AMI'KMD.K -TIIK ( "IIATTKIIKKS. 4(ji) 



the limits of the rnittMl Suites, altlioiiLjIi several otliers oecii}*}' adjiiceiit ter- 

 ritory in Mexico. SeviTal are jM'CJiliar to islan<ls ot the West Indies. 



Tlie only two spe<nes closely related to tiie M. tonnsi mli iwv the M. imkolor 

 and M. obsrurus, which Ixilonj^ to Mexico. They may l)e distin^aiished as 

 follows : — 



All ochraceous band across base of secoiuluries and uppev primaries, conspicuous on outer 



surtiice. 



1. M. townsendi (rfncrully dull ashy, pak-r beneath. Throat and abLlouien 

 wliitisli. J/ub. Midtlle and I'acifn; Piovinees ol" L'nited States only. 



No ochraceous on out« r welts of secondaries and primaries. 



'_'. M. obscuruB.* Hack and winj^s rusty-olive. Il.-ad and beneath ashy, toj) of head 

 de»'pest ash. Ilah. Mountains of Mexico and Guj-lemala; Ties Marias I>lands. 

 o. M. unicolor.'^ Entirely dark bluish slate-color, li^diter beneath. Lores black. 

 Hub. Central Mexico and Guatemala. 



Myiadestes townsendi, ( aban. 



TOWVSEHD'S SOLITAIRE. 



Ptil logon If s ton- nscndi. Am. (^ni. liio*,'. V, -ls:i9, 206, i>l. ccccxix, fif». 2. (For other n*f- 

 erences sec Birds N. Am. 321.) — Nkwbkuuy, V. K. Utp. VI, Whipple's llip. Zool. 

 82. Culicivora towns. Dk Kay, \. V. '/ah>\. II, 1844, 110. Mifimbatis towns, Cabanis, 

 Wieg. Arch. 1847, I, 208. — -Sclatki:, V. Z. S. 1,s.->7, 5; 1858, 97. — Baiud, Birds 

 N. Am. 18,'j8, 321; Kev. 42i>. - Coortu & SrcKi.EV, P. R. Rep. XII, ii, 187.— 

 Kenneki.y, p. K. Kep. X, Whii.ple's Kep. 2'.. - Loi:n, Pr. K. Art. lu.st. Woolwich, 

 IV, 116 (Br. Col.). — CoorEU, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 134. 



Sp. Char. Tail rather deeply foiked. Exposed portion of spurious quill less than one 

 third that of the second; fourth quill lonirest ; second a little lontrer than the sixth. Head 

 not crested. (Jeneral color bluish-ash, jialer beneath; under win<:-eoYerts white. Quills 

 with a brownish-yellow bar at the base of both wel)s mostly concealed, but showinij a 

 little below the prreater coverts and aluhe ; this succee<led by ji bar of dusky, and next to 

 it another of brownish-yellow across the outer webs of the central (piills only. Tertials 

 tipped with white. Tail-feathers (huk brown; the middle ones more like the back ; the 

 lateral with the outer web and tip, the second with the tip oidy, white. A white ring 

 round the eye. Length, 8 inches ; wing, 4.50 ; tail, 3.85. (8.234.) 



Hah. Moimtainous regions of Middle and Western United States. (Xot found at 

 Cape St. Lucas nor in Mexico.) 



Yoiiiiiij birds have a Laro;e triani,ailcir ])ale-oehraceous liiL^ht spot on the end 

 of each feather (rather paler helow), bounded externally by a narrow border 

 of blackish ; the ([uill antl tail feathers as in the adult. 



Haijits. The first s])ecinien of this somewhat remarkable bird was shot 

 by Captain Brotchie, at Fort ( Jeoroe, Astoria, anil presented to ^Ir. Townseud, 

 and by the latter given to ^Ir. Audubon. For some time this remained unique, 



1 Mifiadrsfes ohst^nrns (Lafp.es.^ BaiiU), Kcv. Am. Birds, 1806, 430. Hob. Mountains of 

 Mexico to Guatemala and Tn's Marias Islands. 



- Mijiadestcs unicolor (Sclater/, Bauid, Rev. Am. Birds, IbGG, 428. Ual. Central Mexico 

 aud Guatemala. 



