^°i897^^J Oberholser, Critical Notes on Auriparus. 393 



While most of the Arizona breeding birds, with some of the winter 

 ones, are a Httle paler than Texas examples, many of the winter 

 specimens from the former locality are fully as dark as Texas 

 birds of the same season. Unfortunately there is not at hand a 

 series of California specimens, but two birds from Fort Yuma, and 

 one from the Colorado Desert, San Diego County, California, are 

 not appreciably different, either in size or color, from specimens 

 taken in southeastern Arizona. So far as lamprocephalus is con- 

 cerned, the color of the upper parts exclusive of the head is about 

 as dark as that of Texas birds of the corresponding season. No 

 specimens from the upper half of Lower California have been 

 examined, by reason of which it is impossible at present to deter- 

 mine how far to the northward the range of the Cape form should 

 be '[extended. 



True Auriparus flaviaps, whose range may be considered to 

 extend from Texas to California, exhibits very much individual as 

 well as seasonal variation. In the general color of the upper 

 parts there exists usually much difference, even in specimens of 

 the same season from a particular locality, so that this character 

 becomes valueless as a basis of comparison. Summer birds 

 are, on the whole, paler than those of any other season, but 

 there occur some winter specimens which are fully as light 

 in color as are those taken in the breeding season. The upper 

 parts range in color from dull smoke gray to hair brown ; and 

 the under surface from grayish white to creamy or brownish 

 white, in some specimens the median portions being tinged with 

 the yellow of the head. Taking into consideration only the 

 adult males, as has been here done in the diagnosis, it is found 

 that considerable difference exists in the shade and extent of 

 the yellow of the head and throat. In most cases there is little 

 or no indication of a rufous frontal patch, though it usually is 

 present to a greater or less degree, but visible only on disturbing 

 the feathers. In some specimens, however, it is very strongly 

 marked. 



The writer desires to make acknowledgment to Mr. Robert 

 Ridgway for the privilege of examining material in the National 

 Museum ; and to Mr. Frank M. Chapman for the use of speci- 

 mens belonging to the American Museum of Natural History. 



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