254 [October, 



3. SiTTA ACULEATA, nobis. 



About the same size as Sitta caroUnensis and much resembling it, but with the 

 bill longer and much more slender. The colors of the upper parts are darker 

 than in >S^.. caroUnensis, and the white of the tail of less extent. 



Hab. California. Specimen in Nat. Mus. Washington, and Mus. Acad., 

 Philadelphia. 



Obs. This is the western style of Sitta, nearly allied to the common species 

 of the States on the Atlantic. It may very readily be distinguished by its long, 

 slender and pointed bill, which is a constant and unvarying character. Numer- 

 ous specimens are in the collections above referred to, and it appears to be a 

 common bird of the western regions of North America. 



4. ToDiRAMPHUs VARius, (Eytou,) Auctorum. 



Halcyon varia, Eyton, Proc. Zool. Soe., London, 1839, p. 101. 



Blyth Jour. As. Soc. IBengal, xv., p. 11. 



Whatever may be the bird described by Mr. Eyton as above, it is quite certain 

 that Mr. Blyth as cited, describes Halcyon concreta, Temm. PL Col. iv., pi . 346 

 The latter describes at length, and the species can readily be identified with 

 Temminck's plate, even without specimens. We regard it as quite probable, too, 

 that Mr. Eyton alludes to the same bird, and at present regard his name as a 

 synonyme for Halcyon concreta. 



This bird does not belong to the genus Todiramphiis. 



5. COLUMBA IRIDITORQUES, nobiS. 



About the size of Turtur eythrophrys. Wing rather long, quills broad, second 

 quill longest, tail rather short, feathers broad, legs short. 



Total length (of skin, male) about lOj inches, wing 6J, tail 4 inches. Female 

 smaller. 



Neck behind with a wide collar of cinnamon color, with golden violet and 

 green metallic lustre. Entire head cinereous, light on the throat and in front, 

 darker and with a green metallic lustre on the occiput, other upper parts very 

 dark, nearly black with a tinge of cinereous, and on the back and rump with 

 green and violet metallic lustre, especially next to the nuchal collar. Under 

 parts vinaceous, under tail coverts light chestnut, under wing coverts dark 

 cinereous. Two central tail feathers dark cinereous, others same color on their 

 outer webs, and dark chestnut on their inner webs, and widely tipped with yel- 

 lowish white. Legs yellow. 



Hab. St. Paul's river and Moonda river. Western Africa. Dr. MacDowell's 

 collection and Mr. DuChaillu's collection. Spec, in Mus. Acad. Philada. 



Obs. This handsome species of Dove has been in the collection of the Aca- 

 demy for some years, having been collected by Dr. MacDowell, but I have never 

 succeeded in finding a name for it. It is not given in the Columbidcn of the 

 Prince Bonaparte's Conspectus Avium. 



Several specimens are in Mr. DuChaillu's collections. This species does not 

 intimately resemble any other known to me, and may be immediately recognized 

 by its wide nuchal collar, the colors of which are very brilliant. The back and 

 rump and some of the wing coverts have also brilliant metallic lustre. 



6. Zapornia umbrina, nobis. 



"Zapornia spilinota, Gould," Peale, Voy. Vincennes, Birds, p. 224. 



About the size of Z. spilonota, Gould. Bill rather long, membrane of the 

 nostril very large, wing rather long, third quill longest, tertiaries long, tail 

 short, legs moderate, toes long. 



Total length (skin) 5f inches, wing 3, tail 2 inches. 



Entire upper parts reddish brown or snuff color, darkest on the rump, which 

 color is continued on the sides below the lower edges of the wings. Under parts 

 dark cinereous, lighter on the throat, under tail coverts brownish black with 

 transverse stripes of white, under wing coverts brown edged with white, feet 

 light colored, bill darker. 



Hab. Eeejee Islands. Specimens in the collection of the U. S. Exploring 

 Expedition, (Vincennes and Peacock.) 



