TYRANNID^ — THE FLYCATCHERS. 



385 



Genus MITREPHORUS, Sclater. 



Mitrephorus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, 44. (Type, M. 2Jhococerc7is.) 



Gen. Char. Similar in general character to M. empidonax, but with fulvous, fulvous-olive 

 and rufous tints, instead of clear olive, gray, white, 

 and sulphur-yellow. Head crested ; bristles of gape 

 reaching nearly to tip of bill. Feet very weak. 



The type of this genus (31. phceocercus) 

 is quite different in form from Empidonax, 

 the nearest North American ally, but both 

 M. pallescens and fulvifrons could with little 

 violence be placed in it. There is no posi- 

 tive character to separate the latter from 

 the average of species of Empidonax, ex- 

 cept it be the color. The crest is not at all conspicuous, nor is there any 

 appreciable difierence of form ; while in the form of the bill these species 

 are much nearer Empidonax than Mitrephorus. The legs, however, are 

 weaker, and the rictal bristles longer. 



There are two forms of the group, as defined by Sclater : one embracing 

 E. phceocercus, Sclater (Mexico and Guatemala), and E. aurantiiventris, Lawr. 

 (Costa Eica) ; the other E. fulvifrons, Giraud, and pallescens, Coues. The 

 differences between the last two, which are probably merely races of one 

 species, may be expressed as follows : — 



M. fulvifrons. Olivaceous above ; beneath ochraceous-fnlvous ; darkest on 

 the breast, paler on throat and crissum. External edge of outer tail-feathers 

 whitish. 



Olive of back fulvous ; under parts decided ochrey-fulvous. Wing-bands 

 tinged with ochraceous; wing rather pointed. First quill equal to sixth; 

 third, longest. Wing, 2.65 ; tail, 2.40 ; tarsus, .61. Hah. Northern Mexico. 



var. fulv ifr ons} 

 Olive of back grayish; beneath obscurely ochrey-fulvous and much paler; 

 wing-bands grayish-white ; wing rather rounded. First quill shorter than 

 sixth; fourth longest. Length, 4.75; wing, 2.15; tail, 2.00; tarsus, .65. 

 Hab. Arizona var, pallescens. 



1 Mitrephorus fulvifrons. Aluscicapa fulvifrons, Giraud, 16 species Texas birds, 1841, pi. ii 

 (Mexico ?). Empidonax fulvifrons, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, 301. Mitrephorus fulvifrons, 

 Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, 45. Empidonax rubicundus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. ii, 1859, 70 (Mexi- 

 co). Hab. Northern Mexico. 



49 



