BIRDS—PARIDAE—POLIOPTILA CAERULEA. 
381 
more conspicuous than in eastern specimens, 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; hut 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. caerulea, 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 C. bili¬ 
neata of Bonap. 
G-undlach describes a Culicivora ( Polioptila ) lembeyi from Cuba, (Annals N. Y. 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. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig’l 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing 
Remarks. 
616 
Q 
April 5,1842 
S. F. Baird. 
Will. M. Baird... 
615 
$ 
7563 
10213 
Union county, III. 
N. W. University .... 
R. Kennicott. 
10214 
$ 
South Illinois. 
May 15, 1857 
2401 
$ 
Savannah, Ga. 
1845 . 
S. F. Baird. 
8671 
* 
Indian Key,Fla..... .. 
Aug. 27, 1857 
5.50 
2.00 
bill blackish.... 
4682 
r? 
Bald island, Neh. 
April 25, 1856 
4.50 
6.50 
2.25 
5641 
k ? 
East of Fort Riley. 
June 16, 18 j6 
Lieut. Bryan. 
15 
W. S. Wood. 
7103 
Q 
Organ mountains, Tex. 
J. II. Clark ...... 
5.00 
6.50 
2.01 
7194 
O 
5 00 
6.50 
2.04 
7188 
¥ 
Fort Thorn, N. M. 
Dr. T. C. Henry. 
3985 
$ 
Tamaulipas, Mex...... 
1853 . 
Lieut. Couch. 
3984 
Q 
1853 . 
4.00 
2.00 
Eyes dark brown. 
4593 
Q 
Colorado river, Cal. 
Major Emory. 
9223 
Mexico..... 
John Gould. 
9222 
Guatemala. 
1 
' Polioptila bilineata, Sclater. 
Culicivora bilineata, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 316. 
Polioptila bilineata, Sclater, Pr. Zool. Soc. 1855, 12. 
