426 FEINGILLIDiE. 



1. Coccothraustes vespertinus. 



Fringilla vespertina, Cooper, Ann. Lye. N. Y. i. p. 220 \ 



Hesperiphona vespertina, Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 505 ^ ; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. See. N. H. i. p. 550 ' ; 



Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. i. p. 449*; Coues, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, iv. p. 65"; 



Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 342'. 

 Coccothraustes vespertinus, Sol. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 251'; Salv. Cat. StrickL Coll. p. 211'. 

 Coccothraustes vespertina, Check-List N. Am. B. p. 255 °. 

 Coccothraustes bonapartii, Less. 111. Zool. t. 34 ". 



fiupra oleagineo-brunneus, vertice postica, margine frontali, alis et Cauda nigris, fronte et superciliis et scapula- 

 ribus flavis, secundariis sordide albis ; subtus oleagineo-flavus, capitis lateribns, gula et cervdce brunnescen- 

 tioribus, orisso pure flavo ; tectricibus caudse superioribus nigris ; rostro viridescente-oomeo, apice et tomiis 

 flavis, pedibus carneis. Long, tota 6-5, alse 4-2, caudse 2*4, rostri a rictu 0-9, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. maris 

 ex Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



$ supra fusca, capite saturatiore ; alis efc cauda nigris, speculo alari et rectricum apicibus albis ; tectricibus 

 caudse superioribus quoque albo maoulatis ; subtus dilutior, stria riotali nigra. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. 

 Mus. nostr.) 



Sab. NoETH America, Western United States, Michigan ^, and eastwards to the great 

 lakes, New York, and Canada. — Mexico {Mann^), Monte Alto (Sumichrast^), 

 Orizaba (Salle 7). 



This well-marked species was divided into two races by the authors of the ' History 

 of North-American Birds,' the southern and Mexican form being called " monfana." 

 This attempted separation has since been given up as untenable. Moreover, in the 

 same work C. vespertinus is said to be found in Guatemala upon Salvin's authority ; 

 but some mistake has been made here, the only Coccothraustes found in that country 

 that we have any knowledge of is C. abeillcei. 



C. vespertinus cannot be called a common bird in Mexico, though skins of it not 

 unfrequently occur in collections from that country. Sumichrast knew little of this 

 species ; he speaks of it as "a probable inhabitant of the alpine region of Vera Cruz, and 

 as having met with it in May 1857 in the pine- woods of Monte Alto, about t^yelve 

 leagues from Mexico ^. Other writers merely record its presence within the limits of 

 the republic. 



In the United States C. vespertinus is much better known, though always observed 

 vrith interest. An excellent biography has been given of it from the pen of Dr. Coues ^ ; 

 Brewer's account of the history of the species is also very full *. 



In 1884 its nest and eggs still remained undiscovered^. 



2. Coccothraustes abeillsei. 



Guiraca abeillii. Less. Rev. Zool. 1839, p. 41 \ 



Hesperiphona abeillii, Bp, Consp. Av. i. p. 505''; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550'. 

 Coccothraustes abeillii, Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 19 ' ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 365 ' ; Ibis, 1861, 

 p. 352°; 1866, p. 206". 



