V iSg? I l Anthony on the Genus Helcodytcs. 21 3 



in such cases are less conspicuously spotted below than on breast 

 and jugulum, are as sure to have a heavier wash of rufous and 

 only the first rectrix barred with, perhaps, one or two more or 

 less perfect bars on the lower fourth of the second, or white 

 spots indenting the webs of some of the others. 



The tails of specimens from western San Diego County are 

 not always the same on both sides, several being found that are 

 noticeably different. No. 127, Calif. Acad. Science, San Diego, 

 Cal., Mar. 15, 1SS4, which is referable to bryatiti, has the 

 right side fully barred to the sixth feather, the left equally well 

 marked to the third inclusive, the fourth and fifth showing small 

 white spots where the bars should be. East of the Cuyamaca 

 Mts., I am unable to find any indication of either bryanti or 

 ajfiiiis, but my specimens from that region are unfortunately 

 very few. A specimen from Walters, Colorado Desert, Coll. 

 F. Stephens, Jan. 1S90, exhibits a heavily marked throat and 

 breast with abruptly smaller, linear spots on the sides and belly — 

 in all respects indistinguishable from Arizona and New Mexico 

 skins. 



In connection with the foregoing notes on the series from San 

 Diego County, I would call attention to Prof. Baud's remarks 

 in 'Review of American Birds' on Lafresnaye's description of 

 brunneicapillus : 'T find it quite impossible to reconcile 

 Lafresnaye's description of C. brunneicapillus, much less his 

 figures, with the North American bird. This is described as 

 having five white spots on the outer web of the lateral tail feather, 

 and three on the inner, the next with two on the outer and three 

 on the inner (perhaps three on the outer and two inner), the 

 third and fourth with marginal points instead of spots." The 

 specimen is said to have come from California and I think that 

 it would be very easy to match the above description with a 

 bird from the immediate vicinity of San Diego, though in nearly 

 all of those before me the number of bars, ranging from five to 

 seven, are the same on both webs, but are occasionally one less 

 on the inner. The marginal points on the third and fourth 

 feathers is a common feature. Lafresnaye, however, describes 

 the under parts of his bird as pale rufous from the upper part of 

 the breast to the tail. In all specimens I have examined the 

 rufous is confined to the flanks and abdomen alone and is not so 



