MTIODIOCTES. 167 



It builds about the beginning of June, making its nest in a tussock of grass in 

 swampy woods, concealed by the surrounding rank vegetation. The nest is usually 

 composed of pine-needles interwoven with strips of bark and dry leaves, grasses, &c., 

 the lining consisting of fine black fibrous roots. The eggs, five in number, are of a 

 clear white, dotted and blotched with spots of brown, purple, and violet, chiefly grouped 

 in a wreath round the larger end ^. 



For general references to this species Dr. Coues's work must be consulted i^. 



2. Myiodioctes mitratus. 



Motacilla mitrata, Grm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 977 \ 



Myiodioctes mitratus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 291'; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 11' ; P. Z. S. 1864, 



p. 347 ^ Taylor, Ibis, 1860, p. 110'; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 6", ix. p. 200'; 



Baird, Eev. Am. B. i. p. 239'; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 478'; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. 



N. H. 1. p. 547"; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 314"; Cones, B. Col. VaU. i. 



p. 324''; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 71". 



Supra Iset^ olivaceus, alls et cauda fuscis extus olivaoeo limbatis, capite cum gula uigris ; fronte late, capitis 



lateribus et abdomine toto laete flavis • rectricibus tribus utrinque extends pro majore parte intus albis ; 



rostro nigricante, mandibulae basi paUida ; pedibus cameis. Long, tota 5*0, alse 2-6, caudse 2-4, tarsi 0-75, 



rostri a rictu 0-6. (Descr. exempl. ex Chootum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 $ mari similis, coloribus nigris absentibus, fronte et capitis lateribus magis olivaceis et gula abdomini con- 



colori. (Descr. exempl. ex Belize, Brit. Honduras. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. North Amebica, eastern provinces of United States m^^ Texas ^. — Mexico, 

 Cordova (Salle ^), Orizaba (Sumiehrast ^°), Merida, Yucatan (SchoW), Izalam 

 {Gaumer) ; Beitish Honduras, Belize {0.S.& F. B. G., Blancaneaux); Guatemala^ 

 Eetalhuleu, Duenas, Coban, Choctum [0. S. & F. B. G.) ; Honduras, Comayagua 

 {Taylor^); Panama, line of railway (if imnjia?^ ^ ^). — Cuba^^; Jamaica s. 



Of this species little is known in Mexico, as it has as yet only been found in the 

 State of Vera Cruz near Cordova ^ and Orizaba '^^, and it does not seem to reach any of 

 the States bordering the Pacific Ocean. It occurs, however, in Yucatan ^ ; and in 

 Guatemala it appears to be pretty generally distributed during the winter months, as 

 we obtained specimens in the lowlands of both coasts, in Alta Vera Paz, and in the 

 highlands near Duefias. In Honduras Mr. Taylor only obtained a single specimen in 

 an orange-grove at Comayagua^. From Nicaragua and Costa Eica we have no tidings 

 of it ; but on the line of the Panama railway M'Leannan found it, and sent specimens 

 both to Mr. Lawrence ^ and ourselves ^. 



In the continent of South America it is not known to occur ; but in Cuba Dr. Gund- 

 lach tells us ^^ that he has observed it in certain years in the month of April. It is 

 also reported from Jamaica ^ and Bermuda i^. The winter abode, therefore, of this 

 species would appear to be chiefly restricted to South-eastern Mexico, Yucatan, and 

 Guatemala, beyond which a few birds wander as far as the Isthmus of Panama. It is 



