454 ICTERID A. 
neaux®); GUATEMALA, Peten (Leyland®, O. 8.°), Duefias®, Coban (0. S.); Costa 
Rica (v. Frantzius 4), La Palma (Nutting 1), Bebedero, Nicoya (Arcé ® 1), 
This well-known North-American species appears to be almost equally familiar 
throughout Mexico, wherever marshy spots are found suitable to its habits; it is 
more or less abundant in Northern Mexico in the State of Durango generally, and in 
the lower portion of the Bolson de Mapimi; and its occurrence is mentioned in 
many parts of Southern Mexico as well as in Yucatan. In Guatemala we observed it 
about the reed-banks skirting the lake of Duefias, the bird being resident throughout 
the year; we also found it in similar situations on the banks of the lake of Peten. 
In North America A. pheniceus has a bad reputation for the depredation it makes on 
the grain crops; but in Guatemala we are not aware that it ever flies far from the 
marshes and adjoining meadows. The nest is woven in the reeds, and is constructed 
outwardly of rushes and flags. The eggs are of a light bluish ground, and are marbled 
and blotched with several shades of dark purple, chiefly at their larger end. 
2. Ageleus gubernator. 
Psarocolius gubernator, Wag]. Isis, 1832, p. 281°. 
Agelaius gubernator, Bp. P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 1107; Scl. P. Z. 8. 1857, p. 213°; 1859, p. 363%; 
1864, p. 175°; Ibis, 1884, p. 10°; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 841°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. 
N. H. ii. p. 281°; Perez, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1886, p. 152°. 
Agelaius pheniceus, var. gubernator, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. u. p. 163%. 
A, phenicio persimilis, sed tectricibus alarum mediis sicut minoribus omnino coccineis distinguendus, 
2 (aut ¢ juv.) quam femina A. phenicet multo obscurior, corpore supra fere unicolore, abdomine quoque vix 
albido striato. (Deser. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. ¢ mus. nostr.; 2 aut g juv. Mus. Brit.) 
Hab. Nortu America, Pacific province—Mexico!?, Mazatlan and Tepic (Grayson §), 
Valley of Mexico (White), Orizaba (Botteri*), Jalapa (de Oca‘), Laguna del 
Rosario, Nativitas (Perez °). 
This is a western form of 4. pheniceus, being found throughout the States bordering 
on the Pacific Ocean from the Columbia river southwards. In Mexico, Grayson 
found it abundantly in the neighbourhood of Tepic; it also occurs in similar localities 
near Mazatlan, being resident in both places. The southern limit of its range appears 
to be the neighbourhood of Orizaba and Jalapa ; we have no trace of it from any portion 
of Guatemala. Its nesting-habits are described by Brewer, and appear to be similar 
to those of A. phaniceus; the eggs too are also similar, but somewhat paler and less 
heavily marked. The distinctness of this bird from A. pheniceus has been much 
questioned of late years by writers on North-American birds, but the most recent lists 
treat it as a distinct species, and this we believe to be the correct view. The difference 
between the two is undoubtedly slight; but though their ranges overlap in several 
points, no intermixture that we know of takes place. 
