[1]Spizella pinetorum,Salvin,Pr. Z. S.1863,p.189. (“SimilisS. pusillæ, exAmer. Sept.et Mexico, sed coloribus clarioribus et rostro robustiore differt.”)[2]Winter plumage.Rusty prevailing above, but hoary whitish edges to feathers still in strong contrast; streaks beneath with a rufous suffusion externally, but still with the black in excess.[3]Winter plumage.Gray above more olivaceous, the black streaks more subdued by a rufous suffusion; streaks beneath with the rufous predominating, sometimes without any black.[4]Winter plumage.Above rusty-olive, with little or no ashy, the black streaks broad and distinct. Streaks beneath with the black and rusty in about equal amount.[5]In summer the streaks beneath are entirely intense black; in winter they have a slight rufous external suffusion.[6]Melospiza melodia,var.mexicana,Ridgway. Mexican Song Sparrow.? ? Melospiza pectoralis,von Müller.Sp. Char.(Type, 60,046, Puebla, Mexico,A. Boucard.) Similar toM. melodia, but ground-color above olive-brown; inner webs of interscapulars pale ashy, but not in strong contrast. Crown and wings rusty-brown, the former with broad black streaks, and divided by a just appreciable paler line; back with broad black streaks without any rufous suffusion. Superciliary stripe pure light ash, becoming white anterior to the eye; two broad, dark-brown stripes on side of head,—one from the eye back along upper edge of auriculars, the other back from the rictus, along their lower border. Lower parts pure white, the flanks and crissum distinctly ochraceous; markings beneath broad and heavy, entirely pure deep black; those on the jugulum deltoid, on the sides linear. Wing, 2.60; tail, 2.85; bill, .37 and .24; tarsus, .85; middle toe without claw, .68. This may possibly be theM. pectoralisof von Müller. The description cited above, however, does not agree with the specimen under consideration. The pectoral spots are expressly stated to be brown, not even a black shaft-streak being mentioned, whereas the pure black spots of the specimen before us render it peculiar in this respect, being, in fact, its chief characteristic.[7]Zonotrichia boucardi,Sclater,P. Z. S.1867, 1,pl. I, La Puebla,Mex.(scarcely definable as distinct fromruficeps).[8]Peucæa botterii,Sclater,Cat. Am. B.1862, 116 (Zonotrichia b.P. Z. S.1857, 214), Orizaba.Coturniculus mexicana,Lawr.Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VIII, 1867, 474 (Colima).This form can scarcely be defined separately fromæstivalis. The type ofC. mexicanus,Lawr., is undistinguishable from Orizaba specimens. A specimen in the worn summer plumage (44,752♀, Mirador, July) differs in having the streaks above almost wholly black, with scarcely any rufous edge; the crown is almost uniformly blackish. The feathers are very much worn, however, and the specimen is without doubt referrible tobotteri.ThePeucæa notostictaofSclater(P. Z. S.1868, 322) we have not seen; it appears to differ in some important respects from the forms diagnosed above, and may, possibly, be a good species. Its place in our system appears to be with section “A,” but it differs fromruficepsandboucardiin the median stripe on the crown, and the black streaks in the rufous of the lateral portion, the blacker streaks of the dorsal region, and some other less important points of coloration. The size appears to be larger than in any of the forms given in our synopsis (wing, 2.70; tail, 3.00).Hab.States of Puebla and Mexico,Mex.[9]Passerella obscura,Verrill,Pr. Bost. N. H. Soc. IX, Dec.1862, 143 (Anticosti). (Type in MuseumComp. Zoöl., Cambridge.)“Size somewhat smaller than that ofP. iliaca. Legs and wings a little shorter in proportion. Claws less elongated. Bill somewhat shorter, thicker, and less acute. Color above rufous-brown, becoming bright rufous on the rump and exposed portion of the tail, but a shade darker than inP. iliaca; head uniform brown, with a slight tinge of ash; feathers of the back centred with a streak of darker brown. Wings nearly the same color as the back, with no white bands; outer webs of the quills rufous, inner webs dark brown; secondary coverts rufous, with dark brown centres; primary coverts uniform brown. Beneath dull white, with the throat and breast thickly covered with elongated triangular spots and streaks of dark reddish-brown; sides streaked with rufous-brown; middle of abdomen with a few small triangular spots of dark brown; under tail-coverts brownish-white, with a few small spots of bright rufous; tibiæ dark brown. The auriculars are tinged with reddish-brown. Bristles at the base of the bill are numerous, extending over the nostrils. Tail rather long, broad, and nearly even. Third quill longest; second and fourth equal, and but slightly shorter; first intermediate between the fifth and sixth, and one fourth of an inch shorter than the third.“Length, 6.75; extent of wings, 10.75; wing, 3.35; tarsus, 1 inch.“This species differs greatly in color fromP. iliaca. It is darker in all parts; the feathers of the back are rufous-brown, centred with darker, instead of ash centred with brownish-red; the two white bands on the wing are wanting; the breast and throat are thickly streaked with elongated spots of dark reddish-brown, while inP. iliacathe spots are less numerous, shorter and broader, and bright rufous, and the central part of the throat is nearly free from spots; the under tail-coverts are brownish-white, with rufous spots, instead of nearly pure white.”There are some features in this bird, as described by Mr. Verrill, which seem to characterize it as different fromP. iliaca, although it is barely possible that it is this bird in immature dress. The streaked back at once separates it from all our species exceptingiliaca. Nothing is said of its habits. One specimen was killed in Anticosti, July 1; the other, August 8. The trueiliacawas found on the island, which fact renders it still more probable that this is its young.[10]Atlantic Monthly,XXIII,p.707.[11]Cyanospiza leclancheri.Spiza leclancheri,Lafr.Mag. Zoöl.1841,pl. xxii.—Less.R. Z.1842, 74.[12]Tiaris pusilla,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 438.Phonipara pusilla,Sclater,P. Z. S.1855, 159.[13]Emberiza olivacea,Gmelin,Syst. Nat. I, 309.Phonipara olivacea,Sclater,P. Z. S.1855, 159.[14]Loxia canora,Gmelin,Syst. Nat. I, 858.Phonipara canora,Bonap.[15]Cardinalis virginianus,var.coccineus,Ridgway.[16]Cardinalis virginianus,var.carneus.? Cardinalis carneus,Less.R. Z.1842, 209.—Bonap.Consp. I, 501.According to the locality quoted (“Acapulco et Realejo”) this name is the one to be applied to the variety diagnosed in the synopsis; it is difficult, however, to make anything out of the description, as it is evidently taken from a female or immature bird. If the locality quoted be correct, this form ranges along the Pacific Coast, probably from latitude 20°south, as far at least as Nicaragua. North of 20°, and on the Tres Marias Islands, it is replaced byvar.igneus, and on the Atlantic coast, from Tampico south to Honduras, is represented by thevar.coccineus.In the very long, stiff crest-feathers, and light red rump, this variety ofC. virginianusclosely approximates toC. phœniceus, but in other respects is very distinct.[17]Cardinalis phœniceus, (Gould,)Bonap.P. Z. S.1837,p. 111; Consp. I, 501.—Sclater & Salvin,Ex. Orn. Pt. VIII, 1868,pl. lxiii.[18]Pipilo macronyx,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434. Real del Monte,Mex.—Ib.Anim. in Men.1838, 347.—Bp.Consp.487.—Sclater & Salvin, 1869, 361.Pipilo virescens,Hartlaub,Cab. Jour.1863, 228,Mex.Sp. Char.Prevailing color above olive-green; the head and neck all round black, abruptly contrasted below with the white under parts; above passing insensibly into the green of the back; feathers of interscapular region obscurely dusky medially; sides and crissum rufous. Scapulars and greater and middle coverts with outer webs pale greenish-yellow at ends; these blotches faintly margined externally with olive-green. Edge of wing yellow; outer primary edged with whitish, edges of other primaries and of secondaries uniform olive-green. Fifth quill longest, fourth and sixth scarcely shorter; first shorter than ninth. Legs stout, claws much curved. Tail wanting in the single specimen before us (a male from the city of Mexico, belonging to Mr. G. N. Lawrence).Dimensions(prepared specimen): Wing, 3.70. Exposed portion of first primary, 2.30; of second, 2.73; of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 2.85. Bill: Length from forehead, .75; from nostril, .45. Legs: Tarsus, 1.14; middle claw, .38; hind toe and claw, .85; claw alone, .52.In describing this species, Swainson mentions an accompanying specimen as similar, but without any white spots on wings, suggesting that it may be the female. A specimen in the plumage from Oaxaca is characterized as follows.