|]^4 MNIOTILTID^. 



a. Caudi,a alio conspicue maculata. 

 1. Helmmthophaga chrysoptera. 



Motacilla chrysoptera, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 333 \ 



Helmmthophaga chrysoptera, Scl. & Sak. Ibis, 1860, p. 397^ P. Z. S. 1864, p. 347% 1879, p. 494*; 



Cab. J. f. Orn. 1860, p. 328"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 293« ; ix. p. 94^ Baird, Rev. 



Am. B. i. p. 175 "j Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 135'; 1870, p. 183" ; Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, 



p. 293"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 192"; Coues, B. Col. Vail. i. p. 216 "; 



Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 63 "; Merrill, Pr. U.S. Nat. Mus. i, p. 123 ". 

 Sylvicola inornata, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 434". 



Supra grisea, dorso medio et alls extus oleagineo lavatis, capite summo et tectrioibus alarum Isetissime flavis ; 



capitis lateribus et gula tota nigerrimis ; subtug alba, hypoehondriis griseo tinctis ; rostro et pedibua brun- 



nesoentibus. Long, tota 4-5, alse 2-4, caudae 2, rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-7. (Descr. maris ex Choctum, 



Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 Femina mari similis sed capite summo olivaceo nee flaro et alis fasciis duabus flavis notatis ; capitis lateribus et 



gula cinereis nee nigris distinguenda. (Descr. feminse ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Eah. NoETH Ameeica, Eastern province ^^, Canada i^ Texas ^^. — Mexico {Bulloch ^^) ; 

 Guatemala, Coban, Choctum ^ {0. S. & F. J). G.); Costa' Eica {Hoffniann% Bar- 

 ranca (Carmiol^), Candelaria Mountains (v. Frantzius ^^), Dota Monntains (Carmiol), 

 Irazu {Rogers); Panama, Chiriqui, Santa Fe^, Calovevora ^'^ (ArcS), Lion Hill 

 {M'Leannan ^ ^). — Colombia * ; Cuba ^*. 



Though found in spring in Texas'^, this species appears to avoid Mexico in its migration 

 southwards, the only record of its occurrence in that country being Svv^ainson's reference 

 to it under the name Sylvicola inornata^^. In Guatemala it only came under our notice 

 in Vera Paz in the neighbourhood of Coban and Choctum; and here it is not by any 

 means common in winter. It is not until we come to Costa Rica that H. chrysoptera 

 is found in abundance ; but there, as well as in the adjoining State of Panama and in 

 the north-western portions of the continent of South America, considerable numbers 

 pass the winter. The furthest southern point reached by it is the neighbourhood of 

 Bogota, whence we have received several specimens. In Cuba Dr. Gundlach says that 

 it is of accidental occurrence in the vicinity of Havana during its passage northwards in 

 April 14. 



In the north it is described as nowhere a common species, and as distributed 

 over a comparatively small extent of country, comprising Georgia, Massachusetts, 

 New Jersey, Missouri, and Wisconsin, but' straying outside these limits 12. Little is 

 recorded of its habits beyond the description of its nest and eggs — the former being 

 composed outwardly of dry leaves interwoven with roots, strips of bark, &c., and lined 

 with fine leaves, grasses, and roots. This nest is usually placed in a low bush or on 

 the ground in a tussock of grass ^^. 



Dr. Coucs gives full references to the literature of this species ^^. 



