PEIJC^A.— H^MOPHILA. 393 



4. Peuc£ea notosticta. (Tab. xxviii. fig. i.) 



Teucaa notosticta, Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1868, p. 332 \ 



Supra fuscescente-cinerea, interscapulio et alarum tectricibus distinote nigro striatis ; pileo medio cinereo, utrin- 

 que rufeseente-brunneo nigro striate ; supercUiis et oculorum ambitu albis ; alis et cauda nigricante- 

 cinereis, plumarum marginibus dilutioribus, secundariis extus brunescente limbatis ; subtus alba ciuereo, 

 praecipue in pectore et lateribus lavata ; ventre medio et crisso dilute cinnamomeis ; striga mentali utrinque 

 nigricante ; rostro nigro, pedibus flavioantibus. Long, tota 6-5, alse 2-7, caudse 3, rostri a rictu 0-5, 

 tarsi 0'7. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico merid. Mus. nostr.) 



Hub. Mexico [Boucard), Oaxaca {Boucard ^). 



This species was described from a single specimen obtained in Southern Mexico, 

 probably in the State of Puebla, by M. Boucard, but the exact locality where it was 

 shot is not stated on the label. 



Though allied to P. boucardi it is certainly distinct; the rufous-brown sides of the 

 crown are clearly marked with black, and there is a definite median streak ; the middle 

 of the back, too, is much more clearly striped, and the bill is wholly black, though this 

 may be a seasonal character. 



In Mr. Sclater's collection, now in the British Museum, there is a second specimen 

 of this species, but in more immature plumage. The crown is uniformly rufous without 

 the black lateral streaks and the median stripe, and the general tint of the plumage 

 above is more rufescent. In spite of these differences we do not hesitate to consider 

 this bird to be a young example of P. notosticta. 



HiEMOPHILA. 



Aimophila, Swainson, Anim. in Menag. p. 113. 



We know of nine normal species of Soemophila. A tenth has been recently described 

 by Mr. Sclater as H. pulchra (Ibis, 1886, p. 258, t. 8) from Western Peru; but this 

 has evidently some aberrant characters, one of the most obvious being the white lateral 

 tail-feathers. 



Of the nine species only one {H. stolzmanni) occurs beyond our limits in Western 

 Peru. Of the other eight, six are purely Mexican, one reaches Guatemala, and one is 

 found from Guatemala to Costa Rica. 



In their range the species of HcemopUla enjoy considerable diversity, so far as 

 altitude is concerned — H. rufescens being found in the mountains as high as 8000 feet 

 and as low as 1500, and H. rvficauda between 2000 feet and the sea-level. The species 

 with which we are acquainted are inhabitants of scrubby forest and brushwood, and 

 are not found in the denser and more lofty tropical forest. 



HcemopUla rvfescens has a stout bill, the culmen slightly arched and produced back- 

 wards towards the forehead ; the tomia is angulated and slightly undulating anteriorly ; 

 the nostrils are at the lower anterior end of the nasal fossa, and are bordered above by 

 a membrane ; below the nostril the maxilla is slightly tumid. The wings are short 

 BIOL. CENTR.-AMER., Aves, Vol. I., August 1886. 50 



