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 
