say's flycatcher. ^11 



* * Smaller species (or ordinary MusciPEXiE.) 



These hardly require separation from the former division, with 

 which they agree in every thing but size. 



SAY'S FLYCATCHER. 



(Muscicapa Saya, Bonap. i. p. 20. pi. 2. fig. 3. Philad. Museum, 



No. 6831.) 



Sp. Charact. — Dull cinnamon-brown ; belly pale rufous ; tail near- 

 ly even ; the 1st primary longer than the 6th. 



This species was obtained by Mr. T. Peale, one of 

 the naturalists who accompanied Major Long's expedition, 

 in the vicinity of the Arkansas River, and about 20 miles 

 from the Rocky Mountains. Prince Bonaparte imagines 

 it may be a tropical American species, indicated under 

 the inadmissible name of 31. ohscura by Veillot. 



This Flycatcher strongly resembles the Common Pe- 

 wee [31. fusca.), having even the same note, but deliver- 

 ed in a different and distinguishing tone. Its nest, found 

 in July, was built in a tree, and consisted chiefly of moss 

 and clay, interwoven with a few blades of dried grass. 

 The young were just ready to fly. 



The length of Say's Fly-catcher is 7 inches. Above, dull cinnamon- 

 brown, becoming darker on the head. Beneath, throat, and breast 

 of the same dull cinnamon tint, gradually passing into the pale ru- 

 fous of the abdomen 3 the under wing-coverts white, slightly tinged 

 with rufous. The primaries dusky, tinged with cinnamon ; the 1st 

 a quarter of an inch shorter than the 2d, which is nearly as long as 

 the 3d; the 3d longest; the 4th and 5th gradually decrease, and the 

 6th is shorter than the 1st. The tail is scarcely notched and black- 

 ish-brown. The bill is remarkably flattened, the upper mandible 

 blackish, the lower pale horn-color below. The feet are also black- 

 ish ; and the irids brown. 



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