206 Deaxe, Letters of J. J. Audubon and S. F. Baird. [April 



of all kinds were unusually abundant this spring, nearly all having 

 been found which have been seen at any time before. Many rare 

 birds were found in great abundance, indeed some in such quan- 

 tities as to induce the belief of Cumberland Valley being on the 

 line of the main route in proceeding north. Sylvicola Maritima 

 as usual was rather plenty. Three were shot this spring, as well 

 as three last year. They were always found single or associated 

 with a few individuals of »S. Blackburn ice, S. Icterocephala, S. Virens 

 etc., and in every situation. Orchards, Willow trees, dry rolling 

 woods & Bottoms. S. Blaekburnice abounded. Some times as 

 many as forty or fifty were seen in a day. S. Icterocephala was 

 exceedingly common, indeed for two or three days, as much so as 

 S. Coronata. One day at the North Mountain we must have 

 seen four or five hundred. *S. Castanea was not so abundant. S. 

 Maculosa exceedingly abundant several days. Trichas Phila- 

 delphia was met with five times, two specimens, male & Female 

 were obtained, one also last year, a female. The two Females 

 differ considerably, both in size and in color. Ilelinaia Rubri- 

 capilla was very common. We shot six or eight in one flay & 

 could have shot more. Ilelinaia Solitaria was rather common. 

 II. Peregrina was met with once. Mijiodioctes Canadensis ex- 

 ceedingly common. Myiodioctes WUsonii abundant, fifteen & 

 thirty often seen in a day. 



There is one flycatcher respecting which we are in doubt, and 

 which was very abundant this spring. It is the one we had con- 

 sidered M. Pusilla but a thorough examination of the Biography, 

 has thrown doubt on this supposition, it agrees pretty well with 

 the M. Acadica of Nuttall, but not with the Acadica of the Synopsis. 

 I will send you one as soon as possible that you may decide the 

 question, as there is no set of Plates in Carlisle to which we might 

 refer. The small yellow bellied Flycatcher which I sent you last 

 summer, was very abundant this spring. Do you wish any more 

 specimens? Dr. George C. Leib 1 of Philadelphia procured that 

 same bird last year, and it was proposed I believe by the Philadel- 

 phia Ornithologists to name it Muscicapa Leibii, which would 

 do very well. The thrush I sent you, was also quite common in 



1 A resident of Philadelphia, Pa. Described Fuligula griseu in 1840. Died prior 

 to 1856. 



