296 Univt rsity of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 10 



Fort Whipple, Arizona. Mr. Frank Stephens kindly loaned 

 several specimens in his private collection, from southern Cali- 

 fornia. 



Comparison of the California material with that from Arizona 

 and elsewhere gives at first-glance an impression of color differ- 

 ence. Our San Jacinto series looks clearer gray above and purer 

 white below, lint close examination convinces ns that the faint 

 dull yellowish .suffusion in the National Museum skins is adven- 

 titious, due to repeated handling, or to local, natural but extra- 

 neons, causes previous to capture. Some old skins in Mr. Ste- 

 phens's collection from San Diego County, California, present 

 precisely I he same appearance. ( loues' type of vicinior is wonder- 

 fully like no. 44(>."> of the Stephens collect inn. from Oak Grove, 

 San Diego County. In fact, nol the slightesl difference in any 

 respect is appreciable, save thai the latter is if anything slightly 

 more soiled. Coues's type resembles also qo. 2318, .Mns. Vert. 



ZOOL, but the latter is cleaner white below. There does not 



appear to be the slightesl difference in either proportions or 

 general size; and the range of individual variation is small. 



It thus appears that there are no grounds \'or the systematic 

 separation of the California birds from those of Arizona. This 

 is in accord with the conclusions of Ridgway (1904, p. 203) 

 from the "few specimens" at his disposal. In justice to the pro- 

 poser of the name californic us Stephens. 1890, p. 159), it should 

 be stated thai the material available to him at that time was 

 extremely meager; and there certainly are \rr\ good geographic 

 grounds to back up any differential peculiarities that might be 

 shown by specimens. From a consideration of its distribution 

 as now known, it appears probable that the gray vireo has 

 invaded California from the south-central plateau region of 

 western North America, within relatively recent limes. 



Our California series of Vireo vicinior contains none in 

 .juvenal plumage; all are in more or less worn breeding plumage, 

 except one. This is aii adult male. no. 2316, secured at Yande- 

 venter Flat, August 27. and is in nearly full fresh fall plumage. 

 The annual molt is \(-v\ nearly completed, only the outermost 

 primaries being still partly unsheathed. Since there is in all 

 probability no spring molt, even partial, this bird presents the 



