1890.] Stephens oh Vireo vicinior californicus. *59 



A NEW VIREO FROM CALIFORNIA. 



BY F. STEPHENS. 



Vireo vicinior californicus, subsp. nov. 

 California Gray Vireo. 



Darker than Vireo vicinior Coues. Above grayish-pi u^beous, 

 middle and greater wing-coverts, secondaries, tertials, d outer 

 web of outer tail-feathers more or less edged with grayish white. 

 Wing and tail of equal length. Nest not pensile, and not built 

 in thorny bushes. 



For many years I have thought the California Gray Vireo 

 varietally distinct from the form that breeds east of the Colorado 

 River, and I now venture to describe it as such. The difference 

 in climate of the breeding habitats of the two forms is sufficient 

 to account for their differentiation. I feel inclined to give the new 

 form specific rank, as I am unacquainted with any intermediate 

 specimens, and from the nature of the country intervening be- 

 tween the breeding range of the two forms I should not expect to 

 find such, since that region is so barren that the species does not 

 occur at all. 



The most prominent difference between the two forms is the 

 darker color above, combined with the greater amount of whitish 

 edging on wing and tail, in the California form. 



A comparison of a nest and set of four eggs taken ten miles 

 east of Riverside, California, on April 26, 1889, an d now before 

 me, with the description given by W. E. D. Scott in 'The Auk' 

 (Vol. II, Oct., 18S5, pp. 321-326) of nests and eggs obtained by 

 him in Arizona, indicate that my nest is smaller, especially in 

 inside diameter, and that my eggs are longer in proportion. This 

 nest was about four feet from the ground, and is composed of dry 

 outside parts or fibres of a flax-like plant, gray in color, and is 

 lined with Uie fine, dry, yellowish-colored stems of 'six weeks 

 grass.' Width of nest outside, 3 inches ; inside, 1 3-4 inches ; 

 depth outside, 2 3-4 inches ; inside, 1 3-4 inches. The eggs 

 measure .73 X -57' -74 X -55> -74 X -55> and .77 X .53 inch. 

 Their colors are similar to those of V. vicinior described by Scott. 



