426 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. 



Adult Female. Plate CLXXIV. Fig. 2. 



The Female resembles the Male, but has the lower parts of a duller 

 hue. 



This species is nearly allied to the King Bird and the Grey Tyrant, 

 from both of which, however, it is readily distinguished. 



The Balsam or Silver Fir. 



Pivus BALSAMEA, WUld. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 504. Pursh. Fl. Amer. Sept. voL ii. 



p. 639 Abies balsamifeba, Mich. Fl. Amer. vol. ii. p. 207 — Moncecia Mo- 



KADELPHiA, Linn. Conifers, Jitss. 



This beautiful fir is abundant in the State of Maine, where I made a 

 drawing of the twig before you. It grows on elevated rocky ground, 

 often near streams or rivers. Its general form is conical, the lower 

 branches coming off horizontally near the ground, and the succeeding 

 ones becoming gradually more oblique, until the uppermost are nearly 

 erect. The leaves and cones become so resinous in autumn, that, in 

 climbing one of these trees, a person is besmeared with the excreted 

 juice, which is then white, transparent, and almost fluid. The leaves are 

 solitary, flat, emarginate, or entire, bright green above, and glaucous or 

 silvery beneath ; the cones cylindrical, erect, with short obovate, serru- 

 late, mucronate scales. It is abundant in the British provinces, the 

 Northern Sates, and in the higher parts of the Alleghany Mountains. 

 The height does not exceed fifty feet. The bark is smooth, the wood 

 light and resinous. The resin is collected and sold under the names of 

 Balm of Gilead and Canada Balsam. 



i 



