ACADEMY OF SCIENCEs. 199 
Empriponax (PusiLuus var.) Tratui--Traill’s Flycatcher—p. 327. I have 
no doubt that the Colorado valley specimens mentioned were of this race, 
though the differences between it and var. pusi/lus are now narrowed down by 
intermediate specimens to a more brownish-olive color, and darker wing- 
bands, shorter tail and tarsus. I have since found other specimens connect- 
ing them not uncommon in Ventura Co., where I saw none until May 22d, 
when their peculiar notes became noticeable. These differ from any I have 
ever heard uttered by the true pusillus, which is an abundant species in the 
north, and was only by accident omitted in my published report on Cal. Or- 
nithology. The whole description of its nest, eggs and habits was by a blun- 
der inserted under #. Hammondii on p. 331, from line 9 to 28, which species. 
was reported by Baird, from Monterey. 
KE, (FLAVIVENTRIS Var.?) DIFFIcILIS.—Yellow-bellied Flycatcher—-p. 328. The 
western race of this species proves to be really more different from the east- 
ern than that of the preceding, and especially in laying spotted eggs, which, 
indeed, scarcely differ from those of E. pusillus. If the allied Sayornis (and 
some other birds) did not show a similar, though less marked, variation in 
its eggs, independent of regional variations in plumage, we might decide from 
this the question of identity, but there seem in this case, also to be interme- 
diate birds. At Haywood, Alameda Co., I found about twelve nests and cap- 
tured enough birds on them for certainty. All were built in the hollows out- 
side or inside of stumps and trees from two to ten feet above ground, or. 
against the walls of little caves in rocky banks, and two on timbers under 
sheds. Mud is used for the shell, covered outside with much green moss and 
lined with fine grass, fibres, etc., thus being quite different from that of the 
eastern bird as described. 
The eggs varied a good deal in size and form, usually being larger than 
those of pusillus from Santa Cruz, length 0.73 to 0.62 by 0.58 to 0.52. Even 
when under sheds the green moss was liberally used, making the nests even 
more conspicuous than without it. This was the only species I found breed- 
ing near Haywood, and it arrived there March 31st, though I found them near 
Santa Barbara by the 21st, in 1873, three weeks earlier than noticed at San 
Diego. The differences in the two races seem to be wholly in shades of color 
and size, not in proportions, as formerly supposed, when young autumn 
specimens of var. difficilis were the types described. 
Cuztura Vauxi—Oregon Swift—p. 357. Arrived or passed through Ven- 
tura County, northward, on April 22d, 1873, and through San Diego on April 
26th, 1872. As thisis now considered the western race of C. pelagica, and 
winters on the west slope of Central America, the undecided question as to 
where the eastern birds winter, suggests that they may either be the ‘‘ var. 
poliura,’’ of South America, or the species mentioned by Nuttall, as follows: 
‘*The wonderful account of the swallow-roosts in Honduras given by Capt. 
Henderson, appears to be entirely applicable to this species.’’ (Man. I, 738.) 
The C. zonaris or some other species may, however, be referred to. I cannot 
consider this bird a western race only of (. pelagica, as intermediate forms are 
still unknown. 