[19]Pipilo chlorosoma,Baird. 50,225♂, Oaxaca. Similar toP. macronyxin color, but without any trace of white markings on the wings. Outer tail-feathers with an obscurely defined greenish-white patch about an inch long, at the end of inner web; similar, but successively smaller patches on the second and third feathers, all whiter on upper than lower surface. Fifth quill longest; first shorter than ninth.Dimensions(prepared specimen): Total length, 8.20; wing, 3.75; tail, 4.80. Bill: Length from forehead, .73; from nostril, .43. Legs: Tarsus, 1.24; middle toe and claw, 1.10; claw alone, .36; hind toe and claw, .85; claw alone, .50.No.60,050, Mexico, is similar, in all essential respects.From the analogies of the black Pipilos, it is reasonable to consider these two birds as distinct species, or at least varieties, especially as the specimen before us of that with unspotted wings is marked male. The general appearance is otherwise much the same, the unspotted bird rather smaller, and without the dusky interscapular markings described inmacronyx. ShouldNo.50,225 represent a distinct species, it may be calledP. chlorosoma, and distinguished as above. (60,050, Mexico,Boucard.)[20]Pipilo lateralis(Natt.).Emberiza lateralis,Natt.Mus. Vind. MSS.Poospiza lat.Burm.Th. Bras. III,Av.2,p.215.Pipilo superciliosa,Swains.An. Menag.311, 95, fig. 59.[21]Pipilo maculatus,Swainson,Philos. Mag., 1827.[22]Pipilo carmani,Baird,MSS.;Lawrence,Ann. N. Y. Lyc. X, 7. (Specimens in collection made by Colonel A. J. Grayson.)[23]Pipilo maculatus,Swainson.Sp. Char.Male.Similar to the female ofPipilo arcticus, but rather more olivaceous; only the head and neck all round black; shading above insensibly into the back. The white markings mostly edged narrowly externally with black, and clouded with rusty; the nape-feathers faintly, the interscapular broadly, streaked centrally with blackish; lower back and rump, with outer edges of quill and tail feathers, olivaceous-brown. A narrow shaft-streak in white at end of tail. Fourth quill longest; fifth scarcely shorter; first about equal to secondaries. Claws moderate; perhaps larger than inerythrophthalmus. Length of skin, 7.80; wing, 3.15; tail, 4.20; tarsus, 1.10; middle toe and claw, .96; claw alone, .34; hind toe and claw, .81; claw alone, .45.Hab.Mexico (Oaxaca; Real del Monte,Philos. Mag., 1827).It is a serious question whether this comparatively little known Mexican species ofPipilois not to be considered as identical with some or all of the species of the United States, with spotted wing-coverts, notwithstanding the difference in the color of the body. It appears, however, to be constant in the olivaceous character of the back,—no reference being made to Mexican specimens entirely black above,—and as such it may be considered a permanent geographical race.[24]Pipilo fuscus,Sw.Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434 (Temiscaltepec).—Ib.Anim. in Menag.1838, 347.—Bp.Consp.1851, 487.—Sclater,P. Z. S.1856, 304 (Cordova).? Kieneria fusca,Bp.C. R. XL, 1855, 356.Sp. Char.Above dull olive-brown; the top of head having the central portion of feathers tinged (inconspicuously and obscurely) with rufous. Chin and throat pale rufous, bordered by dusky streaks; a single dusky spot in lower part of jugulum. Belly and flanks behind, anal region and crissum, rather darker rufous. Sides grayish-olive, lighter than the back, tingeing the breast, and leaving only a small patch in the centre of under parts white, shading into the surrounding ashy-brown. Fourth and fifth quills longest; first shorter than ninth, or than secondaries.Dimensions(prepared specimen): Total length, 7.75; wing, 3.80; tail, 4.20; exposed portion of first primary, 2.30; of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 3.03. Bill: Length from forehead, .65; from nostril, .40. Legs: Tarsus, .95; middle toe and claw, 1.00; hind toe and claw, .68; claw alone, .36.Hab.Highlands of Mexico.The specimen described is from the city of Mexico, and belongs to Mr. G. N. Lawrence; others before us are from Temiscaltepec (the original locality of Swainson’s type), Guadalaxara, and Tepic.While admitting the strong probability that the different brownPipiloswith rufous throat bordered by black spots,P. fuscus,crissalis,mesoleucus,albigula, and probably evenalbicollis, are geographical modifications of the same original type, the large collection before us vindicates the action of those who have referred the California species to that described by Swainson asfuscus, and who have distinguished theP. mesoleucusfrom both. The original description offuscusagrees almost exactly withcrissalis, both actually scarcely separable; while themesoleucus, intermediate in geographical position, is decidedly different from either. The relationships of these different forms will be found expressed in the general diagnosis already given.Two descriptions given by Swainson, copied below, of theP. fuscus, differ somewhat from each other, and may not have been taken from the same specimen. The identification of either withP. mesoleucuswould be a difficult matter; while the first one expresses the peculiar characters ofcrissalismore nearly than any other. The statement of “white beneath,” without any qualification, applies better tomesoleucusthan to others, but the “pale rufous tinge” observable incrissalisandfuscusis very different from the abruptly defined chestnut cap ofmesoleucus.Pipilo fuscus,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434. “Gray, beneath paler; throat obscure fulvous, with brown spots; vent ferruginous. Length, 8.00; bill, .70; wings, 3.50; tail, 4.00; tarsi, .90; hind toe and claw, .70.”Hab.Table land; Temiscaltepec.Pipilo fuscus,Swainson,Anim. in Men.1838, 347. “Grayish-brown above; beneath white; chin and throat fulvous, with dusky spots; under tail-coverts fulvous; tail blackish-brown, unspotted. Bill and legs pale, the latter smaller, and the claws more curved than in any other known species; crown with a pale rufous tinge. Length, 7.50; wings, 3.50; tail, 4.00; tarsus, .90; middle toe and claw the same; hinder toe, .65. Rather smaller thanmaculata.”[25]Pipilo albicollis,Sclater. Above uniform olivaceous-brown; the cap not differently colored. Lores, chin, and throat white, the two last bordered and defined by dusky spots; jugulum and breast white, the former clouded with olivaceous, and with a dusky blotch in middle; middle of throat crossed by an olivaceous band which curves round on each side under the ear-coverts; sides grayish. Flanks behind, anal region, and crissum, rufous. Middle wing-coverts with a whitish bar across their tips. Fourth and fifth quills longest; first shorter than ninth and secondaries. Length, 7.00; wing, 3.30; tail, 3.70. Bill and legs light.Hab.Central Mexico.This “species” may fairly be considered as one extreme of the series of whichP. crissalisis the other; and differs from the rest merely in a greater amount of white, and the absence of rufous tinge on top of head. The fulvous of throat is concentrated in a band across its middle portion, leaving chin and lower throat white; this, however, is foreshadowed in the paler chin ofmesoleucus, and the whitish lower throat ofalbigula. The uniformity of coloring above is nearly equalled by that ofP. crissalis. The whitish band across the middle wing-coverts is the most positive character.[26]The name in manuscript on the label of a specimen in the Schlüter collection, from Astrachan.[27]Otocorys peregrina,Sclater,P. Z. S.1855, 110,pl. cii.Eremophila per.Scl.Cat. Am. Birds, 1862, 127.[28]A specimen from Cleveland, Ohio (7,429♀, April 1, Dr. Kirtland), and one from Washington, D. C. (28,246♂,Feb.), have nearly as distinct streaks above, but the white of lower parts is without any tinge of yellow.