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.) 
© mari similis, coloribus nigris absentibus, fronte et capitis lateribus magis olivaceis et gula abdomini con- 
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 
