444 ICTEEID-S:. 



we have no records of its occurrence on the eastern side of the cordillera, nor does it 

 pass into Guatemala. 



Grayson, who had abundant opportunities of observing this species in Western 

 Mexico, says it is common and a constant resident, only shifting its quarters from one 

 part of the forest to another in flocks of from ten to thirty. The nests are often three 

 or four feet long, and are hung in the branches of a mimosa, acacia, or any large tree 

 affording an ample shade. These nests are made of very long, coarse, and tough grass, 

 and also narrow strips of palm-leaf ; other materials, such as slender pliant creepers, and 

 even twine and thread from some neighbouring village, are sometimes employed. The 

 entrance is near the top, and is small, and nearly closed when the bird is at the bottom 

 of her pocket-shaped nest. The structure is apparently loosely put together, admitting 

 the air to pass freely through, but it is not easily pulled apart or detached from the 

 bough to which it is hung without the use of a knife. 



The female builds the nest, the male only keeping watch whilst she is inside, or 

 accompanying her in search of materials. The eggs are usually five in number, rather 

 longer than those of other members of the Icteridse, though similar in other respects. 

 The ground-eolour is pale blue with numerous brownish-black spots and zigzag marks ^. 



CASSIDIX. 



Oassidix, LessoH, Traite d'Orn. i. p. 433 (1831) ; Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 829. 



Cassidix is -also a monotypic genus, its single species being a bird of very wide range 

 throughout the tropics of America, from Southern Mexico to Paraguay. 



It has been frequently placed with the Quiscaline section of the Icteridae on account, 

 doubtless, of the general aspect of its plumage ; but recently Mr. Sclater has removed 

 it to the Cassicinse, and in so doing we think he acted rightly. The open, non- 

 membranous nostril and the frontal shield indicate this position for it. The status of 

 Cassidix as a distinct genus rests chiefly upon the peculiar elongated feathers of the 

 sides of the neck in the male, and to a less degree in the female. The first primary, 

 too, is the longest of the wing, an arrangement we do not find in the other genera of 

 Cassicinae. 



The bill is stout, almost Corvine in bulk, the culmen considerably arched; there is a 

 rather deep groove running from the nostril parallel to the culmen. As already 

 mentioned, the first primary is the longest of the wing, from it the rest gradually and 

 regularly decrease in length ; the longest secondaries reach to the tip of the sixth 

 primary ; the tail is moderately and evenly rounded. 



1. Cassidix oryzivora. 



Oriolus oryzivorus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 386 ^ 



Cassidix oryzivora, Scl. P. Z. S. 1858, p. 98 %• 1859, p. 140 'j Ibis, 1884, p. 165 *j Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. xi. p. 839' J Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 57'; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 854'; 1867, 



