INTEODUCTION. vu 



VireonidsBj Tanagridse, Icteridse, Tyrannidae, Cotingidse, Formicariidae, Pteroptochidae, 

 Caprimulgidse, Trogonidse, and Cracidse (1 each). 



Out of the total number of 1413 species enumerated, 636 are endemic. Of these 

 latter, 271 are peculiar to {a) Mexico, Honduras, or Guatemala, 3 to [b) Nicaragua, 

 and 1G2 to (c) Costa Eica or Panama, the remainder (189) being more widely 

 distributed within the region or common to t^YO of these divisions. 



The Trochilidse include 118 species, with 84 endemic; the Fringillidse 104, with 52 

 endemic; the Tanagridae 86, with 46 endemic; the Formicariidae 52, with 28 endemic; 

 the Dendrocolaptidae 47, with 26 endemic ; the Troglodytidae 46, with 30 endemic; the 

 Turdidae 41, with 24 endemic ; the Psittacidse 34, with 24 endemic ; the Phasianidae 

 32, with 25 endemic ; the Peristeridae 30, with 19 endemic ; the Cotingidse 26, with 

 12 endemic ; the Trogonidee 16, with 11 endemic; the Cracidae 14, with 12 endemic; 

 the Tinamidae 11, with 8 endemic j and the Rhamphastidae 10, with 7 endemic. 



It will thus be seen that these fifteen families are all rich in peculiar forms, and that 

 the families themselves are almost all tropical. On the other hand, a large number of 

 species belonging to the more widely distributed genera find their winter home in 

 Mexico and Central America, or even further south, returning to breed in the 

 Nearctic Eegion, some Humming-birds (such as TrocMlus coluhris and Selasphorus 

 rufus) and others wandering far north at this season. It would be very interesting 

 to show the lines of migration of many of the species, but we have not sufficient data 

 for this purpose. Some of them, no doubt, travel southward from the United States to 

 the mainland of South America by way of the Caribbean or the West Indian Islands, 

 perhaps just touching the eastern part of our region en route. Others probably find 

 their way down the central tablelands, and a iev/ western species, again, pass down the 

 lowlands of the Pacific coast. 



The Tres Marias, Coiba, and Pearl Islands in the Pacific, and the islands of 

 Cozumel, Mugeres, Holbox, Euatan, and Old Providence in the Atlantic, possess 

 various slightly modified forms ; and the Eevillagigedo Islands are the home of 

 numerous interesting sea-birds not found on the mainland. 



To summarize the results, the Avifauna of Central America may be described as 

 essentially Neotropical, with certain peculiar forms (such as Oreophasis derhianus. 



