352 FErNGILLID^. 



Pringilla ochropyga, Licht. Mus. Ber.'. 



Sporophila ochropyga, Cab. J. f . Om. 1861, p. 5 ''. 



Spermophila atriceps, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 479 (ex Baird MS.)'. 



Nigra, plaga utrinque cervieali, speculo alari et subalaribus albis ; dorso postioo et corpore toto subtus pallide 

 rufis, torque pectoral! nigra ; rostro corneo, pedibus plumbeis. Long, tota 4-2, alse 2-2, caudse 2-0, tarsi 

 0-56. (Descr. maris ex Capulalpam, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



5 . Fuscesoenti-olivacea, alis caudaque obscurioribus, subtus valde dilutior-ocliraceo perfusa. (Descr. feminse 

 ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Hob. Mexico 1, Mazatlan [Grayson^ ^^, Xantus, Forrer), Te^ic {Gray son % Plains of 

 Colima {Xantus^), Guanajuato (i^tf^^s^), Cuernavaca (Z>epj)e, Mus. BerolJ), Capu- 

 lalpam, Oaxaca^ [Boucard], Tehuantepec {Grayson^). 



Bonaparte's short description of this species was based upon a specimen in the 

 Berlin Museum, very probably that subsequently characterized by Prof. Cabanis as 

 Sporophila ochropyga, a manuscript name of Lichtenstein's bestowed upon a specimen 

 of Deppe's collecting at Cuernavaca on the western slope of the Mexican highlands. 



The name Spermophila atriceps was given by Prof. Baird to specimens from Mazatlan 

 and its vicinity. These were submitted to Mr. Sclater when he was compiling his 

 monograph of this genus, and when we had also an opportunity of seeing them. 

 We quite agree with Mr. Sclater that these specimens are immature examples of 

 S. torqueola. We have similar ones now before us from the same district, sent us by 

 M. Alphonse Forrer. 



Grayson describes S. torqueola as a cheerful bird, with a sweet little song, which 

 always renders it attractive. It is a constant resident in the State of Sinaloa, and is 

 quite common at Topic, occurring also at Tehuantepec. Individuals do not associate in 

 flocks, but often in pairs, a few being sometimes seen in the same locality, where they 

 frequent openings in which there is an abundance of low bushes, weeds, and grass, 

 the small seeds furnishing their principal food. 



In the months of April and May the males are in full song. The nest is placed in 

 a low bush, and is compactly formed of fine roots with but little lining; the eggs, 

 five in number, are nearly white or very pale blue. Two or more broods appear to be 

 raised in the season, as young birds just able to fly are to be seen in October^. 



Spermophila torqueola appears to be, as Mr. Sclater says ^, a western species ranging 

 through the western States of Mexico from Sinaloa to Tehuantepec. Inland it reaches 

 Guanajuato, Cuernavaca, and Capulalpam, but has not yet been recorded from any of 

 the eastern States. 



3. Spermophila moreleti. 



Spermophila moreleti, Bp. Consp. i. p. 497'; Sel. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 302"; 1859, pp. 365 % 378*; 

 Ibis, 1871, p. 10 ' ; Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool. ii. Birds, p. 17 ' ; Sel. & Salv. Ibis, 

 1859, p. 17 ' ; P. Z. S. 1870, p. 836 ' ; Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 468 " ; Cat. Strickl. Col. p. 223 " ; 

 Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 103 " ■ Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551 " ; Frantz. 