[29]It is an interesting fact in regard to the species ofIcteridæ, that, as a general rule, female birds of West Indian representatives of theAgelainæandQuiscalinæare usually, or perhaps universally, uniformly black, where the continental are brown, either concolored or streaked. We know of no exception to the first part of this statement as toAgelaius,Nesopsar,Scolecophagus, andQuiscalus. The smaller North American species ofQuiscalushave the females duller, but not otherwise very different from the males, except in size. The females of the largeQuiscalus, all continental, are much smaller than the males, and totally different. InIcterusall the species in which the female is very different in color from the male are Northern Mexican or continental North American (pustulatus,spurius,baltimore,bullocki,cucullatus, etc.). Most West IndianIcterusalso exhibit no difference in the sexes,dominicensis,hypomelas,xanthomus,bonanæ, etc.; in one alone (leucopteryx) is the difference appreciable. The South American species have the females pretty generally similar to the males, but smaller, as is the case in the entire family.[30]Agelaius assimilis,Gundl. Cabanis, Journal, IX, 12 (nest).—Ib.Boston Journal,VI, 1853, 316.[31]Sturnella mexicana,Sclater, Ibis, 1861, 179.[32]Sturnella meridionalis,Sclater, Ibis, 1861, 179.[33]Sturnella hippocrepis,Wagler, Ibis, 1832, 281.—Lawr.Ann. N. Y.Lyc.1860.[34]An attempt at division into subgenera is as follows:—Icterus, bill stout, conical, the culmen and gonys nearly straight. Tail graduated. Species:vulgaris,auduboni,melanocephalus.Xanthornus, bill slender, slightly decurved. Tail graduated. Species:wagleri,parisorum,spurius,cucullatus.Hyphantes, bill stout, conical; the culmen and gonys straight. Tail slightly rounded. Species:baltimore,bullocki,abeillei.We do not find, however, that these subgenera are very tangible, exceptingHyphantes, which is rather well marked by square tail and straight outlines of the bill, as indicated above. The differences are really so minute, and the characters so variable with the species, that it seems entirely unnecessary to subdivide the genus.[35]Icterus dominicensis,var.prosthemelas.Icterus prosthemelas,Strickland,Jard. Cont. Orn.1850, 120,pl. lxii.Pendulinus p.Cassin, Icteridæ,P. A. N. S.1867, 56.Pendulinus lessoni,Bonap.Consp. I, 432, 1850.[36]Icterus dominicensis,var.dominicensis.Oriolus dominicensis,Linn.S. N. I, 163, 1766.Pendulinus d.Cassin.P. A. N. S.1867, 58.Pendulinus flavigaster,Vieill.Nouv. Dict. V, 317, 1816.Pendulinus viridis,Vieill.Nouv. Dict. V, 321, 1816?[37]Icterus dominicensis,var.portoricensis,Bryant,Pr. Bost. Soc.1866, 254.Pendulinus portoricensis,Cass.P. A. N. S.1867, 58.Turdus ater,Gm.S. N. I, 830, 1788?Turdus jugularis,Lath.Ind. Orn. I, 351, 1790?[38]Icterus dominicensis,var.hypomelas.Pendulinus hypomelas,Bonap.Consp. I, 433, 1850.—Cass.P. A. N. S.1867, 59.There seems to be no reason for not referring all the above forms to one species, the differences being merely in the relative amount of black and yellow. The greater predominance of the former color we should expect in specimens from the West Indies, where in this family the melanistic tendency is so marked.[39]Icterus cucullatus,var.auricapillus.Icterus auricapillus,Cass.P. A. N. S.1847, 382.—Ib.Journ. A. N. S. I,pl. xvi, f.2.—Ib.P. A. N. S.1867, 60.[40]Icterus bullocki,var.abeillei.Xanthornus abeillei,Less.Rev. Zoöl.1839, 101.Hyphantes a.Cass.P. A. N. S.1867, 62.? Oriolus costototl,Gm.Syst. Nat. I, 385, 1788.The only essential difference fromI. bullockiis in the greater amount of black, it being merely more extended, while the pattern is the same.[41]Icterus melanocephalus,Gray.Psarocolius melanocephalus,Wagler, Isis, 1829, 756.Icterus melanocephalus,Gray, Genera.—Sclater,Pr. Zoöl. Soc.1858, 97.—Cassin,Pr. A. N. S.1867, 53.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 543.Xanthornus melanocephalus,Bon.Consp.1850, 434 (description of young only).? Icterus graduacauda,Lesson,Rev. Zoöl.1839, 105.Sp. Char.Similar toI. auduboni, but without any white whatever on the wing. Head and neck all round, wings, scapulars, and tail, uniform pure black. Rest of body, including inside of wing and tibia and the lesser wing-coverts, orange-yellow; clouded with olivaceous-green on the back, less so on the rump. Bill and legs plumbeous, the former whitish at base. Length, 7.70; wing, 3.75; tail, 4.80.Hab.Warm parts of Mexico.Very like theauduboni, but smaller, the bill much stouter, shorter, and the culmen more curved. The third quill is longest; the fourth, fifth, and second successively a little shorter; the first and seventh about equal. The black of the head and neck comes farther behind and on the sides than inauduboni. The wings are totally destitute of the white edges of quills and coverts as seen inauduboni, and the middle coverts are black instead of pure yellow. The tail, too, is entirely black.[42]Icterus wagleri,Sclater,Pr. Zoöl. Soc.1857, 7.—Baird, BirdsN. Am.1858, 545,pl. lvii, f.2.—Ib.Mex. B. II, Birds, 19,pl. xix, f.2.—Cass.Pr.1867, 55.Psarocolius flavigaster,Wagler, Isis, 1829, 756 (not ofVieillot).Pendulinus dominicensis,Bp.Consp.1850, 432 (not ofLinn.).Sp. Char.Bill much attenuated and considerably decurved. Tail considerably graduated. Head and neck all round, back (the color extending above over the whole interscapular region), wings, and tail, including the whole of the lower coverts and the tips of the upper, black. Lesser and middle upper, with lower wing-coverts, hinder part of back, rump, and under parts generally (except tail-coverts), orange-yellow. Length, 9.50; extent, 12.00; wing, 4.50; tail, 4.25; tarsus, 1.15.Young or female.Above yellowish-green; more yellow on head; throat black; sides of neck and body beneath dull yellow. Wings dark brown, the coverts edged with white; middle tail-feathers brownish-black; outer yellowish-green. Length about 8 inches.Younger birds are entirely dull olive-green above; beneath greenish-yellow.Hab.Northeastern Mexico to Rio Grande Valley; south to Guatemala. Oaxaca,Jan.and March (Scl.1859, 381); Guatemala (Scl.Ibis,I, 20); Vera Cruz, hot region, resident (Sumichrast,M. B. S. I, 552).A close ally, and perhaps only a race, of this species, is theI. prosthemelas,Strickl., which differs in smaller size, and in having the lower tail-coverts yellow instead of black (see synoptical table,p.778).Habits.This fine species appears to be an abundant bird from Northern Mexico throughout that republic and Central America to Costa Rica. I am not aware that any specimens have been procured actually within our territory. It was met with at Saltillo, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico, by Lieutenant Couch, where only a single specimen was obtained. It was taken at the rancho ofOjo Caliente, or Hot Springs. It was quite shy and difficult of approach. Like all the other Orioles, it appeared to be quite fond of the palm-tree known as the Spanish bayonet. It is given by Sumichrast as occurring in the department of Vera Cruz, where it appears to be confined to the hot region. It is quite common in the district of Cordova, to the height of about three thousand feet.Mr. Salvin states this to be the onlyIcterusfound by him about Dueñas, where it was not uncommon. In a letter written by this naturalist, published in the Ibis of October, 1859, he mentions having taken the nest and eggs of this species. The structure, though of the same character,—a hanging nest,—is very different from that ofI. gularis, the common species on the Yzabal road. The nest has none of the depth of the other, but is comparatively shallow.[43]Quiscalus baritus(Linn.),Cass.Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila., 1866,p.405. (Gracula barita,Linn.S. N. I, 165, 1766).Q. crassirostris,Swainson.[44]Quiscalus brachypterus,Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 406.[45]Quiscalus gundlachi,Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 406.[46]Quiscalus niger(Boddaert),Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 407. (Oriolus niger,Bodd.Tab. Pl. Enl. p.31, 1783.None of the continental forms are in the collection, and therefore their relationship to each other and to the West Indian species cannot be here given. They are: (1)Q. lugubris,Swains.(Cabinet Cyclopædia,p.299, 1838.—Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 408).Hab.S. Am., Trinidad. (2)Q. mexicanus,Cass.(Pr. A. N. S.1866, 408).Hab.Mexico. Besides these are the two following, whose habitats are unknown:Q. inflexirostris,Swains.(Cab. Cyc.p.300, 1838), andQ. rectirostris,Cass.(Pr. A. N. S.1866, 409).[47]Quiscalus palustris(Swains.),Cassin,Pr. A. N. S., Phila., 1866,p.411. (Scaphidurus pal.,Swains.Phil. Mag.1827, 437).[48]Quiscalus tenuirostris,Swains.Cabinet Cyclopædia, 1838,p.299.—Cassin,Pr. A. N. S.1866, 411. TheQ. assimilis,Scl.Cat. Am. B.1862, 141, from Bogota, andQ. peruvianus,Swains.Cab. Cyc.1838, 354, of Peru, are not in the collection; they are probably referrible to themajortype.