GEOCOCCYX. 535 
Saurothera californiana, Less. Compl. Buff., Ois. vi. p. 420 (1829) ™. 
Geococcyx californianus, Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. Birds, ii. p. 472; Sennett, Bull. U.S. 
Geol. Surv. v. p.413"°; Belding, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 344"; Shufeldt, Ibis, 1885, 
p. 286, t. 7°; P. Z.S. 1886, p. 466, tt. 42, 457°; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 178, 321”. 
Cuculus viaticus, Licht. Preis-Verz. Mex. Vég. p. 1 (ef. J. f. Orn. 1863, p. 55)". 
Geococcyx variegata, Wag). Isis, 1831, p. 524”. 
Supra sneo-viridescens, plumis omnibus (preter apices) cervino limbatis, crista nuchali saturate purpurea : 
subtus sordide albus, gutturis et pectoris plumis medialiter stria rachali nigra utrinque fulvo limbata, gula 
immaculata, tectricibus subcaudalibus abdomine concoloribus; alis purpuréo-nigris, remigibus maculis 
duabus elongatis in pogonio externo albis, una mediana, altera apicali; cauda sneo-viridi, rectricibus 
quatuor utrinque lateralibus albo terminatis; rostro corneo; pedibus plumbeis; iride (ave vivo) rubro 
bicincta, oculorum ambitu nudo ceruleo medialiter cretaceo-albo, postice plaga coccinea ornato. Long. 
tota circa 21-0, ale 7°3, caude rectr. med. 11°5, rectr. lat. 8-0, rostri a rictu 2°55, tarsi 2°5. (Deser. 
femine ex San Salvador, Puebla, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 
3 femine similis. 
Hab. Norta America, Southern frontier States !2, Texas 13. — Mexico (Deppé }%, 
Wagler °, T. Mann®, White®, Sumichrast*), Guaymas (Belding 4), Mazatlan 
(Grayson’, Xantus’), Guanajuato (Dugés®), Zapotlan (W. Lloyd, W. B. Richard- 
son), Nuevo Leon (£. B. Armstrong), Sierra Madre above Ciudad Victoria, 
Xicotencal, Soto La Marina, Tamesi near Tampico, Tenango del Valle (W. B. 
ftichardson), San Salvador in Puebla (Ferrari-Perez), Valley of Mexico (Herrera ""}, 
Velasco (le Strange), Jalapa (Sallé *). . 
This species has frequently been called by Gmelin’s name, Phasianus meaicanus, 
which was applied to the Hoitlallotl of Hernandez. This may be correct; but as the 
name mexicanus has also been applied to the smaller G. affinis, and the description 
is so vague that it is impossible to decide to which bird it should belong, we think 
it best to take Lesson’s title californianus for it, as is the practice with American 
ornithologists. - 
The range of this species is extended over the whole of Northern Mexico as far as 
the States of Jalisco and Sonora and the southern extremity of Tamaulipas. It is also 
found in the Valley of Mexico, in small numbers, according to Herrera, in winter near 
Tlalpam 1’. The only record we have of it south of this district is a specimen sent us 
by Don F. Ferrari-Perez from San Salvador in the State of Puebla. In altitude the 
range of this species is great, and extends from the sea-level at Mazatlan and Tampico 
to the Valley of Mexico. Beyond the northern frontier of Mexico it occurs in all the 
border States from Texas to California, and is a well-known bird in those countries. 
The habits of Geococcyx californianus have been fully described by several writers, 
and a summary of their observations is so well given by Brewer in the ‘ History of North- 
American Birds’ !*, that we need only add Grayson’s notes’ concerning the bird, and 
those of Mr. Sennett !3 which relate to its breeding. Grayson writes :—“ This remarkable 
bird, which the Mexicans call ‘ Churea del Camino’ (Road-runner)—so called from the 
habit it sometimes has of running along a path or road,—seldom fails to attract the 
