386 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS, 



Mitrephorus falvifrons, var. pallescens, Coues. 



BUFF-BREASTED LEAST FLTCATCHEB. 



Mitreplwrus pallescens, CoUKs, Pr. Pliilatl. Ac. 18fi6, 63 (Fort Whipple, Arizona). — CooPEii, 

 Oni. Calif. I, 334. Milrcpkorusfidcifruiis, Elliot, lUust. B. Am. I, pi. xix. 



Sp. Cii.M!. Above I'lilvo-is-gniy, wiLh an a.sliy cast on the tail and crown; lighter 

 acro.«s the nape. Two giiiyish-wliite hands across the wings, and the terminal half of the 

 .secondaries and outer web of lateral tail-leather broadly edged with the same. AVhole 

 lower part,s inchiding the lores and cheeks, and lining of wing, light ochraccoiis, very 

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

 erissum. Upper mandible deep black, lower whitish ("bright orange-yellow" in life); 

 feet dccj) black. Wing-formula : second, third, and fourth quills equal and longest, 5, 0, l! 

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

 4.7ij; wing. 2.25; tail, 2.00; culmen, .r)4 (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. fulvifi-ons of Me.xico differs simply in deeper colors, the 

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

 much more deeply ochraceou.s, the abdomen not approaching white ; the 

 wing-markings are also tinged witli ochraceous. 



Habit.s. Tliis species, both new to our fauna and previously undescribed, 

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

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

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

 dence. It is a rare siuumer resident at Fort AVhipple, arriving there early 

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

 respond with those of the Empidonaces. 



Gk.vus FYROCEFHALUS, Gould. 



Pi/roeephalus, (ioiLD, Zocil. of Beagle, 1838, 44. 



Gex. 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 

 fo\u' fifths), which reach be- 

 yond the middle of the tail. 

 First quill shorter than the 

 fifth. Head with a, conspicu- 

 ous rounded crest. Sexes di.s- 

 siniilar. Male with the crown 

 and lower parts rod (except in 

 K obscurus) ; tail, back, and 

 wings dark brown. 



Pijrori jilmlus riibineiis. 



38206 