[49]A series of twenty-nine specimens ofQ. purpureusfrom Florida, has been kindly furnished for examination by Mr. C. J. Maynard, chiefly from the northern and middle portions of the State, and consequently intermediate between the varietiesaglæusandpurpureus. In color, however, they are nearly all essentially, most of them typically, like the former; but in size and proportions they scarcely differ from more northern specimens of the latter. Their common and nearly constant features of coloration are, uniform soft dark greenish body, with blue tinge on belly, and bluish-green tail-coverts and tail, violet head, more blue anteriorly and more bronzy on the foreneck, and with this color abruptly defined posteriorly against the peculiar uniform blackish dull green of the body; the wing-coverts usually tipped with vivid violet and green spots. One male is a typical example of thevar.purpureus, distinguished by the blending of the similar metallic tints on the body and head, the broken tints on the body arranged in transverse bars on the back, more purple tail-coverts, and lack of the vivid metallic tips to the wing-coverts. There are also four nearly typical specimens of thevar.aglæus, these probably from farther south on the peninsula, but with the characteristics of the race less exaggerated than in the types from the keys. The measurements of this series are as follows:—Var.purpureus(one specimen).♂. Wing, 5.30; tail, 4.65; culmen, 1.38.Intermediate specimens. Typicalaglæusin colors, but likepurpureusin size. (16 males, and 17 females).♂. Wing, 4.85 to 5.50; tail, 4.60 to 5.50; culmen, 1.25 to 1.50.♀. Wing, 4.65 to 4.90; tail, 3.80 to 4.50; culmen, 1.10 to 1.30.Var.aglæus(four specimens).♂. Wing, 5.30 to 5.60; tail, 5.00 to 5.30; culmen, 1.38 to 1.40.[50]The measurements given are of a California specimen, in order the better to show the great distinction to be made between this species andcaurinus, which is probably not found in California, being a more northern species, and having the coast of Washington Territory, or perhaps Oregon, as about its southern limit.[51]C. mexicanus,Gmel.Syst. Nat. p.375. This species is perfectly distinct from all the others. The plumage has a silky blended character, and very high lustre, almost exactly as in the larger Grakles (Quiscalus major, etc.).[52]C. nasicus,Temm.Pl. Col.413.—Gundl.Rev. y Catal. de las Aves de Cuba., 1865, 290.Corvus americanus,Lemb.Aves de Cuba, 1830, 65.Hab.Cuba.[53]C. leucognaphalus,Daud.Tr. d’Orn. II, 231.—Sallé,P. Z. S.1857, 232.—Bryant,Pr. Bost. Soc.1866,XI, 94.Hab.Porto Rico and Santo Domingo.[54]C. jamaicensis,Gm.S. N. I, 367.—Gosse,B. Jam.209.—Scl.Catal. Am. B.1860, 146.—Bonap.Consp.385.—Sallé,P. Z. S.1857, 232.—March,P. A. N. S.1863, 300.—Bryant,Pr. Bost. Soc.1866,XI, 94.Hab.Jamaica and Santo Domingo.TheC. minutusof Cuba we have not seen; it seems, however, to be rather nearly related toC. ossifragus, and possesses more lengthened nasal plumes than the three West Indian species diagnosed above. Its synonomy is as follows:—Corvus minutus,Gundl.Cab. J.1856, 20,p.97.—Ib.Rev. y Catal. de las Aves de Cuba.Hab.Cuba.[55]Pica caudata,Flem.Brit. An. p.87.Corvus pica,Linn.Faun. Suec.p.31.Pica melanoleuca,Vieill.N. D. XXVI, 121.Pica albiventris,Vieill.Faun. Franc. p.119,t.55,f.1.Pica european(Cuv.)Boie, Isis, 1822, 551.Pica rusticorum,Leach,Syst. Cat. Mamm. and Birds in Brit. Mus. p.18.[56]Cyanura diademata(Bonap.),Cyanogarrulus diadematus,Bonap.Consp.p.377.Cyanocittadiad.,Sclater,Catal. Am. B.1862, 143. TheC. galeata,Cab., from Bogota, we have not seen.[57]Cyanura coronata,Swains.Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 437.[58]Cyanocitta sumichrasti,Ridgway,Rep. U. S. Geol. Expl. 40th Par.All MexicanCyanocittaswith a whitish superciliary streak, blue edgings to jugular feathers, etc., are to be referred to this strongly marked race. A very conspicuous character of this variety is the strong “hook” to the upper mandible; the tip beyond the notch being much elongated, or unusually “produced.” In the collection is a specimen (60,058♀, Mexico, A.Boucard) which we have referred to this race, but which differs in such an important respect from all other specimens of the several races referrible tocalifornica, as extended, that it may belong to a distinct form. Having the precise aspect ofsumichrastiin regard to its upper plumage, it lacks, however, any trace of the blue edgings and pectoral collar, the whole lower parts being continuously uninterrupted dull white, purer posteriorly. The appearance is such as to cause a suspicion that it may be a link betweensumichrastiand one of the races ofultramarina. It measures: wing, 5.50; tail, 6.00; graduation of tail, .70.[59]Cyanocitta ultramarina, (Bonap.)Strickland.—Garrulus ultramarinus,Bonap.J. A. N. S. IV, 1825, 386 (not of Audubon).[60]Cyanocitta sordida, (Swains.) (not ofBaird,Birds N. Am., which isarizonæ).—Sclater,Cat. Am. B.1862, 143.Garrulus sordidus,Swains.Phil. Mag.1827,I, 437.[61]Cyanocitta unicolor, (Du Bus)Bonap.Consp.p.378.—Cyanocorax unicolor,Du Bus,Bull. Acad. Brux. XIV, pt. 2, p.103.[62]Hadrostomus affinis.Platypsaris affinis,Elliot, Ibis, 1859, 394,pl. xiii.Pachyramphus aglaiæ,Baird, BirdsN. Am.1858, 164,pl. xlvii, f.1.—Ib.Rep. Mex. Bound. II, Birds, 7,pl. xix, f.1.Hadrostomus aglaiæ,Cabanis,Mus. Hein. II, 85 (Xalapa).—Ib.Journ.1861, 252.—Sclater,P. Z. S.1864, 176 (CityMex.).Hab.Northern Mexico, Jalapa, Nicaragua (Scl.Catalogue,p.240); Yucatan (Lawrence).[63]Pachyramphus major.Bathmidurus major,Cab.Orn. Nat.1847,I, 246.—Cab. et Hein.Mus. Hein. II, 89.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 165,pl. xlvii, f.2♀.—Ib.Rep. Mex. Bound. II, Birds, 7,pl. xix, f.2.Pachyramphus major,Sclater,P. Z. S.1857, 78; 1864, 176 (City ofMex.).Hab.Mexico and Guatemala.[64]M. tyrannus,var.violentus(Tyrannus violentus,Vieill.N. D.XXXV, p.89.Milvulus v.,Scl.Catal. Am. B.1862, 237), is the South American race of this species. It is exceedingly similar, but differs slightly, though constantly, in certain characters. We have not at present the means of comparing the two.[65]Tyrannus melancholicus,Vieillot,Nouv. Dict.XXXV, 1819, 84.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 176.—Sclater,Catal. Am.Birds, 1862, 235.Hab.South America. A more northern race scarcely distinguishable (Panama, Costa Rica, etc.), separated asT. satrapa,Licht.[66]Myiarchus tyrannulus(Müll.),Coues.Muscicapa tyrannulus,Müll.(G. R.Gr.Hand List,No.5,527).Myiarchust.Coues,P. A. N. S. Phila.July, 1872, 71. (M. aurora,Bodd.;flaviventris,Steph.;ferox,Gm.;swainsoni,Caban.;panamensis,Lawr.;venezuelensis,Lawr.)[67]Myiarchus tyrannulus,var.phæocephalus(Sclater).Myiarchus phæocephalus,Scl.P. Z. S.1860, 481.—Coues,P. A. N. S.1872, 73.[68]Myiarchus validus,Cabanis.Tyrannus crinitus,Gosse,B. Jam.186 (nec Auct.).Myiarchus validus,Caban.Orn. Nat.II, 351,et Auct.Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 62.[69]Myiarchus crinitus,var.cooperi(Kaup).Baird.Tyrannula cooperi,Kaup.P. Z. S.1851, 51.Myiarchus cooperi,Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 180.Myiarchus crinitus,var.cooperi,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 67.[70]Myiarchus crinitus,var.irritabilis(Vieill.),Coues.Tyrannus irritabilis,Vieill.Enc. Meth.1823,II, 847.Myiarchus crinitus,var.irritabilis,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 65. (M. erythrocercus,Scl.;M. mexicanus,Kaup,Lawr.;M. yucatanensis,Lawr.)Obs.—It is, perhaps, probable that in Yucatan this race grades into theM. stolidus(var.stolidus), since there is a specimen in the collection from Merida (39,213, April 9, 1865, A. Schott) which seems to be very nearly intermediate in every way between the two. It has the very black hill, restricted rufous on inner webs of rectrices, and pale yellow of lower parts ofM. stolidus, and the brown pileum and more robust proportions ofirritabilis. The specimen, however, is in poor condition, being of worn and faded plumage, and much distorted, so that its true characters cannot be ascertained satisfactorily.[71]Myiarchus stolidus,var.phœbe(D’Orb.),Coues.Tyrannus phœbe,D’Orb.Sagra’s Cuba,Ois.p.84.Myiarchus stolidus,var.phœbe,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 78. (Sagræ,Gundl.;stolida,var.lucaysiensis,Bryant).[72]Myiarchus stolidus,var.antillarum(Bryant),Coues.Tyrannus (Myiarchus) antillarum,Bryant,P. B. S. N. H.1866,p.2.Myiarchus stolidus,var.antillarum,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 79.
[1]Spizella pinetorum,Salvin,Pr. Z. S.1863,p.189. (“SimilisS. pusillæ, exAmer. Sept.et Mexico, sed coloribus clarioribus et rostro robustiore differt.”)
