BIRDS — PARIDAE — POLI OPTILA CAERULEA. 
381 
more conspicuous than in eastern sjiecimens, although some from Illinois come quite near to 
it. Skins from the Mimbres, however, appear precisely similar to eastern ones. Occasionally, 
especially in winter skins, (7194,) the black advances further along the inner web of the second 
tail feather, and has a more transverse outline. This is the case in one specimen from Fort 
Thorn, while another is like eastern ones. The same is the case in Nos. 7193 and 7194, from 
the Organ mountains. These specimens are smaller than usual, with shorter wings; but I 
am unable to observe any other characters of difference. 
In the collection before me is a specimen from the Colorado river, California, (4593,) which 
is very similar to eastern specimens, although it is of large size, and has rather more black on 
the tail. It is, however, in too imperfect condition (in addition to being probably a female) to 
exhibit its complete characteristics. 
A female Polioptila, probably P. bilineata of Bonaparte, 1 labelled, by Mr. Verreaux, P. 
mexicana, Bonap., and atricapilla, Vieill., and received from him, is very similar to the female 
of P. caerulca, but differs in having the sides of the head as white as the throat ; this color 
seen above the eye as a well marked line. Nothing like it is seen in the female of the other 
species, where there is a narrow whitish ring round the eye but no superciliary white, the 
whole sides of the head plumbeous, nearly as dark as the crown. The outer two tail feathers 
are white, as in caerulea. The spurious primary is much larger than in caerulea, being more 
than half the second quill. It is unquestionably distinct from any of the known species of the 
United States. It differs from P. melanura and plumbea in the white outer tail feathers, and 
from caerulea in the white cheeks and large first primary. It agrees pretty welL with G. bili- 
neata of Bonap. 
Gundlach describes a Gulicivora {Polioptila) lembeyi from Cuba, (Annals N. T. Lyc. Feb. 
1858,) differing from the caerulea, in having a black line extending from behind the eye around 
the ear coverts. The outer tail feathers have more black on them. 
List of specimens. 
Catnl. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col- 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig'l 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing 
Remarks. 
616 
2 
Washington, D. C 
April 5, 1842 
615 
3 
7563 
1021 a 
April 20, 1857 
May 15, 1857 
N. W. University .... 
10214 
3 
2401 
3 
S. F. Baird 
ec7i 
3 
Indian Key, Flu 
Aug. 27, 1857 
5.50 
C.50 
C.50 
2.00 
2.25 
Black eyes & legs; 
bill blackish.... 
4682 
3 
April 25, 1856 
June 16, 18j6 
4.50 
5041 
<?? 
East of Fort Riley 
15 
VV. S. Wood. 
7193 
9 
Organ mountains, Tex. 
Major Emory 
J. H. Clark 
5.00 
6.50 
2.01 
7194 
9 
do 
5.00 
6.50 
2.04 
7188 
3985 
3 
Tamaulipas, Mex 
Lieut. Couch 
9 
1853 
4.00 
2.00 
Eyes dark brown. 
4593 
9 
FortTejon 
9222 
1 PoLIOI'TILA BILINEATA, Sclater. 
Culicivora bilineala, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 316. 
Polioptila bilineata, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 12. 
