432 FEINQ-ILLID^. 



diversity of plumage shown in individuals from Arizona it seems probable that they" 

 are due to the mingling of the more typical forms of C. mexicana and G. psaltria. 

 This being so, we are not disposed to disturb the status of the Mexican and CentraL 

 American bird with which at present we have to deal, and which we therefore continue 

 to call C. mexicana. 



In Mexico C. mexicana is a very abundant species, being distributed over the whole 

 of the temperate portion of the country ; but it is also found in the more tropical 

 districts, as both Grayson and Forrer observed it in the Tres Marias Islands, and 

 Mr. Gaumer in Northern Yucatan. Moreover, it occurs on the line of the Panama 

 railway in extreme tropical heat. In Guatemala it is also a very common bird, and in 

 the neighbourhood of Duenas was frequently to be observed feeding on the fruit of a 

 species of wild Ficus. 



SYCALIS. 

 Sycalis, Boie, Isis, 1828, p. 324; Sclater, Ibis, 1872, p. 39. 



In 1872 Mr. Sclater wrote a synopsis of this genus in which he recognized nine 

 species, and to which a tenth may be added in S. cifrina of Pelzebi, which has since 

 become known to us through specimens collected by Mr. Whitely in Guiana. Nine of 

 these species are diffused over the whole of South America, the tenth is Sycalis chrt/sops 

 of our country, as yet only known from Southern Mexico and Guatemala. In South 

 America Sycalis has no very near aUies, but it is undoubtedly closely related to 

 Crithagra of Africa. 



S. ehrysqps has a stout bill and arched culmen, the tomia of the maxilla is rather 

 abruptly curved towards the base, the nostrils are at the inferior extremity of the nasal 

 fossa, and are bordered above by a membrane ; the feet are stout, the toes and claws, 

 especially the hind claw, are long and slender ; the wings are short, the first four quills 

 forming the point ; the secondaries are long, reaching to within 0*4 inch of the tip of 

 the wing ; the tail is moderate and nearly even. 



1. Sycalis chrysops. 



Sycalis chrysops, Scl. P. Z. S. 1861, p. 376 ' ; Ibis, 1872, p. 45, t. 2. f. 1 =" ; Salv. Ibis, 1866, p. 194' ; 

 Sumiclirast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 551 *. 



Supra brunnescens nigricante-fiisoo striato ; uropygio olivaceo, alls et cauda fuscis sordide oUvaoeo limbatis ; 

 loris, regione oculari et corpore subtus flavis, ventre medio albicante, bypochondriis fulvis ; rostro fasoo, 

 pedibus corylinis. Long, tota 4*2, alse 2'5, caudse 1"7, rostri a rictu 0'35, tarsi 0'65. (Descr. exempL ex 

 Duenas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



ffab. Mexico^, temperate region of Orizaba (Sumickrast*) ; Guatemala, Duefias {0. S.^). 



This little Sycalis is evidently closely allied to S. luteola, a variable and widely 

 diffused species of South America, its small size and its isolated habitat being 

 probably its only definite characters. The bird is exceedingly rare, and we are perhaps- 