[2]Winter plumage.Rusty prevailing above, but hoary whitish edges to feathers still in strong contrast; streaks beneath with a rufous suffusion externally, but still with the black in excess.
[3]Winter plumage.Gray above more olivaceous, the black streaks more subdued by a rufous suffusion; streaks beneath with the rufous predominating, sometimes without any black.
[4]Winter plumage.Above rusty-olive, with little or no ashy, the black streaks broad and distinct. Streaks beneath with the black and rusty in about equal amount.
[5]In summer the streaks beneath are entirely intense black; in winter they have a slight rufous external suffusion.
[6]Melospiza melodia,var.mexicana,Ridgway. Mexican Song Sparrow.? ? Melospiza pectoralis,von Müller.
Sp. Char.(Type, 60,046, Puebla, Mexico,A. Boucard.) Similar toM. melodia, but ground-color above olive-brown; inner webs of interscapulars pale ashy, but not in strong contrast. Crown and wings rusty-brown, the former with broad black streaks, and divided by a just appreciable paler line; back with broad black streaks without any rufous suffusion. Superciliary stripe pure light ash, becoming white anterior to the eye; two broad, dark-brown stripes on side of head,—one from the eye back along upper edge of auriculars, the other back from the rictus, along their lower border. Lower parts pure white, the flanks and crissum distinctly ochraceous; markings beneath broad and heavy, entirely pure deep black; those on the jugulum deltoid, on the sides linear. Wing, 2.60; tail, 2.85; bill, .37 and .24; tarsus, .85; middle toe without claw, .68. This may possibly be theM. pectoralisof von Müller. The description cited above, however, does not agree with the specimen under consideration. The pectoral spots are expressly stated to be brown, not even a black shaft-streak being mentioned, whereas the pure black spots of the specimen before us render it peculiar in this respect, being, in fact, its chief characteristic.
[7]Zonotrichia boucardi,Sclater,P. Z. S.1867, 1,pl. I, La Puebla,Mex.(scarcely definable as distinct fromruficeps).
[8]Peucæa botterii,Sclater,Cat. Am. B.1862, 116 (Zonotrichia b.P. Z. S.1857, 214), Orizaba.Coturniculus mexicana,Lawr.Ann. N. Y. Lyc. VIII, 1867, 474 (Colima).
This form can scarcely be defined separately fromæstivalis. The type ofC. mexicanus,Lawr., is undistinguishable from Orizaba specimens. A specimen in the worn summer plumage (44,752♀, Mirador, July) differs in having the streaks above almost wholly black, with scarcely any rufous edge; the crown is almost uniformly blackish. The feathers are very much worn, however, and the specimen is without doubt referrible tobotteri.
ThePeucæa notostictaofSclater(P. Z. S.1868, 322) we have not seen; it appears to differ in some important respects from the forms diagnosed above, and may, possibly, be a good species. Its place in our system appears to be with section “A,” but it differs fromruficepsandboucardiin the median stripe on the crown, and the black streaks in the rufous of the lateral portion, the blacker streaks of the dorsal region, and some other less important points of coloration. The size appears to be larger than in any of the forms given in our synopsis (wing, 2.70; tail, 3.00).Hab.States of Puebla and Mexico,Mex.
[9]Passerella obscura,Verrill,Pr. Bost. N. H. Soc. IX, Dec.1862, 143 (Anticosti). (Type in MuseumComp. Zoöl., Cambridge.)
“Size somewhat smaller than that ofP. iliaca. Legs and wings a little shorter in proportion. Claws less elongated. Bill somewhat shorter, thicker, and less acute. Color above rufous-brown, becoming bright rufous on the rump and exposed portion of the tail, but a shade darker than inP. iliaca; head uniform brown, with a slight tinge of ash; feathers of the back centred with a streak of darker brown. Wings nearly the same color as the back, with no white bands; outer webs of the quills rufous, inner webs dark brown; secondary coverts rufous, with dark brown centres; primary coverts uniform brown. Beneath dull white, with the throat and breast thickly covered with elongated triangular spots and streaks of dark reddish-brown; sides streaked with rufous-brown; middle of abdomen with a few small triangular spots of dark brown; under tail-coverts brownish-white, with a few small spots of bright rufous; tibiæ dark brown. The auriculars are tinged with reddish-brown. Bristles at the base of the bill are numerous, extending over the nostrils. Tail rather long, broad, and nearly even. Third quill longest; second and fourth equal, and but slightly shorter; first intermediate between the fifth and sixth, and one fourth of an inch shorter than the third.
“Length, 6.75; extent of wings, 10.75; wing, 3.35; tarsus, 1 inch.
“This species differs greatly in color fromP. iliaca. It is darker in all parts; the feathers of the back are rufous-brown, centred with darker, instead of ash centred with brownish-red; the two white bands on the wing are wanting; the breast and throat are thickly streaked with elongated spots of dark reddish-brown, while inP. iliacathe spots are less numerous, shorter and broader, and bright rufous, and the central part of the throat is nearly free from spots; the under tail-coverts are brownish-white, with rufous spots, instead of nearly pure white.”
There are some features in this bird, as described by Mr. Verrill, which seem to characterize it as different fromP. iliaca, although it is barely possible that it is this bird in immature dress. The streaked back at once separates it from all our species exceptingiliaca. Nothing is said of its habits. One specimen was killed in Anticosti, July 1; the other, August 8. The trueiliacawas found on the island, which fact renders it still more probable that this is its young.
[10]Atlantic Monthly,XXIII,p.707.
[11]Cyanospiza leclancheri.Spiza leclancheri,Lafr.Mag. Zoöl.1841,pl. xxii.—Less.R. Z.1842, 74.
[12]Tiaris pusilla,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 438.Phonipara pusilla,Sclater,P. Z. S.1855, 159.
[13]Emberiza olivacea,Gmelin,Syst. Nat. I, 309.Phonipara olivacea,Sclater,P. Z. S.1855, 159.
[14]Loxia canora,Gmelin,Syst. Nat. I, 858.Phonipara canora,Bonap.
[15]Cardinalis virginianus,var.coccineus,Ridgway.
[16]Cardinalis virginianus,var.carneus.? Cardinalis carneus,Less.R. Z.1842, 209.—Bonap.Consp. I, 501.
According to the locality quoted (“Acapulco et Realejo”) this name is the one to be applied to the variety diagnosed in the synopsis; it is difficult, however, to make anything out of the description, as it is evidently taken from a female or immature bird. If the locality quoted be correct, this form ranges along the Pacific Coast, probably from latitude 20°south, as far at least as Nicaragua. North of 20°, and on the Tres Marias Islands, it is replaced byvar.igneus, and on the Atlantic coast, from Tampico south to Honduras, is represented by thevar.coccineus.
In the very long, stiff crest-feathers, and light red rump, this variety ofC. virginianusclosely approximates toC. phœniceus, but in other respects is very distinct.
[17]Cardinalis phœniceus, (Gould,)Bonap.P. Z. S.1837,p. 111; Consp. I, 501.—Sclater & Salvin,Ex. Orn. Pt. VIII, 1868,pl. lxiii.
[18]Pipilo macronyx,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434. Real del Monte,Mex.—Ib.Anim. in Men.1838, 347.—Bp.Consp.487.—Sclater & Salvin, 1869, 361.Pipilo virescens,Hartlaub,Cab. Jour.1863, 228,Mex.
Sp. Char.Prevailing color above olive-green; the head and neck all round black, abruptly contrasted below with the white under parts; above passing insensibly into the green of the back; feathers of interscapular region obscurely dusky medially; sides and crissum rufous. Scapulars and greater and middle coverts with outer webs pale greenish-yellow at ends; these blotches faintly margined externally with olive-green. Edge of wing yellow; outer primary edged with whitish, edges of other primaries and of secondaries uniform olive-green. Fifth quill longest, fourth and sixth scarcely shorter; first shorter than ninth. Legs stout, claws much curved. Tail wanting in the single specimen before us (a male from the city of Mexico, belonging to Mr. G. N. Lawrence).
Dimensions(prepared specimen): Wing, 3.70. Exposed portion of first primary, 2.30; of second, 2.73; of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 2.85. Bill: Length from forehead, .75; from nostril, .45. Legs: Tarsus, 1.14; middle claw, .38; hind toe and claw, .85; claw alone, .52.
In describing this species, Swainson mentions an accompanying specimen as similar, but without any white spots on wings, suggesting that it may be the female. A specimen in the plumage from Oaxaca is characterized as follows.
[19]Pipilo chlorosoma,Baird. 50,225♂, Oaxaca. Similar toP. macronyxin color, but without any trace of white markings on the wings. Outer tail-feathers with an obscurely defined greenish-white patch about an inch long, at the end of inner web; similar, but successively smaller patches on the second and third feathers, all whiter on upper than lower surface. Fifth quill longest; first shorter than ninth.
