3794 The Zoologist — December, 1873. 



may be judged from the following summary of his views, as 

 expressed in the first work to which he calls attention : — 



138.+ Chr^'somitris (Pseudomitris) psaltria (Say) Bonap. 

 139. Chrysomitris (Pseudomitris) mexicanus (Swains) Bonap. 

 [A. Var. mexicanus, Swains. 



B. Var. columbianus, Lafr. 



C. Var. Arizonse, Coues.] 



Dr. Coues' reasons for keeping Psaltria apart from Mexicanus 

 and its varieties are explained by his own words, which we quote 

 from p. 83 of the first paper cited : — ..." the typical Psaltria 

 is so very diverse from Mexicanus proper, and the doubtful speci- 

 mens" (meaning var. Arizonae) "incline so very decidedly toward 

 the latter, that, in the impossibility of uniting Psaltria with Mexi- 

 canus" (!!!) "we must consider them" (the doubtful specimens 

 — var. Arizona;) " as varieties of the latter, unless, indeed, they be 

 hybrids between the two." Thus it is very plain that C. psaltria 

 was not then formally brought into the connection in which I 

 placed it. My arrangement of these forms was as follows : — 



Chrysomitris psaltria, Say. 



a. Var. psaltria, Say. Piocky Mts. of the U.S. 



b. Var. Arizona3, Coues. U. S. and Mexican boundary. 



c. Var. mexicana, Sivains. Mexico and Central America. 



d. Var. Columbiana, La/r. Isthmus of Panama and adjacent localities. 



In discussing the relationship of these forms to one another, Dr. 

 Coues does not even note the progressive increase of black from 

 Psaltria to Columbiana — much less does he appear to consider the 

 manifestations of any climatic law affecting colour as applicable 

 in this case — but merely gives the comparative characters of the 

 several races, and remarks, incidentally that there is a gradual 

 transition between the two extremes (Columbiana and Arizona; — 

 Psaltria being positively separated from the series, as a distinct 

 species, in the manner shown above). As regards " bringing it 

 into the connection " of a race along with mexicanus in the " Key," 

 Dr. Coues may, perhaps, remember the occasion upon which I 

 explained the case to him, illustrated it by a series of specimens, 

 and discussed the matter with him without hesitation. 



In the treatment of the races of Myiarchus Lawrencii, I certainly 

 cannot be justly charged with "scientific plagiarism," since I 

 * The current number of bis catalogue. 



