396 PEINGILLID^. 



Hob. Mexico {Swainson ^, Boucard), Ciudad in Durango {Forrer). 



This ScemopMla, though well described by Swainson, was for some time confused 

 with H. rufescens, from which it is certainly distinct. The greater amount of striation 

 of the upper plumage, especially of the head, the absence of a black upper margin to the 

 superciliary stripes, and the white streaks on the ear-coverts, the absence of the rictal 

 streaks, as well as its greyer plumage beneath, render it not difficult to recognize. 



We have Swainson's type before us, with which a skin (that figured and described) 

 furnished us by M. Boucard agrees, as do others of both sexes obtained by M. Alphonse 

 Forrer at Ciudad, in the State of Durango. Sumichrast, in his note on H. rufescens, 

 conjectures that this bird replaces that species in the alpine regions of Vera Cruz, but 

 he does not appear to have obtained specimens to prove that this is the case. M. 

 Forrer's birds were shot in the Sierra Madre between Mazatlan and Durango. 



Hcemo'phila swperciliosa cannot be called a common bird ; we have only occasionally 

 seen specimens in Mexican collections containing characteristic upland species. 



b. Stria verticali alba. 

 4. Haemophila mficauda. (Tab. XXX. fig. 2.) 



Chondestes mficauda, Bp. Compt. Rend, xxxvii. p. 918 \ 



HtemopMla mficauda, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, p. 398 " ; Salv. Ibis, 1870, p. 114 ' ; Nutting & Ridgw. 



Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. vi. p. 383 *. 

 Hcemophila tolteca, v. Miill. Syst. Verz. Wirb. Mex. p. 50 ° ? 



Supra rufescens, dorso medio fusco guttato, stria verticali et superciliis ntrinque elongatis, flavido-albidis, 

 vertice utrinque fusca rufo intermixta, capitis lateribus fusco-nigris, tectricibus aurioularibus cineras- 

 centibus ; alis fuscis rufescente limbatis, tectricibus minoribus et scapularibus fere pure rufis ; cauda 

 fusca, Tectricibus mediis rufis, rachide fusca ; subtus albida, pectore pallide cinereo, hypochondriis et crisso 

 rufescentibus ; rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus carneis. Long, tota 7-0, alee 2-9, eaudae 3-1, 

 rostri a rictu 0-6, tarsi 0-85. (Descr. exempl. ex Cbuacus, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. Guatemala, Choi, Chuacus, and the Motagua valley 2, from Guastatoya to Gualan 

 {0. S. & F. D. G.) ; Salvadoe, Acajutla {0. S.) ; Nicabagua, Sucuya {Nutting^) ; 

 Costa Eica {Carmiol). 



A rare species of local though wide distribution in Central America. In Guatemala 

 we only met with it in the valley of the Motagua river, where it was occasionally seen on 

 the road between the city of Guatemala and Salama 2. We also saw it on several occa- 

 sions lower down the valley, as far as Gualan. In Nicaragua Mr. Nutting states that 

 it is common about the hedges near Sucuya *. From Costa Rica we have a specimen 

 sent us by Carmiol. 



The habits of H. mficauda are like those of H. rufescens ; it is to be found in bushes 

 on or near the ground. It is not shy, but not easy of observation, owing to its skulking 

 habits. 



We are inclined to think that H. tolteca of von Miiller belongs here s, though the 



