408 



NOETH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



describes it as a sliy, wild, and restless bird, with a superb song, powerful 

 and finely modulated. Dr. Coues appears to think that this species has but 

 little affinity wdth the forms with which it is usually grouped. 



Section MYIADESTE/E. 



Char. Tarsus slender, longer tlian middle toe and claw ; undivided as in Tur- 

 didce. Toes deeply cleft. Wings more pointed ; second quill much longer than seconda- 

 ries. Lateral tail-feathers cuneate, or narrowing from base towards tip ; generally whitish 

 at end of inner web. Quills with their extreme bases, especially of inner webs, bufify yel- 

 low, showing a light patch inside. Head not crested, though the feathers sometimes full. 

 In the young all the feathers with light rounded spots. Pre-eminent as melodious singers. 



But a single genus of this group belongs to the United States, although 

 two others {Cichlojms and Platijcichla i) occur in South America. As already 

 stated, the affinities of Mijiadestece are much closest to Turdidce, and this 

 would seem the proper family for it. 



Genus MYIADESTES, Swaixson. 



Myiadestcs, Swainson, Jard. Nat. Library, XIII. Flycatchers, "1838," 132. (Type, M. 

 cjcnibarhis, Sw.) 



Gex. Char. Occipital feathers fall and soft. Plumage rather loose. Bill weak, much 

 depressed. Commissure nearly straight. Hind toe longer than inner lateral. Toes deeply 



Mi/ia/iestes toicnsendi. 



cleft. Closed wing externally with an exposed light band across the base of the quills, 

 and another nearer the end, separated by a darker one. Tail somewhat graduated on the 

 sides. 



Of the ten or more described species of this genus, only one belongs to 



