206 TOWNSEND'S PTILOGONYS. 



less so than those of his figure of Merula solitaria, which he describes 

 as having the " claws slightly curved." But it seems impossible to 

 judge in this case, for in his Synopsis of the Bu-ds of Mexico, Merula 

 silens is announced as Wilson's Hermit Thrush, and in the Fauna Bo- 

 reali- Americana Merula silens is said to be the same as that of the Sy- 

 nopsis, while at the same time Wilson's Hermit Thrush is reproduced 

 under the same English name as that of Merula solitaria, while Turdus 

 silens is said to be or to seem " intermediate between Merula solitaria 

 and Merula Wilsonii.'''' 



TOWNSEND'S PTILOGONYS. 



Ptilogonys Townsendi. 



PLATE CCCCXIX. Female. 



The only individual of this species that I have ever seen is a fe- 

 male, which was shot near the Columbia River, and kindly transmitted 

 to me by my friend Dr Townsend, after whom, not finding any de- 

 scription of it, I have named it. The genus, which was instituted by 

 Mr SwAiNsoN, is very remarkable, combining, as it appears to me, the 

 characters of some of the Flycatchers and Thrushes. 



Ptilogonys Townsendi. 



Female. Plate CCCCXIX. Fig. 2. 



Bill short, rather strong, somewhat triangular, depressed at the 

 base, a little compressed at the end ; upper mandible with the dorsal 

 line convex at the end, the nasal groove wide, the sides convex toward 

 the end, the edges sharp, a distinct notch close to the short tip ; lower 

 mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line ascend- 

 ing and convex, the sides convex toward the end, the edges sharp, the 

 tip small, with a slight notch behind. Nostrils linear, oblong, partially 

 concealed by the feathers which cover the nasal membrane ; gape-line 

 nearly straight. 



