1890.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 201 



ON BIRDS COLLECTED IN YUCATAN AND SOUTHERN MEXICO. 

 \ BY WITMER STONE. 



The collections here described were made by INIr, F. C. Baker and 

 myself on the recent expedition from the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia under the charge of Prof. Angelo Heilprin. 

 The principal districts where collections were made were in north 

 western Yucatan and on the JNIexican highlands in the immediate 

 vicinity of the peak of Orizaba. For convenience, I will treat of 

 the two regions separately. 



Yucatan. 



The country throughout the north-western part of the peninsula 

 is flat and dry. There are no surface streams whatever, the water 

 being obtained from deep wells. On the western side, fifty miles 

 south from the north coast, is a range of hills running northwest and 

 southeast. The following is a brief description of the most impor- 

 tant points where specimens were collected : — 



At Progreso, on the north coast, the shore is lined with extensive 

 sand hills covered by a low growth of Palmetto, Cactus and various 

 thorny bushes. These sand hills extend back from the beach for 

 about half a mile and are characterized by such birds as the Car- 

 dinal, Cactus Wre?n, Lawrence's Gnatcatcher and Mocking bird. 

 Farther inland are low mud flats bordering the Mangrove swamps 

 and lagoons which separate the strip of land on which Progreso is 

 situated from the mainland. On the mud flats and along the edge 

 of the mangroves, are found Bryant's Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, 

 Ked-wing Blackbird and Vermilion Flycatcher, while about the 

 lagoons various water-birds abound, especially the Louisiana Heron 

 and American Egret. 



Farther inland, the country is very stony and covered with a 

 scrubby growth six to ten feet high, composed mainly of various 

 thorny leguminous bushes. At Tekanto, about fifty miles to the 

 southeast, situated in the midst of this scrubby forest, a number of 

 species were collected. The most characteristic birds found here were 

 the Cardinal, Mockingbird, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Parula War- 

 bler, Oriole, Groove-billed Crotophaga, Motmot and Chaparral Cock, 

 while about the haciendas or ranchos were found the Great-tailed 

 Grackle, Ground Doves and Uxmal Woodpecker. Birds were also 



