TYRANNID^E — THE FLYCATCHERS. 383 



The nest and eggs of this species were also found by Mr. C. S. McCarthy, 

 in Dodge Valley, July 2, 1859. The nest was in a low flowering bush, and 

 was a few feet from the ground. It was likewise found breeding at Camp 

 Grant, Arizona, by Dr. Palmer, 



Empidonax hammondi, Baird. 



HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHEE. 



Tyrannula hamviondi, De Vesey (Xantus), Pr. A. N. Sc. May, 1858. Empidonax ham- 

 mondi, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 199, pi. Lxxvi, f. 1. — Sclater, Catal. 1862, 230. 

 —Cooper, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 330. 



Sp. Char. Tail moderately forked ; the feathers acutely pointed. Third quill longest ; 

 second and then fourth a little shorter. First much shorter than fifth, a little longer than 

 sixth. Bill very slender ; dark brown. Above dark olive-green, considerably darker on 

 the head. Breast and sides of the body light olive-green, the throat grayish-white ; the 

 rest of under parts bright sulphur-yellow. A whitish ring round the eye. Wings and 

 tail dark brown ; the former with two olivaceous gray bands across the coverts ; the " 

 latter with the outer edge a little paler than elsewhere, but not at all white. Length, 

 5.50 ; wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.50 ; tarsus, .67. 



Hab. Mexico and Western Province of United States (Clark's Fork ; Fort Laramie ; 

 Fort Tejon, Orizaba, and numerous intermediate points). North to Lesser Slave Lake, 

 where breeding abundantly (S. Jones, Mus. S. L). Localities: Vera Cruz, winter, 

 perhaps resident (Sum. M. B. S. I, 557) ; W. Arizona (Coues, P. A. N. S. 1866, 62). 



In this species the olive-green on the sides is scarcely distinguishable 

 from that on the back, although becoming more yellow on the middle of the 

 breast. There is a decided ashy shade on the wliole head. The only light 

 edging to the quills is seen on the terminal half of the secondaries. The 

 upper mandible and feet are black ; the tip of the lower (and in one speci- 

 men the whole) dark brown. The fork of the tail measures a quarter of an 

 inch in depth ; the longest quill exceeds the first by .40. 



This species is at once distinguishable from all the North American 

 Tyrayinulas, except obscurus, by the extreme narrowness as well as shortness 

 of the bill. This is only .25 of an inch wide at the posterior angle of the 

 mouth, and only .19 at the nostrils. Its colors above are those of acadicus, 

 while the general effect is much more that of fiavivciitris, although less 

 brightly olive. The throat is grayish, not of the same yellow with the 

 belly ; tlie ring round the eye white, not yellow ; the olive of the breast 

 much more continuous and distinct ; the bands on the wings dull grayish 

 instead of clear greenish-yellow. The tail, instead of being nearly even, is 

 quite deeply forked. The bill is scarcely half as wide, and brownish, not 

 yellow, beneath. The tarsus has the same peculiar scutellation. 



The differences from T. ohscurus are less easily expressed. It is, however, 

 considerably smaller, and more olivaceous above and below, the tarsi very 

 much shorter ; the most tangible character is seen in the absence of the 



