some Birds from Yucatan. 465 



Gobernador ; but, before I could approach near enough to 

 shoot them, they flew off*, screaming, into the neighboring 

 woods. At last, I determined, one evening, to follow them 

 as long as I could see to shoot, and get a specimen, if possi- 

 ble. I accordingly did so, and succeeded, just at dusk, in 

 shooting a female, after which the flock never appeared again 

 in that neighborhood ; but, subsequently, I procured two 

 other specimens, both males, one near Yturbide, and the 

 other near Izamal. In both instances, they were procured 

 from small flocks of from six to a dozen. They are very 

 noisy and lively in their motions. Their food appears to 

 consist of the small fruits and insects. They have a most 

 peculiar formation in the trachea, being a membranous bag, 

 coming off* between the rings, about half way down, and inti- 

 mately connected with the skin of the neck, which, together 

 with the great muscularity of the larynx, may account for the 

 great loudness and harshness of their voice. 



Male. Dark brown on head, chin, neck, back, and upper 

 part of tail ; a steel-gray spot on cheeks ; bill black ; iris 

 brown ; under parts and flanks white ; tail consists of twelve 

 feathers, all tipped, for about one third their length, with 

 white, except the central ones, which have merely a white 

 mark on each side the shaft, near the tip ; first primary 

 shortest, fifth longest ; nostrils rounded, partially covered with 

 bristly hairs. 



Total length about 16 inches; bill 1^ inches along ridge, 

 and If along gape, ^ inch diameter at base ; tarsus If inches ) 

 middle toe 1^ inches long; tail 7^ inches long. 



Female. 15} inches long, has the brown lighter than in 

 the male/; bill yellow. 



ORIOLUS MUSIC US. Singing Oriole. Nobis. 



Of this beautiful bird, I procured three specimens in Yuca- 

 tan ; two males at Ticul, and one female at Macoba. I had 

 not much opportunity of observing their habits. Those 

 that I saw were high up among the branches of trees, and 

 called my attention by their charming song. 



