NORTHWESTERN MEXICO. 275 



This species, found only in Western Mexico, lias until recently been considered the same as 

 the South American P. chrysogaster. Dr. Finsch, 1. c, gives a full account of the different 

 stages of plumage of this species, and by comparison with the descriptions and figures 

 given by Lesson, and Jardine and Selby of P. chrysogaster, points out their distinguish- 

 ing characters. He says, — " The Mexican variety is unquestionably that described by 

 Vigors, which cannot be united with P. chrysogaster Less., as has hitherto been supposed. 

 Specimens from Peru or Venezuela, which alone can decide that poiut, are imfortunately not 

 at my command at present." 



I have a male specimen of P. chrysogaster in perfect plumage, from Ecuador, the differ- 

 ence between which and P. chrysopeplus is very striking, especially in regard to size, the 

 yellow coloring of the Mexican bird is much deeper, the sinuated portion of the outer 

 primaries is bordered with white, while ia P. chrysogaster the ends of the primaries are 

 wholly black, and the quills of the latter are of a deeper black ; ui the other white mark- 

 ings on the wings, and those of the tail, the two species are much ahke ; the inner webs of 

 the outer three tail feathers are largely white at their ends m each. In P. chrysogaster 

 there is a broad black band across the back, the lores and lower eye-lids are black, the occi- 

 put and hind neck are somewhat intermixed with black, and the sides under the wings are 

 sparingly and faintly marked with blackish bars ; the back of P. chrysopeplus has a few 

 of the feathers marked with black, but the plumage of the lores, the hind neck and under 

 the wings is immaculate. 



The two measure as follows : — 



P. chrysopeplus. Length (fresh), 10 in. ; wing, 5 ; tail, 4-^ ; tarsus, 1\ ; bill, high at 

 base, I ; wide at base, \\. 



P. chrysogaster. Length (skin), 7^ in. ; wing, 4|; tail, 3^; tarsus, \\; biQ, Mgh at 

 base, W ; wide at base, -j^g. 



59. Hedymeles ludovicianus (Linn.). 

 Plains of CoHma, Xantus. 



60. Hedymeles melanocephalus (Sw.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson ; Plains of Cohma, Xantus. 



" Specimens shot near Rio Mazatlan in February, and near Guadalajara in May." 



61. Gardinalis virginianus var. igneus Baird. 



" « Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv., p. 281. 



" " Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 339. 



Mazatlan, Tres Marias, Grayson. 



The Tres Marias and Mazatlan form proves to be 0. igneus Baird. I had no specimen 

 at the time of preparing the Tres Marias hst, but took the name as given in Col. Grayson's 

 notes. 



62. Gardinalis virginianus var. carneus Less. 

 Sierra Madre, Xantus. 



63. Pyrrhuloxia sinuata (Bp.). 

 Mazatlan, Grayson. 



"Specimens shot in February and April, not common." 



