AMBLTCEECrS. — DOLICHOISITX. 447 



Duenas" is (^q. S.), Choctum, Eetalhuleu (0. S. & F. B. G.), Peten {Leyland^'^) ; 

 Honduras, Omoa {Leyland 21), San Pedro {G. M. Whitely 20) ; Nicaeagita, Greytown 

 {Holland ^3), Sucuya 28, Los Sabalos ^9 {Nutting) ; Costa Eica {Eoffmann ^), San Jose, 

 Turrialba {v. Frantzius ^^ 11, Carmiol ^% Tucurriqui {v. Frantzius "), Irazu {Bogers); 

 Panama, Calovevora 25, Calobre 2^, Santa Fe 2^ {Arce), Lion Hill Station {M'Lean- 

 nan ^^ ^^), Paraiso Station {Hughes). — Colombia ; Ecuador ^^ ; Peru ^ j Venezuela^. 



Amhlycercus holosericeus is a very familiar species in Mexico and Central America, 

 where it is found throughout the hot and temperate districts from Southern Mexico to 

 Panama, and thence southwards to Ecuador and Peru. 



Its habits are very different from those of Cassicus, being of a skulking disposition, 

 frequenting tangled thickets, where it occupies itself in breaking small dead branches, 

 probably for insect food. 



We never observed it in flocks ; but Mr. Nutting, who met with it in several parts of 

 Nicaragua, says it is probably gregarious 28 29. 



Sumichrast, who ascribes A. holosericeus to the hot and temperate regions of Vera 

 Cruz, says it does not reach the altitude of Orizaba, the limit of its upward range not 

 passing 3380 feet 26. In Guatemala, however, we found it to be common at Coban at 

 an elevation of between 4000 and 4500 feet, and at Duenas at nearly 6000 feet. 



The iris in life is light yellow, and the bill yellowish green. 



Subfam. IL AGFLJEIFM 



Nates plus minusve membrano obtectse ; mesorhinum altum Laud dilatatum, complanatum aut modice rotun- 

 datum, culmen fere rectus ; alarum plumae secundarise externse baud elongatsB. 



DOLICHONYX. 



Bolichonyx, Swainson, Zool. Journ. iii. p. 351 (1827) j Scl. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 331. 



A monotypic genus containing the single well-marked and well-known species 

 described below. 



In coloration Bolichonyx curiously resembles Calamospiza hicolor, but the two birds 

 are not by any means nearly related. 



B. oryzivorus has a short stout Fringilline bill ; the commissure of the maxilla is 

 angulated, but there is no notch near the extremity ; the nostrils are large and open, 

 and situated at the lower end of the nasal fossa, a membrane lying along the upper 

 margin ; the rictal bristles are very short ; the wings are long, the outermost primary 

 being the longest, from which the rest fall rapidly away, the longest secondaries being 

 about equal to the shortest primary ; the extremities of the tail-feathers are very acute; the 

 tarsi are rather long and the feet stout, the hind claw being long and slightly decurved. 



The male assumes a breeding-dress in spring and changes it again in autumn, when 

 it resembles the female. When in most perfect spring plumage we believe the black 



