PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 175 



(Natt), while among the synonyms there is no mention of Oriolus mexi- 

 canus (part) Linn., ed. 12, p. 1C2, No. 13, Icterus xanthomus var. a. 

 dubusii, Dubois, I. x. var. /?. marginalis, Dubois, I. auratus, Cass. 

 (nee. Bp.), and Xanthomus nigrogularis, Hahn, all of which (with 

 possibly the exception of the last) appear to be referable to the present 

 species. The U. S. National Museum possesses a skin (No. 32769), 

 from Verreaux, which, on the label, is marked as from " Mexique," and 

 which corresponds exactly with Dubois' "var. /?. marginalis," which is 

 stated to have come from Panama; also a skin which I selected from a 

 collection of Guatemalan birds (in the hands of a dealer), which, 

 although it may not have really come from that country, nevertheless 

 seemed to agree in "make" with the other skins, is different from any 

 South American examples, and, furthermore, agrees in certain charac- 

 ters with the skin said to have come from Mexico. The latter is the 

 specimen noticed by Mr. Cassin (as below) under the name " auratus," 

 and bears this name, in his handwriting, on the label. On the same 

 label are also inscribed, " Icterus xanthomus, Daud.," by Verreaux, and 

 '■'•Icterus nigrogularis, Bonap.," by Mr. Lawrence. The specimen in 

 question differs from all South American examples of the species in the 

 National Museum (six in number) in the following particulars: (1) 

 Large size, the wing measuring 4 inches, the tail 3.90, against 3.70 and 

 3.70, respectively, the maximum in the South American series ; (2) de- 

 cidedly purer yellow color of the back, which is hardly less clear in color 

 than the breast, all the South American skins having a more or less 

 olivaceous tinge on the dorsal region ; (3) distinct white speculum at 

 the base of the primaries, extending backward for nearly half an inch 

 beyond the tips of the primary-coverts. As to the last-mentioned fea- 

 ture, most of the South American examples * have more or less of an 

 indication of this white speculum ; but in none is it nearly so large, 

 while the white edgings to the secondaries are also less conspicuous, 

 although the approach is quite near in two of them. These white 

 markings are, however, very variable in their extent and development 

 in different individuals, not only of this species but many others also, 

 and they also vary in distinctness according to the age of the feathers, 

 becoming in very old feathers so much abraded as to have almost dis- 

 appeared, except where broadest. As a character, therefore, they need 

 scarcely be taken into account. 



The specimen supposed to be from Guatemala I should be disposed 

 to refer to the same form as the one said to have come from Mexico, 

 apart from any circumstantial evidence as to its origin, on account of 



* These are from the following localities : 



(1) No. 60592, $ ad. Forte de Rio Brancho, Brazil, Dec. 8, 1831 ; J. Natterer. 



(2) No. 32776, $ ad. Rio Negro ; Verreaux. 



(3) No. 32775, $ juv. Rio Negro ; Verreaux. 



(4) No. 55196,,? ad. Demerara, Br. Guiana; P. Figyelmesey. 



(5) No. 32777,$ ad. Cayenne, Fr. Guiana; Verreaux. 



(6) No. 28161, <? ? ad. Sta. Marta, Colombia ; G. N. Lawrence. 



