102 
Brewster on Certain Polioptilee. 
The fourth (No. 4981)^, March 3, presents the same general extension 
of this black area, but its boundaries are everywhere well defined, and the 
frontal-band is almost entirely obliterated, while the black is quite uniform 
and nowhere mixed with ashy. Singularly enough, in view of its gener- 
ally more mature condition, this specimen has a light superciliary stripe, 
nearly as broad and quite as well defined as in No. 4980, while the lores 
are clear ashy-white. 
The fifth and last (No. 4984)^, Feb. 21, is typical melanura , with the 
forehead, crown, and occiput, clear, shining black, the superciliary line 
entirely wanting, and the lores only just touched with ashy. 
The above evidence apparently goes to show that plumbea is 
simply the immature stage of melanura. At least this is the 
natural inference, and in view of the fact already stated, that both 
birds are known to occupy the same area, I do not see that any 
other is legitimate. 
The tail markings of the above-described specimens are quite 
uniform, but I reserve further consideration of this supposed char- 
acter for another and more apropos connection. At just what 
age the black cap is perfected I am at present unable to state, 
but there are good reasons for supposing that the immature 
condition is prolonged through the second season. None of the 
present birds seem to be in a moulting condition ; even the parti- 
colored ones having the plumage remarkably fresh and clean. 
The specific identity of the Black-capped and Plumbeous Gnat- 
catchers being conceded, it only remains to determine what name 
the species shall bear. This part of the problem is fortunately 
involved in no obscurity, plumbea , Baird, 1854, plainly antedating 
melanura , Lawrence, 1856. It is to be regretted that we can 
make up for the loss of the more appropriate specific title only by 
retaining its English version, which has hitherto passed current for 
the adult stage only. The species may then stand as follows. 
Polioptila plumbea, Baird. Black-capped Gnatcatcher. 
Polioptila plumbea , Bd., Pr. Phila. Acad., 1854, 118 ? B - N - A.. 1858, 
382; Atlas, i860, pi. 33, f. 1; Ives’s Rep. pt. v, 1861, 6; Rev. Am. B., 
1864,74. — Henry, Pr. Phila. Acad., 1859, io 7 - — Coues, Ibis, 1865, 538; 
Proc. Phila. Acad., 1866, 66; Key, 1872, 79. — Cooper, Am. Nat. Ill, 1869, 
474, 479; B. Cal., I, 1870, 37, fig.— Hensh., List B. Ariz., 1875, 155. 
Culicivora atricapilla , Lawrence, An. N. Y. Lyc., V., Sept. 1851, 124 
(not of Swainson). — Bd., Stansbury’s Rep., 1852, 328. — Cassin, Ulust., I, 
1854, pk xxvii. 
Culicivora mexicana, Cassin, Illust., I, 1854, 164, a • 
