Mar., 1909 OBSERVATIONS ON SOME BIRDS FOUND IN SOUTHERN MEXICO 
59 
Besides the various species of hummingbirds always around flowering trees 
and shrubs, there were usually several orioles about every native’s garden. A 
dozen Wagler Orioles ( Icterus wagleri ) would now and then assemble in a 
single tree. It is a longer and more slender bird than any of our North American 
species. Iffkely enough this is owing to the habit of most of the tropical Icteri of 
feeding on the minute insects, attracted by nectar of flowers. All examples of I. 
wagleri secured had the bill and most of the head covered by gummy exudations 
from the flowers they foraged off. Not more than one male bird in five wore the 
full plumage, and these were considerably shyer than the younger birds. Scott 
Orioles (Icterus par isorum) appear this far south, altho I presume in limited num- 
bers, as I met with but one, an adult male in January. The Hooded Oriole 
( Icterus cucullatus cuculiatus ) is resident in fair numbers, but in nothing like the 
abundance of Wagler Oriole. A few Icterus c. nelsoni winter here, as several 
specimens were taken. In the pines and upper barrancas, Bullock ( Icterus bui- 
locki ) was the only Oriole during the winter months: extremely abundant above 
6500 feet, frequenting the great rubber trees of about this altitude, in company 
with the Orange-headed Tanager (. Piranga bidentata) . Keeping, as both did, to the 
highest portion of the trees, differentiation between the two was difficult. Several 
Bullock Orioles lost their lives by my mistaking them for Tanagers. 
The Tanager just mentioned is a fruit-eater, not alone taking toll of wild 
fruits, but of cultivated trees as well. Sometimes a flock of twenty or more will 
settle down upon a peon’s garden, and no doubt were it not for the family vigilance 
few mangoes or sapotas would survive the onslaught by this handsome species. A 
few Cooper Tanagers ( Piranga rubra cooperi) added color to the transition zone. 
The pines sheltered many Hepatic Tanagers (. Piranga hepatica) , none at this time 
in high plumage. 
The Tyrannidae seems to be the leading bird group in lower Mexico. It is as 
a family certainly much more in evidence than either finches or warblers, when 
all life zones are considered. The most barren spot is the home of the Vermilion 
Flycatcher ( Pyro cep hams rubineus mexicanus) , which frequents, too, the habita- 
tion of man. Conditions of life make the native Mexican home a haven for flies, 
fleas and lice. That is the reason you so often find this exquisite creature perched 
upon an adobe roof, or near-by pig-sty. They also find the cultivated plots fine 
hunting ground, particularly during the dry months, when grasshoppers of great 
size swarm. It is certainly interesting to watch a three-inch grasshopper disposed 
of by a six-inch Vermilion. 
You cannot be in these parts long before you detect a very peculiar bird note, 
the author of which may perhaps be detected in the nearest tree; for the Beardless 
Flycatcher ( Camptostoma imberbe) is of a friendly disposition at times. Impres- 
sions of early acquaintance would class him as a Flycatcher, Vireo, or Titmouse, 
dependent upon his action at the time of your observation. The flycatcher nature 
is less in evidence than the other two. In many instances have I watched this mite 
simulate the Vireo’s habit of branch inspection, in the same time-careless manner. 
And again, I might be startled by a titmouse-like note from the brush near at 
hand, only to discover a chickadee-mimic in Camptostoma. Where observed fol- 
lowing the Tyrannidse instincts, it was from the tops of the tallest trees, when it 
remained very quiet. I found it the premier seed-eater of the family. The birds’ 
notes are somewhat complex; my translation is seetee-tee-tee-tee, often kept up 
continuously for five minutes. 
In the clumps of original vegetation, dotting the cultivated ground, and to 
which I referred at the beginning of this article, one or two Wright Flycatchers 
