294 



NORTH AMKlirCAN BIRDS. 



Mexico. Though we know of ud speciiuciis liaving Ijeen procured on this 

 side of the boundary line, their occurrence is quite probable. Lieutenant 

 Couch met with this species near Monterey, Mexico, and from thence west 

 to Parras. He describes it as being gregarious and eminently Jay-like 

 in its habits. They are very noi.sy and vociferous in their outcries, and 

 three or tVnu' of them suflice to keep a whole forest in an \iproar. Near 

 Guyapuco a large snake {Georgia oh.^oldn) was seen pursued by three or four 

 of this species. The reptile was making every effort to escape from their com- 

 bined attacks, and would, no douljt, have been killed by tliem, had they not 

 been interfered with. The cause of so much animosity against the snake 

 was explained when, on opening its stomach, three young of tliis .species, 

 about two thirds grown, were found. 



In the Department of Vera Cruz, Sumichrast found what he calls C. 

 ultramarina in company witli Cyanura coronata and Cyanocif.ta nana, " culi- 

 fornica" (Sumichrast i), and sordida, occurring in the alpine region, and 

 with the three first named restricted to that locality. The limit of their 

 extension is about that of the aljiine region, that is, from an elevation of 

 about 4,500 feet to the heio-ht of 10,500 feet. The sordida is also found on 

 the plateau. 



Genus XANTHOURA, Bonap. 



Xantkoura, Bonaparte, Coiisii. A v. 1850. (.Type, " Corvus pcntvianus, Gm.") 



Char. Head without crest. Tliroat black. Lateral tail-feathers bright yellow. Bill 

 very stout, rather higher than broad ; culmen curved from the base. Nostrils rather small, 



Xnnthoiirn ht.-ntosa. 



oval, concealed by a nasal tuft varyina: in length with species. Tail longer than the 

 wings ; graduated. The wings concave, rounded ; the secondaries nearly as long as the 

 primaries!. Legs very stout; hind claw about lialf the total length of the toe. 



Tlie genus Xantlioura is composed of three so-called species, of different 

 geograpliical distribution, and exliibits a progressive change from one to 

 the other, with variation of latitude tliat enforces assent to the hypothesis 



