BIRDS—TYRANNINAE—TYRANNUS COUCHII. 
175 
This species bears a close relationship to the T. verticalis, although the differences are readily 
appreciable on comparison. The bill is rather larger; the legs considerably more so; the quills 
are much more abruptly attenuated, and this near the tip, (within half an inch,) instead of 
being gradually emarginated. The tail is more even, and in some specimens slightly rounded. 
In respect to coloration, the ash of the head is considerably darker, that of the throat and breast 
much more so, making a very conspicuous contrast with the white of the throat and yellow of 
the belly ; the yellow beneath is brighter. The shoulders are more olivaceous. A very appre¬ 
ciable character is seen in the tail. The whole outer web of the external feather, including the 
shaft, in T. verticalis is purely and abruptly yellowish white, the extreme tips of all a little 
brownish. In the present species the shaft of the outer tail feather is dark brown, its outer 
webs and a rather broad band at the end of the other feathers rather light brown, with the 
extreme edges only of this color of a rather pure yellowish white. 
The identification of Tyrannus voci/erans, Sw., with the present species, rather than with 
verticalis, is rendered necessary by the statement of the author, that the bill is larger than that 
of the king bird, instead of equal; the primary quills abruptly pointed, instead of very gradually 
attenuated; the head, neck, and breast pure slate, with the chin white, in decided contrast, 
instead of light ash, and the chin scarcely different. The absence of any mention of the white 
outer web to the external tail feather is also very conclusive as to the name not being referable 
to verticalis. The tail is said to be even. Mr. Swainson’s specimen came from Temiscaltepec, 
and one from a locality not very remote, presented by Mr. Gould, agrees precisely with skins 
from the United States. The only discrepancy in Swainson’s description is in speaking of the 
tail and covert as deep black, instead of brownish black. 
List of specimens. 
Cats]. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
7389 
7390 
4579 
7204 
7387 
5055 
7938 
7939 
9 
8 
Major Emory. 
Jan. —, 1855 
Ur. Kennerly.„ 
Dr. T. C. Henry_ 
April 23, 1856 
Capt. Pope. 
191 
9.00 
15.00 
5.00 
Eyes brown.... 
. 
TYRANNUS COUCHII, Baird. 
Couch’s Flycatcher. 
Sp. Ch.—B ill as long as the head. Feet stout. Five outer primaries abruptly attenuated at the end ; the third and fourth 
longest; the first a little longer than the sixth. Tail considerably forked ; (depth of fork about .30 of an inch.) Top and sides 
of the head and neck light bluish ash ; rest of upper parts olivaceous green, tinged with ash, less of the olive on the rump ; a 
concealed patch of red on the crown. Chin white, passing insensibly into an ashy tinge on the fore part of the breast ; rest of 
under parts generally bright yellow, almost gamboge on the belly. The quills and tail feathers are of about the same shade of 
brown, not at all black ; in fact, the primaries are darkest ; the upper tail coverts are lighter brown than the tail ; the edges of 
the wing feathers, except the primaries, are paler ; of the secondaries and tertials almost white. The tail feathers externally 
are like the back ; internally and at the tip they are brownish white. The external web of the outer tail feather is like the 
internal, the extreme edge only paler. The shafts of all are white beneath. 
Length 9.00 ; wing, 5.00 ; tail, 4.70. 
Hah .—Northeastern Mexico to Rio Grande. 
