NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 37 



February 14 th. 

 The President, Dr. Bridges, in the Chair. 



Seven members present. 



The following paper was presented for publication and referred to a 

 Committee : 



' ; Descriptions of new species of Birds of the Families Paridas, Vire- 

 onidae," &c. By Geo. N. Lawrence. 



The Committee on Proceedings placed on the table the published 

 number for November and December, 1864. 



February 21st. 

 Vice-President, Cassin, in the Chair. 

 Sixteen members present. 



February 28th. 

 The President, Dr. Bridges, in the Chair. 

 Twelve members present. 



On report of the Committee, the following paper was ordered to be 

 published : 



Descriptions of new species of BIRDS of the Families PARIDJ2, VIRECWIDJE, 

 TYRANNIDJE and TROCHILID.E, with a note on Myiarchus Panamensis. 



BY GEO. N. LAWRENCE. 



1. POLIOPTILA PLU1IBICEPS . 



Male. Entire crown and occiput dark plumbeous, bordered on each side by 

 a black line which begins at the bill, running to and over the eye, and as far 

 beyond as the dark cap extends ; upper plumage dark, bluish grey ; outer 

 tail feather white, the next white except one third of the inner web at the 

 base, where it is black, the third feather black with the end white for _ 5 - of 

 an inch, the other tail feathers are glossy black ; primaries blackish brown, 

 secondaries black, broadly margined with white ; under wing coverts white ; 

 sides of the head, lower eyelid, chin and abdomen white; throat, breast and 

 sides bluish grey, lightest on the throat ; bill black ; tarsi and toes plumbeous 

 black. 



First primary half the length of the second, the fourth longest, tail much 

 graduated. Length 4 in. ; wing 1 1|; tail 1 Ig ; bill T 7 _ tarsi f. 



Habitat. Venezuela Collected by Mr. S. C. Nash. 



Prof. Baird in "Review of American Birds," p. 67, (now in course of publi- 

 cation) has given a synopsis of the genus PAioptila, which he has divided into 

 three sections, as follows : 



1. Whole top of head black. 



2. Sides of head black ; top gray. 



3. Top of head gray ; sides whitish. 



The species now described cannot be placed in either of these, but will form 

 the foundation of a fourth section, having the entire crown dark plumbeous. 



The color of the back and wing coverts comes nearest to that of 1'. leucogas- 

 ter, but is of a lighter shade ; below it is rather more plumbeous, and the 

 tail feathers are much narrower than in that species. 



2. HYLOPHILUS ACDTICAUD0S. 



Head above and hind neck olive brown ; back greenish olive, brownish on 

 the upper part, and gradually becoming brighter green on the rump ; tail dull 



1865.] 



