PETJC^A. 389 



It is probable that this species is a \vinter visitor to Southern Mexico, but we have 

 no i)ositive evidence to prove that it is so. The bird does not appear in Sumichrast's 



lists. 



In California, M. heermanni appears to be abundant, and nests were found by 

 Dr. Cooper at Santa Cruz ; one of these was placed in a willow-tree close to the stem, 

 about -three feet from the ground ; it was constructed of coarse grass-stems and leaves,' 

 and lined with finer grasses and horsehair. The eggs were greenish white, spotted and 

 blotched with purplish brown chiefly at the larger end 2. 



PEUCiEA. 



Pencaa, Audubon, Synopsis B. N. Am. p. 112 (1839) ; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1868, p. 322; Baird, 

 Brew., & Ridgw. N, Am. B. iL p. 37 ; Coues, Key N. Am, B. ed. 2, p. 373, 



Peucma may be distinguished from Melospiza by the plumage being destitute'of spots 

 beneath, its somewhat more curved culmen, its weaker claws, and rather narrower tail- 

 feathers; otherwise the two so-called genera are very similar. 



The species of Peuccea are almost as indefinite as those of Melospiza as regairds their 

 differential characters. We recognize four Mexican species which are easily distin- 

 guished inter se, but P. botteri is but slightly removed from P. cestivalis and P. ioucardr 

 from P. rujiceps. On the other hand both P. cassini and P. notosticta are definite 

 enough. 



The genus is divisible into two sections, one containing the species with no rictal 

 stripes, but with the bend of the wing yellow ; the other has rictal stripes and the wino-- 

 bend white. 



a. Sp. striga utrinque rictali nulla, caw/pterio flavicante. 



1. PeucsBa Ibotterii. 



Zonotrichia botterii, Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 214', 



Peuceea botterii, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 323'. 



Peuccea csstivalis, var. botterii, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277 ^ 



Coturniculus mescicanus, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 474 ". 



Peucoea cassini, Baird, Mex. Bornid. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 16 ° ; Birds N. Am. p. 486 ° ; Sumichrast, 



Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551 ' (nee Woodhouse) . 

 Peuccea astivalis, var. arizonce, Eidgw. N. Am. B. ii. p, 41 ^ 

 Peucma mexicana, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 98 ", 

 Peuccea arizonce, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat, Mus. i. p. 127". 



Supra oinereo-rufescens, capitis et interseapulii plumis medialiter fusco-nigris, harum autem marginibus rufes- 

 centibus fusco mixtis ; alis nigricantibus, teetricibus omnibus pallide fusco late, remigibus rufo anguste, 

 extus limbatis ; eauda producta nigricanti, reetricum externarum apicibus valde dilutioribus pallide 

 cinereis ; subtus oobraceo-albidus, peetore cinerascentiore, gula clariore, prsecipue ad latera rufescente ; 

 campterio flavicante ; rostro corneo, tomiis pallidis, pedibus flavis. Long, tota 6-0, alse 2-5, caudae 2-6, 

 rostri- a rictu 0-5, tarsi 0-85. (Descr. maris ex Atlisco, Mexico. Miis. nostr.) 



