ICTERUS PUSTULATUS.
(SPOT-BACKED HAKG-SEST).
Tcierus pu stu la tu s
P sa ro c o liu sp u s tu la tu s .
Icte ru s pustulatus
Lichfc. iu Mua. Berol.
AVagl. Isis, 1829. p. 757.
Bp. CoDsp. p. 4 3 5 ; Compt. E en d . sx sv ii. p . 835, e t N o t. Oru. p . 12.
Selater, P.Z.S, 1857, p. 22 8 ; 1858, p. 303 ; e t Cat. Am. B. p. 134.
Ba ird, B ird s N. Am. p. 550.
A u ran tia cu s , ru b ro tin c tu a : in te rscap u lio n ig ro g u tta to ; alis eaudaque n ig ris, illis albo m a rgiuatis efc b u ju s apice
an g u ste albo : loria e t g u ttu r e to to n ig ris : su b a larib u s flavis, remigum m a rg in ib u s in te rio rib u s albis : ro stro e t pedibus
plumb e is ; long, to ta 8 5, a l» 4 '0 , c a u d » 3 '8 , ta rs i 0 '9 . Ftxm. omuiuo d ilu tio r ; magis flavescens, in terscapulio oliváceo
n ig ro g u tta to .
Ilab. in Mexico Meridionali, L a P a rad a (Boucard, 1S58_); A tlisco (Boucard, 18G3); Ma za tlau {Xeboux, in
Mus, Paris.).
Tlie brilliant gi-oup o f Golden Hang-nests forms a conspicuous feature in the Oniitbology
o f Alexico and Central America, extending northwards into the United States, and southwards
into the northern parts o f South Americ<a, but in each case in diminishing numbers, as regards
species. Southern Mexico appears to be about the focus o f the gi'oup, more than a dozen species
occuiTing in this coimtry, whilst Guatemala has very nearly, i f not quite as many. In the
Latter eountiy, according to Air. Salvin’s observations, these birds are rather locally distributed,
but numerous wherever they are found, and well-known everywhere, not only from tlieii-
conspicuous colouring, but also on account o f the short sweet song possessed by several o f them.
The present beautiful species was described by AVagler, as long ago as in 1829, in one of
the supplementary papers to his “ Systema Avium,” published in the “ Isis.” His characters
-were taken from examples in the Berlin Aluseum, which bore the AIS. name “ Icterus pustulatus,
Lichtenstein,”— and were probably from Deppe’s Alexican collection. As far as we know,
y. appears to be mainly a western species, haanng been obtained by AL Boucard at
.a Parada in Oaxaca; and by Neboux during one o f the French expeditions near Alazatlan.
Prince Bonapai-te states that specimens o f this bird were collected by Delattre in “ California.”
Air. Salvin also has a skin o f the present species, purchased o f a London dealer, with one of
Air. Gruber’s printed labels ou it, on which is written, Icterus cucullatus, llo o d eli Ovio\o,
Oapc S. Lucas, Alay, 1861. J . no. 178.” AVe do not much doubt the accuracy o f this
locality, for, although Prof. Baird seems to think its Californian occurrence someii-hat apocry]^)hal,
IC T E R U S P U S T U L A T U S