78 



Brewster on a Collection of Arizona Bii-ds. 



and showing other signs of anxiety respecting its contents. The 

 position of the Camp Lowell nest is not mentioned. 



Juv., first plumage. $ (No. 619, Yuma, July 15). Crown pale cine- 

 reous; rest of upper parts faded brown. The wings are uniform with the 

 back, but all the primaries and secondaries have a broad white edging on 

 their outer webs. The tail is dull black, with white areas on the outer 

 rectrices corresponding in extent and purity with those of the adult. Be- 

 neath, pale ashy white. 



A study of the large series of Gnatcatchers collected during the past 

 season confirms the yiews which I lately advanced (this Bulletin, Vol. 

 VI, p. loi) regarding the affinity of P. plutnbea and P. ''■melanura." and 

 also affords additional evidence of the assumed specific distinctness of P. 

 californica. The Yuma examples of P. plutnbea are quite as tvpical as 

 those taken at Tucson and Camp Lowell, while seven specimens oi cali- 

 fornica, collected at Riverside after Mr. Stephens' return to that place, 

 still further attest the constancy' of most of the characters which I assigned 

 to the latter bird. That relating to the brown edging of the secondaries 

 will, however, have to be abandoned, for flumbea proves to be similarly 

 characterized when in worn breeding dress; the supposed shorter tail of 

 californica also is now shown to be an inconstant feature. All of the thi-ee 

 voung males taken at Riverside have black lateral crown-stripes like those 

 of immature flumbea. 



-67. (J ad., Tucson, April 23. Length, 4.60; extent, 5.80; wing, 1.85; 

 tail, 2.I^; bill (from nostril), .25; tarsus, .67. "'Iris dark brown ;" lores 

 ashy mixed with black; eyelids white. 



^00, $ ad., Tucson, June 7. Length, 4.60; extent, 5. So; wing. 1.81; 

 tail, 2.12; bill (from nostril), .25; tarsus. .65. Lores ashy mixed with 

 black: upper eyelid white. 



:;64. $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 22. Length, 4.55; extent. 5. So; wing, 

 1. 84: tail. 2.19; bill (from nostril), .25: tarsus, .70. Lores black: both 

 eyelids white. 



;;67, $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 22. Length. 4.40; extent, 5.60; wing, 

 1.84; tail. 2.16; bill (from nostril), .26: tarsus. .70. Lores and super- 

 ciliary line wiaite mixed with black. 



581, $ ad.. Camp Lowell, June 24. Length. 4.40: extent, 5.80; wing, 

 1.98: tail. 2.20; bill (from nostril), .28; tarsus, .70. Lores ashy. 



618, $ ad., Yuma, July 15. Length, 4.40; extent, 5.80; wing, 1.90; 

 tail, 2.1s: bill (from nostril), .26; tarsus, .68. Lores, with broad super- 

 ciliary lines meeting across the forehead, white. 



621, $ juv., first plumage, Yuma. July 16. Length. 4.40; extent, 5.60; 

 wing, 1.76: tail, 2.13; bill (from nostril). .26: tarsus, .72. Sides of head 

 ashy white; ill-defined, black, lateral crown-stripes partially concealed. 



272, $ ad., Tucson, April 23. Length. 4.50; extent, 5.50; wing. 1.7S; 

 tail, 2,21: bill (from nostril), .27; tarsus. .68. ''Had just finished laying." 



4^8, $ ad.. Camp Lowell, May 31. Length, 4.50: extent, 5.50: wing, 

 1.86; tail, 2.13; bill (from nostril), .26; tarsus, 68. 



