499, ♀ ad., Tucson, June 7. Length, 5; extent, 6.90. Skin lost.
589, ♀ ad., Camp Lowell, June 24. Length, 4.80; extent, 6.80; wing, 2.21; tail, 2.25.
49. Vireo vicinior Coues. Gray Vireo.—The only individuals met with were a male and female—apparently a mated pair—which were taken at Tucson, on April 26. “They were in low brush and were very shy.”
286, ♀ ad., Tucson, April 26. Length, 5.60; extent, 8.20; wing, 2.63; tail, 2.67; tarsus, .80.
287, ♂ ad., same locality and date. Length, 5.60; extent, 8.30; wing, 2.58; tail, 2.70; tarsus, .80. “Iris dark brown; bill plumbeous, darkest above; legs light plumbeous.”
50. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (Sw.) Coues. White-rumped Shrike.—“Common and generally distributed.”
It is unfortunate that so much prominence has been given to the white rump of excubitorides as a distinguishing character, for I have yet to see a good series of Shrikes from any Western locality, excepting, possibly, Arizona, which did not afford a considerable percentage of dark-rumped birds; and conversely, it is by no means difficult to find light-rumped specimens in the East. The same instability also affects most of the other characters which have been assigned to excubitorides, as is sufficiently shown by the various conflicting rulings of the authorities regarding the precise definition and limits of distribution of this troublesome race. The only differential points which seem to me to hold good with any number of specimens, are the lighter, purer ash of the upper parts as compared with those of ludovicianus, and the smaller and very much weaker bill. But if these alone are to be depended upon, it becomes necessary to limit the distribution of ludovicianus proper to the Gulf States, Georgia and the Carolinas, if not strictly to Florida, and to refer all representatives from the United States at large, east of California, to excubitorides: and this course, I believe, will ultimately have to be adopted. The proper position of the dark California form which is so curiously like ludovicianus remains to be satisfactorily determined.
51. Ampelis cedrorum (Vieill.) Baird. Cedar Waxwing.—Met with but once, at Galeyville, where on January 12, 1881, several were shot from a small flock. Mr. Henshaw took a single specimen near Camp Apache, in September, 1873.
52. Progne subis (Linn.) Baird. Purple Martin.—“Common.”
438, ♂ ad., Tucson, May 26. Length, 7.6; extent, 15.7; wing, 5.45. “Iris dark brown; bill black; legs blackish.”