NORTHWESTERN MEXICO. 293 



usually built in a thorny tree or bnsli, at a moderate heiglit, and composed of thorns and dried twigs exte- 

 riorly, and lined with fibrous roots; the eggs are usually five, the outside of the shell is rough and white, the 

 inside is gi-een." 



155. Playa ridibiindus (Gm.), (mexicanus Sw.). 



Pyrrhcoccyx mexicanus Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 356. 

 Mazatlan, Grayson, Xantus, BischofF; Tupila River, Plains of Colima, Xantus. 



156. 3Iorococcyx eythrojyygia (Less.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



157. Coccyzus americanus (Linn.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"A summer visitant; makes its appearance in June, and disappears about the middle of September. Usu- 

 ally inhabits the mangrove swamps in this locality, where it breeds." 



158. Geococcyx mexicanus (Gm.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson, Xantus. 



" This remarkable bird, which the Mexicans call 'Churea, or Correa del Caniino' (Road-runner), so called 

 from the habit it sometimes has of running along a path or road — seldom fails to attract the attention of the 

 traveller by its solitary and peculiar habits, and often, too, in the moimtainous regions and desert countries, 

 where no other living creature is to be seen. Although met with in such localities, it is, however, not en- 

 tu-ely confined to them, as it is an equal habitant of some portions of the thinly wooded parts of the tierra 

 caliente of the West, where the trees are scrubby and the country open, as the barren and rocky great central 

 plains of Mexico. It seems to prefer a hilly country but scantily supplied with vegetation, where the numer- 

 ous species of Cacti form impenetrable thorny thickets. Here the Road-runner wanders in solitude, subsist- 

 ing upon grasshoppers, mice, lizards, etc. 



"It is most usually met with upon the ground, and as soon as it discovers the presence of danger, or the 

 intruder, instantly runs ofi" with remarkable fleetness to the nearest thicket or hill, where it generally escapes 

 from its pursuers, either by concealment, or a short flight from one hill to anotlier. If a tree with low 

 branches be convenient it will spring into that, and soon reaching the top will fly off to the distance of an 

 hundred yards or more ; it appears to rise from the level ground with much difficulty. It is very quick in its 

 motions, active and vigilant ; indeed its fleetness enables it to elude its pursuers, although one may be 

 mounted on a good horse, or a dog may be in the train ; but this is only for a short distance, as it could soon 

 be run down by the horse or dog, were not some convenient thicket or hill near, from which to take its flight 

 from the latter, or conceal itself among the branches of the former." 



Fam. PiciD^. 



159. Campephilus guatemalensis (Hartl.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson ; Rio de la Ameria, Xantus. 



" This fine species is common in the larger forests, and a constant resident." 



160. Dryocojnis scapularis (Vig.). 



Mazatlan, Grayson, Xantus ; Plains of Colima, Tupila River, Xantus. 



"Common, and well distributed in the tieiTa calieyite; a constant resident." 



3XSU0IRS BOST. SOC. NAT. niST. VOL. 11. 74 



