Honduras Mr. Taylor says it is plentiful in Tigre Island in the Gulf

of Fonseca and thence inland to the foot of the mountains north of the plain of

Comayagua. From Costa Rica we have a single male specimen sent us by Carmiol,

without the precise locality being indicated.

Mexican specimens appear to be rather greyer as a rule in the tint of their upper

plumage than those from further south, which are of a bluer shade; the latter, too,

often have a blue tint on the throat. These differences are but slight and somewhat

anconstant.

510 ALAUDIDZ.

[ Note.—Dr. Dugés, in his list of Guanajuato birds published in the first volume of

‘La Naturaleza,’ includes two other species of Corvide as found in the neighbourhood

of the town in which he resides; but we have not put them formally into our list, as

their occurrence so far south in Mexico is perhaps only casual, and no other writer

makes any mention of them. These species are :—

1. Corvus americanus, Aud., Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 139; Baird, Brew., and Ridgw.,

N. Am. B. ii. p. 243.

A species of wide range in North America from the fur countries southward, and

also found in the frontier State of Texas. Dr. Dugés gives it from Guadalajara and

Guanajuato; possibly the bird referred to is C. meaxicanus.

2. Pica HUDSoNICA, Bp., Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 139.

Pica caudata, var. hudsonica, Baird, Brew., and Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 266.

This species, which is now considered by many writers to be inseparable from the

European Pica rustica, is found throughout the northern and western parts of North

America and in the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico and Arizona. Dr. Dugés records

its occurrence from Guanajuato. |

Fam. ALAUDIDZ.

OTOCORYS.

Otocoris, Bonaparte, Icon. Faun. Ital. Ucc. Intr. fol. **** (1839).

Otocorys, Dresser, B. Eur. iv. p. 385.

Eremophila, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 322; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 189.

Otocorys is the only genus of the Alaudide found permanently in America, where it

occurs over the greater part of the northern continent from the shores of the Arctic

Ocean to the plateau of Mexico, and in South America there is an outlying colony in

the Andes of Colombia. The genus has also a wide range in the Old World, where it

is represented by several closely allied forms, the limits of some of which are not clearly

defined. The same is the case in America, where several races have been distinguished,

our Mexican bird being one of them.

The bill of O. chrysolema has no trace of a notch at the end of the maxilla, the

tomia is very slightly curved; the nostrils are completely covered by stiff feathers, with

which are mingled some strong decurved bristles. The toes are rather short, and the

claw of the hind toe strong and nearly straight. The wings are long and pointed, the

three outer primaries forming the point, the second being slightly the longest; the

inner secondaries slightly exceed the inner primaries. The tail is moderate, and nearly

even at the extremity.

OTOCORYS. 511

1. Otocorys chrysolzma.

Alauda chrysolema, Wag}. Isis, 1831, p. 530°.

Otocorys chrysolema, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 306°; 1859, p. 372°.

Otocoris chrgsolema, Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 341°.

Eremophila chrysolema, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 174°.

Eremophila alpestris, var. chrysolema, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 144°.

Otocoris alpestris, var. chrysolema, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 2787; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.

no. 4, p. 22°.

Otocoris alpestris chrysolema, Hensh. Auk, i. p. 260°.

Alauda cornuta, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434°.

Phileremos cornutus, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 111".

Eremophila cornuta, Dugés, La Nat. i. p. 140”.

Alauda gracilis, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. no. 59, p. 2; J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 56”.

Supra sordide fusca, plumis singulis medialiter obscurioribus; vertice postico, nucha et cervice postica cum

uropygio stricte rosaceo-cinnamomeis ; vertice antico, loris, genis et pectore nigerrimis ; fronte, superciliis,

regione parotica et gula flavis; corpore reliquo subtus albo; alis fuscis, pallide fusco limbatis, tectricibus

minoribus rosaceo-cinnamomeis ; cauda nigricante, rectricibus utrinque externis in pogonio externo albidis,

rectricibus duabus intermediis fuscescentibus ; rostro nigro, mandibula infra ad basin albicante; pedibus

obscure corylinis. Long. tota 6-0, ale 4:0, caudee 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 0°7. (Descr. exempl. ex

Mexico. Mus. nostr.)

Av, juv. capite nec nigro nec flavo ornato, vertice omnino fusco striato.

Hab. Nortu America, New Mexico, Arizona??.—Mexico!10" (Deppe%, Sallé?),

Mazatlan (Grayson *7), Guanajuato (Dugeés 1”), Tonila °, valley of Mexico (White >)

Tacubaya (le Strange), Oaxaca (Boucard?), San Mateo (Sumichrast ®).

The North-American Shore-Lark (Otocorys alpestris) has recently® been carefully

examined by Mr. W. H. Henshaw, and divided into no less than nine races or sub-

species, of which the Mexican bird is one, and this he calls Otocorys alpestris chryso-

lema, with the following definition :—“Length of wing 3°98, tail 2°91, bill 0°83,

tarsus 0°46. Much deeper in colour than arenicolor (i.e. the bird of the Great Basin

of the United States and Rocky Mountains). Nape &c. deep pinkish rufous; throat

deep yellow, but breast always white——Habitat: Mexico, possibly across the border

into Southern Arizona and New Mexico.”

Without attempting to examine the whole question of the variation of these birds,

for which we have not nearly sufficient materials, we can hardly be wrong in using

Wagler’s name chrysolema for the Mexican bird. Whether it is really definitely sepa-

rable from those found on the frontier States must remain an open question so far as

we are concerned ; but we may remark that the small size, as compared with Northern

birds, the bright yellow of the throat, and the clear pinkish colour of the nape and

hind neck, seem to distinguish the race of the Mexican highlands.

Otocorys peregrina of the highlands of Colombia, though separated by Mr. Sclater,

has often been considered to be identical with O. chrysolema, but we think we can

trace sufficient differences to justify its being kept separate. Comparing adult males,