186 



U. S, p. R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS— ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



List of specimens. 



CONTOPUS, Cabanis. 



Contopus, Cabanis, Journal fiir Ornithologie, III, Nov. 1855, 479, (Type Muscicapavirens, L.) 



Tarsus very short, but stout ; less than the middle toe and scarcely longer than the liinder. Bill quite broad at the base ; 

 wider than half ihe culmen. Tail moderately forked, much shorter than the wings, (rather more than three-fourths.) Wings 

 very long and much pointed, reaching beyond tlie middle of the tail ; the first primary about equal to the fourth. All the 

 primaries slender and rather acute, but not attenuated. Head moderately crested. Color, olive above, pale yellowish bentath, 

 with a darker patch on the sides of the breast. Under tail coverts streaked. 



This genus is pre-eminently characterized among North American flycatchers hy the very 

 short tarsi, and tlie long and much pointed wings. The species arc as follows : 



Length, 7.50 inches ; 'wing, 4.40. A concealed silky white tuft on each side of the rump. 

 No white around the eye or on the wing coverts C. borealis. 



Length, ahout 6 inches ; wing, 3.50. Outer primary edged with whitish. The olive on 

 the sides of breast paler than on the back, less extended, and separated along the median 

 line C. virens. 



Length, about 6.25 inches ; wing, 3.G5. Outer primary without white edge. Breast olive 

 brown, scarcely paler than the back, not divided in the middle line C. richardsonii. 



