162 SAY'S FLYCATCHER. 



of these, -we may mention the Crested Flycatcher [Muscicapa crinita), 

 so well described and figured by Wilson in his second volume ; and par- 

 ticularly the Muscieapa ferox* of Gmelin, a South American bird, the 

 description of which agrees so well with the species we are now con- 

 sidering, that it might be equally applied to either. Our bird differs 

 from the two latter by that striking character, the white exterior web 

 of the outer tail-feather. From the crinita it may, more especially, be 

 known by the spot on the crown, which does not exist in that species ; 

 by not having the tail and wing feathers rufous in any part ; and by 

 having the primaries narrowed at tip, while the crinita has them quite 

 large, entire and rounded. On a particular comparison with the ferox, 

 we shall perceive that the bill of that bird is flattened, broad, and cari- 

 nate, whilst in the verticalis it is almost rounded above. The general 

 color of the latter is, besides, much paler, and the tail is less deeply 

 emarginated. 



The Arkansas Flycatcher appears to inhabit all the region extending 

 west of the Missouri river. The specimen we have been describing is a 

 male, killed in the beginning of July, on the river Platte, a few days' 

 march from the mountains. 



MUSCICAPA SAYA. 



SAY'S FLYCATCHER. 



[Plate II. Fig. 3.] 



We now introduce into the Fauna of the United States a species 

 which is either a nondescript, or one that has been improperly named ; 

 and I dedicate it to my friend Thomas Say, a naturalist, of whom 

 America may justly be proud, and whose talents and knowledge are 

 only equalled by his modesty. The specimen now before us is a male, 

 shot by Mr. T. Peale, on the 17th of July, near the Arkansas river, 

 ■?,bout twenty miles from the Rocky Mountains. 



We cannot be perfectly sure that this Flycatcher has not heretofore 

 been noticed, since we find in the books, two short and unessential de- 

 ^joriptions which might be supposed to indicate it. One of these is the 



* This bird had been incorrectly considered by Vieillot, in his Natural History 

 of North American Birds, as identical with the Muscieapa crinita; but, afterwards 

 perceiving it to be a distinct species, he named it Tyrannus ferox. A specimen 

 was in the Philadelphia Museum, designated by the fanciful name of Ruby-crowned 

 Flycatcher (with this Say compared his Tyrannus verticalis, before he stated it to 

 be new), and, in the New York Museum, three specimens are exhibited, with the 

 erroneous title of Whiskered Flycatcher {Muscieapa barbata). 



