H^MOPHILA.— CHAM^OSPIZA. 399 



There can be no doubt that this species is a close ally of H. humeralis, with which 

 It agrees in general fades ; but it has a black throat instead of a white one, and the 

 sides of the neck and the whole chest are ashy instead of black, thus rendering it easy 

 of recognition. 



Mr. Ridgway placed this species in AmpMspiza, but the long rounded tail and very 

 short wings associate it with the section of Hcemophila containing H. mficauda and its 

 a,llies, rather than with AmpMspiza. 



Its previous position was in Zomtrichia, of which it formed a decidedly abnormal 

 member. 



H. mystacalis has long been known as a bird of Southern Mexico, where it inhabits 

 the mountainous regions of Oaxaca and the neighbourhood of Tehuacan. It is a 

 resident species, Sumichrast having observed it in August, but of its habits we have no 

 records. 



CHAMiEOSPIZA. 

 ChanuBospiza, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 304. 



This genus was founded by Mr. Sclater upon a single species, C. torquata, which has 

 been treated as a Pipilo by DuBus, and as a Buarremon by Lawrence. The principal 

 point laid stress upon by Mr. Sclater is the great size and strength of the feet and the 

 length of the hind claw, which exceed those of any Pipilo or Buarremon. With the 

 latter genus ChamoBOspiza has very strong affinities, and we much doubt the propriety 

 of placing it here amongst the Finches instead of near Buarremon with the Tanagers. 

 But we defer to the usual practice in this case. 



The bill in Chamceospiza is strong but somewhat elongated, with a notch near the 

 -extremity of the tomia ; the latter is slightly undulating, with an ill-defined angle on 

 the proximal side of the middle ; the nostrils are large, at the anterior lower end of the 

 nasal fossa, with a membrane above them ; the rictal bristles are short but stout. The 

 wing is much rounded, the third, fourth, and fifth quills being the longest ; the second 

 equals the seventh, and the first falls short of the wing tip by more than half an inch. 

 The tail is long and rounded. The tarsi and toes are very strong, the middle toe and 

 claw being equal to the tarsus ; the claw of the hind toe is longer than the toe itself, 

 strong and moderately curved. 



I. Chamaeospiza torquata. 



Pipilo torquata, DuBus, Bull. Ac. Brux. xiv. pt. 2, p. 105 '; Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 246 ^j Esq. Ora. 



t. 36'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 487'. 

 GhanuBOspiza torquata, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 304°; 1859, p. 365°; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. 



N. H. i. p. 552'. 

 Buarremon ocai, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 126*. 

 •Supra olivacea, capite summo Isete castaneo ; fronte, capitis lateribus et torque pectorali nigris, superciliis elon- 



