Mar., 1909 OBSERVATIONS ON SOME BIRDS FOUND IN SOUTHERN MEXICO 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 (Icte.rus waglcri) would now and then assemble in a single tr?e. It is a longer and more slender bird than any of our North American species. Likely 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. wa?leri 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 (Ycterus parsorum) 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 (Ycterus cucullatus cucullatus) is resident in fair numbers, but in nothing like the abundance of Waglet Oriole. A few Iclerus c. nelsoni winter here, as several specimens were taken. In the pines and upper barrancas, Bullock (Icterus bul- 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 (]>iranga bidentala). Keeping, as both did, to the highest portion of the trees, differefitiation 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 (Pirang?a rubra cooperi) added color to the transition zone. The pines sheltered many Hepatic Tanagers (t?ira?ga hepatica), none at this time in high plumage. The Tyrannid?e 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 (?yrocephalus 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 Tyrannid?e 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 beg/nnin?r of this article, one or two Wright Flycatchers?