Dimensions(prepared specimen): Total length, 8.20; wing, 3.75; tail, 4.80. Bill: Length from forehead, .73; from nostril, .43. Legs: Tarsus, 1.24; middle toe and claw, 1.10; claw alone, .36; hind toe and claw, .85; claw alone, .50.No.60,050, Mexico, is similar, in all essential respects.
From the analogies of the black Pipilos, it is reasonable to consider these two birds as distinct species, or at least varieties, especially as the specimen before us of that with unspotted wings is marked male. The general appearance is otherwise much the same, the unspotted bird rather smaller, and without the dusky interscapular markings described inmacronyx. ShouldNo.50,225 represent a distinct species, it may be calledP. chlorosoma, and distinguished as above. (60,050, Mexico,Boucard.)
[20]Pipilo lateralis(Natt.).Emberiza lateralis,Natt.Mus. Vind. MSS.Poospiza lat.Burm.Th. Bras. III,Av.2,p.215.Pipilo superciliosa,Swains.An. Menag.311, 95, fig. 59.
[21]Pipilo maculatus,Swainson,Philos. Mag., 1827.
[22]Pipilo carmani,Baird,MSS.;Lawrence,Ann. N. Y. Lyc. X, 7. (Specimens in collection made by Colonel A. J. Grayson.)
[23]Pipilo maculatus,Swainson.Sp. Char.Male.Similar to the female ofPipilo arcticus, but rather more olivaceous; only the head and neck all round black; shading above insensibly into the back. The white markings mostly edged narrowly externally with black, and clouded with rusty; the nape-feathers faintly, the interscapular broadly, streaked centrally with blackish; lower back and rump, with outer edges of quill and tail feathers, olivaceous-brown. A narrow shaft-streak in white at end of tail. Fourth quill longest; fifth scarcely shorter; first about equal to secondaries. Claws moderate; perhaps larger than inerythrophthalmus. Length of skin, 7.80; wing, 3.15; tail, 4.20; tarsus, 1.10; middle toe and claw, .96; claw alone, .34; hind toe and claw, .81; claw alone, .45.Hab.Mexico (Oaxaca; Real del Monte,Philos. Mag., 1827).
It is a serious question whether this comparatively little known Mexican species ofPipilois not to be considered as identical with some or all of the species of the United States, with spotted wing-coverts, notwithstanding the difference in the color of the body. It appears, however, to be constant in the olivaceous character of the back,—no reference being made to Mexican specimens entirely black above,—and as such it may be considered a permanent geographical race.
[24]Pipilo fuscus,Sw.Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434 (Temiscaltepec).—Ib.Anim. in Menag.1838, 347.—Bp.Consp.1851, 487.—Sclater,P. Z. S.1856, 304 (Cordova).? Kieneria fusca,Bp.C. R. XL, 1855, 356.
Sp. Char.Above dull olive-brown; the top of head having the central portion of feathers tinged (inconspicuously and obscurely) with rufous. Chin and throat pale rufous, bordered by dusky streaks; a single dusky spot in lower part of jugulum. Belly and flanks behind, anal region and crissum, rather darker rufous. Sides grayish-olive, lighter than the back, tingeing the breast, and leaving only a small patch in the centre of under parts white, shading into the surrounding ashy-brown. Fourth and fifth quills longest; first shorter than ninth, or than secondaries.
Dimensions(prepared specimen): Total length, 7.75; wing, 3.80; tail, 4.20; exposed portion of first primary, 2.30; of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 3.03. Bill: Length from forehead, .65; from nostril, .40. Legs: Tarsus, .95; middle toe and claw, 1.00; hind toe and claw, .68; claw alone, .36.Hab.Highlands of Mexico.
The specimen described is from the city of Mexico, and belongs to Mr. G. N. Lawrence; others before us are from Temiscaltepec (the original locality of Swainson’s type), Guadalaxara, and Tepic.
While admitting the strong probability that the different brownPipiloswith rufous throat bordered by black spots,P. fuscus,crissalis,mesoleucus,albigula, and probably evenalbicollis, are geographical modifications of the same original type, the large collection before us vindicates the action of those who have referred the California species to that described by Swainson asfuscus, and who have distinguished theP. mesoleucusfrom both. The original description offuscusagrees almost exactly withcrissalis, both actually scarcely separable; while themesoleucus, intermediate in geographical position, is decidedly different from either. The relationships of these different forms will be found expressed in the general diagnosis already given.
Two descriptions given by Swainson, copied below, of theP. fuscus, differ somewhat from each other, and may not have been taken from the same specimen. The identification of either withP. mesoleucuswould be a difficult matter; while the first one expresses the peculiar characters ofcrissalismore nearly than any other. The statement of “white beneath,” without any qualification, applies better tomesoleucusthan to others, but the “pale rufous tinge” observable incrissalisandfuscusis very different from the abruptly defined chestnut cap ofmesoleucus.
Pipilo fuscus,Swainson,Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434. “Gray, beneath paler; throat obscure fulvous, with brown spots; vent ferruginous. Length, 8.00; bill, .70; wings, 3.50; tail, 4.00; tarsi, .90; hind toe and claw, .70.”Hab.Table land; Temiscaltepec.
Pipilo fuscus,Swainson,Anim. in Men.1838, 347. “Grayish-brown above; beneath white; chin and throat fulvous, with dusky spots; under tail-coverts fulvous; tail blackish-brown, unspotted. Bill and legs pale, the latter smaller, and the claws more curved than in any other known species; crown with a pale rufous tinge. Length, 7.50; wings, 3.50; tail, 4.00; tarsus, .90; middle toe and claw the same; hinder toe, .65. Rather smaller thanmaculata.”
[25]Pipilo albicollis,Sclater. Above uniform olivaceous-brown; the cap not differently colored. Lores, chin, and throat white, the two last bordered and defined by dusky spots; jugulum and breast white, the former clouded with olivaceous, and with a dusky blotch in middle; middle of throat crossed by an olivaceous band which curves round on each side under the ear-coverts; sides grayish. Flanks behind, anal region, and crissum, rufous. Middle wing-coverts with a whitish bar across their tips. Fourth and fifth quills longest; first shorter than ninth and secondaries. Length, 7.00; wing, 3.30; tail, 3.70. Bill and legs light.Hab.Central Mexico.
This “species” may fairly be considered as one extreme of the series of whichP. crissalisis the other; and differs from the rest merely in a greater amount of white, and the absence of rufous tinge on top of head. The fulvous of throat is concentrated in a band across its middle portion, leaving chin and lower throat white; this, however, is foreshadowed in the paler chin ofmesoleucus, and the whitish lower throat ofalbigula. The uniformity of coloring above is nearly equalled by that ofP. crissalis. The whitish band across the middle wing-coverts is the most positive character.
[26]The name in manuscript on the label of a specimen in the Schlüter collection, from Astrachan.
[27]Otocorys peregrina,Sclater,P. Z. S.1855, 110,pl. cii.Eremophila per.Scl.Cat. Am. Birds, 1862, 127.
[28]A specimen from Cleveland, Ohio (7,429♀, April 1, Dr. Kirtland), and one from Washington, D. C. (28,246♂,Feb.), have nearly as distinct streaks above, but the white of lower parts is without any tinge of yellow.
[29]It is an interesting fact in regard to the species ofIcteridæ, that, as a general rule, female birds of West Indian representatives of theAgelainæandQuiscalinæare usually, or perhaps universally, uniformly black, where the continental are brown, either concolored or streaked. We know of no exception to the first part of this statement as toAgelaius,Nesopsar,Scolecophagus, andQuiscalus. The smaller North American species ofQuiscalushave the females duller, but not otherwise very different from the males, except in size. The females of the largeQuiscalus, all continental, are much smaller than the males, and totally different. InIcterusall the species in which the female is very different in color from the male are Northern Mexican or continental North American (pustulatus,spurius,baltimore,bullocki,cucullatus, etc.). Most West IndianIcterusalso exhibit no difference in the sexes,dominicensis,hypomelas,xanthomus,bonanæ, etc.; in one alone (leucopteryx) is the difference appreciable. The South American species have the females pretty generally similar to the males, but smaller, as is the case in the entire family.
[30]Agelaius assimilis,Gundl. Cabanis, Journal, IX, 12 (nest).—Ib.Boston Journal,VI, 1853, 316.
[31]Sturnella mexicana,Sclater, Ibis, 1861, 179.
[32]Sturnella meridionalis,Sclater, Ibis, 1861, 179.
[33]Sturnella hippocrepis,Wagler, Ibis, 1832, 281.—Lawr.Ann. N. Y.Lyc.1860.
[34]An attempt at division into subgenera is as follows:—
Icterus, bill stout, conical, the culmen and gonys nearly straight. Tail graduated. Species:vulgaris,auduboni,melanocephalus.
Xanthornus, bill slender, slightly decurved. Tail graduated. Species:wagleri,parisorum,spurius,cucullatus.
