896 FRINGILLIDA. 
Hab. Mexico (Swainson '!, Boucard), Ciudad in Durango (Forrer). 
This Hemophila, though well described by Swainson, was for some time confused 
with H. rufescens, from which it is certainly distinct. The greater amount of striation 
of the upper plumage, especially of the head, the absence of a black upper margin to the 
superciliary stripes, and the white streaks on the ear-coverts, the absence of the rictal 
streaks, as well as its greyer plumage beneath, render it not difficult to recognize. 
We have Swainson’s type before us, with which a skin (that figured and described) 
furnished us by M. Boucard agrees, as do others of both sexes obtained by M. Alphonse 
Forrer at Ciudad, in the State of Durango. Sumichrast, in his note on H. rufescens, 
conjectures that this bird replaces that species in the alpine regions of Vera Cruz, but 
he does not appear to have obtained specimens to prove that this is the case. M. 
Forrer’s birds were shot in the Sierra Madre between Mazatlan and Durango. 
Hemophila superciliosa cannot be called a common bird; we have only occasionally 
seen specimens in Mexican collections containing characteristic upland species. 
b. Stria verticali alba. 
4.«Hemophila ruficauda. (Tab. XXX. fig. 2.) 
Chondestes ruficauda, Bp. Compt. Rend. xxxvii. p. 918". 
Hemophila ruficauda, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398 *; Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 114°; Nutting & Ridgw. 
Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 883+. 
Hemophila tolteca, v. Mill. Syst. Verz. Wirb. Mex. p. 50°? 
Supra rufescens, dorso medio fusco guttato, stria verticali et superciliis utrinque elongatis, flavido-albidis, 
vertice utrinque fusca rufo intermixta, capitis lateribus fusco-nigris, tectricibus auricularibus cineras- 
centibus ; alis fuscis rufescente limbatis, tectricibus minoribus et scapularibus fere pure rufis; cauda 
fusca, rectricibus mediis rufis, rachide fusca; subtus albida, pectore pallide cinereo, hypochondriis et crisso 
rufescentibus ; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus carneis. Long. tota 7-0, ale 2:9, caude 3-1, 
rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0°85. (Descr. exempl. ex Chuacus, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Guaremaua, Chol, Chuacus, and the Motagua valley 2, from Guastatoya to Gualan 
(0.8. & F. D. G.); Satvapor, Acajutla (O. S.); Nicaraaua, Sucuyd (Nutting *) ; 
Costa Rica (Carmiol). 
A rare species of local though wide distribution in Central America. In Guatemala 
we only met with it in the valley of the Motagua river, where it was occasionally seen on 
the road between the city of Guatemala and Salama?. We also saw it on several occa- 
sions lower down the valley, as far as Gualan. In Nicaragua Mr. Nutting states that 
it is common about the hedges near Sucuyéd 4. From Costa Rica we have a specimen 
sent us by Carmiol. 
The habits of H. ruficauda are like those of H. rufescens ; itis to be found in bushes 
on or near the ground. It is not shy, but not easy of observation, owing to its skulking 
habits. 
We are inclined to think that H. tolteca of von Miiller belongs here>, though the 
