1856.] 253 



similar to the specimen in the collection, which appears to us, as above men- 

 tioned, to be closely allied to luridum. 



We have not at present the materials for a complete representation of the 

 Herpetological fauna of America either North or South, but these will hereafter 

 no doubt present some very curious results, when compared with the fauna of 

 the West India Islands, and other parts of the globe. In order, however, to 

 arrive at the truth in a matter so important, it will be necessary to determine 

 with the utmost precision the characters both of the genera and species, and 

 this cannot be done without a knowledge of the anatomy, as well as of the ex- 

 ternal forms. 



Descriptions and Notes on Birds in the Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia and in the National Museum, Washington. 



By John Cassin. 



1. BuTEO CooPERi, nobis. 



About the size of Buteo borealis. Bill strong, edges of upper mandible lobed, 

 wings long, quills wide, fourth quill longest, tail moderate, legs rather long, 

 tarsi feathered in front slightly below the joint, behind and remainder in front 

 naked, with about 13 transverse scales in front and 11 behind. 



Total length (skin) 21J inches, wing 15, tail 9 inches. 



Tail white at base, external feathers with their outer webs cinereous and their 

 inner webs white mottled with cinereous, other feathers of the tail mottled and 

 striped longitudinally with white, bright rufous, dark brown and cinereous, darker 

 on the outer webs. A subterminal transverse band of dark brown, tip white. 



Plumage of the head above white at base, tipped, and with longitudinal 

 stripes of brownish black ; back and rump brownish black, upper tail coverts 

 white, transversely barred with dark brown and tinged with rufous, wing coverts 

 and quills cinereous darker on outer webs of primaries and lighter on their 

 exposed ends. Under parts white, with narrow stripes of dark brown, numerous 

 on the neck, throat and flanks, (breast, abdomen and under tail coverts pure 

 white,) a few of the same on the under wing coverts, tibi faintly tinged with 

 yellowish. Bill dark bluish, tarsi yellow. 



Obs. This is the young plumage, and the present specimen is the only one 

 that I have ever seen. It is from California, and is in the collection made by 

 Dr. J. G. Cooper, while attached to Lieut. Williamson's party that surveyed a 

 route for a railroad to the Pacific Ocean. 



This bird belongs to the same group as Buteo eythronotus of South America, 

 and has nearly the same light cinereous color of the wings, quite different from 

 any other North American species. I have named it in honor of Di. Cooper, a 

 talented and active young naturalist, the son of William Cooper, Esq., one of 

 the most eminent of American Naturalists. 



2. EOPSALTRIA CINEREA, nobiS. 



Bill thick and rather long, distinctly notched near the end, wing rather long, 

 first quill spurious, fourth slightly longest, tail moderate, tarsi and toes slender, 

 feathers of the head above slightly lengthened. 



Total length (of skin) 5 inches, wing 2|, tail 2 inches. 



Entire upper parts cinereous, feathers on the head with faint lines of brown 

 on the shafts. Quills dark ashy brown, edged externally with pale ashy, tail 

 dark ashy brown, narrowly tipped with white. Throat and abdomen white, 

 breast pale ashy, under wing coverts white. Obscure line from the bill to the 

 eye, and ring around the latter, white, spot in front of the eye, dark ashy brown. 

 Bill dark, base of lower mandible white, feet dark. 



Hab. Moonda river, Western Africa. Discovered by Mr. P. B. DuChaillu. 



Obs. This little bird is nearer the genus Eopsaltria, than any other that I can 

 find at present, though perhaps not strictly. Two specimens in the collection 

 of Mr. DuChaillu are all that I have seen. It is a plain little bird, having the 

 general appearance of Vireo and Eopsaltria. 



