﻿504 PROCEEDINGS Or THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. loo 



tailed individuals. Later, in September, many long- tailed males 

 were present. The September birds were very fat; in spite of the small 

 size of the bird they were sometimes eaten locally. While some were 

 seen catching insects, a fact confirmed by gizzard examination, the 

 majority appeared to be feeding on the fruit of a small tree that grew 

 in the area. It seems possible that the reason for the concentration 

 was the abundance of such (presumably) fat-producing food. 



This is a quiet bird; the only notes heard were a pebbly crrrt and 

 a metallic zlit. At the concentrations a clicking noise was heard, 

 probably produced by the birds clicking their bills, or possibly by the 

 wings. 



MUSCIVORA TYRANNUS MONACHUS (Hartlanb) 



Tyrannus (Milvulus) monachus Hartlaub, Rev. Zool., vol. 7, 1844, p. 214 

 (Guatemala). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 9 , Cantaura, March 25, 1949, gonads slightly enlarged; iris brown; gizzard 

 contained insects; bird rather fat. 



This example of the pale-backed northern race of the fork-tailed 

 flycatcher was shot out of a flock of about 25 apparently similar 

 birds. It shows signs of molting in the inner secondaries. 



Two subspecies of this bird occur in our area, one apparently only 

 seasonally. The present race was recorded throughout the year, 

 generally on the open savanna. 



TYRANNUS MELANCHOLICUS CHLORONOTUS Berlepsch 



Tyrannus chloronotus Berlepsch, Ornis, vol. 14, 1907, p. 479 (Temax, Yucatan). 



SPECIMEN COLLECTED 



1 cf, Cantaura, December 3, 1945; gonads not enlarged; plumage rather worn. 



The specimen has the pale throat and crown characteristic of 

 the race. 



This bird was common throughout the year at the edge of the dry 

 woods and on the savanna where groups of trees were present. It 

 was usually seen in singles or in small groups of three to five individuals. 



In May the birds were seen carrying nesting material, and in the 

 first week of September fledglings just out of the nest were recorded. 



The call is a fairly loud chattering note, often a harsh chrrr, followed 

 by a squeaky chee and a rapidly descending chatter. 



Local name, "pecho amarillo," yellowbreast. 



TYRANNUS DOMINICENSIS DOMINICENSIS (Gmelin) 



[Lanius tyrannus] B. dominicensis Gmelin, Systema naturae, vol. 1, pt. 1, 1788, 

 p. 302 (based on "Le Tyran, de Sainte Dominque" Brisson, Orn., vol. 2, 

 1760, p. 394, pi. 38, fig. 2: Hispaniola). 



