106 THE PLUMBEOUS GNATCATCHER 



web and tip white (much like the second feather of P. cceritlea) ; the next 

 two feathers tipped with white. Size of P. cwnilea. 



9 : Like the <? ; the upper parts still duller, and frequently with a decided 

 brownish shade; no black over the eye. Oiily distiugiiished from 9 cfr''"'t^rt 

 by less white on the tail. 



The difference between this species and P. ccerulea lies only in the less 

 amount of white on the tail and absence of black on the forehead. The 

 black on the head is restricted to a short superciliary stripe, instead of reach- 

 ing across the forehead. The outer tail-feather has about as much white as 

 there is on the second feather of P. cwfiilea, while the next feather corre- 

 sponds to the third of ccerulea. In view of the observed variations in this 

 respect, it may fairly be questioned whether the present is anything more 

 than a local race of P. ccvrulea, as would certainly seem to be the case if 

 specimens also intermediate in the character of the black on the head should 

 be forthcoming. This, however, has not been observed ; while the fact that 

 the two forms live side by side i i Arizona, each preserving its characters for 

 the most part intact, is evidence in favor of their specific difference. 



,n. C. B. R. KENNRRLY discovered this bird on Bill Will- 

 iams' River, Arizona, in ISjI, and it was described by Pro- 

 fessor Baird daring the same year. It does not seem to be a com- 

 mon bird ; in fact, the small nnmber of specimens acquired in 

 the interval between its discovery and the present time go to 

 show that it is less abundant in Arizona than P. cwnilea^ 

 though in one sense it is the characteristic species of the Ter- 

 ritory. Daring my residence at Fort Whipple, I did not And it, 

 or, at any rate, did not recognize it, though 1 took specimens 

 in several other localities, lower than or south of Whipple. In 

 these places, it was seen in summer and early autumn. Dr. 

 Cooper remarks its wintering on the Colorado as high as Fort 

 Mojave. There is nothing to speak of in its habits and man- 

 ners after what has been said of its near relative. 



ISlack-capped Oiiatcatcher 



I'olioptila. inelanura 



Cullclvora atricapilla, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. V. 1852, 124 (Texas).— B(i. Stansbury's Rep. 

 IB.iv!, :i2S.—Ht:erm.JoMTn. Pliila. Acad. ii. 1853, 262. 



Polioptila niclaniira, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vi. 1856, 168 (Texas and Californiii).— Rti. BXA. 

 1858, 382. — «rf. Pr. Phila. Acad. Ib'.g, 304 (Cape Saint Lwa.^). —f/eenn. PURR. x. 1859, 

 3d.—Bd. Rev. A8. 1864, 68.— Dress. Ibis, 186.'>, 485 (Texas).— CoMts, Pr Phila. Acad. 

 1866, 66 (Arizona).— Coo;). Am. Nat. iii. 180!), 184 —Coo;j. B. Cal. i. 1870, 37,3;.;.— 

 Cones. Key, 1872, 79, f. 20.— J^. B. f,- R. NAB. i. 1874, 81, pi. 6, f. l.—IIansh. List B. 

 Ariz. 1875, 155. 



