274 BIRDS OF WESTERN AND 



55. Pyranga hidentata Sw. 



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



" " Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 338. 



Tres Marias Islands, Grayson. 



" It is quite evident that all the species of birds found inhabiting an island in the ocean, in which they are 

 constant residents or peculiar to the locality, necessarily become more numerous owing to their restricted 

 territory, than those found upon the continent. Nearly all the species that are local to Socorro and the 

 Islands of the Tres Marias, I found to be abundant. This Pyranga is no exception to the rule ; it is a com- 

 mon and handsome species, and I have not met with it at any other place than the Marias. Of its further 

 geographical distribution I am not informed ; when I discovered it I was strongly impressed that it was an 

 undescribed species, and peculiar to the Tres Marias. Specimens sent to Prof. Baird for determination 

 however, do not make good these facts ; I received from him its scientific name, but no further intelligence 

 regarding it." 



As is weU known, Col. Grayson erred in supposing this species to be peculiar to the Tres 

 Marias. It is given by Sclater from Jalapa and Volcan de Fuego, Guatemala ; it is also 

 found abundantly in Costa Rica ; none are in Prof. Sumichrast's large collection from 

 Southwestern Mexico. 



56. Pyranga hepatica Sw. 

 Sierra Madre, Grayson. 



" I discovered this species to be quite frequent in the Sierra Madre Mountains, on their western slope 

 between Mazatlan and Durango in December, but I have never met with it in the tierras calientes proper. 

 It seems to be a mountain species." 



57. Saltator plicmhiceps Baird, Ann. Lye, N. Y., viii., p. 477. 

 Mazatlan, Tepic, Grayson ; Plains of Colima, Xantus. 



" This finch inhabits the forests and breeds in the spring months, during which time it is in fine song ; it 

 does not migrate and is a common species in the vicinity of Mazatlan, San Bias and Tepic. The nest is 

 slightly made of small dry twigs and lined with fibrous roots ; the eggs are from three to five, of a pale blue 

 color with delicate black hieroglyphic marks on the large end." 



There are two specimens in Col. Grayson's collection marked Saltator franeescce, as 

 possibly being a distinct species. On examination, I have concluded that they are the 

 young of S. plumbiceps, although quite different in color ; much the same variation occurs 

 in the adult and young stages of plumage of Saltator grandis, the young of which is S, 

 icterophrys Lafr. 



The two specimens under consideration are olive green above, as are also the wings and 

 edges of the primaries ; in one the under plumage and superciliary stripe are yellow ; in 

 the other the superciliary stripe and chin are white, the under plumage less yellow, more 

 tawny, and the fore part of the crown plumbeous ; this last, therefore, has in part assumed 

 the adult dress of S. plumbiceps, in which there are no green or yellow colors. 



Fam. Fringillid^. 



58. Pheucticus chrysopeplus (Vig.). 



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



Mazatlan, Grayson, Bischoff ; Rio de la Ameria, Xantus. 



" It is rather common in the vicinity of Mazatlan, where its cheerful and voluminous song is often heard in 

 the woods. It does not migrate." 



