200 



U. S, p. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL EEPOET. 



smaller, and more olivaceous above and below ; tbe tarsi very much sborter ; the most tangible 

 character is seen in the absence of the white on the outer web of the external tail feather, 

 which is only a little paler brown than elsewhere. 



EMPIDONAX OBSCURUS, Baird. 



9Tyrannula obscura, Swainson, Syn. Mex. Birds, in Pliilos. Mag. I, 1827, 367. 



Sp. Ch. — Bill very narrow. Tarsi long. Second, third, and fourth quills longest; 6rst shorter than sixth. Tail rounded. 

 Above dull brownish olive 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 ; tlie rest of the under parts pale 

 yell iwish. Wings and tail brown ; the former with two conspicuous bands of brownish white ; the outer primary edged, the 

 secondaries and tertials edged and tipped with the same. The outer web of the external tail feather white, in strong contrast. 

 Length, 5.75 ; wing, 9.75 ; tail, 2.55 ; tarsus, .70. 



Hod. — Rocky mountains of Texas. 



In this species the primaries are about .55 of an inch longer than the secondaries ; the first 

 quill about .35 of an inch shorter than the longest. There is a decided tendency to grayish 

 white edgings to the quill and tail feathers. 



The most decided character of this species is seen in the combination of the narrow bill and 

 the white outer margin of the external tail feather, together with the long tarsi. The colors 

 are otherwise much like those of minimus and traillii ; the yellow beneath is, however, more 

 ochraceous. The bill measured across opposite the middle of the nostrils is less than half its 

 length from the forehead, instead of being considerably more, as in nearly all the other North 

 American species, except hammondii. 



The only description I can find which applies approximately to this species is that of T. 

 obscura of Swainson, Syn. birds Mexico, in Philos. Magazine, 1827, No. 10, which is stated to 

 be : "Above olive gray, beneath yellowish white; wings short, brown, with two whitish bands; 

 tail brown, even, with a pale yellow margin. Length, 5.25 ; bill nearly .70 ; wings and tail, 

 2.50 ; tarsi, .60." The present species agrees in the white margin of the tail, but the under 

 parts are gray anteriorly; the tail slightly rounded; the wings 2.75 inches; the tarsi .70, 

 and thus much longer ; the bill only .50. The diiferences of measurement may, however, 

 be more accidental and real, and the smaller size the result of the more southern locality on 

 the table lands of Mexico. For the present, therefore, I retain the name obscurus, but should 

 this prove distinct, shall claim that of E. wrightii, the discoverer, by which I had provisionally 

 designated it. 



