PALM WARBLER. 227 



but taken with its much longer nail, is longer. The talons are black, 

 and extremely sharp, the inner and the hind ones subequal, and much 

 the largest, Avhile the outer is the most delicate. 



The femal'e is larger, and measures two inches more in length, but 

 in plumage is perfectly similar to the male. As the male we have de- 

 scribed and figured, is evidently a young bird, it is very probable, that 

 the adult, after undergoing the changes usual in this group, obtains a 

 much darker and more uniform plumage above, and is beneath lineated 

 transversely with reddish. That in this supposed plumage, the bird has 

 not yet been found, is no reason to doubt its existence, as the species is 

 comparatively rare. Even of the common Falco fuscus, though con- 

 stantly receiving numerous specimens of the young, we have only been 

 able to procure a single one in adult plumage, during a period of four 

 years. 



We regret that this is all that is in our power to offer of the history 

 of this species, which, as will be seen from the description, possesses in 

 an eminent degree the characters of the group. From the circumstance 

 of its being found here in autumn and winter, we are led to infer, that 

 it comes to us from the North. 



SYLVIA PALM ARUM. 



PALM WARBLER. 



[Plate X. Fig. 2.] 



Motacilla palmarum, Gmel. Syst. i., p. 951, Sp. 53, winter dress. — Sylvia j^aJmarum, 

 Lath. Ind. p. 544, Sp. 136. Vieilf,. Ois. Am. Sept. ii., p. 21, PI. 73 (and the 

 other ivorJcs of the same author), winter plumage. Nob. Add. Orn. U. S. in Jour. 

 Ac. Ph. v., p. 29. Id. Cat. Birds U. S. in Contr. Marl. Lye. Ph. i., p. 16, Sp. 

 105. Id. Syn. Birds U. S. Sp. 105, in Ann. Lyceum, N. Y. ii., p. 78. — Motacilla 

 rujicapilla, Gmel. Syst. i., p. 971, Sp. 106, summer dress. — Sylvia rvjirapilla, 

 Lath. Ind summer dress [not of YiEihh). — Ficedula martinicana, Briss. Av. hi., 

 p. 490, Sp. 50, PI. 22, Fig. 4, perfect plumage. — Le Bimhel4, on fausse Linoile, 

 Buff. Ois. v., p. 330, winter dress. — Figtiier d tSle rousse, Buff. Ois. v., p. 306. 

 summer dress. — Palm Warbler, Lath. Syn. iv., p. 489, Sp. 131, winter dress. — 

 Bloody-side TFaj^Zer, Lath. Syn. iv., p. 489, Sp. 115 [not q/" Penn.), summer 

 plumage. 



This is one of those lively, transient visitants, which coming in 

 spring from warmer regions, pass through the Middle States on their 

 way to still colder and more northern countries, to breed. From the 

 scarcity of the species, its passage has hitherto been unobserved ; and 

 it is now for the first time introduced as a bird of the United States. 

 Authors who have heretofore made mention of it, represent it as a per- 



