n6 FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ORNITHOLOGY, VOL. I. 



197. Coturniculus savannarum bimaculatus Swainson. 



Two females were taken at Patulul (March 24th, 26th). They 

 were feeding on weed seeds at the edge of a field of sugar cane. This 

 species was not seen anywhere else. Iris dark brown. 



198. Aimophila ruficauda lawrencei (Salvin and Godmari). 



Five specimens, three adult and two apparently immature, were 

 taken at El Rancho. The adults have the clear black lateral crown 

 stripes and auriculars and the larger size that characterize r. lawrencei 

 as distinguished from r. ruficauda. The two younger specimens 

 have traces of rufous in the lateral crown stripes, and the lower 

 posterior sections of their ear coverts are grayish brown, which give 

 them the appearance of true ruficauda, originally described from 

 Nicaragua. Apparently Salvin and Godman, in writing their de- 

 scription of ruficauda and setting the limits of its distribution,* had 

 one of these immature birds in hand, as the specimen which they 

 described came from the same drainage basin, that of the Motagua 

 River, as these El Rancho birds. Therefore, unless these specimens 

 were migrants from Mexico, which is not probable, the Guatemalan 

 birds belong to lawrencei and not to ruficauda^ as currently supposed. 

 This species inhabits the low tangles of thorny shrubs and the brush 

 fences and stone walls of the dry hillsides, remaining much upon the 

 ground, and taking refuge on the far side of its cover when inter- 

 rupted. Iris of adults orange-red, of immature birds dark brown; 

 maxilla dark horn color; mandible white; feet flesh color. 



199. Aimophila rufescens Swainson. 



This large sparrow was found in moist situations between 5,000 

 and 6,500 feet. Three were taken at Lake Atitlan and one in a valley 

 below Tecpam. One of the Atitlan specimens has the chest and sides 

 of the neck decidedly grayer, less buff, than either of the other three. 

 This same bird had its tail about three-fourths grown, all the rectrices 

 showing white tips, a character that the others had lost by abrasion. 

 No other sign of moult appears on any of them. Iris mummy-brown ; 

 maxilla slate-black; mandible plumbeous. 



200. Junco alticola Salvin. 



Seven were secured near the summit of Sierra Santa Elena, 9,500 

 feet, where they were found in a field cleared from the cypress forest. 

 None were seen at a lower altitude. Iris orange. 



* Biologia Central! Americana, Aves, Vol. I, p. 396. 



