382 



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



POLIOPTILA PLUMBEA, Baird. 



CuUch-ora plumbea, Baird, Pr. A. X. So. VII, June, 1854, 118. 



Sp. Cii. — Above bluish gray ; the forehead uuiform with tlie crown, Eyehds wliile. A pale grayish white line over the eye ; 

 above which is another of black, much concealed by the feathers, and which duos not reach to the bill. Under parts dull 

 white, tinged with bluish on llie sides, and with brownish behind. Tail feathers black ; the first and second edged and lipped 

 with white ; involving the entire outer web of tlie first, and most of that of the second ; the third with only a very faint edging 

 of thesame. Female without the black superciliary line. Length, 4. 4U ; wing, 1. SO; tail, 2.30. (718D.) 



Hub. — Valley of Colorado and Gila. 



The lail of this species is considerahly graduated, the outer feather heing nearly .40 of an inch 

 shorter than the middle one. The bill is rather short and hroad at the base. The wings are 

 short ; the esjiosed portion of the first primary more than half as long as the second, which is 

 rather shorter than the secondary quill ; the third quill is about equal to the sixth, and con- 

 siderahly shorter (.14 inch) than t!ie fourth and fifth, which are equal. 



There is a good deal of brown in the bluish of the back ; the quills are all margined with 

 paler blue, which becomes whitish on the tertiaries. 



This species is about the size of P. caerulea, but rather larger. The bluish above is not so 

 pure, having a dirty olivaceous tinge. Both have the black streak over the eye ; but this in 

 caerulea is continuous with a black frontal band, while in plumhea the forehead is like the 

 crown, and the superciliary line does not extend over the lore.s. The light superciliary line is 

 also more distinct. The under parts are of about the same color in both snecies. The tail is 

 very different, the feathers being entirely blaclc, the exterior edged only with white instead of 

 having the two outer almost entirely white, as in caerulea. 



From P. melanura this species differs in lacking the black crown. It is larger, the under 

 parts are purer white. The tails are somewhat alike, but the entire outer web of the first and 

 generally the second feather in plumhea are white, instead of being only narrowly edged with 

 this color. 



List of specimens. 



POLIOPTILA MELANUKA, Lawrence. 



CiUiciiora atncniiitlti, Lawhksce, Ann. ?f. Y. Lyceum, V, Sei)t. I8.".I, li!4. Not of Swainson. 

 Culicivora mtxicana, Cassin, Ulust. I, vi, 1854, 1G4 ; pi. xxvii. Not of Bonaparlo. 

 I'olioptita melanura, Lawrench, Ann. N. Y. Lye. VI, Dec. 185G, 1G8. 



Sp. Cii.— Above ashy blue ; whole crown to bill and eyes, and tail feathers lustrous prconish black. Beneath pale bluish 

 gray, almost white in the middle of the belly ; the sides behind, with anal region and under coverts tinged with brown. Edge 

 of eyelids and the margin and tip of the outer web of first and second tail feathers while. Fenuile without the black head. 

 Length, 4.1.1 ; wing, 1.85; tail, 9.10. 



y/u().— Valley of the Ilio Grande and Gila. West to San Diego. 



