]^22 MNIOTILTID^. 



in Texas, gives a full account of its habits as observed by him during two visits to its 

 haunts in the valley of the Eio Grande ^ K He describes it as a bird of the forest, 

 where it frequents the tops of the tallest trees, its presence being chiefly detected by its 

 song, which can be heard at a considerable distance, and is easily distinguished from 

 that of any other bird. Mr. Sennett only obtained one nest, which he describes as very 

 peculiar. It was placed in an orchid C? mistletoe) very common on the Eio Grande, 

 which grew at the end of a drooping branch of a brazil-tree some ten feet from the 

 ground. The nest was of simple construction, formed partly of the grey leaves of the 

 orchid, and thrust into its centre from the side ; the bottom and sides of the nest were 

 lined with short cotton-like wood-fibres. Dr. Merrill also found a nest ^ ; but this was 

 in a bunch of Spanish moss {Tillandsia) about eight feet from the ground. An egg 

 obtained by Mr. Sennett he describes as very like that of P, americana, of a dull white 

 ground and spotted, chiefly in a zone near the larger end, with spots of lilac and brown. 



b, Cauda immacidaia. 



5. Parula superciliosa. (Tab. Vlll. fig. 2.) 



Conirostrum superciliosum, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1844, p. 215 *. 



Parula superciliosa, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 299 '' ; 1859, p. 373 ' ^ Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 10 *; 



Baird, Rev. Am. B. i. p. 171 '; Sumiclirast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 545 '. 

 Parula mexicana, Bp. Consp. i. p. 310 ' (ex Lichtenstein) . 

 Compsothlypis mexicana, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 21 ^ 



Supra olivaceo-viridis ; capite, genis, alis et cauda oinereis ; superciliis elongatis, macula suboculari et subalaribus 

 niveis ; subtus Isete flava, pectoris lateribus olivaceo tinctis ; abdomine postico cinereo, medio cum crisso 

 albis ; macula pectorali kmatacastan«a ; rosia-o nigricante, mandibulse basi pallida ; pedibus corylinis. Long. 

 tota 4'7, alse 2'6, caudse 1'85, rostri a rictu 0"6, tarsi 0*7. (Descr. maris ex Volcan deFuego, Guatemala. 

 Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. Mexico ''' ^ (Deppe, Mus. BeroL), Orizaba and Moyoapam (Sumichrast ^), Tierra fria 

 {le Strange), Talea^ and La Parada ^ (Boucard) ; Guatemala ^ *, Quezaltenango, 

 Volcan de Fuego, ridge above Chuacus, Santa Barbara (0. S. <& F, D. G,). 



This beautiful species is restricted in its range to the mountainous parts of Southern 

 Mexico and Guatemala, and was first described from specimens sent from the latter 

 country. In Mexico Prof. Sumichrast says it is found in the forests of oaks and pines 

 at elevations of between 6000 and 8200 feet. In Guatemala we found it in similar 

 districts, but chiefly in the oak-forests, especially those of the Volcan de Fuego, where 

 it was common. In the hills surrounding the plain of Salaraa it was also not uncom- 

 monly met with, but at the lower elevation of between 3000 and 4000 feet. So far as 

 we could observe, P. superciliosa has quite the habits of other Mniotiltidse. It frequents 

 the tree-tops, and searches branches and leaves diligently for insects. Of its breeding 

 nothing is as yet known. 



