448 ICTERIDA. 
feathers of the under surface have light-coloured tips which wear off very soon, probably 
before the breeding-season has commenced. One of our specimens from Cozumel L., shot 
on 26th April, has the feathers perfect and edged with light fuscous; another, shot on 
the 20th May, is almost quite black beneath, but on near inspection the ends of the 
barbs of each feather are broken close to the commencement of the black colour. 
1. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 
Emberiza oryzivora, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 311". 
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 485°; Gould, Voy. ‘ Beagle,’ in. p. 106°; 
Gosse, B. Jam. p. 229‘; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 72°; Ibis, 1884, p. 2°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 
xi. p. 8817; Salv. Ibis, 1864, p. 886°; 1866, p. 194°; 1885, pp. 191°, 218"; Cass. Pr. 
Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 15”; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 199°; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. 
p. 149™; Coues, B. N. W. p. 178%; Key, N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 400"; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 
1879, p. 509 "7; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 97**; Zeledon, Cat. Av. de Costa Rica, p.10; Tacz. 
Orn. Pér. il. p. 421”. 
Niger, nucha lata pallide cervina, interscapulii plumis fusco utrinque limbatis ; secundariis internis et primariis 
externis quoque fusco marginatis ; scapularibus et dorso postico cum supracaudalibus albidis, dorso medio 
cinerascente; remigibus nigris, ad apicem cinerascentibus; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus 
corneis. Long. tota 6°0, ale 3°8, caude 2°8, rostri a rictu 0°6, tarsi 1:0. 
© (et mas in vestitu hiemali) supra nigra plumis singulis fusco limbatis ; superciliis et corpore subtus sordide 
ochraceis, hypochondriis fusco striatis. (Descr. maris et femine ex Lighthouse reef, British Honduras. 
Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Nort America, Southern Canada and Eastern States to the Great Plains.— 
Mexico, Tableland (Bullock 7), Northern Yucatan 7 and Cozumel Island !° (Gaumer, 
Devis); British Honpuras, Northern two Cays, Lighthouse reef (0. 8.5%); Costa 
Rica (Zeledon 1"); Panama, Paraiso Station (Hughes"), Chepo (Arcé").—Soutu 
America, Colombia!® to Paraguay !4, Amazons valley ‘1° and Guiana !!; GaLapacos 
Isuanps °?; Cuspa 18; Jamatca 4. 
Dolichonyx oryzivorus is a very familiar species in North America, as it passes over 
the whole of the Southern States in its migrations, and breeds in the Northern States 
and Canada. ‘The spring migration lasts from March to May, and the autumn during 
August, September, and part of October. In winter these birds are scattered over the 
greater part of South America as far as Paraguay, and we have records of it in Colombia, 
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the Amazons valley, and Guiana. In Cuba and Jamaica it 
appears only as a bird of passage, as it does not remain during the winter months. 
Gundlach says it arrives in Cuba at the beginning of September in large flocks, which 
during their stay frequent rice-fields, doing much damage to the crops; they soon 
disappear for the south, but return again in May for a few days on their journey north- 
wards'®. According to Mr. Gosse their stay in Jamaica lasts during October and the 
early part of November; they return with the spring rains in April for a few days‘. 
The only record we have of the occurrence of this species in Mexico is that of 
