BIRDS OF NORTHERN VENEZUELA WETMORE 229 



The contention that there are two subspecies of olive-sided fly- 

 catchers, one that breeds in the eastern part of the United States and 

 Canada and tlie other in the West, is not borne out by examination of 

 a long series of specimens. There is no difference in color evident 

 that is not due to individual variation. As for size differences, while 

 it is true that the smallest individuals as indicated by wing measure- 

 ment come from the P]ast and. the largest from the West, and that a 

 small average difference in a considerable series from the two areas is 

 evident, the overlap in wing size is so extensive that it covers more 

 than half the individuals seen. In other v/ords, if two races are dis- 

 tinguished more than half the birds examined could be placed in 

 either group. Under these circumstances recognition of two forms is 

 not justified, a matter in w^hich I agree with John T. Zimmer, who has 

 investigated this question wdth the extensive series in the American 

 Museum of Natural Histor3^ 



MYIOCHANES CINEREUS BOGOTENSIS (Bonaparte) 



Tyrannula bogotensis Bonaparte, Conspectus avium, vol. 1, 1850, p. 190 (Bogotd, 

 Colombia) , 



The first one seen was taken m an open grove at La Providencia 

 near Maracay, October 21 . Near Ocumare de la Costa I shot another 

 at an elevation of 700 feet in the Rio Cumboto Valley, where it rested 

 on an open perch above the road. Another was seen there on Octo- 

 ber 31. Twelve miles south of El Sombrero on November 13 I 

 obtained one in thorn scrub, where it was flying out from a perch to 

 capture passing insects with a snap of the bill. The bird from 

 Ocumare de la Costa, a female, is darker and a little larger, and 

 measures as foUow^s: Wmg 69.0, tail 59.0, culmen from, base 13.6, 

 tarsus 12.8 mm. The other two are a little paler above and in the 

 gray of the sides and breast. Tlie^^ mea,sure as follow^s: Maracay, 

 female, wing 69.0, tail 57.6, culmen from base 13.3, tarsus 12.7 mm.; 

 El Sombrero, male, wing 67.3, tail 56.2, culmen from base 14.5, 

 tarsus 13.4 mm. While indicating perhaps an approach toward the 

 paler forms of farther south they are defuiitely bogotensis. 



MYIOCHANES FUMIGATUS CINERACEUS (Lafreanaye) 



Tyrannula cineracea Lafrebnaye, Rev. Zool., vol. 11, 1848, p. 7 (Caracas, 

 Venezuela). 



Two were taken at Rancho Grande on November 4 and 9. The 

 birds were common in the rain forest and were observed from 2,600 

 to 3,500 feet, probably ranging higher. Like the olive-sided fly- 

 catcher they seek perches on dead branches in the tops of tall trees 

 where they have a commanding outlook. They were seen frequently 

 near the highway as it was open here, and hi the forest I often heard 



