QUISCALTJS. 483 



nigris. Long, tota 17-0, aUe 8-0, caudse rect. med. 9-0, rect. lat. 5-3, rostri a rictu 1-8, tarsi 2-0. (Deser. 

 maris ex Chootiim, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 

 5 fusca aeneo tincta ; alis et oauda dorso concoloribus ; subtus brunnea, ventre imo et crisso nigricantibus. 

 Long, tota 14-3, alae 6-0, caudae rect. med. 6-0, rect. lat. 4-0, rostri a rictu 1-4, tarsi 1-6. (Descr. feminae 

 ex DueSas, Guatemala. Mus. nostr.) 



Edb. NoETH America, Texas. — Mexico ^ 25^ Manzanilla Bay, Plains of Colima {Xantus ^), 

 Guadalajara {Grayson ^^), Eeal del Monte ^, valley of Mexico ^ (White), temperate 

 and alpine regions of Vera Cruz (Sumichrast ^^), Cordova {8alU% valley of 

 Cuernavaca {le Strange), Orizaba {Botteri ''), Oaxaca (Fenochio ''), Barrio, Juchitan 

 {Swrnichrast^^), Merida in Yucatan (G^awmer^o), Cozumel I. (Benedict ^\ Gaumer); 

 British Hoitoueas, Belize (Blancaneaux), Half-Moon Cay ( 0. 8. ^^) ; Guatemala 

 (Constancia ^^), everywhere about houses and villages (0. S. & F. B. G.), San Jose 

 de Guatemala, Escuintla, Duenas ^, Guatemala city, San Geronimo, Choctum '', &c. 

 (0.S.& F. B. G.) ; HorouEAS, San Pedro (G. M. Whitely % Comayagua (Taylor ^ ^% 

 Omoa (Leyland ^s) ; Nicaeagua, Greytown (Holland ^^), Sucuya i^, Los Sabalos ^^, 

 Omotepe 1. ^^ (Nutting) ; Costa Rica (Ellendorf^^) ; Panama, Calobre, Calovevora 

 (Arcs 23), Lion Hill Station (M'Leannan 12).— Colombia 33 34 ; Peku 3i 37. 



The birds inhabiting the more southern portion of the range of this species (that is 

 to say, from the State of Panama to Western Peru) have been separated, on account of 

 their smaller size, from the more northern birds ; but on closely comparing the two we 

 find that, though the average dimensions of the northern bird are greater than those of 

 the southern, no definite separation can be made between them with any regard to their 

 geographical distribution. It will also be seen that the range of the species, as a whole, 

 is practically uninterrupted from Texas to Peru. The bird of Western Mexico, which 

 Mr, Sclater has recently separated under the name of Quiscalus graysoni, also rests on 

 its much smaller dimensions ; but as we have no materials to prove that gradations in 

 size exist between the two we here treat it as distinct, although we should not be surprised 

 to find that it too is but an extreme form of the true Q. macrurus. 



The northern range of this species extends into Texas, where it breeds, and whence 

 it spreads over the greater part of Mexico, to the exclusion perhaps of the north-western 

 portion ; it is also found throughout Central America, where it frequents the larger 

 towns as well as vilkges, its favourite resort being the stable, occasionally perching on 

 the backs of the horses and mules, or invading the manger and picking up stray grains 

 of maize. It breeds in numbers near Duenas, making its nest both in the willows that 

 grow near the lake and in the reeds on its banks. The breeding season extends over 

 some time; the young birds and eggs were found in adjacent nests, and on the coast- 

 region young birds were seen able to fly in the early part of March. The nest is usually 

 made of grass and placed amongst upright branches, the grass being entwined round 

 each twig to support the structure. The eggs vary a good deal in their ground-colour, 

 some being greyish white, others light drab, and others again of a deep drab ; the 



61* 



