132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



Catalogue of Birds collected during a survey of a route for a ship Canal across, 

 the Isthmus of Darien, by order of the Government of the United States, 

 made by Lieut. N. Michler, of the U.S. Topographical Engineers, with notes 

 and descriptions of new species. 



BY JOHN CASSIN. 



The route surveyed by Lieut. Michler, for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 practicability of establishing communication by water, between the Atlantic 

 and Pacific Oceans, was mainly by way of the river Atrato and its tributaries, 

 the Truando and the Nercua. In the performance of this duty, the Atrato was 

 ascended for a distance of about ninety miles, to the mouth of the Truando, 

 and then a southwesterly route pursued along the latter towards the Pacific Ocean. 

 The Nercua is a tributary of the Truando at a distance of thirty-six miles from 

 the union of the latter with the Atrato. 



The most interesting localities mentioned in the present catalogue are on 

 those two rivers, especially after the Truando reaches the Cordilleras, in which 

 in a great measure it and the Nercua have their course. These localities have 

 been but very partially explored by naturalists. Another locality frequently 

 mentioned is Turbo, which is a small village on the Atlantic, directly on the 

 eastern side of the Gulf of Uraba or Darien, and nearly opposite to the mouths 

 or delta of the Atrato. 



This collection was made by Mr. William S. Wood, Jr. and Mr. Charles J. 

 Wood of Philadelphia, who accompanied the Expedition, and were of course 

 under the immediate direction of the chief officer of the Expedition, Lieut. N. 

 Michler, of the U. S. Topographical Engineers. This accomplished officer and 

 gentleman encouraged in the fullest degree investigations in Natural History 

 throughout the route, whenever consistent with other duties, and as opportu- 

 nity presented. To his enlightened views and evident appreciation of the in- 

 teresting character of the zoology of the country traversed by the Expedition, 

 science in America is indebted for the present valuable collection, including 

 several birds never before known, and other valuable additions to the zoology 

 of this continent. 



1. Htpoteiorchis FEMORALis,(Temminck). 



Falco fercoralis, Temm., PI. Col. i. liv. 21. 

 Temm. PI. Col. 121, 343, U. S. Pacific R. R. Reports, x. pi. 1. 

 From Carthagena. 



2. Moephnus guianensis, (Daudin)? 



Falco guianensis, Daud. Tr. d'Orn. ii. p. 78 ? 

 Lesson. Traite d'Orn. ii. pi. 11 ? 



From the river Truando. One specimen only, not adult, and in bad con- 

 dition, appears to be this or a nearly allied species. 



" Observed once only, in the Rio Truando, at the first camp, after leaving the 

 Atrato. I noticed this eagle at first perched in a high tree, but after I had 

 fired at a small bird, he immediately flew very rapidly and fiercely directly 

 towards the spot where I was standing, as though he intended to pounce upon 

 me. He approached vvithin a few feet, when I shot him with small bird shot." 

 (Mr. C. J. Wood.) 



3. Asturina magnirostris, (Gmelin). 



Falco magnirostris, Gm. Syst. Nat., i. p. 282, (1788.) 

 Temm. PI. Col. 86, Buff. PI. Enl. 464. 

 From Turbo. 



4. Buteogallus nigricollis, (Latham) 



Falco nigricollis, Lath., Ind. Orn. i. p. 35, (1790). 



[March 



