386 



NORTH AMEKICAN 13IKDS. 



Mitrephorus fulvifrons, var. pallescens, Coues. 



BUFF-BBEASTEO LEAST FLTCATCHEB. 



Mitrephorus pidlcscens, CoUKs, I'r. riiiluil. Ac. 180*>, 63 (Fort Whipplf, Arizona), — CooPEK, 

 Oiii. Calif. 1, 334. MUnphuruHfulcifr-iis, Elliot, Illusc. B. Am. I, pi. xix. 



Sp. Ciiah. Above lulvous-giay. with an ashy cast on the tail and crown ; li«;hter 

 acro.«.s the nape. Two grayi>h-white lands across tlv winfjs, and the Terminal half of th«; 

 secondaries and outer web of lateral tail-feather broadly eoged with the same. Whole 

 lower parts, includinfj: the lores and cheeks, and linin<r of winir, lijjht ochraceous, very 

 deeply ochraceous across the breast and on the sides, nearly white on the abdomen and 

 crissum. Upper mandible deep black, lower whitish (" briglit oranjre-yellow " in life) ; 

 feet deep black. Wing-formula : second, third, and fourth quills equal and longest, 5, G, 1. 

 Tail very slightly emarginated, but lateral feather a little the shortest, Male. Length, 

 4.75; wing. 2.25 ; tail, 2.00; cuhnen, .54 (measured to concealed ba.se) ; breadth of bill, 

 .24 ; tarsus, .54 ; middle toe, .28. Female. Colors paler ; deep ochraceous of breast, etc., 

 less distinct. 



Hab. Southern border of Middle Province of United States (Fort Whipple, Arizona). 



The true M. fulvifrons of Mexico differs simply in deeper colors, the 

 shade above being decidedly fulvous, instead of grayish, and the lower parts 

 much more deeply ocliraceous, the abdomen not approaching white ; the 

 wing-markings are also tinged witli ochraceous. 



Habits. This species, ])oth new to our fauna and previously undescribed, 

 was taken by Dr. Coues at Fort Whipple. It belongs to a newly established 

 genus of Flycatcliers, recently established by Mr. Sclater, similar to Empido- 

 nax. So tar as known, its members are more or less tropical in their resi- 

 dence. It is a rare summer resident at Fort Whipple, arriving there early 

 in May, Nothing is stated in reference to its habits, except that they cor- 

 respond with those of the Empidonaces. 



Gexus 



Gould. 



Pijrorephalus, Gould, Zool, of Beagle, 1838, 44. 



Gen. Char. Tarsus moderate, very little longer than the middle toe; hind toe not 



longer than the lateral. Bill 

 slender, very narrow at the base. 

 Tail broad, even, considerably 

 shorter than the wings (about 

 four fifths), which reach be- 

 yond the middle of the tail. 

 First quill shorter than the 

 fifth. Head with a conspicu- 

 ous rounded crest. Sexes dis- 

 similar. Male with the crown 

 and lower parts red (except in 

 E. ohscurus) ; tail, back, and 

 wings dark brown. 



Pt/TOCfjthalus rubintus. 



38206 



