84 S. F. Baird on North American Birds. 
the peculiar fauna of Northern Mexico, which as far as its sum- 
mer birds indicate, is almost entitled to be considered as a fourth 
main province. 
The eastern province to the north merges into the Arctic, and 
southward exhibits a very important subdivision in the hot 
ion of the south Atlantic and Gulf States, which is bounded to 
the north by the isothermal of 80°, extending however up the coast 
to the Dismal Swamp of Virginia, or even to the Jamesriver. To 
the west it ranges along the isothermal of 83° or 85° following 
the line to the N.N.W. along the valleys of the Brazos, d 
river, the Washita and the Canadian. Most of the species be- 
longing to this subdivison reach along the valley of the Missis- 
sippi to a point far north of their limit on the Atlantic slope; 
the Swallow-tailed-Hawk, Parakeet, and other characteristic 
species, being well known visitors to Cairo, St. Louis, and ev 
as far north as Wisconsin. This subdivision of the eastern 
province experiences a still further modification in the southern 
part of Florida in consequence of the proximity of the Bahamas 
and Cuba, which causes stragglers of the West India fauna to 
enter its limits, especially along the south eastern keys. Some 
of these are Certhiola Bahamensis, Progne cryptoleuca? Vireo bar- 
batula, Quiscalus aglaeus (Q. baritus, Baird, B. N. A., 556), ete. 
The only really peculiar indigenous land bird in Florida is the 
Florida Jay (Cyanocitta Floridana), seldom, if ever, found out of 
at State. As far as is known, there is no corresponding 
‘southern subdivision on the west coast in the western province, — : : 
although California and Washington Territory have each some __ 
peculiar species. 
As in the eastern province, so in the middle, there is a sub- 
the species of this subdivision, that, with those peculiar to Cape 
t. Lucas, characterize the summer fauna of the latter region. — & , 
In winter, both there and along the Mexican boundary line, 
these species are mingled with others coming from the m! 
northern portions of the middle province. | 
In addition, however, ing certain species of the boun- 
to possessi. 
dary line fauna, Cape St. Lucas has other peculiarities which 
entitle it to especial consideration.” = 7 
It forms a distinct subdivision of the boundary sub-province 
page ES PO ce hy 42sec ah ts 
