MIMUS. 



51 



Birds Jam. 1846, lU.—Mimus orpheus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, 341. 



— Ib. Catal. Am. Birds, 1861, 9, no. 52.— March, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1863, 



290 (eggs). 

 Mimus polyjlottus, Hill, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1853, 304. 

 Tardus sp. 2, Browne, Nat. Hist. Jam. 1756, 469 (Jamaica). 

 Tardus cinereus minor, Edwards, Av. H, tab. Ixxviii (Jamaica). — Selig- 



MANN, IV, pi. li. 

 ? Tardus dominicus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 12th ed. I, 1766, 295 (based on 



Merula dominicensis, Brisson, St. Domingo). 



Hab. Jamaica; St. Domingo? 



(No. 22,159.) In form, size, and coloration this species is exceedingly similar 

 to M. polyglottm ; the only marked difference in shape being an apparently 

 more graduated tail than in the eastern specimens of the latter — the differ- 

 ences between the lateral and central feathers amounting to from one inch to 

 one and a quarter. The differences in coloration between the two are much 

 as if an additional tail feather entirely white had been provided for M. orpheus, 

 the 2d, 3d, and 4th feathers being marked as the 1st, 2d, and 3d in M. poly- 

 glottus. There are the same variations in markings in the corresponding 

 feathers of these two series in both species. The two outer feathers are usu- 

 ally entirely white ; the 2d sometimes a little streaked ; the 3d sometimes 

 entirely white, always so on the inner web, generally partially so on the outer. 

 The 4th has sometimes the whole inner web white ; sometimes this is restricted 

 to a patch towards its end. There is a very small spot of white on the end 

 of the fifth feather. 



The under parts are of a purer white than in polyglottns, and the ash of the 

 breast is less distinct. The loral region also is conspicuously whiter. The 

 two species can, however, at once be distinguished by the dusky outer web 

 of the second tail feather in polyglottus, which is entirely white in orpheus. 



Length, 9.90; wing, 4.35 ; tail, 5.20; bill from nostril, 1.00; tarsus, 1.25. 



This species can hardly be considered as less in size than ^joZ^- 

 glottus; indeed, the measurements of the specimen selected fcr de- 

 scription are larger than those of the type of my description of tke 

 eastern variety of pohjglottus. I have, in fact, not met with a 

 skin so small as that described by Dr. Sclater. 



I have never seen a specimen of M. dominicus, from St. Domingo, 

 and can express no opinion as to its relationships to M. orpheus. 

 It is described as having the outer three tail feathers white as in 

 orpheus. 



Locality. 



Spanlshtown, Jam. 



When 

 Collected. 



Oct. 10, '61. 



Received from 



W. T. March. 



Collected by 



