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. 
T* 
