444 
SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PICABI^. 
overhanging tip ; commissure gently decurved ; gonys about straight. Head a little crested^ 
as in Emxnclonax, Contopus, etc. Wings of moderate length, much rounded 2d to 5th prima- 
ries subequal and longest, 6th shorter, 1st about equal to 7 th. Tail a little shorter than wings, 
even or scarcely rounded. Tarsus long, exceeding the middle toe and claw ; lateral toes sub- 
equal, their claws about reaching base of middle claw ; hind claw shorter than its digit. Of 
diminutive size, and dull plain colors, as in the small olivaceous flycatchers generally ; but for 
the bill, the species might be mistaken for an Empidonax. 
393. O. imber'be. (Lat. imberhis, beardless ; in, not, and harba, a beard.) Texas Beardless 
Flycatcher. Adult ^ 9 : Above, dull olive-gray, a little darker (browner) on the length- 
ened erectile feathers of the crown, a little brighter (greener) on the rump and upper tail-coverts. 
Below, pale dull gray, sometimes almost grayish -w^hite anteriorly, clearing on the belly and 
under tail-coverts to pale yellowish. Wings and tail fuscous, with pale gray or M^hitish edgings 
of the middle and greater coverts and most of the quills of the wings, as in an Empidonax. 
Bill dark brown above, pale below. Worn specimens are quite brownish above, and whitish 
below, with little edging of the wings and tail. Young and fresh fall specimens are more clearly 
olivaceous above and yellowish below, shaded wdth gray across the breast ; the young wdth the 
wing-bars tinged with buff or tawny — all quite as usual in Empidonax. Very small : length 
about 4.25 ; wing 2.10; tail 1.80; bill scarcely 0.30 ; tarsus 0.55; whole foot scarcely 1.00. 
A curious little flycatcher of Mexico and Central Am., lately discovered on the Lower Rio 
Grande of Texas. Nest and eggs unknown. 
126. PYROCE'PHALUS. (Gr. TrOp, gen. Trvpoy, pm*, ^r<ro5, fire ; K€(pakr}, kephale, head.) Fire- 
CROWNED Flycatchers. Sexes very dissimilar : head of ^ with a full globular crest (fig. 288), 
and all under parts (usually) scarlet- red; other parts deep brown ; 9 brown and whitish. Bill 
slender, narrow at base, much as in Sayiornis. Wings moderate, pointed ; 2d-4th quills 
longest, 1st between 5th and 6th. Tail nearly even, shorter than wings, of broad feathers. 
Tarsus scarcely longer than middle toe and claw. A tropical genus of several species, one of 
which reaches our border. 
394. P. rubi'neus mexica'nus. (Lat. rubineus, ruby-red.) Vermilion Flycatcher. Adult ^ : 
Pure dark brown, including stripe along side of head; Mdngs and tail blackish with slight pale 
edgings; the full globular crest, and all the under parts scarlet or vermilion; bill and feet 
black. 9 • Dull brown, including the little-crested crown; below, white, tinged with red, 
reddish or orange in some places ; the breast and sides with slight 
dusky streaks. Immature ^ shows gradation between the characters 
of both sexes ; at first there is no red whatever, the bird otherwise 
resembling the 9 ? ^ut pale yellowish where she is reddish ; upper 
parts gray ; all the feathers may be skirted wdth whitish, especially 
on the wing-coverts and inner secondaries; tail quite blackish; under 
/V '•"'^n:\^ parts more purely Avhite than in the 9; ^^d rather speckled than 
"' streaked with gray. But reddish soon replaces the yellow of the 
Fig. 288. — Head of Ver- crissum and axillars. Adult $ $ are subject to much variation ; the 
laiUou Flycatcher, nat. size. sometimes rather orange. Length about 6.00; wing 3.25; 
tail 2.50 ; bill 0.45 ; tarsus 0.55 ; middle toe and claw 0.50. VaUeys of the Kio Grande and 
Colorado, and southward ; common in Arizona on the Gila ; a very showy little bird, of the 
usual flycatcher habits. 
II. — Order PICARI-ffI: Picarian Birds. 
This is a miscellaneous assortment (in scientific language, ''a polymorphic group") of 
birds of highly diversified forms, grouped together more because they differ from other birds in 
one way or another, than on account of their resemblance to one another. As commonly received, 
