45 



collections received from Mexico and Guatemala, and particularly in 

 M. Salle's last collection from Oaxaca, where both sexes again oc- 

 curred ; and in M. Botteri's series from Orizaba. Finally, I have de- 

 termined on giving a name to the bird, to serve at all events as a 

 temporary designation ; and (rather unwillingly, 1 must confess) I 

 have felt myself obliged to make a new generic appellation for it, 

 not knowing any recognized section to which it can be strictly re- 

 ferred. It differs in form from Myiobins (or Tyrannula) in its 

 shorter, flatter, and broader beak, with the rictal bristles but slightly 

 developed ; and from Empidonax, to which I was afterwards inclined 

 to refer it, in its much shorter and more slender tarsi and longer 

 wings. I have chosen its name from its slightly- crested head, which 

 gives it rather a capped appearance. A second species of the genus, 

 and near ally, is Giraud's Mnscicapa fulvifrons (Empidonax fulvi- 

 frons, mihi, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 301), which will stand as Mitrephorus 

 fulvifrons. 



7. Pyrocephalus mexicanus. 



Pyrocephalus rubineus, Cassin, B. Cal.pl. 18. p. 127; Sclater, 

 P. Z. S. 1856, p. 296 ; Baird, Report, p. 201. 



I believe the Mexican Pyrocephalus, which visits Texas and New 

 Mexico in the summer, and is now included in the ornithology of 

 the United States, is no exception to the general rule, that the species 

 of Tyrannidce, as indeed of other families of Insessores, although 

 often closely allied to, and representatives of, southern forms, will, 

 upon strict comparison, be generally found to present essentially 

 distinct characters, sufficient to render it necessary to constitute of 

 them distinct species. Thus we have — 



In Mexico and Central America, representing in S. America, 



Muscivora mexicana, Muscivora regia. 



Cyclorhynchus brevirostris, Cyclorhynchus olivaceus. 



Myiobius sulphur eipygius, Myiobius barbatus. 



Mionectes assimilis, Mionectes oleagineus. 



Myiozetetes iexensis, Myiozetetes cayennensis. 



Myiodynastes luteiventris, Myiodynastes audax. 



Pitangus derbianus, Pitangus sulphur atus. 



Scaphorhy?ichus mexicanus, Scaphorhynchus pitangua. 



and, when the American Fauna is more completely worked out, 

 many other instances will be found. Indeed, I am inclined to believe 

 that there are very few South American birds, except in the more 

 widely-diffused Accipitres, Grail ce, and Anseres, which are really to 

 be met with in Mexico and Central America. 



My specimens of Pyrocephalus mexicanus differ from the common 

 P. rubineus of Brazil, Cayenne, Guiana, and Trinidad in the lighter 

 shade of the brown colouring and less intense red colour, as well as 

 in the longer bill and generally larger dimensions. In the female of 

 the Mexican bird also the colours are much paler, the fore part of 

 the body below more white, and the belly, instead of being of a full 

 red, is of a pale ochraceous yellow. According to Professor Baird, 



