NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 375 



This curious and little known owl, is an exceedingly interesting contri- 

 bution by Mr. Swift to the collection of this Academy, to which specimens 

 from him were for the first time presented some years since. Previously, it 

 was unknown to the naturalists of this country, though they were constantly 

 reminded of it by Vieillot's plate in Ois. d'Am. Sept., cited above. The 

 specimens described originally by Daudin, were from the Island of Porto 

 Rico. 



3. Tyrannus dominicensis, Brisson. 



Tyrannus dominicensis, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 394, (1760). 

 Tyrannus griseus, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. i. p. 76, C1807). 

 Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. pi. 46. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 170, oct. ed. i. pi. 55. 

 Numerous specimens very similar to specimens from Florida, but rather 

 lighter colored. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the difficult group of 

 American flycatchers to have entire confidence in my provisional conclusions, 

 but, at present, I am inclined to think the bird now before me, in Mr Swift's 

 collection, is probably entitled to be regarded as distinct, specifically, from 

 the bird of the Southern United States usually bearing the same name. 



4. Tyrannola martinica, (Linnaeus). 



Muscicapa martinica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 325, (1766). 

 Muscicapa albicapilla, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. p. 6Q, (1807). 

 Muscicapa martinicana cristata, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 362. 

 Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. pi. 37- Brisson Orn. ii. pi. xxxvi. fig. 2. 



This species scarcely appears to have been identified by late naturalists, but 

 like many others founded on Brisson's descriptions and figures, it is un- 

 doubtedly an absolute and veritable existence. That great ornithologist and 

 most excellent describer, mainly, and in fact almost entirely, relies on speci- 

 mens actually before him, for descriptions, and is exceedingly careful to refer 

 to the collections in which they are to be found. His figures frequently are 

 not recognizable, but no descriptions extant are more complete and satis- 

 factory. 



One specimen only, in Mr. Swift's collection, is not in fully mature plumage, 

 but appears to be the bird described by Brisson, as above, to which Linnaeus 

 gave a name, and an abstract of Brisson's description. It more nearly cor- 

 responds with Vieillot's description than with his figure above cited, but 

 appears to be the species of that author. It is a white-crested species, strictly 

 of the same group, and much resembling Tyrannula albiceps, (D'Orbigny et 

 Lafresnaye), and about the same size. 



This is one of the most interesting birds in Mr. Swift's collection, and we 

 hope to receive other specimens, which he has kindly promised to endeavor 

 to procure. Like all birds in the present collection, it was obtained by Mr. 

 Swift, in the Island of St. Thomas. Brisson's specimens were from the Island 

 of Martinique. 



5. VlREOSYLVIA ALTILOQUA, (Vieillot). 



Muscicapa altiloqua, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. i. p. 67, (1807). 

 Vireo longirostris, Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. ii. p. 237, (1831). 

 Phyllomanes mysticalis, Cabanis ? 

 Turdus hispaniolensis, Gmelin ? 

 Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, pi. 37. Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. pi. 3b. 

 Edwards' Birds, v. pi. 253. 

 Mr. Swift's specimens appear to be rather large, but they are apparently 

 identical with the bird of Jamaica and Cuba, and a visitor to Florida. It is 

 easily recognized and distinguished from all other species by the narrow line 

 of black running downward, on each side of the neck, from the base of the 

 lower mandible. I much regret that there is not at present in the Acad. Mus. a 

 series of specimens of this species, sufficient for comparison with those in the 

 present collection, which, according to my recollection, are larger than usual, 

 I860.] 



