438 ICTERID^. 



Supra luride castaneus, capite toto et cervice, tibiis et subalaribus nigris, abdomen versus in castaneum transeunte, 

 crisso dorso concolori ; cauda flava, rectrioibus duabus mediis nigricantibus ; rostro nigro ad apicem abrupte 

 flavo, pedibus nigris. Long, tota 19-0, alae 10'4, caudee 8"0 (reetr. mad. 7'0), rostri a rictu 3'0, tarsi 2-2. 

 (Descr. maris ex Chootum, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 5 mari similis sed multo minor. Long, tota 14-5, alse 7'6, caudae 5-7, rostri a rictu 2-3, tarsi 2-0. 



Hah. Mexico ^^, Cordova {Salle '^), Jalapa {de Oca *), hot region of Vera Cruz (Sumi- 

 chrast ^^), tierra caliente of the Atlantic coast (le Strange), Playa Vicente 

 {Boucard^), Actopam, Barra de Santa Ana, Paso de la Milpa {Perez 2") ; British 

 HoNDUEAS (jBZanmweawa? 1^) ; Guatemala, Iguana (0. aS. ^), Choctum ^^, Chisec i^, 

 Quirigua, Yzabal, between Cahabon and San Luis {0. S. & F. J). G.), Tucuru and 

 Tamahu {Sarg); Hondueas, Omoa {Leyland^), San Pedro {G. M. Whitely'^^), 

 Taulevi ( G. C. Taylor ^ ^) ; Nicaeagua, Sucuya ^^, Los Sabalos ^^ {Nutting), Blewfields 

 river ( WicJcham i^) ; Costa Eica, San Carlos, Angostura {v. Frantzius ^'', Carmiol ^^), 

 Sarapiqui, Tucurriqui, San Mateo, Aguacate, Orosi {v. Frantzius ^'^) ; Pajstama, Lion 

 Hill {McLeannan ^^ ^^). 



The range of Gymnostinops montezumm is very similar to that of Fucorystes wagleri, 

 extending from the Eastern forests of Southern Mexico, through eastern Guatemala, 

 and in Nicaragua southwards to Panama, embracing the forests of both Atlantic and 

 Pacific coast-regions. Beyond Panama it does not extend, its place being apparently 

 taken in Darien by the allied G. guatemoziims. It is absent from the western forests 

 of the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and from the whole of the Pacific coast-region of 

 Guatemala. 



Sumichrast says G. montezumce is confined to the hot region of Vera Cruz, seldom 

 ascending the mountains to a height of 3300 feet above the sea ^^. In Guatemala we 

 found it at lower elevations, but abundant in all the forest-country north of Coban to 

 the confines of Peten, and in the lower portions of the valleys of the Polochic and 

 Motagua rivers. It lives in colonies, and makes a nest, like that of Eucorystes wagleri, 

 of grasses neatly woven. Each nest is suspended to the end of an outer bough of some 

 isolated forest tree, and hangs some two or three feet in length, with the opening at 

 the top. Often forty or fifty nests may be seen in one tree. Mr. Nutting says the 

 birds, on entering the nests, shake them violently about, causing them to make a 

 rustling sound ^^. 



The cry of this species is very loud and discordant, and as different as possible from 

 the melodious notes of the various species of Icterus. 



When fresh these birds and their immediate allies have a very peculiar odour. 



The species most nearly allied to G. montezumce is G. iifasciatus of the lower 

 Amazons valley, a bird we have never seen, but which Cassin pronounced to be quite 

 distinct, the thighs being chestnut instead of black. 



