462 Letters, Announcements, b^c. 



This determination was founded on the inventory, in which 

 the bird is named Turdus pectoralis, which synonym really 

 belongs to Pithys rufigula. 



Since I wrote this I have found in the collection the speci- 

 men in question, labelled "Turdus modestus, Natterer/' which 

 designation was also added in the inventory. In the old 

 catalogue and on the label of the specimen was also written : 

 — " Von H. Fiehtel, 1806, N. 200, Auction N. 1413, foemina. 

 Christian's Isle under the Line." 



On examination, the bird proved to be Phceornis obscura 

 (Gmel.). It agrees, though marked as female, very well with 

 Gassings description of the male (Unit. Stat. Expl. Exp. p. 155, 

 t. 9. f. 3) ; and I scarcely doubt that it is the type of Latham's 

 Dusky Flycatcher (Gen. Syn. iii. p. 314), which was contained 

 in the Leverian Museum, and therefore also of Muscicapa 

 obscura, Gmel. The only difficulty which could arise would 

 be the habitat. Christian's Isle I cannot find; and its 

 situation under the Line would be in discordance with that 

 of the Sandwich Islands. 



Phoiornis is decidedly a Pachyccphaline bird, whereas I am 

 of opinion that Chasiempis sandwichensis belongs to the 

 Muscicapid». The latter shows highly developed rictal 

 bristles, some of which reach as far as, or even sui'pass the 

 middle of the bill. 



Our Museum is in possession of a pair of Chasiempis sand- 

 wichensis from Enero, Ohan, 1837, bought by Natterer, 1840, 

 at Berlin, from H. Deppe. 



Latham's description is in tolerable accordance with our 

 female ; but in the latter the bill is not yellowish at the base, 

 the wing-coverts are edged with white, not with pale rust- 

 colour, the quills not white-tipped (probably a misprint in 

 Latham's book) ; on the sides of the neck there is no admix- 

 ture of white ; and on the chin dusky streaks are wanting or 

 almost imperceptible ; of the white uropygium no mention is 

 made. 



I am, very truly yours, 



Pelzeln. 



