In the present connection I have examined seven specimens of O. imberbe. Five of these, from the collection of the National Museum, represent the following localities: Texas (Rio Grande Valley), Mexico (Mazatlan and Tehuantepec) and Yucatan (Merida). The remaining two, in my own cabinet, were taken at Lomita Ranch, Texas, in March, 1880. The result of a careful comparison of this material is that the Texas examples prove to be identical with those from Mexico and Central America, while the Arizona birds differ very constantly from all the others in respect to the points mentioned above. The entire series is, of course, a small one, but its evidence seems sufficient to warrant the varietal separation of the Arizona form.
The detection of this Flycatcher in Arizona is perhaps the most interesting discovery resulting from Mr. Stephens’ late trip. O. imberbe has only recently been added to our fauna by Mr. Sennett, and the locality of his single specimen—Lomita, Texas—was so far beyond the previously known range of the species that its occurrence seemed hardly likely to prove more than a mere accident. In 1880, however, Mr. M. A. Frazar secured additional specimens at Lomita, and now an allied, but apparently distinct race, turns up in Arizona.
Mr. Stephens found the curious little bird only at Tucson, where his first specimen was taken April 28. Afterwards others were shot in the same locality, but they were by no means common. The males had a habit of perching on the tops of the tallest trees in the vicinity of their haunts, and at sunrise occasionally uttered a singular song which Mr. Stephens transcribes as “yoop-yoop-yoopeédeedledeè, the first half given very deliberately, the remainder rapidly.” A commoner cry, used by both sexes in calling to one another, was a shrill “piér pièr pièr pièr, beginning in a high key and falling a note each time.” They were very shy, and specimens were obtained only at the expense of much trouble and perseverance. Their loud calls were frequently heard, but when the spot was approached the bird either relapsed into silence or took a long flight to resume its calling in another direction. In their motions they resembled other small Flycatchers, but their tail was less frequently jerked.
On May 28 Mr. Stephens met with a young bird which had but just left the nest. It was accompanied by the female parent, who showed much solicitude and frequently uttered her shrill cries, to which the offspring responded in nearly similar tones. Both individuals were secured, but neither the nest nor the remainder of the brood—if indeed there were any more—could be found. On the following day this episode was repeated, a second female being found in attendance on another young bird of nearly the same age as that obtained on the previous occasion.
308, ♂ ad., Tucson, April 29. Length, 4.80; extent, 7.20; wing, 2.28; tail, 2.04; culmen, .40; tarsus, .55. “Iris dark brown; bill black, basal half of lower mandible reddish-brown; legs black. Contents of stomach worms and insects.”
313, ♂ ad., Tucson, May 1. Length, 4.60; extent, 7.20; wing, 2.23; tail, 1.96; culmen, .42; tarsus, .56.
446, ♀ ad., Tucson, May 28. Length, 4.50; extent, 6.70; wing, 2.04; tail, 1.78; culmen, .40; tarsus, .52. Parent of the next.
447, ♂ juv., first plumage, same locality and date.
450, ♀ ad., Tucson, May 29. Length, 4.30; extent, 6.80. Parent of the following.
451, ♂ juv., first plumage, same locality and date.