Todd — Studies in the Tyrannidce. 217 



bill, 15.5-17.5 (17); tarsus, 18-19.5 (18.6). Female (eight specimens): 

 wing, 69-79 (75); tail, 66-72 (70); bill, 16-17.5 (17); tarsus, 17-19 (18). 



Range. — Pacific slope of western Colombia and western Ecuador. 



Remarks. — The above diagnosis is based on specimens from Ecuador. 

 Birds from western Colombia are not tjrpical, varying as they do in the 

 direction of tuberculifer; some of them, indeed, considered alone, could 

 readily be referred to that form, but the series as a whole is nearer the 

 Ecuador race. The evidence for the occurrence of nigriceps in Peru is not 

 at all conclusive. No specimens have been examined by us from that 

 country, and practically all the published records are for localities lying at 

 elevations falling within the confines of the Subtropical Zone, as also indi- 

 cated by the general character of their bird Hfe. It is true that in Colombia 

 and Ecuador nigriceps ascends to the upper limit of the Tropical Zone and 

 even beyond, but it is certainly significant that there are no records for the 

 low country in Peru. On geographical grounds alone, therefore, we feel 

 justified in placing all the supposed Peruvian records for nigriceps under 

 atriceps, and an examination of Taczanowski's description and general 

 account (the measurements in particular) seems to confirm this view. Mr. 

 Hellmayr, it is true, says that he can find no difference between a pair of 

 birds from Cajabamba, Peru, and others from western Ecuador, except 

 in size — which may be significant. Taking birds in fresh unworn plumage 

 alone, and only those to the authenticity of whose sexing there is no doubt 

 attaching, there is a gap in size between nigriceps and atriceps which is very 

 apparent. The present form is clearly only subspecifically related to 

 tuberculifer, the range of which it touches in northwestern Colombia, and 

 with which it agrees well in size. It has escaped synonyms, since the 

 brunneiceps of Lawrence, based on the bird of Panama, is recognizably 

 distinct, having the pileum more brownish, less blackish, and the upper 

 parts brighter. 



Specimens examined. — Colombia: Murindo, 2; Cordoba, 4; Yumbo, 1; 

 San Jose, 2; Cali, 1; Juntas de Tamana, 1; Rio Frio, 2; Dabeiba, 2; Alto 

 Bonito, 2; San Luis, Bitaco Valley, 1; near Pavas, 1. Ecuador: "Quito," 

 2; Intag, 1; Esmeraldas, 2; Chone, Manavi, 1; Gualea, 1; Zamora, 1; 

 Zaruma, 3; Huigra, Chimbo, 2; Pagma Forest, Chunchi, 1; Hacienda 

 Jalancay, Chunchi, 1; Junction Chanchan and Chiguancay Rivers, 1; 

 Bucay, 1. Total, 36. 



