28 TUEDIDtE. 



Melanoptila glabrirostris was a much wished-for species that long eluded our obser- 

 vation in Guatemala ; and it was not until the early part of May 1862 that it was at last 

 found to be not uncommon on some of the islands of the outermost of the coral reefs 

 which line the coast of British Honduras. Several specimens were obtained on Half- 

 moon Cay on Lighthouse reef; and it was observed on Northern two Cays, Long Cay and 

 Middle Cay (islands of the same reef), and also on Glover's reef, which lies to the south- 

 ward of Lighthouse reef. In its actions and flight M. glabrirostris much resembles a 

 Mocking-bird {Mimus) ; and it has a short but sweet song. It is said to lay blue eggs ; 

 so that Mr. Sclater's suggestion as to the position of the species amongst the Mocking- 

 birds seems to be correct, and the genus may be placed next to Galeoscoptes, from which 

 it mainly difiers in the colour and texture of its plumage. 



Since our specimens were obtained we have received two examples from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Corosal on the mainland of British Honduras. These were sent home in 

 spirits by Mr. Roe in a small collection of birds from that place. 



MELANOTIS. 



Melanotis, Bonaparte, Consp. Av. i. p. 276 (1850) ; Baird, Eev. Am. B. i. p. 56. (Type Orpheus 

 carulescens, Sw.) 



A genus of two species peculiar to Mexico and the highlands of Guatemala, each 

 district having a species to itself. Prince Bonaparte first removed the Mexican species 

 from the genus Orpheus (vel Mimus), in which Swainson had placed it, and made a 

 new genus, Melanotis, for its reception, giving, however, no characters. This deficiency 

 has been supplied by Prof. Baird, who has fully described the external form. Melanotis 

 seems most nearly allied to Galeoscoptes and Melanoptila, having, however, several 

 characters by which it may be recognized. The young of Melanotis, as shown by 



examples of young M. hypoleucus, have the back unspotted in the first plumage 



a fact which may help to determine the position of the genus and its allies at some 

 future day. 



1. Melanotis c^erulescens. 



Orpheus ccerulescens, Swains. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 369'. 



Mimus ccerulescens, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 294^ 



Melanotis carulescens, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, pp. 362^ 370^ Baird, Rev. Am. B. p. 56' ; Grayson, Proc. 



Boat. See. N. H. xiv. p. 275°; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 266'; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 



No. 4, p. 12' ; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. 1. p. 543°. 

 Tardus melanotis, Temm. PI. Col. 498". 

 Tardus erythrophthalmus, Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 2 (1830), cf. J. f. Om. 1863, p. 57". 



ScHstaceo-c^rnlescens; capitis lateribus, loris et gula nigris; gutturis plumis elongatis, rostro et pedibus 

 mgns. Long, tota 10-5, ate 4-5, caudae 5-2, rostri a rictu 1-3, tarsi 1-2. (Descr. exempl. ez Jalapa, 8 

 Mexico. Mus. nostr.) ^ ' 



