102 TYEANNrDJ!. 



San Diego in Nuevo Leon {Couch 2^), Ceralvo, San Antonio, Estancia, and Topo 

 Chico near Monterey [F. B. Armstrong), Sierra Madre above Ciudad Victoria, 

 Soto la Marina, Aldama, Tampico ( W. B. Bichardson), Hacienda de los Atlixcos 

 {F. B. G.), Cuesta de Misantla (if. Trujillo), Jalapa {de Oca \ Ferrari-Perez ^s), 

 Vera Cruz {Bichardson), Teapa in Tabasco {Mrs. H. H. Smith), Merida in Yucatan 

 {Schott^% Peto and Buctzotz in Yucatan {G. F. Gaumer), Tabi {F. B. G.), 

 Holbox, Meco, Mujeres Is. {G. F. Gaumer), Cozumel I. {Benedict ^^ G. F. Gaumer), 

 Eio Mayo in Sonora {W. Lloyd), Mazatlan {Grat/son^^ ^^, Forrer), Tierra Colorada 

 {Mrs. H. H. Smith), Acapulco {A. H. Markham, Mrs. H. H. Smith), Plains of 

 Colima {Xantus^% Chihuitan ^7, Tapana^^, Barrio ^7, Dondominguillo ^7, Sta. 

 Efigenia, Tehuantepec {Sumichrast) ; Beitish Hondukas, Belize {Blancaneaux) ; 

 Guatemala {Constancia^% Coban, Tactic, Yzabal, San Geronimo i^, Duenas ^ 

 Escuintla, Eetalhuleu {0. S. & F. B. G.); Hondueas {G. C. Taylor ^% Omoa 

 {Leyland % San Pedro {G. M. Whitely% Segovia Hiver {Renderson^^) ; Nicaeagua, 

 Blewfields {Wickham^^),. Grey town {Holland ^% Chontales {Belt^), Omotepe L^o, 

 San Juan del Sur^i, and Sucuya*^ {JSfutting) ; Costa Rica {v. Frantzius^^), San 

 Jose 14, Grecia ^\ Sarchi ^^ Barranca ^^ {Carmiol), Bebedero, Nicoya, Tucuriqui 

 {Arce), Irazu {Bogers), La Palma {Nutting ^^) ; Panama, David {Bridges 2), Calo- 

 vevora, Calobre, Castillo {Arce), Lion Hill {M'Leannan ^^ ^^), Paraiso {Hughes), 

 Truando R ( Wood ^^). — South America generally to the Argentine Republic ^ ^7, 



Specimens from the extreme southern range of Tyrannus melancholicus differ from 

 those of the extreme north in having rather greyer throats, and blacker and more 

 deeply forked tails. In Guiana and other parts of the northern portion of South 

 America intermediate forms occur ; and though the species has been separated into 

 three races they are admitted on all hands to be not capable of precise definition. There 

 is considerable variation in individuals from the same district, and the upper surface 

 varies from dark olive to nearly pure grey ; the throat, too, is whiter in some specimens 

 than in others. Some stress has been laid on the colour of the tail between northern 

 and southern birds ; but this seems to be due to a considerable extent to the age of the 

 feathers in the individuals examined, for in freshly moulted birds we see no difference 

 in this respect. 



The various names given to this bird are strictly applicable as follows : — Tyrannus 

 melancholicus to the southern bird, T. couchi to that of the Rio Grande valley, and 

 T. satrapa to that of the northern part of the South-American continent. T. desj^otes 

 is probably a synonym of T. melancholicus, and so also is Muscicapa furcata of Spix, 

 and T. crudelis of Swainson. 



Except in the higher lands of Mexico, Tyrannus melancholicus is a very common 

 species almost everywhere throughout our region, and in all the more open country may 

 be seen in constant pursuit of its insect food, and from its conspicuous yellow plumage 

 and its noisy restless habits is a species that is more frequently noticed than almost any 



