AMBLYCERCUS.—DOLICHONYX. 447 
Duefias!” 18 (0. S.), Choctum, Retalhuleu (0. 8. & F. D. G.), Peten (Leyland **) ; 
Honpvuras, Omoa (Leyland 71), San Pedro (G. IM. Whitely °°); Nicaragua, Greytown 
(Holland 7°), Sucuya 28, Los Sabalos 29 (Nutting) ; Costa Rica (Hoffmann §), San José, 
Turrialba (v. Frantzius © 4, Carmiol °), Tucurriqui (v. Krantzius 11), lrazu (Rogers) ; 
Panama, Calovevora 25, Calobre 2°, Santa Fé *4 (Arcé), Lion Hill Station (/*Lean- 
nan \9 22), Paraiso Station (Hughes).—CotomBia ; Ecuapor 4; Peru®; VENEZUELA®, 
Amblycercus holosericeus is a very familiar species in Mexico and Central America, 
where it is found throughout the hot and temperate districts from Southern Mexico to 
Panama, and thence southwards to Ecuador and Peru. 
Its habits are very different from those of Cassicus, being of a skulking disposition, 
frequenting tangled thickets, where it occupies itself in breaking small dead branches, 
probably for insect food. 
We never observed it in flocks; but Mr. Nutting, who met with it in several parts of 
Nicaragua, says it is probably gregarious 75 9, 
Sumichrast, who ascribes 4. holosericeus to the hot and temperate regions of Vera 
Cruz, says it does not reach the altitude of Orizaba, the limit of its upward range not 
passing 3380 feet 26. In Guatemala, however, we found it to be common at Coban at 
an elevation of between 4000 and 4500 feet, and at Duefias at nearly 5000 feet. 
The iris in life is light yellow, and the bill yellowish green. 
Subfam. Il. AGELAINA. 
Nares plus minusve membrano obtecte ; mesorhinum altum haud dilatatum, complanatum aut modice rotun- 
datum, culmen fere rectus ; alarum plume secundarix externe haud elongate. 
DOLICHONYX. 
Dolichonyz, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 851 (1827) ; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 331. 
A monotypic genus containing the single well-marked and well-known species 
described below. 
In coloration Dolichonyx curiously resembles Calamospiza bicolor, but the two birds 
are not by any means nearly related. 
D. oryzivorus has a short stout Fringilline bill; the commissure of the maxilla is 
angulated, but there is no notch near the extremity; the nostrils are large and open, 
and situated at the lower end of the nasal fossa, a membrane lying along the upper 
margin ; the rictal bristles are very short ; the wings are long, the outermost primary 
being the longest, from which the rest fall rapidly away, the longest secondaries being 
about equal to the shortest primary; the extremities of the tail-feathers arevery acute; the 
tarsi are rather long and the feet stout, the hind claw being long and slightly decurved. 
The male assumes a breeding-dress in spring and changes it again in autumn, when 
it resembles the female. When in most perfect spring plumage we believe the black 
