^'°189Y''] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 775 



The color cliaraeters giveu by Dr. Stejueger in Proe. U. S. X. M., iv, 

 1882, page 371, separating' var. occidentaUs and var. i))sula)Hs from M. 

 obscurus are shown by this specimen to be untenable, it having white 

 tips to all the tail feathers, and also light edges to the tips of the inner- 

 most secondaries. The wing formula of the three birds, however, ap- 

 pears to be distinct. My specimen agrees with the type of occidentaUs 

 in having the forehead white. 



4. Sialia mexicana Swaius. 



Taken in foothills, 25 miles west of Charcas, San Luis Potosi, in 

 Ifovember. Common in the valleys at that time and in the mountains 

 up to an elevation of 7,000 feet. 



Iris dark brown. 



Family MIMID^. 

 5. Melanotis caerulescens (Swains.)- 



Taken in Barranca Ibarra, near Guadalajara, in March and April. 



This bird, known as the 2[ulato by the Mexicans, is a very common 

 cage bird all over the country. It is a very fjiir singer and mimic, and 

 is much valued for its lively and familiar ways. 



Iris deep reddish-brown. 



6. Harporhynchus curvirostris (Swains.). 



A very common species in the central part of the State of San Luis 

 Potosi: it was taken at Ahualulco in October, and was found abundant 

 in the valleys about Charcas in N^ovember. It seemed to be found 

 exclusively in the valleys grown up with Opuntias, in the larger speci- 

 mens of which it builds its nest. Iris chrome; upper mandible, dusky; 

 under mandible, pale yellow : tarsi, pale yellowish ; toes, dusky. 



7, Harporhynchus longirostris (Lafr.). ' 



Taken at hacienda Angostura, in southern part of State of San Luis 

 Potosi, in December. Pather a shy bird and apparently not very com- 

 mon, as few specimens were seen. 



Iris cadmium -orange. 



Family SYLVIID.E. 



8. Regulus calendula (Linn.). 



A single specimen was taken at Soledad, San Luis Potosi, on No- 

 vember 27, but was apparently not at all common. N"ot seen elsewhere. 



9. Polioptila caerulea obscura Ridgw. 

 Taken in the neighborhood of Guaymas in Fe))ruary. 



