BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER. 97 
hn x ra centiaininaaimalins 
at Tucson, Camp Lowell, and near Yuma. Two nests were found by Mr. Stephens, 
one June 27, the other July 15. This last nest taken at Yuma, “although a delicate 
structure, will not compare with that of P. caerulea. It entirely lacks the exterior 
coating of lichens so effectively employed by the commoner bird, and in its general 
appearance closely resembles the Redstart’s well-known domicile, being similarly felted 
of soft bark-strips and hemp-like vegetable fibres. It is lined with down from plants, 
a few feathers, and the hair of some small quadruped. Externally it measures 2.25 in. 
in width by 1.55 in. in depth; internally 1.45 by 1. The egg is pale greenish-blue, 
coarsely and very evenly spotted with reddish-brown.... This nest was placed in a 
bunch of mistletoe, at the height of about eight feet from the ground.” * 
NAMES: PLumBEous GNATCATCHER, Arizona Gnatcatcher. : 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: POLIOPTILA PLUMBEA Bro. (1858). Culcivora plumbea Cass. 
DESCRIPTION: ‘Male adult: Upper parts like those of P. caerulea, but duller and more grayish; no black 
on the forehead; a short black stripe over each eye, and below these another one of white. Outer 
tail-feather with the whole outer web and tip white (much like the second feather of P. caerulea); the 
next two feathers tipped with white. Size of P. caerulea. 
“Female like the male; the upper parts still duller, and frequently with a decided brownish shade, 
no black over the eye. Only distinguished from the female caerulea by less white on the tail.” (Coues.) 
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER. 
Polioptila californica BREWSTER. 
This Gnatcatcher is an inhabitant of southern California and the Pacific Coast 
of Lower California. Its habits are similar to those of the Eastern species. The 
song is noticeable for its harshness, and it is said to bear a strong resemblance to that 
of Bell’s Vireo. Mr. Xantus found this bird in considerable number at Cape St. Lucas, 
Lower California, and was so fortunate to discover several nests. They were usually 
built among interlacing tendrils of a beautiful woody climber (Auntigonon leptosus), and 
so closely interwoven with the smaller branches as to be inseparable. These nests, like 
those of all this family, are structures of great beauty and delicacy. ‘‘The external 
portion of the nest is composed of a composite blending of various vegetable materials, 
fine hempen fibres of plants, strips of delicate bark from smaller shrubs, silken fragments 
of cocoons and downy cotton-like substance, all very closely impacted and felted 
together, somewhat after the manner of the Hummingbird. The whole is very softly 
and warmly lined with a beautifully interwoven and silky fabric composed of the soft 
down of various plants.” (Dr. :T. M. Brewer.) 
NAMES: Buiack-TaILED GnatcatcHeER, California Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Black-headed Gnatcatcher. 
SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Culicivora atricapilla Lawr. (1852). Polioptila melanura Lawr. (1852). POLIOP- 
TILA CALIFORNICA Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, VI, 1881. 
DESCRIPTION: ‘Male, whole top of head from bill to occiput, deep, shining black. Wings dusky-brown; 
the primaries edged with grayish-white, the secondaries and tertials, with light brown. Rest of upper 
surface plumbeous-ashy. Tail glossy-black; the external half of the outer webs of the outer pair of 
rectrices, dull brownish-white; the white passing narrowly across the end of the feather, and at its 
* Wm. Brewster, On a Collection of Arizona Birds. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club. VII, 1882, pp. 77, 78. 
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