DISTRIBUTION OF THE BIRDS OF VERA CRUZ. 545 



23. Caraptjhrlvjnchm sonatas. Vulg. Matraca. Temperate region. Although more espe- 

 cially belonging to the temperate region, this species is also found in the hot lands of the 

 eastern part of the department. It nests near Orizaba. The plumage of the young birds 

 is so different from that of the adults that it is not impossible that one of the species 

 described by authors as the black-capped may have been based upon young birds of the C. 

 zonatus. The limit of their extension, as to height, does not exceed 1300 metres. 



In the "Review of North American Birds," p. 107, Prof. Baird has fallen into an error from 

 the want of exact information in regard to the habitat of the ('. humilis, and cites specimen 

 No. 29,225 of the Smithsonian Museum as having come from Orizaba. This indication is 

 incorrect. The specimen in question came from Guchitan (Isthmus of Tehuantepec), where 

 I obtained it in March, 1862. I sent it from Orizaba to Prof. Baird without indicating its 

 habitat. It is not therefore surprising that this neglect on my part has led to a mistake, 

 which I here take occasion to repair. 



24. Catherpes mexicanus. Vulg. SaUapared. Temperate region, plateau. Very common 

 on the plateau of Mexico, where it probably has its principal centre of propagation. This 

 bird is also found in the temperate region of the department of Vera Cruz. In Orizaba it 

 nests in the houses. Its nest, very skillfully wrought with spiders' webs, is built in the crev- 

 ices of old walls, or in the interstices between the tiles under the roofs of the houses. 



25. Heterorhina prostheleuca. Hot, temperate, and alpine regions. This pretty bird, very 

 generally distributed throughout the hot and temperate regions of the department, also ex- 

 tends into the alpine region to the height of at least 2000 metres, as I have had evidenced by 

 specimens which I have obtained at Moyoapam, in the mountains northwest of the valley 

 of Orizaba. Its nest, which I have found in the same locality, is formed of mosses inter- 

 woven with great skill. The interior of those which I have examined were all lined with 

 red feathers from the abdomen of the Trngon mexicanus. It is suspended or rather fastened 

 to the branches of shrubs, and so skillfully done by its cunning owner as to be readily mis- 

 taken for a bunch of moss. 



26. Pheugopedius mac uli pectus. Hot and temperate region. Belonging to the fauna of the 

 hot and temperate regions it does not extend beyond the height of about 1200 metres, or 

 about the altitude of Orizaba, where it becomes a somewhat rare species. 



27. Troglodytes brunneicollis. Vulg. Sonajita. Alpine region. One of the most common 

 birds of the alpine region, between the height of 1500 and 2500 metres, and confined to 

 this region. 



I have obtained near Orizaba two other species of Troglodytes, the T. aztecus Baird, and 

 the Cistothorus stellaris, but I am but imperfectly acquainted with their geographical distribu- 

 tion, and therefore only mention them in passing. 



SyLVICOLIDjE. 



Of the four sub-families, SylvicoMnce, Geothlypince, Ideriance, and Setophagince, into which Mr. 

 Baird divides the group of Sylvicolidce (" Review of North American Birds"), the first three 

 are represented in the department of Vera Cruz almost, only by migratory species, which 

 merely come here to pass the winter, or pass through on their way to more southern regions. 

 I will indicate in their order the resident species, adding to the name of each the localities in 

 which I have observed them. The resident species are : — 



28. Panda superciliosa. Alpine region. I have only found this pretty species in the alpine 



MEMOIRS HOST. SOC. NAT. HIST. Vol. I. 1't. -1. 137 



