TV \l.\ N N 11U-: — Til K KI.VOATCIIl'JUS. 339 



fly lifter lui insert from iiii iicciistoint'd pt-rch, uaimlly a lowor dead liinli of 

 a I'dii'sL Iruo. Tli^'y jH'cftir sluuly situutiiiua, and uri! said to fuud late in the 

 ovoniiij,'. 



^Ir. liidyway nii't witli tliis siieeii-.s in all suitnblo localities, from the Sae- 

 nuiu'nlo Valley eastward to liie Walisateli Mountains. It was most aluni- 

 dant among the oaks of the jdains between the Saeramento IJiver and th(! 

 Sierra Xovada ; Imt in the wooded river valleys of the inteiior, as well as in 

 the cedar and jiinon or niahoj;any woods on the mountains of tiie latter 

 rc;4ion, it was also more or less freijuently met with, in its maimers it is 

 de.scrilied as a eiamterpart of the eastern J/, rriiii/iis, l)ut its notes, though 

 generally similar in eliaraeter, have not that strength whieh makes the 

 vociferous screaming whistles of the eastein species so noticeable. 



This species, or a very closely allied race of it (var. jicrtina.i) was pro- 

 cured at C'a])e St. Lucas by Mr. Xantus. It had the peculiarities of a 

 southern race, stronger feet, stouter bill, and a generally smaller size. 



A few iiulividuals of this species were found by ^Ir. CJrayson inhabiting 

 the islands of the Three Marias, on the Tacilic coast of Mexico. He usually 

 saw them among low bushe.s, darting from their perch after ilies and other 

 winged insects. They were very silent, and seldom uttered a note. 



Four eggs of this species from Matamoras, collected by the late Dr. r>cr- 

 landier, have the following measurements : .H2 by .To, .91 by .71, .!*5 by .7"), 

 .98 by .7") of an inch. Thoiigh having a very close resemblance to the eggs 

 of M. cvinita, there are noticetible certain constant variations. I'he ground- 

 color is a little lighter, and has a tinge of pinkish not found in the eggs of 

 the eastern s]iecies. The markings are nu)re in oblong plashes of irregular 

 shape, and rarely exhil)it the waving lines. There are more and larger 

 blotches of a light purjdish-brown. The eggs are a little more spherical in 

 their general shape, and tin markings are less abundant. The eggs of M. 

 coopcri have a still more ros(!ate tint in the buff of the ground-color, are 

 marked with smaller blotches of bright jjurjtle and much larger cues of 

 lilac-brown. They measure .92 by .70 of an inch. 



Genus SA70RNIS, Honap. 



Siii/nmi», UiiNAl'. ?Ateiioo itftliaiH), IS.Ji. — In. Coinptes Reiulus, 18,')4, Notos Orii. Do- 



lattiv. 

 Aulanaj; Cabanis, Journal fiir Oni. lS.")(i, 1 (type, viiirlniiis). 



Gen. Char. Iloail willi a Wended dcprosspd moderate crest. Tarsus decidedly lonj^cr 

 than middle too, which is scarcely lonirer llian the hind toe. Bill ratlicr narrow ; width 

 ot base abont hall' the culnien. Tail broad, lonir, slightly forked; vqwA to the winfrs, 

 which are moderately pointed, and roach to the middle of the tail. First primary .shorter 

 than the sixth. 



This genus agrees with the preceding in the length of the broad ttiil, but 



