BIRDS OF SOUTHERN VERACRUZ — WETMORE 297 



recognize two forms with the break between them coming somewhere 

 north of the city of Veracruz. Details of range in this area will be 

 decided by more material than now available. The species apparently 

 represents a perfect example to illustrate complete intergradation 

 between two forms. 



Possibly there are slight differences in note and habit between the 

 two species of jays found at Tres Zapotes, but if so my period of 

 observation in 1939 was not sufficient to allow me to detect them. 

 It appeared at times that morio produced a louder snapping noise 

 than its companion, but of this I was not certain. Both seemed 

 equally inquisitive and vociferous, and both ranged through the 

 same areas. Only in cold, rainy weather were they subdued and still. 

 On such occasions they remained in the thicker trees, coming out to 

 range among the more open growth only between showers and 

 retreating immediately to cover when the downpour was renewed. 

 In the first weeks of my work here the loud and constant calls of the 

 pepes dominated my attention, but in time I became so accustomed to 

 their noise that I often overlooked them. The male shot on March 28 

 was alone in the forest and scolded me so loudly that it may have 

 had a nest nearby, since it was in breeding condition. The follow- 

 ing day I saw one flying about over an open pasture carrying a 

 slender twig in its bill. 



The bird taken on March 28 had the breast pouch a little smaller 

 than the individuals of the other species examined and the sac seemed 

 a little thicker walled. This, however, may have been merely individ- 

 ual difference. 



The names to be applied to these jays have been discussed recently 

 by van Rossem. 51 



PSILORHINUS MEXICANUS MEXICANUS Riippell 



Psilorhinus mexicanus Ruppell, Museum Senckenbergianum, vol. 2, pt. 2, 1837, 

 p. 189, pi. 11, fig. 2 (Tamaulipas, Mexico). 



I shot a male on March 9 and a female bird on April 3, 1939, the 

 latter being prepared as a skeleton. The relationship of the present 

 species, which has the tail with broad white tips, to Psilorhinus morio 

 is most interesting and is a subject that will warrant careful study. 

 At Tres Zapotes the two were in about equal number, and it was 

 common to find them feeding and traveling in company. They were 

 lather social and often ranged in little groups of 3 or 4 to 10, though 

 sometimes they were encountered alone. That we did not prepare a 

 series of the present species was due solely to preoccupation with 

 other work, as there was no difficulty whatever in shooting them, so 



81 Bull. Mus. Comp. ZoOl., vol. 77, Dec. 1934, pp. 414-416. 



