9-1 MYIADESTES TOWNSENDII, FLYCATCITING THRUSH. 



Myiadestcs towiisoidii, Cah., Wicgni. Arcliiv, i, 1847, 208.— SCL., P. Z. S. 18:.7, 5; 1858, 

 97.— Bi)., B. N. A. 1858, 3t>l ; Rev. 186(), 429.— Kenn., P. K. R. Rep. x, 1859, 

 Whipple's Route, 25.— Hekhm., ibid. Williiunsou's Route. 'AS. — Hayd., Rep. 1862, 

 1()2.— Loud, Pr. Roy. Arty. lust, iv, 18G1, 116 (British Cohuubia).— Corns, Pr. 

 Pl.ila,. Acad. 18G6, 72.— Coop., Am. Nat. iii, 1869, 34.— Ai.lkx, Bull. 51. C. Z. iii, 

 1872, 176.— Aiken, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 198 (Colorado, resideut).— Stkv., U. S. 

 Geol. Surv. Ter. 1870, 464 (Wyoming).— Coues, Key, 1872, 117, ti<r. ^u. {Not of 

 BiiEW., Pr. Bost. Soc. 18715, 109 ; the uest aud eggs there described being those 

 of Phaiuopepla nitens !) 



Hob. — Middle aud Western Proviuces of the Uuited States, iix,mouutaiu()us regions. 

 North to British Columbia. East to the Black Hills. Not south of the United States, 

 if the M. unkolor and M. ohscurus be dilfereut. 



List of specimens. 



19225 



162 



Pump. Butte Oct. 22, 1859 F. V. Hayden 



8.25 



12.50 



4.50 





A clue to the true position of this genus is found in the fusion of the tarsal plates, 

 and iu the spotted plumage of the young, warranting the inference that it belongs 

 among the Tnrdidcr. This fact was noticed by Dr. Suckley aud myself while preparing 

 a report upon the Birds of the Northwest Boundary Survey, in 1862, aud is adverted 

 to by Bainl iu his Review, in my paper iu the Philadelphia Academy's Proceedings, 

 and iu the "Key." The eminent vocal powers of all the species of the genus bear out 

 the inference. 



Br. J. S. ISTewberry has given a very interesting account of the bird. 

 Noticing its occurrence in the Des Chutes Basin, he continues : •' It does 

 not inhabit dense forests, nor prairies entirely destitute of trees, but 

 chooses surfaces covered with a scattered growth of pine and cedar. 

 We first met with it in the (^aiion of Mptolyas Kiver, at the base of Mt. 

 Jefferson. As we picked our way with infinite difficulty down the side 

 of this gorge, my attention was attracted by the delightful song of, to 

 me, a new L>ird, of which a few were sitting in the pines and cedars 

 which, by a precarious tenure, held a footing on the craggy face of the 

 cliff. The song, so clear, full, aud melodious, seemed that of a Mimiis ; 

 of the binl 1 could not see enough to judge of its affinities. The next 

 day we followed down the river iu the bottom of the cafion ; all day the 

 deep gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet souiuls from hundreds and 

 thousands of chese birds, which, from their monotonous color, and their 

 habit of sitting on the branch of a tree projecting into the void above 

 the stream, or hanging from some beetling crag, and flying out in nar- 

 row circles after insects, precisely in the manner of Flycatchers, I was 

 *Iisi)Osed to associate with them. Two days afterward, in the cafion of 

 Psucseecpie Creek, of which the terraced banks were sparsely set with 

 low trees of the western cedar, I found these birds numerous, and had 

 every opportunity of hearing and seeing them, watching them for hours 

 while feeding and singing, and procuring specimens of both male and 

 female. With the first dawn of day they began their songs, and at sun- 

 rise the valley was vocal with their notes. Never, anywhere, have I 

 heard a more delightful chorus of bird-music. Their song is not greatly 

 varied, but all the notes are particularly clear and sweet, and the stream 

 of pure gushing melody is as spontaneous and inspiring as that of the 

 Song Sparrow." 



Tnis bird appears to feed mostly upon cedar-berries, and its abun- 

 dance is to be in a measure determined by the presence of the juniper. 

 Thus Dr. Cooper says: "I saw only a few of this species among some 

 junipers on the western slope of the n)ountains, not far from the summit, 

 in September, 18G3. The scarcity of the juniper on the western slope, 

 toward the north, seems to be the reason why this bird is not more fre- 

 quent there ; as, according to all accounts, they are found wherever that 

 tree grows iu abundance, especially on the mountain ranges of the great 



