382 



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



POLTOPTILA PLUMBEA, B a i r d . 



Culicivora plumbea, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. VII, June, 1854, 118. 



Sp. Cn. — Above bluish gray ; the forehead uniform witli the crown. Eyelids white. A pale grayish white line over the eye ; 

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

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

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

 of the same. Female without the black superciliary line. Length, 4.40 ; wing, 1.80 ; tail, 9.30. (7189.) 



Hab. — Valley of Colorado and Gila. 



The iail of this species is considerably graduated, the outer feather being nearly .40 of an inch 

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

 short ; the exposed 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- 

 siderably shorter (.14 inch) than the 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 lores. The light superciliary line is 

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

 very difierent, 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 difi'ers 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. 



Localtity. 



When collected. 



Camp 119, Bill Williams' Fork.l Feb. 11, 1851 

 Camp 113 1 Feb. 5, 1854: 



Whence obtiiiued. 



Lt. Whipple . 

 do 



Boca Grande, Mex 1 Mar. — , 1855 Maj. Emory 



Orig. 

 No. 



Collected by — I Remarks. 



Kena. and Moll . Eye black . 

 do 



91 

 70 

 38 1 Dr. Kennerly . 



POLIOPTILA MELANUKA, Lawrence. 



Culicivora atncapilla, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyceum, V, Sept. 1851, 124. Not of Swainson. 

 Culicivora mexicana, Cassin, lUust. I, vi, 1854, 164 ; pi. .\xvii. Not of Bonaparte. 

 Poliopliia melitnura, Lawrence, Ann. N. Y. Lyo. VI, Dec. 185G, 163. 



Sp. Oh. — Above ashy blue ; whole crown to bill and eyes, and tail feathers lustrous greenish bltlck. 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 ti|) of the outer web of first and second tail feathers white. Female without the black head. 

 Length, 4.15: wing, 1.85; tail, 2.10. 



IJab. — Valley of the Kio Grande and Gila. West to San Diego. 



