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COLOR AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS. 558 
I 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, s a. var. lawrencii Giraud—N. Mexico. | 
Myiarchus nigricapillus Cabanis. | ®Y®™ b. var. nigricapillus Caban. — S. Mexico 
7. MYIARCHUS NIGRICEPS. and Central America. 
yiarchus nigriceps Sclater, s Sclater — Panama to 
brunneiceps Lawr. } oe j e 
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 di- 
rect relation between this progression and a certain climatic law 
of color-variation, while he recognizes, in effect, two species, with- 
out any varieties, and does not discuss any law or generalization 
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 material 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overhauled by me, thus giving him the benefit of my unpublished 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 Dr. Coues to say that he acknowledged in 
one case the source of his information (see p. 67, Proc. Acad. Nat. 
Sci., July, 1872). 
o not claim originality for calling Picus Harristi, “villosus 
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 ‘* put- 
ting it” was first done in the “Key.” I well remember, though per- 
haps 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 | 
certainly 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 
