_Carduelis mexicanus_, SWAINS. Syn. Birds Mex. Phil. Mag. 1827,
435.—WAGLER, Isis, 1831, 525. _Chrysomitris mexicanus_, BP. Consp.
Av. 1850, 516 (quotes AUD. tab. 427).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858,
423, pl. liv, f. 1. _Astragalinus mexicanus_, CAB. Mus. Hein.
1851, 159.—IB. Journ. für Orn. 1861, 7 (with synonymy).—COUES, P.
A. N. S. 1866, 82. _Fringilla melanoxantha_ (LICHT.), WAGLER,
Isis, 1831, 525. _? Fringilla catotol_, GM. Syst. Nat. I, 1788,
914. _Fringilla texensis_, GIRAUD, 16 Sp. Birds Tex. 1841, pl. v.
f. 1 (gives white belly).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 169.
SP. CHAR. Upper parts continuously and entirely black; the feathers of
the rump white subterminally, and showing this through the black; a
few of the feathers with greenish-yellow between the white and the
black; a few, perhaps, without black tips. The bases of the third to
seventh primaries, and the ends of the tertiaries externally white.
The tail is black, except the outer three feathers, in which the outer
webs and tips only are this color; the rest white. Inside of wing
black. Under parts of body pale yellow. _Female_ with the black of the
head and body replaced by olive-green. Length, 4.12 inches; wing,
2.25; tail, 2.00.
HAB. Mexican side of the valley of the Rio Grande, southward; Oaxaca,
June (SCL. 1858, 302); Cordova (SCL. 1856, 303); Guatemala (SCL. Ibis
I, 19); Costa Rica (CAB. J. 1861, 7); Panama (LAWR. N. Y. Lyc. 1861,
331; winter).
HABITS. The Mexican Goldfinch is distributed from the western side of
the Rio Grande, through Mexico and Central America, to Panama.
Sumichrast mentions it as found throughout the State of Vera Cruz, but
most abundant in the temperate region. It breeds in the vicinity of
Orizaba. It was taken in Central America, by Mr. Skinner, and has been
reported from Costa Rica, and from Panama in the winter. Of its
distinctive peculiarities we have no information, but they probably do
not differ from those of the other forms of _C. psaltria_.
Chrysomitris lawrencii, BONAP.