194 



U. S. p. R. K. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



l^ointed, and acuminate. Diifers from E. minimus in larger size and proportions of the quills. 

 The middle of the hack is the same color in both, but instead of becoming lighter and tinged 

 with ash on the rump and upper tail coverts, these parts very rarely differ in color from the 

 back. The markings on the wings, instead of being dirty white, are decidedly olivaceous 

 yellow. The yellow of the lower parts is deeper. The tail feathers are rather broad, 

 acuminate, and pointed ; in minima they are narrow and more rounded. Tho bill is larger 

 and fuller. The legs are decidedly shorter in proportion. 



This species is somewhat like E. acadiciis in the proportions of the quills, but the wing is con- 

 siderably shorter. The precise differences will be found detailed in the article on acadicus. 



The proportions of the quills are generally as detailed under the specific character ; the first 

 quill .30 of an inch less than the longest, and intermediate between the fourth and fifth ; the 

 primaries about .70 of an inch longer than the first secondary. In one specimen the second, 

 third, and fourth are nearly equal ; the other proportions the same. 



List of specimens. 



EMPIDONAX PUSILLUS, Cabanis. 



? Plalyrhynehus pusitlus, Swainson, Phil. Mag. I, May, 1827, 366. 



Tyrimnula jmsilla, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 144 -, pi.— Rich. App. Back's Voyagp, 1834-'36, 144.— Gambel, Pr. A. 



N. Sc. Ill, 1847, 156. 

 Muscicapa pusilla, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 288 ; pi. 434.— In. Birds Ainer. I, 1840, 236 ; pi. 66. 

 Tyrannus pusUltt, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840. 



Sp. Oh. — Second, third, and fourth quills longest ; first shorter than tlio si.xtli. Bill ratlicr broad ; yellow beneath. Tail 

 even. Tarsi rather long. Above dirty olive brown, paler and more tinged with brown towards tliu tail. Throat and breast 

 white, tinged with grayish olive on the sides, shading across the breast ; belly and under tail coverts very palo snljduir yellow. 

 Wings with two dirty narrow brownish white bands slightly tinged with olive ; tho secondaries and tertials narrowly and incon- 

 spicuously margined with the same. First primary faintly edged with whitish ; tho outer web of first tail fcatlier paler than tho 

 inner, but not white Under wing coverts reddish ochraceous yellow. A whitish ring round the eye. Length, 5.50 inches ; 

 wing, 2.80; tail, 2.75. 



Wii. — High central plains to tho Pacific. Fur countries. Southward into Mexico. 



In examining carefully a large collection of skins of tho small American flycatchers, 1 liave 

 found it necessary to separate a western series intermediate between E. IrailUi and minimus, 

 typical specimens of the two latter species being witliout any representatives from the region 

 beyond the Missouri plains. Althougli the differences are quite appreciable in tho comparison, 

 I yet find it exceedingly difficult to characterize a s])ccics so as to carry tlie same impression of 

 diversity to others as I have experienced myself. 'J'he bird is uboiit tlie size of h'. traillli, or a 

 little less, but has more the colors of minimus. It agrees with tlie latter in becoming lighter 



