PAEIDiE. 55 



How our nomenclature is to recognize cases like the present is a matter not easy to 

 adjust. We believe that P. nigriceps and P. bilineata once occupied distinct areas, and, 

 not coming into contact, were "species" in the sense of the term as generally adopted, 

 P. alUloris, on the other hand, has never held this position, but is, in fact, P. nigriceps 

 Ulineata or P. bilineata nigriceps, according to which form most prevails in individual 

 birds. 



Pam. PARIDJE. 

 LOPHOPHANES. 



Lophophanes, Kaup, Skizz. nat. Syst. eur. Thierv. p. 93 (1829). (Type Parus cristatus, Linn.) 

 B(2olophus, Catanis, Mus. Hein. i. p. 91 (1851). (Type Parus bicolor, Linn.) 



This section of the Paridse differs from true Parus chiefly, if not entirely, in having 

 a more or less well-developed crest — a character of no great importance, but one which 

 has been used by American writers to distinguish Lophophanes as a genus. Still 

 further subdivision has been proposed by Cabanis, who placed the American species 

 under the name Bceolophus, and applied the term Machlolophus to certain Indian species 

 with long crests. Including all these under Lophophanes, the genus comprises about 

 fifteen species, whereof four are American and one European, the rest being found 

 in the mountainous parts of India, chiefly in the Himalaya range. Of the American 

 species there is an eastern bird [L. bicolor) and a western (X. inornatus), the other two 

 being found near the southern frontier. Both these last occur in Mexico, 



1. Lophophanes atricristatns. 



Parus atricristatus, Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. v. p. 103, t. 3^. 



Lophophanes atricristatus, Baird, Eev. Am. B. i. p. 78^; Baird, Brew, & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i, 

 p. 90'; Sennett, Bull. U.S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 6"; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i. p. 130'. 



Supra olivaoeo-oinereus, alis et cauda fuscescentioribus, capite summo efc crista elongata nigris ; fronte et loris 

 albis, genis griseo tinotis ; subtus albidus, bypocboiidriis et crisso rufescentibtis ; rostro plumbeo-nigro, 

 pedibus oorylinis. Long, tota 5-0, alse 2-6, oaudse 2-4, rostri a rictu 0"47, tarsi 0'7. (Descr. exempl. ex 

 Yera Cruz, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Edb. Texas, valley of the Eio Grande ^ ^ ^ ^. — Mexico ^, Vera Cruz (fide Boucard, mus. 

 nostr.). 



Lophophanes atricristatus is a bird of very restricted range, being confined to the 

 valley of the Eio Grande, and thence probably passing southwards along the seaboard 

 of Eastern Mexico as far as Vera Cruz, whence we have a specimen supplied us 

 by M. Boucard, The bird has never, so far as we know, been obtained by collectors 

 who have worked more in the interior of Southern Mexico. In Texas it is described 

 as everywhere abundant and lively in its habits, as well as a good singer, having a loud 



