. COUCH'S KINGBIRD. 245 



The average size of thirteen eggs in the United States National Museum 

 collection is 24.38 by 18.45 inilhmetres, or about 0.1)6 by 0.73 inch. The largest 

 egg measures 24.89 by 18.80 millimetres, or 0.98 by 0.74 inch; the smallest, 

 23.62 by 17.53 millimetres, or 0.93 by 0.69 inch. 



The type specimens, Nos. 24313 and 26345 (PI. 2, Figs. 5 and 6), both from 

 the Ralph collection, were obtained near Brownsville, Texas, tlie former on May 

 13, 1891, the latter on ]\Iay 16, 1893, and sliow the different styles of markings. 



go. Tyrannus verticalis Say. 



ARKANSAS KINGBIRD. 



Tyrannus verticalis Say, Long's Expedition, II, 1823, GO. 



(B 126, C 244, E 306, C 370, U 447.) 



Geographical range: Western North America; from the Pacific coast east to 

 western Texas, western Indian Territory, middle Kansas, Nebraska, and western Min- 

 nesota; north to North Dakota, sonthern Assiniboia, Alberta?, and southern British 

 Columbia; south to Lower California, and in the winter throngh Mexico to Guatemala. 

 Accidental in Iowa, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. 



The Arkansas Kingbird, for which the name of "Western Kingbird" seems 

 to be better suited, is pretty generally distributed as a summer resident througli- 

 out the middle and western portions of the United States, and it Ijreeds in 

 suitable localities throughout these regions. The northern limit of its breeding- 

 range extends, as far as is at present known, into southern Assiniboia (the valley 

 of the Soui'is River), and probably westward through southern All)erta, as well 

 as along the southern borders of British Columbia, where it appears to be fairly 

 common, excepting in the immediate vicinity of the coast. In tlie United States 

 it reaches its northerii limits in North Dakota and southern Minnesota, where it 

 is rare, and tlience it is found south through Nebraska, middle and western 

 Kansas, western Indian Territory to northwestern Texas, and in all of the inter- 

 vening regions westward to the Pacilic Ocean. 



In Lower California the Arkansas Kingbird appears to Ije rare, though a 

 few breed in the northern portions of this peninsula. Dr. Edgar A. IVIearns, 

 United States Army, found a nest of this species at St. Ysidora ranch on July 2, 

 1894, containing three eggs, which are now in the collection here. This species 

 arrives from its winter home in Mexico aind Guatemala, along the southern 

 border of its breeding range, about the latter part of March, and passes leisurely 

 northward, reaching our more northern States about the beginning of May, and 

 returning early in Se})tend3er. ]?\' the middle of October all, or nearl\' all, have 

 passed our borders, and I d(» not believe that any Avinter within the United States. 



The Arkansas Kingbird is pretty generally distributed tlnoughout most of 

 our Western States, and is especially abundant in the Great Basin region. It is 

 essentially a bird of the more open country, especially of the river valleys, and 

 is not generally found in the higher moimtain systems, where it rarely reaches 

 higher altitudes than 7,500 feet. I liave observed this species as common in 



