EMPIDONAX, 77 



We know very little of this bird in Mexico, but two specimens obtained in 

 September in the Sierra de Valparaiso by Kichardson and two by Godraan at 

 Orizaba in 1888 undoubtedly belong to it, also two examples from the upper portion 

 of the Volcan de Fuego, in Guatemala, are inseparable from the Mexican birds *. 

 One of these was obtained near Calderas, at an elevation of between 7000 and 

 8000 feet above the sea, the other in the upper pine-region which commences at a 

 little over 10,000 feet and continues to the summit. According to Mr, Lawrence, 

 specimens obtained by Sumichrast in the Gineta Mountains of the State of Chiapas are 

 referable to this species ^. 



The northern range of ^. hammondi extends to the Lesser Slave Lake a little beyond 

 the 49th parallel ; thence it spreads over the intervening States to Arizona. It is, 

 however, a summer visitor to the north, reaching Arizona in April and leaving again 

 in October. Mr. Henshaw says it leaves the low country entirely in summer and 

 retires to the mountains, where it may be met with in pine-woods or alders fringing 

 some mountain-stream. 



There seems to be some doubt about the nest and eggs of this species, as the latest 

 authority on the subject, Mr. Eidgway, says they are like those of E. minimus, but 

 qualifies his statement with a ]. 



11. Empidonax obscurus. 



Tyrannula obscura, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 367 '. 



Empidonax obscurus, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv., Zool., Birds, p. 9, t. 9. f. 3°; B. N. Am. p. 200, 



t. 49. f. 3 ' ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1862, p. 19 *; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 232 ' ; Sumichrast, Mem. 



Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. SSr " ; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 381 ' ; Coues, B. N. W. 



p. 258"; Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 443'; Henshaw, U. S. Geogr. Surv. West 100th Mar. v. 



p. 360"; Ridgw. Ibis, 1886, p. 468"; Man. N. Am. B. p. 344". 

 Epidonaw wrighti, Baird, B. N. Am. p. 200". 



Supra olivaceo-griseus ; capite saturatiore ; alis nigricantibus, tectricibus et secundariis internis sordide albo 

 limbatis ; cauda nigricante, rectrice extima utrinque in pogonio externo sordide alba : loris et gutture 

 griseo-albidis ; peotore pallida fuseo ; abdomine toto pallide flavicante : rostro corneo ; pedibus nigri- 

 cantibus. Long, tota 5*3, alse 2-8, caudae 2-6, tarsi 0'7, rostri a rictu 0-6. (Desor. maris ex Mexicalcingo, 

 prope urbem Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



5 mari similis. 



Hab. North Ameeica, Western United States from Rocky Mountains westward, south- 

 wards from Nevada and Utah. — Mexico {Bullock ^), Micoba in Sonora [Lloyd), 

 Amula and Omilteme in Guerrero {Mrs. H. H. Smith), Patzcuaro, Morelia (i^. i>. G.), 

 Chimalpa, Coapa, Hacienda Eslava, Mexicalcingo, Tetelco, near city of Mexico 

 {Ferrari-Perez), Amecameca, Alixco {F. J). G.), Villa de Etla, La Parada {Boucard), 

 State of Vera Cruz {Sumichrast ®). 



Swainson's description of this species was based upon a specimen stated to have come 

 from " Mexico." It is now known as a bird of the plateau, being common in the 



* These birds are called E. minimus in Mr. Sclater's Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xiv. p. 228. 



