TYRAXNID.E — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — MYIARCHUS. 317 



centres of the feathers rather darker ; the crown, rump, and upper tail coverts tinged with 

 brownish. The forehead and sides of the head grayisli-asli ; tlie chin, throat, and fore 

 part of tlie breast ashy-white ; the middle of the breast white ; the rest of the under parts 

 very pale sulphur yellow ; wings and tail brown. Two bands across the wing, with outer 

 edges of the secondaries and tertials dull white ; the outer edges of the primaries light 

 chestnut brown (excejit towards the tip and on the outer feather) ; the inner edges tinged 

 with the same. Whole of the middle tail leathers, with the outer webs (only), and the 

 ends of the others brown ; the rest of the inner webs reddish-chestnut, the outer web of 

 exterior feather yellowish- white. Legs and bill black ; lower mandible brownish at the 

 base. Length, about 8.60 ; wing, 4.00 ; tail, 4.10 ; tarsus, 90. 



Hah. Coast of California, and across by Valley of Gila anil Rio Grande to Northeastern 

 Mexico, and south to Giuitemala. 



I found one of tins species at Fort Mojave on Jannaiy lath, and think a 

 few may lialjitually winter in the Colorado A^alley. They began to arrive 

 from tlie south about Marcli 10th, and extend their range through nearly 

 the wliole State or its lower portions. Their notes are few, loud, and harsh, 

 little varied, and uttered from time to time as they fly after an insect from 

 their accustomed perch (whicli is usually on the lower dead limbs of the 

 forest trees), prefening shady situations, and feeding late in the evening. 

 According to Heermaun, the nest, found in a hollow tree, or a deserted bur- 

 row of a woodpecker, is composed of grasses lined with feathers. The eggs, 

 five in number, are cream-color, marlced and speckled with piirplisli-red 

 dashes and faint neutral tint blotches. 



M. crinitns. 



A variety (Mi/iarchm Mcxicanus, var. 2XTtinax, Baird, Pr. Phil. Acad. 1859, 

 303) of this species occurs at St. Lucas, where it was collected by Mr. Xantus, 

 characterized by the possession of a decidedly stouter bill and stronger 

 feet than usual. The size of the bird itself is perhapis less tlian the average. 



