194 U. S. P. R R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY — - GENERAL REPORT. 
pointed, and acuminate. Differs from E. minimus in larger size and proportions of the qnills. 
The middle of the hack is the same color in both, hut instead of becoming lighter and tinged 
with ash on the rump and upper tail coverts, these parts very rarely differ in color from the 
hack. The markings on the wings, instead of heing dirty white, are decidedly olivaceous 
yellow. The yellow of the lower parts is deeper. The tail feathers are rather broad, 
acuminate, and pointed ; in minima they are narrow and more rounded. Tho bill is larger 
and fuller. The legs are decidedly shorter in proportion. 
This species is somewhat like E. acadicus in the proportions of the quills, but the wing is con- 
siderably shorter. The precise differences will be found detailed in the article on acadicus. 
The proportions of the quills are generally as detailed under the specific character ; the first 
quill .30 of an inch less than the longest, and intermediate between the fourth and fifth ; the 
primaries about .70 of an inch longer than the first secondary. In one specimen the second, 
third, and fourth are nearly equal ; the other proportions the same. 
List of specimens. 
Ca;al. 
No. 
Locality. 
When collected 
Whence obtained. 
Original 
No. 
Length. 
Extent. 
Wing. 
Q968 
1026 
1025 
2315 
433 
2310 
2347 
2340 
9104 
9 
May 26, 1843 
5.75 
5.91 
5.83 
5.33 
5.91 
9.33 
8.41 
8.00 
8.50 
2.66 
2.91 
2.66 
8 
Q 
May 26,1815 
May 31,1841 
May 21,1845 
May 26,1845 
2.75 
S 
9 
d0 
5.91 
8.75 
2.75 
M. Verreaux 
29928 
EMPIDONAX PUSILLUS, Cabanis, 
? Platyrhynchus pusillus, Sivainson, Phil. Mag. I, May, 1827, 366. 
Tyrannula pusilla, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1631, 144 ; pi.— Rich. App. Back's Voyage, 1834- '36, 144.— Gambel, Pr. A. 
N. Sc. Ill, 1847, 156. 
Muscicapa pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 288 ; pi. 434.— Ib. Birds Amer. I, 1840, 236 ; pi. 66. 
Tyrannus pusilla, Nuttall, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840. 
Sp. Ch. — Second, third, and fourth quills longest ; first shorter than the sixth. Bill rather broad ; yellow beneath. Tail 
even. Tarsi rather long. Above dirty olive brown, paler and more tinged with brown towards the tail. Throat and breast 
white, tinged with grayish olive on the sides, shading across the breast ; belly and under tail coverts very pale sulphur yellow. 
Wings with two dirty narrow brownish white bands slightly tinged with olive ; the secondaries and tertials narrowly and incon- 
spicuously margined with the same. First primary faintly edged with whitish ; the outer web of first tail feather paler than the 
inner, but not white Under wing coverts reddish ochraceous yellow. A whitish ring round the eye. Length, 5.50 inches; 
wing, 2.80 ; tail, 2.75. 
Hib. — High central plains to the Pacific. Fur countries. Southward into Mexico. 
In examining carefully a large collection of skins of the small American flycatchers, I have 
found it necessary to separate a western series intermediate between E. traillii and minimus, 
typical specimens of the two latter species heing without any representatives from the region 
beyond the Missouri plains. Although the differences are quite appreciable in the comparison, 
I yet find it exceedingly difficult to characterize a species so as to carry the same impression of 
diversity to others as I have experienced myself. The bird is about the size of E. traillii, or a 
little less, but has more the colors of minimus. It agrees with the latter in becoming lighter 
