42 TTEANNID^. 



value, and in themselves variable, so much so that they cannot always be depended 

 upon. Thus a specimen from Coban and one from Minas Geraes are not distinguishable 

 specifically, and we see no reason wliy this species should be separated any more than 

 Tyrannus melancholicus, which has even a wider range. 



Eegarding dimensions, to which Mr. Sclater calls attention 2, no dependence can be 

 placed, as we have Mexican specimens fully as large as others from Brazil ; the smallest 

 of our series being from Costa Eica and the State of Panama. 



The name M. similis was applied by Spix to the bird of the Amazons valleys- 

 Mr. Sclater, who admits the distinction between the bird of South-east Brazil {M. ery- 

 thropterus) and that of the rest of Tropical America (exclusive of Guiana) with con- 

 siderable reluctance, calls a specimen from Pebas in the Amazons valley E. texensis ; 

 it follows that whatever the ultimate status of the South-Brazilian bird may be, all the 

 rest should take Spix's title. We therefore apply E. similis to the Mexican and Central- 

 American bird without hesitation. 



The name Tyrannula texensis was given by Giraud to a bird supposed to have been 

 shot in Texas, and the species has been admitted into the North- American fauna on 

 the strength of this statement. We have not as yet been able to trace it beyond 

 Aldama in Tamaulipas, that is the edge of the lowland tropical forest. On the Pacific 

 side of Mexico, Mazatlau is our most northern record. In Central Mexico and the 

 southern side of the Eio Grande valley we have not yet traced it. 



M. similis is a very familiar bird throughout our region, being found everywhere in 

 open places from the sea-level to a height of 5000 or 6000 feet in the mountains. It 

 is noisy and conspicuous, like the equally abundant Tyrannus melancholicus. 



At Duenas, in Guatemala, it builds in the month of May a nest of small roots and 

 strong grass of light construction and covered over, having a large hole in the side. 

 The eggs, generally three in number, are of a rich creamy white, thinly spotted at the 

 obtuse end with red ; they measure, axis 10'25 lines X 8 lines ^^. 



3. Myiozetetes granadensis. 



Myiozetetes granadensis, Lawr. Ibis, 1862, p. 11^; Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 473', ix. p. ]12'j Scl. 

 & Salv. P.Z. S. 1864, p. 359", 1867, p. 279'; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 307 °j Salv. 

 Ibis, 1872, p. 318 ' ; Nutting & Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. pp. 384 \ 402 ' ; Scl. Cat. Birds 

 Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 163". 



Prsecedenti similis, sed capite summo griseo nee nigricante, superoiliis albis absentibus distinguendus. (Descr. 

 maris ex San Pablo, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. NiCABAGUA, Chontales {Belt ^), Los Sabalos ^ and Sucuya ^ [Nutting), Blewfields 

 River (fFi'cMam^); Costa Rica (Fa« Patten), Orosi (Carmiol ^ ^) ; Panama, Chi- 

 riqui (JrcS), Lion Hill [M'Leannan ^ 2 4).— South America, Colombia, Ecuador, 

 and Peru. 



M, granadensis can readily be distinguished from either of the preceding species by 



