BIRDS—SYLVICOLIDAE—DENDROICA AESTIVA. 283 
several cases are almost entirely brown, excepting on the inner edge. Such is the case in 
10170, from Fort Tejon, 5295, Yellowstone, and 758, Carlisle, all apparently young of the 
year. Some adult females, too, have more or less of a brown margin on the inner side of the 
shaft towards the base. 
In nearly all full plumaged males of this species from the Missouri plains there is a strong 
indication of a brownish orange (like the pectoral spots) on the top of the head, especially along 
the shafts of the feathers. Itis this plumage, with perhaps a little greater intensity of red on the 
crown, which I consider to be the MJotacilla petechia of Linnaeus, as stated further under the 
head of Dendroica palmarum, and as the former name has priority over aestiva, it is a question 
whether it should not be used for the present species. By some authors the two states of 
plumage are considered distinct, in which case both names could be used. I agree with 
Bonaparte, however, (Notes Orn. Delattre,) in considering them the same, but as indicating a 
variety, not the average of the species ; and in view of there being after all some doubt as to 
what Motacilla petechia really is, I have retained the name of aestiva. The same objections 
apply to the use of Gmelin’s name of ruficapilla. 
The Motaciila albicollis of Gmelin answers tolerably well to this species, and the name would 
have priority over aestiva. As, however, the neck is not white, but yellow, the term albicollis 
would convey a false idea of the species, and to be rejected. 
The Sylvia flava of Vieillot comes nearer this species than any other North American, but 
does not exactly agree with it. 
There is a South American species to which this is closely related, differing in larger ize, 
and in having the entire head all round of a brownish orange. The quills and tail feathers 
are much darker, showing a more vivid contrast with the yellow. This is called ‘ Sylvia 
rujicapilla, Latham,’’ by Vieillot, in Nouv. Dict. XI, 1817, 228, but is not Latham’s species, nor 
is it the ‘‘ Sylvia ruficapillus’’ of Vieillot on a preceding page, (187.) He quotes for it a name 
of Feuillee in ‘‘ Observations Physiques, 1714-1725,’ of Chloris erithachorides, and its descrip- 
tion, referring evidently to the bird before me. Should the species, therefore, have received no 
better name it may be called Dendroica erihtachorides. 
