THE OOLOGIST 



39 



separation lias proilueed. Mr. Jenks has 

 mouuted the two ijpcciinens lor his own 

 private cabinet. 



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TN order that subscribers niay receive 

 and bind TliE Ooi.ogist in an uninter 

 rupted series, it has been thought advis- 

 able to complete the present volume. 

 Subscribers to volume T), will receive the 

 twelve numbers. 



Chas. Wilson Pkale, the t'oundei- of 

 Peale's Museum of Natural Science, at 

 Philadelphia, and tne tirst to promote the 

 study of Natural History in America, Avas 

 born at Chestertown, Md., 1741, settled 

 in Philadelphia, 177G, whei-e he died in 



1827. 



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Our Summer Birds in V.^inter, or 

 Mexican Ornithology. 



npHE Valley of Mexico, ornithologically 

 -^ speaking, is sitiiated in tlie Central 

 Province of this peculiar country, for uyion 

 the East or Gulf coast, we find one Iknna 

 iu the interior between the Coast Range 

 on the East, and the Sierra Madres moun- 

 tains on the West, including the (ircat 

 Mexican Table Land, is another, ami upon 

 the Pacific Slope a third is met with. 



In general, these Divisions may be said 

 to be entirely distinct, thouirli occasionally 

 a species may be fomid in one Province, 

 while its habitat is in another, and but 

 rarely one is met with whose distribution 

 extended throughout all three. 



These divisions, owing to their situation, 

 correspond in some degree to the simihir 

 divisions of the United States, .and conse- 

 quently when our birds are forced South- 

 Avard by approaching winter, we find them 

 relatively in each of the three divisions, 

 though in much greater numbers iu the 

 Central Province. 



My work thus far has been confined ex- 

 clusively to the neighborhood of the Capi- 

 tal and my labors have been well repaid. 

 I have taken quite a number of specimens, 

 a great proportion of which are Summer 

 residents of the South Western States. 



The most numerous of the birds I have 

 met with, is the Crimson-fronted Finch, 

 C. Fronlaiia. Sparrows of several kinds 

 are abundant, though I have not collected 

 many. Keeping company with the latter 

 1 have seen severel specimens of Audu- 

 bonis Warbler, Aucluhonis. Wherever 

 trees are found, I have found the Blue- 

 Gray Cnatcatcher, Caerulea, Black-head- 

 ed Gnatcatcher, F. Melanura, and sev- 

 eral kinds of vireos quite plenty. 



I have seen but three specimens of the 

 Vermillion Flycatcher, F. Buhinses var 

 Mezicanus. This beautiful little bird is 

 found near pools and streams of sluggish 

 water, wliere it procures its food from the 

 uumei-ous insects which inhabit such plac- 

 es. I Jiave observed three specimens also 

 of tlie noisy little Kill-deer Plover, A, 

 Vociferus. The Mexican Wren, C. 31ex- 

 ■icanus is here found rojdacing J, Ludovi- 

 rianus of our Eastern States. As far as I 

 have observed, its habits are much the 

 sa)ne. Of its song I caimot say, as I have 

 never heard it ; whether it equals in beauty 

 our own little charmer or not. Brewer's 

 Blackbird, I cyanocephaliis, is here as 

 mimerous and noisy as the Purple Grackle 

 is at home. 1 have met with several spec- 

 imens of the South-western Lark, E alpes- 

 tris var dtrysolaenia, upon the plains ad- 

 jacent to Lake Texcoco. They are always 

 seen in pairs and are rather difficult to ap- 

 proach. There is also a species of Lark 

 upon the shores of the Lake, where they 

 cover the salt plains by thousands, living 

 upon the numerous insects which are here 

 found in great quantities. I have never 

 seen this bird before and do not know its 

 name. Aside from these there are many 

 birds which are quite abundant, but which, 

 up to the present time, I have not taken. 

 Thus far my work has been much restrict- 

 i ed, bui hencei'orth expect to devote my 

 whole attention to studying the birds of 

 this section, so that in my next I may be 

 able to give some more valuable notes 

 than this time. 



j A. W. Butler. 



Citi/ of Mexico. 



