62 Andrew Fackson Grayson. _ [ZOE 
gion of Mexico; making its appearance about the latter part of April 
and in May. The males arrive first, as their cheerful little song, 
which is continued throughout the day indicates their presence. 
About the latter part of May they have paired off and the nests 
commenced. The nest is usually placed low down, suspended be- 
tween the forks of a horizontal branch, in some shady and secluded 
spot. It is half spherical in shape and most beautifully and com- 
pactly formed, composed of the lightest material, fastened together 
and attached to the branch by means of the silken floss of the 
spider and caterpillar, the whole of which is more or less glossed over 
with this substance. The inner part is lined with elastic fibres, but 
no downy material is used inside. The eggs are usually three in num- 
ber, sometimes four, purely white, with very delicate reddish spots. 
After their brood is fully fledged, they disappear as mysteriously as 
they made their appearance in spring. I have never seen nor heard 
one after the rainy season, which terminates in October. They 
doubtless return to Central America, from whence specimens have 
been sent to the Smithsonian Inst. from Panama, collected in the 
month of January. Specimens have also been received by the 
Inst. from Monterey, Mex., Colima, Mexico, and Costa Rica. 
From the evidence of these facts, it would appear to be an entirely 
western species. But our present bird has not so éxtensive a geo- 
graphical range, being recorded only from such localities as hereto- 
fore stated in this paper. There is no appreciable difference in the 
colors of the sexes. The figures in the plate, male and female and 
nest represent the life size, drawn from fresh specimens. The 
nest, branch and flowers are as I found them in the woods. 
“ BLUE Mockine Birp.”’ Melanotis cerulescens (Sw.)—The blue 
mocking bird is the common name which I have adopted for the _ 
species, from the fact of its disposition to imitate the notes of other — 
birds and sounds, which it does to a considerable extent, but not 
in such perfection as our celebrated mocking bird, Afimus polyglot- 
tos. Its song however is melodious and of great compass, at times _ 
making the woods echo with its charming notes. It is a species 
which inhabits the densest thickets and woods of the “tierra cal- .. 
iente’’ where it keeps itself mostly concealed from view, but often 
makes its presence known by its peculiar song. It is solitary in its , 
habits and equally as unsociable as the common mocking bird. | 
Two males can never occupy the same approximate locality in peace 
. 