Hyphantes, bill stout, conical; the culmen and gonys straight. Tail slightly rounded. Species:baltimore,bullocki,abeillei.
We do not find, however, that these subgenera are very tangible, exceptingHyphantes, which is rather well marked by square tail and straight outlines of the bill, as indicated above. The differences are really so minute, and the characters so variable with the species, that it seems entirely unnecessary to subdivide the genus.
[35]Icterus dominicensis,var.prosthemelas.Icterus prosthemelas,Strickland,Jard. Cont. Orn.1850, 120,pl. lxii.Pendulinus p.Cassin, Icteridæ,P. A. N. S.1867, 56.Pendulinus lessoni,Bonap.Consp. I, 432, 1850.
[36]Icterus dominicensis,var.dominicensis.Oriolus dominicensis,Linn.S. N. I, 163, 1766.Pendulinus d.Cassin.P. A. N. S.1867, 58.Pendulinus flavigaster,Vieill.Nouv. Dict. V, 317, 1816.Pendulinus viridis,Vieill.Nouv. Dict. V, 321, 1816?
[37]Icterus dominicensis,var.portoricensis,Bryant,Pr. Bost. Soc.1866, 254.Pendulinus portoricensis,Cass.P. A. N. S.1867, 58.Turdus ater,Gm.S. N. I, 830, 1788?Turdus jugularis,Lath.Ind. Orn. I, 351, 1790?
[38]Icterus dominicensis,var.hypomelas.Pendulinus hypomelas,Bonap.Consp. I, 433, 1850.—Cass.P. A. N. S.1867, 59.
There seems to be no reason for not referring all the above forms to one species, the differences being merely in the relative amount of black and yellow. The greater predominance of the former color we should expect in specimens from the West Indies, where in this family the melanistic tendency is so marked.
[39]Icterus cucullatus,var.auricapillus.Icterus auricapillus,Cass.P. A. N. S.1847, 382.—Ib.Journ. A. N. S. I,pl. xvi, f.2.—Ib.P. A. N. S.1867, 60.
[40]Icterus bullocki,var.abeillei.Xanthornus abeillei,Less.Rev. Zoöl.1839, 101.Hyphantes a.Cass.P. A. N. S.1867, 62.? Oriolus costototl,Gm.Syst. Nat. I, 385, 1788.
The only essential difference fromI. bullockiis in the greater amount of black, it being merely more extended, while the pattern is the same.
[41]Icterus melanocephalus,Gray.Psarocolius melanocephalus,Wagler, Isis, 1829, 756.Icterus melanocephalus,Gray, Genera.—Sclater,Pr. Zoöl. Soc.1858, 97.—Cassin,Pr. A. N. S.1867, 53.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 543.Xanthornus melanocephalus,Bon.Consp.1850, 434 (description of young only).? Icterus graduacauda,Lesson,Rev. Zoöl.1839, 105.
Sp. Char.Similar toI. auduboni, but without any white whatever on the wing. Head and neck all round, wings, scapulars, and tail, uniform pure black. Rest of body, including inside of wing and tibia and the lesser wing-coverts, orange-yellow; clouded with olivaceous-green on the back, less so on the rump. Bill and legs plumbeous, the former whitish at base. Length, 7.70; wing, 3.75; tail, 4.80.Hab.Warm parts of Mexico.
Very like theauduboni, but smaller, the bill much stouter, shorter, and the culmen more curved. The third quill is longest; the fourth, fifth, and second successively a little shorter; the first and seventh about equal. The black of the head and neck comes farther behind and on the sides than inauduboni. The wings are totally destitute of the white edges of quills and coverts as seen inauduboni, and the middle coverts are black instead of pure yellow. The tail, too, is entirely black.
[42]Icterus wagleri,Sclater,Pr. Zoöl. Soc.1857, 7.—Baird, BirdsN. Am.1858, 545,pl. lvii, f.2.—Ib.Mex. B. II, Birds, 19,pl. xix, f.2.—Cass.Pr.1867, 55.Psarocolius flavigaster,Wagler, Isis, 1829, 756 (not ofVieillot).Pendulinus dominicensis,Bp.Consp.1850, 432 (not ofLinn.).
Sp. Char.Bill much attenuated and considerably decurved. Tail considerably graduated. Head and neck all round, back (the color extending above over the whole interscapular region), wings, and tail, including the whole of the lower coverts and the tips of the upper, black. Lesser and middle upper, with lower wing-coverts, hinder part of back, rump, and under parts generally (except tail-coverts), orange-yellow. Length, 9.50; extent, 12.00; wing, 4.50; tail, 4.25; tarsus, 1.15.
Young or female.Above yellowish-green; more yellow on head; throat black; sides of neck and body beneath dull yellow. Wings dark brown, the coverts edged with white; middle tail-feathers brownish-black; outer yellowish-green. Length about 8 inches.
Younger birds are entirely dull olive-green above; beneath greenish-yellow.
Hab.Northeastern Mexico to Rio Grande Valley; south to Guatemala. Oaxaca,Jan.and March (Scl.1859, 381); Guatemala (Scl.Ibis,I, 20); Vera Cruz, hot region, resident (Sumichrast,M. B. S. I, 552).
A close ally, and perhaps only a race, of this species, is theI. prosthemelas,Strickl., which differs in smaller size, and in having the lower tail-coverts yellow instead of black (see synoptical table,p.778).
Habits.This fine species appears to be an abundant bird from Northern Mexico throughout that republic and Central America to Costa Rica. I am not aware that any specimens have been procured actually within our territory. It was met with at Saltillo, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico, by Lieutenant Couch, where only a single specimen was obtained. It was taken at the rancho ofOjo Caliente, or Hot Springs. It was quite shy and difficult of approach. Like all the other Orioles, it appeared to be quite fond of the palm-tree known as the Spanish bayonet. It is given by Sumichrast as occurring in the department of Vera Cruz, where it appears to be confined to the hot region. It is quite common in the district of Cordova, to the height of about three thousand feet.
Mr. Salvin states this to be the onlyIcterusfound by him about Dueñas, where it was not uncommon. In a letter written by this naturalist, published in the Ibis of October, 1859, he mentions having taken the nest and eggs of this species. The structure, though of the same character,—a hanging nest,—is very different from that ofI. gularis, the common species on the Yzabal road. The nest has none of the depth of the other, but is comparatively shallow.
[43]Quiscalus baritus(Linn.),Cass.Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila., 1866,p.405. (Gracula barita,Linn.S. N. I, 165, 1766).Q. crassirostris,Swainson.
[44]Quiscalus brachypterus,Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 406.
[45]Quiscalus gundlachi,Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 406.
[46]Quiscalus niger(Boddaert),Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 407. (Oriolus niger,Bodd.Tab. Pl. Enl. p.31, 1783.
None of the continental forms are in the collection, and therefore their relationship to each other and to the West Indian species cannot be here given. They are: (1)Q. lugubris,Swains.(Cabinet Cyclopædia,p.299, 1838.—Cass.Pr. A. N. S.1866, 408).Hab.S. Am., Trinidad. (2)Q. mexicanus,Cass.(Pr. A. N. S.1866, 408).Hab.Mexico. Besides these are the two following, whose habitats are unknown:Q. inflexirostris,Swains.(Cab. Cyc.p.300, 1838), andQ. rectirostris,Cass.(Pr. A. N. S.1866, 409).
[47]Quiscalus palustris(Swains.),Cassin,Pr. A. N. S., Phila., 1866,p.411. (Scaphidurus pal.,Swains.Phil. Mag.1827, 437).
[48]Quiscalus tenuirostris,Swains.Cabinet Cyclopædia, 1838,p.299.—Cassin,Pr. A. N. S.1866, 411. TheQ. assimilis,Scl.Cat. Am. B.1862, 141, from Bogota, andQ. peruvianus,Swains.Cab. Cyc.1838, 354, of Peru, are not in the collection; they are probably referrible to themajortype.
[49]A series of twenty-nine specimens ofQ. purpureusfrom Florida, has been kindly furnished for examination by Mr. C. J. Maynard, chiefly from the northern and middle portions of the State, and consequently intermediate between the varietiesaglæusandpurpureus. In color, however, they are nearly all essentially, most of them typically, like the former; but in size and proportions they scarcely differ from more northern specimens of the latter. Their common and nearly constant features of coloration are, uniform soft dark greenish body, with blue tinge on belly, and bluish-green tail-coverts and tail, violet head, more blue anteriorly and more bronzy on the foreneck, and with this color abruptly defined posteriorly against the peculiar uniform blackish dull green of the body; the wing-coverts usually tipped with vivid violet and green spots. One male is a typical example of thevar.purpureus, distinguished by the blending of the similar metallic tints on the body and head, the broken tints on the body arranged in transverse bars on the back, more purple tail-coverts, and lack of the vivid metallic tips to the wing-coverts. There are also four nearly typical specimens of thevar.aglæus, these probably from farther south on the peninsula, but with the characteristics of the race less exaggerated than in the types from the keys. The measurements of this series are as follows:—
Var.purpureus(one specimen).♂. Wing, 5.30; tail, 4.65; culmen, 1.38.
