TYRANNID.i; — THE TYRANT FLYCATCHERS — EilPIDONAX. 329 



of the lower parts bright sulpliur-vcUow ; no white or ashy anj-wherc on the body. Quills 

 dark brown ; two bands on the win<; formed by the tips of the primary and secondary 

 coverts, the outer edge of the first primary and of the secondaries and tertials pale yellow, 

 or grccuish-yellow. The tail feathers brown, with the exterior edges like the back. The 



bill dark brown above, yellow beneath. The feet black. In the autumn the colors are 

 purer, the yellow is deeper, and the markings on the wings of an ochry tint. Length, 

 5.1.5 to 5.75; extent, 8.50 ; wing, 2.83; tail, 2.45. Iris brown; bill dark brown, below 

 flesh-color, edge orange ; feet black. 

 Hah. United States generally. 



At San Diego I observed the arrival of this species on April 1.5th, and 

 preserved specimens which agree exactly with the description of Eastern 

 specimens by Baird, as does one collected at Cape St. Lucas by Xantus. I 

 obtained one also at Lake Tahoe, wliich is like tlie Eastern bird, while one 

 obtained at IMonterey has the darker markings on tlie wings, characterizing 

 the variety dijfirilis. Tliis, however, seems scarcely more than the young 

 plumage ; and though Baird mentions the difference in proportions of the 

 qtiills also (first shorter than sixth, second considerably shorter than fourth), 

 this does not characterize spring specimens, as far as I have obtained them, 

 and I cannot divide tlie sjiecies. 



This bird frequents the woods, chiefly those of Comfcrcv, and is very silent, 

 having in summer only a lisping song of three notes. I have never seen 

 their nest or eggs. 



Empidonax obsciu'us, Swaixson. 



THE GKAYISH FLYCATCHEE. 



? Tijrannula obscura, Swainsos, Syn. Mex. Birds, in Philos. Mag. I. 1827, .367. — Empidonax 

 obscurus, Baird, P. R. Rep. IX. Birds, 200. Id. U. S. and Mex. Bound. Survey, II. 

 iii. 9 ; pi. xi. f. 3. — Coues, Pr. Pliil. Ac. 186G, 62. 



Sp. Cn,\R. Bill very narrow. Tarsi long. Second, third, and fourth quills longest ; 



first shorter than sixth. Tail rounded. Above dull brownifh-oli\e, paler on the rump, 



tinged with gray on the head. Loral region and space round the eye whitish. Throat 



and fore part of the breast grayish-white, slightly tinged with olive across the latter ; the 



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