406 



NORTH AMKRICAN HIRDS. 



PhfFnupiptn nitins 



Total leiijftli, 7.()0 ; winj,', 3.S0 ; tail, 4.35 ; length of bill from fbruhead, .40, from nostril 

 .31, along giipo, Mi ; tnrsii.-!, .70 ; niitUllu toe an<l cliiw, .05. 



Had. ^louiitaiuous region of the 

 ' southern portions of Western and Mid- 

 dle Provinces of United Stales, and 

 south to Orizaba; t'ape St. Lucas; IMa- 

 teau of Mexico (resident, Sumichkast). 



Ha nil's. So I'ar as known, this 

 bird occurs in the moiiiitainous 

 portion.s ul' the I'uited States, 

 frniu Fort Tejon, Cal., to ^Me.vico, 

 and t'runi the IJio (Jrande to San 

 Diego. It is closely allied, in its 

 appearance, as also in numy of its 

 haltits, Itotii willi the Waxwings 

 and the Flycatchers. 



This species was first detected 

 within the United States by (.'oloiu'l IMcf'all, wlio obtained it in California 

 in 18r(2. Its habits, as he observed tlieni, ))artook of those of the true Fly- 

 catcher. Tiiey are said to be remarkable for their slender, active form, in 

 wliich their long and ample tail, and the elongated feathers of their head, 

 ca](al)le of being erected into a crest, are conspicuous features. Colonel 

 McCall first met with them in a clump of trees on the borders of a mountain 

 brook, between Valliecita and El Chino. A number of them were to- 

 gether actively engaged in the pursuit of insects. They were light and 

 graceful on the wing, tliough le.ss swift and 

 decided in tlieir motions than the true Fly- 

 catcliers. In these evolutions the bright white 

 spot on the wing, visible only when tl,p Aviiig 

 is spre'ad, was cpiite conspicuous, and in fine 

 contrast with the glossy Itlack of the general 

 plumage. In his Journey Colonel ]\fcCall after- 

 wards met this bird several times, either in 

 small comj)anies or singly. They were always 

 eitlier on mountain sides, or in the timbered 

 borders of mountain streams. 



Dr. Henry met with this species near the 

 Little Lagoon, on the Colorado I )esert. It was 

 perched on a mez(iuite-tree, jerking its tail 

 almost incessantly, as do other kinds of Fly- 



catcliers, and, from time to time, dashing in irregular curves higli into the 

 air in pursuit of insects. It became ipiito altundiint as he apimmched the 

 Colorado, occurring in companies of twenty and thirty. At Fort Yuma he 

 also met with them in considerable numbers late in November, as they were 



I^nopepla nitens. 



