The Zoologist — December, 1873. 3795 



present the case in an entirely different light from Dr. Coues, as 

 the following schemes of arrangement will show: — 



{Coues' arrangement). (Ridgway's arrangement), 



6. Myiarchus Lawrencii. 1. Myiarchus Lawrencii, [Giraud). 

 Tyrannus Lawrencii, Giraud. | ^ a. var. Lawrencii, Giraud — N. Mexico. * 

 Myiarchus nigricapillus, Cabanis. J ^ ' b. var. nigricapillus, Caban. — S. Mexico 



7. Myiarchus nigrioeps. and Central America. 

 Myiarchus nigriceps, Sclater. \ „ c. var. nigrioeps, Sclater — Panama to 



„ brunneiceps,Xaw?-. j •> ' Ecuador. 



Each of the three races which I recognize is characterized by 

 perfectly tangible distinctive features ; var. nigricapillus is well 

 marked by conspicuous characters which distinguish it from both 

 the others, notwithstanding that Dr. Coues " cannot make out that 

 it is even a " recognizable variety." The simple fact that in the 

 series I recognize but one species, with three geographical races, 

 and apply scientific principles in showing the gradual transition 

 from one extreme to the other, and at the same time show the 

 direct relation between this progression and a certain climatic law 

 of colour-variation, while he recognizes, in effect, two species, 

 without any varieties, and does not discuss any law or generaliza- 

 tion at all, shows how unjust are his pretensions to have anticipated 

 me in this case. These pretensions may, perhaps, be considered 

 the more unjust from the fact that the materiel upon which Dr. 

 Coues based his monograph of this genus had been previously 

 overhauled by me, thus giving him the benefit of my unpublished 

 determinations, which were in many cases indicated upon the 

 labels — though it is but due to Dr. Coues to say that he acknow- 

 ledged in one case the source of his information. 



I do not claim originality for calling Picus Harrisii "Villosiis 

 var. Harrisii," but merely — as any one can see — cite it as an 

 instance illustrating increased melanism toward the Pacific coast. 

 For calling Sphyropicus ruber, " Varius var. ruber," however, I do 

 claim originality, notwithstanding the fact that this way of" putting 

 it" was first done in the " Key." I well remember, though perhaps 

 Dr. Coues may not, the occasion upon which I unhesitatingly told 

 him of my discovery, and satisfied him of its merit by laying out a 

 series of specimens to illustrate my theory. At that time he cer- 

 tainly had not thought of combining S. ruber with S. varius, as a 

 geographical race, along with S. nuchalis, but the length of time 

 elapsing before the publication of the "Key" (perhaps a year) no 

 doubt justifies his lack of recollection as to how he got the idea. 