Intermediate specimens. Typicalaglæusin colors, but likepurpureusin size. (16 males, and 17 females).♂. Wing, 4.85 to 5.50; tail, 4.60 to 5.50; culmen, 1.25 to 1.50.♀. Wing, 4.65 to 4.90; tail, 3.80 to 4.50; culmen, 1.10 to 1.30.
Var.aglæus(four specimens).♂. Wing, 5.30 to 5.60; tail, 5.00 to 5.30; culmen, 1.38 to 1.40.
[50]The measurements given are of a California specimen, in order the better to show the great distinction to be made between this species andcaurinus, which is probably not found in California, being a more northern species, and having the coast of Washington Territory, or perhaps Oregon, as about its southern limit.
[51]C. mexicanus,Gmel.Syst. Nat. p.375. This species is perfectly distinct from all the others. The plumage has a silky blended character, and very high lustre, almost exactly as in the larger Grakles (Quiscalus major, etc.).
[52]C. nasicus,Temm.Pl. Col.413.—Gundl.Rev. y Catal. de las Aves de Cuba., 1865, 290.Corvus americanus,Lemb.Aves de Cuba, 1830, 65.Hab.Cuba.
[53]C. leucognaphalus,Daud.Tr. d’Orn. II, 231.—Sallé,P. Z. S.1857, 232.—Bryant,Pr. Bost. Soc.1866,XI, 94.Hab.Porto Rico and Santo Domingo.
[54]C. jamaicensis,Gm.S. N. I, 367.—Gosse,B. Jam.209.—Scl.Catal. Am. B.1860, 146.—Bonap.Consp.385.—Sallé,P. Z. S.1857, 232.—March,P. A. N. S.1863, 300.—Bryant,Pr. Bost. Soc.1866,XI, 94.Hab.Jamaica and Santo Domingo.
TheC. minutusof Cuba we have not seen; it seems, however, to be rather nearly related toC. ossifragus, and possesses more lengthened nasal plumes than the three West Indian species diagnosed above. Its synonomy is as follows:—
Corvus minutus,Gundl.Cab. J.1856, 20,p.97.—Ib.Rev. y Catal. de las Aves de Cuba.Hab.Cuba.
[55]Pica caudata,Flem.Brit. An. p.87.Corvus pica,Linn.Faun. Suec.p.31.Pica melanoleuca,Vieill.N. D. XXVI, 121.Pica albiventris,Vieill.Faun. Franc. p.119,t.55,f.1.Pica european(Cuv.)Boie, Isis, 1822, 551.Pica rusticorum,Leach,Syst. Cat. Mamm. and Birds in Brit. Mus. p.18.
[56]Cyanura diademata(Bonap.),Cyanogarrulus diadematus,Bonap.Consp.p.377.Cyanocittadiad.,Sclater,Catal. Am. B.1862, 143. TheC. galeata,Cab., from Bogota, we have not seen.
[57]Cyanura coronata,Swains.Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 437.
[58]Cyanocitta sumichrasti,Ridgway,Rep. U. S. Geol. Expl. 40th Par.All MexicanCyanocittaswith a whitish superciliary streak, blue edgings to jugular feathers, etc., are to be referred to this strongly marked race. A very conspicuous character of this variety is the strong “hook” to the upper mandible; the tip beyond the notch being much elongated, or unusually “produced.” In the collection is a specimen (60,058♀, Mexico, A.Boucard) which we have referred to this race, but which differs in such an important respect from all other specimens of the several races referrible tocalifornica, as extended, that it may belong to a distinct form. Having the precise aspect ofsumichrastiin regard to its upper plumage, it lacks, however, any trace of the blue edgings and pectoral collar, the whole lower parts being continuously uninterrupted dull white, purer posteriorly. The appearance is such as to cause a suspicion that it may be a link betweensumichrastiand one of the races ofultramarina. It measures: wing, 5.50; tail, 6.00; graduation of tail, .70.
[59]Cyanocitta ultramarina, (Bonap.)Strickland.—Garrulus ultramarinus,Bonap.J. A. N. S. IV, 1825, 386 (not of Audubon).
[60]Cyanocitta sordida, (Swains.) (not ofBaird,Birds N. Am., which isarizonæ).—Sclater,Cat. Am. B.1862, 143.Garrulus sordidus,Swains.Phil. Mag.1827,I, 437.
[61]Cyanocitta unicolor, (Du Bus)Bonap.Consp.p.378.—Cyanocorax unicolor,Du Bus,Bull. Acad. Brux. XIV, pt. 2, p.103.
[62]Hadrostomus affinis.Platypsaris affinis,Elliot, Ibis, 1859, 394,pl. xiii.Pachyramphus aglaiæ,Baird, BirdsN. Am.1858, 164,pl. xlvii, f.1.—Ib.Rep. Mex. Bound. II, Birds, 7,pl. xix, f.1.Hadrostomus aglaiæ,Cabanis,Mus. Hein. II, 85 (Xalapa).—Ib.Journ.1861, 252.—Sclater,P. Z. S.1864, 176 (CityMex.).Hab.Northern Mexico, Jalapa, Nicaragua (Scl.Catalogue,p.240); Yucatan (Lawrence).
[63]Pachyramphus major.Bathmidurus major,Cab.Orn. Nat.1847,I, 246.—Cab. et Hein.Mus. Hein. II, 89.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 165,pl. xlvii, f.2♀.—Ib.Rep. Mex. Bound. II, Birds, 7,pl. xix, f.2.Pachyramphus major,Sclater,P. Z. S.1857, 78; 1864, 176 (City ofMex.).Hab.Mexico and Guatemala.
[64]M. tyrannus,var.violentus(Tyrannus violentus,Vieill.N. D.XXXV, p.89.Milvulus v.,Scl.Catal. Am. B.1862, 237), is the South American race of this species. It is exceedingly similar, but differs slightly, though constantly, in certain characters. We have not at present the means of comparing the two.
[65]Tyrannus melancholicus,Vieillot,Nouv. Dict.XXXV, 1819, 84.—Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 176.—Sclater,Catal. Am.Birds, 1862, 235.Hab.South America. A more northern race scarcely distinguishable (Panama, Costa Rica, etc.), separated asT. satrapa,Licht.
[66]Myiarchus tyrannulus(Müll.),Coues.Muscicapa tyrannulus,Müll.(G. R.Gr.Hand List,No.5,527).Myiarchust.Coues,P. A. N. S. Phila.July, 1872, 71. (M. aurora,Bodd.;flaviventris,Steph.;ferox,Gm.;swainsoni,Caban.;panamensis,Lawr.;venezuelensis,Lawr.)
[67]Myiarchus tyrannulus,var.phæocephalus(Sclater).Myiarchus phæocephalus,Scl.P. Z. S.1860, 481.—Coues,P. A. N. S.1872, 73.
[68]Myiarchus validus,Cabanis.Tyrannus crinitus,Gosse,B. Jam.186 (nec Auct.).Myiarchus validus,Caban.Orn. Nat.II, 351,et Auct.Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 62.
[69]Myiarchus crinitus,var.cooperi(Kaup).Baird.Tyrannula cooperi,Kaup.P. Z. S.1851, 51.Myiarchus cooperi,Baird,Birds N. Am.1858, 180.Myiarchus crinitus,var.cooperi,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 67.
[70]Myiarchus crinitus,var.irritabilis(Vieill.),Coues.Tyrannus irritabilis,Vieill.Enc. Meth.1823,II, 847.Myiarchus crinitus,var.irritabilis,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 65. (M. erythrocercus,Scl.;M. mexicanus,Kaup,Lawr.;M. yucatanensis,Lawr.)
Obs.—It is, perhaps, probable that in Yucatan this race grades into theM. stolidus(var.stolidus), since there is a specimen in the collection from Merida (39,213, April 9, 1865, A. Schott) which seems to be very nearly intermediate in every way between the two. It has the very black hill, restricted rufous on inner webs of rectrices, and pale yellow of lower parts ofM. stolidus, and the brown pileum and more robust proportions ofirritabilis. The specimen, however, is in poor condition, being of worn and faded plumage, and much distorted, so that its true characters cannot be ascertained satisfactorily.
[71]Myiarchus stolidus,var.phœbe(D’Orb.),Coues.Tyrannus phœbe,D’Orb.Sagra’s Cuba,Ois.p.84.Myiarchus stolidus,var.phœbe,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 78. (Sagræ,Gundl.;stolida,var.lucaysiensis,Bryant).
[72]Myiarchus stolidus,var.antillarum(Bryant),Coues.Tyrannus (Myiarchus) antillarum,Bryant,P. B. S. N. H.1866,p.2.Myiarchus stolidus,var.antillarum,Coues,P. A. N. S.July, 1872, 79.