C0CC0THEAIJSTE8.— CHEY80MITEI8. 427 



Coccothraustes macuUpennis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 251, t. 163. flF. 1, 2^; Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1860, 

 p. 398°. 



G. vesperttno aUqnot simUis, sed corpore supra flaveseentiore, capite toto et gula omnino nigris faeUe distin- 



guendus. (Descr. maris ex Chilasco, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 ? a femina 0. vespertini capite summo toto nigro diflfert. (Descr. femina ex Coban, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. Mexico {Lesson \ Bonaparte^), Orizaba {SalU, Swmichrast% Jalapa {de Oca^); 

 Guatemala {Skinner % Volcan de Fuego, Chilasco, Coban « {0. S. & F. B. G.). 



This Coccothraustes, which is readily distinguishable from its American ally C. vesper- 

 tinm, was described by Lesson from Mexican specimens contained in the collection of 

 Doctor Abeille of Bordeaux ; and it has since been observed in several parts of the 

 mountains of Southern Mexico. Thus Sumichrast speaks of having met with it near 

 Orizaba, where also one of M. Salle's correspondents obtained the specimens described 

 by Mr. Sclater as C. maculipennis ^. 



In Guatemala we secured specimens of both sexes at several points in the more 

 moimtainous districts, and usually in the oak-forests situated at an altitude of about 

 6000 feet above the sea. 



The discovery of the sexes of this bird together in the mountains near Coban led to 

 the conclusion that C. maculipennis represented the female or young male of C. aheillm ^ ; 

 this was confirmed by dissecting a specimen of the female shot in the forests of the 

 Volcan de Fuego near Duenas. 



In its habits this species is shy, and rather sluggish in its movements, frequenting^ 

 the lower branches of the forest-trees. 



CHEYSOMITRIS. 



Chrysomitris, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 322 ; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 3, p. 353. 



American ornithologists have recently adopted Koch's name Spinus for the Siskins 

 on the ground that it was so restricted by Boie in 1826 ; but in those instances where 

 types for genera are vaguely indicated and no descriptions given, an author's subsequent 

 action ought to be taken into account, and the fact of Boie proposing Chrysomitris for 

 the Siskins in 1828 ought to be considered to throw some light on his previous appli- 

 cation of the name Spinus. Hence we continue the use of Chrysomitris, following the 

 practice of most authors for many years past. 



With the exception of C. pinus, in which the plumage is streaked throughout, 

 black and yellow or olive are the chief colours in the Central-American species of 

 Chrysomitris.. The bill in C. notata is very acute, the culmen being nearly straight, the 

 tomia of the maxilla is angulated and has a slight dentate process near the angle, in 

 front of which is a slight undulation, the bill above it being somewhat tumid ; the 

 nasal fossa is completely hidden by short, bristly feathers lying close to the surface of 

 the bill ; the feet are moderately strong, the middle toe and tarsi being subequal ; the 



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