TYRANNID.?? — THE FLYCATCHERS. 3^] 



by him quite common in the Tliree Marias, islands off tlie Pacific coast 

 of Mexico, as well as on the main coast, and also in California. The 

 accustomed places of resort of this solitary little bird were, he states, the 

 most retired and secluded dells of the forest. He tliere met witli it beneath 

 the canopy of the natural and shady grottos formed by the overlappiiif;; 

 branches, intermingled with innumerable creeping plants, sitting upon some 

 low twig watching for a passing fiy. At other times it miglit be seen 

 frequenting some secluded and shady little brook, near the surface of 

 which it often darted upon the Hies that skimmed over the surface of tiie 

 water, ever and anon uttering a low and plaintive one-syllabled note. 



Empidonax obscurus, Baird. 



WRIGHT'S FLTCATCHTJt. 



ITiji- inula ohscura, Swainson, Syn. Me.x. IMnls, in Pliilos. Mag. T, 1827, 367. Empi- 

 cUnciM obscurus, Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 200, pi. xlix, f. ;i. —In. M. U. II, liiiils 

 9, pi. xi, f. 3. —Sol. Cntal. 1862, 230. — Cool'Kit, Oni. Cal. I, 1870, 32it. Kinpidwinx 

 tvrifjhti, Baiui), Binls N. Am. 1858, 200 (name proposed in case this should prove not 

 to be the T. obscura of Swainson). 



Sp. Char. Bill very narrow. Tarsi long. Wing rounded. Secor d, tliird, and fourth 

 quills longest; first shorter than sixth, sometimes than seventh and eighth. Tail rounded. 

 Above dull brownish-olive, paler on the rump, tinged with gray on the head. Loral 

 region and space round the eye whitish. Tlu'oat and forepart of the breast grayish- 

 white, slightly tinged with olive across the latter ; the rest of the under parts pale 

 yellowi.sh. Wings and tail brown ; the former with two conspicuous bands of brownish- 

 white; the outer primary edged, the secondaries and tortials edged and tipped with the 

 same. The outer web of the external tail-feather wliite, in strong contrast. Leugtli, 

 5.7u ; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 2.55 ; tarsus, .70. Young. Wing-bands yellowish-gray, or grayish- 

 bu(r(not ochraceous) ; upper parts with a brownish wash ; abdomen tinged with dull bull'. 



Hah. Rocky Mountains and Middle Province of United State.s, and table-lands of 

 Mexico. Localities: La Parada, Mexico (Sci.. Catal. 18G2, 230); A'era Cruz, winter, 

 perhaps resident (Sum. M. B. S. I, 557) ; Fort Whipple, Arizona (Couks, P. A. N. s! 

 18(iG, G3). 



The most decided character of this species is seen in the combination 

 of the narrow bill and the white outer margin of the external tail-feather, 

 together with the long tarsi. Tlie bill measured across opposite the middle 

 of the nostrils is less than half its length from tlie forehead, instead nf 

 being considerably more, as in nearly all the otiier Nortli American spe- 

 cies, except hammomU. From tiiis, liowever, the longer tail, edged exter- 

 nally with wliite ; tlie longer bill and tarsus, the more rounded wings, the 

 paler throat, etc., will distinguish it. Some specimens (spring and sunnn(!r 

 individuals) are very pale, .showing scarcely any yellow beneatli ; tlio 

 upper parts more tinged with gray. Sometimes there is a decidedly hoary 

 frontlet. 



A young specimen (53,303, ? , Upper Humboldt Valley, Nev., September 



