VIREONID^ — THE VIREOS. 





the eye, extending to a frontal band, dull white. Length about 5 inches; wing, 2.75; 

 tail, 2.30. 



Hab. Fort Tejon, Cal. (Xantus) ; West Humboldt Mountains, Nevada (Ridgway). 



Since the type of this variety was obtained, two other specimens (Nos. 

 53,418 9, and 53,419 ^, September, 1867 ; E. IJidgway) have been secured 

 l)y the United States Geological Survey of the 40th Parallel, in command of 

 Mr. Clarence King, in the West Humboldt Mountains, Nevada. These 

 specimens are even more difterent from true solitarius than is the type of this 

 I'ace, showing that it is really distinct, as a variety. In the same thickets 

 at the same season, perfectly typical specimens of V. solitarius were obtained ; 

 the latter having, no doubt, come from their more northern summer home 

 on their passage southward into Mexico. 



In the Humboldt Mountain specimens the crown shows no trace of ash, 

 and is even darker and more brownish than the back. In fact, the relation 

 of the V. cassini to V. solitaria is an almost exact parallel to tliat of V. 

 joscphcB to V. gilviis, as far as coloration is concerned, in each case the ex- 

 treme being widely different, but connected by specimens showing inter- 

 mediate characters. 



Nothing is know^n of the habits of this race. 



Lanivireo solitarius, var. plumbeus, Coues. 



LEAD-COLORED VIREO. 



V'ireosylvia plu/mbca, CouEs, Pr. A. N. Sc. Phila. 1860 (Fort Whip})le, near Prescott, Ari- 

 zona). -Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 119. — Elliot, Illust. Birds N. A. I, vii. F. 

 (Lanivireo) 2}lumhcn, Baird, Eev. 349. 



Sp. Char. (jSTo. 37,011.) Whole upper parts and sides of head uniform plumbeous; the 

 lower part of the back with a faint wash of olivaceous. A white line from bill to and 

 around eye; a dusky line from corner of eye to bill. Sides of breast and flanks plum- 

 beous, paler than the back ; the flanks very slightly tinged witli olive-green. Rest oi' 

 under parts white; the axillars ashy, edged witli white. Wings above with two conspic- 

 uous white bands ; the innermost quills edged externally and the longer ones internally 

 with white, the latter edged externally with light ash. Bill and legs dark plumbeous. 

 '• Iris hazel." Tail-feathers narrowly edged all round with white, narrowest internally, and 

 increasing from central to lateral feathers. Upper tail-coverts clear ash. 



As the specimen in finest plumage 

 (described above) is moulting the 

 quills, the measurements are taken 

 from another (37,010). In this the 

 first quill is not quite one third the 

 second, which equals the sixth, the 

 third and fourth longest. 



(No. 37,010.) Fresh specimen : 

 Total length, 6.10; expanse of wings, vireosyivia piumbea. 



10.80. Prepared specimen : Total length, 5.75; wing, 3.25 ; tail, 2.70; diflference between 

 tenth and longest quill, .95 ; exposed portion of first primary, .75, of second, 2.34, of lon- 

 48 



