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ROCKY-MOUNTAIN FLYCATCHER. 



MUSCICAPA NIGRICANS. 



PLATE CCCCXXXIV. Male. 



The only specimen of this Flycatcher in my possession was given 

 to me by my esteemed friend Thomas Nuttall, Esq., who procured it 

 in North California, but was unable to give me any account of its 

 habits. It has been briefly characterized by Mr Swainson in his Sy- 

 nopsis of the Birds of Mexico. 



Tykankula kigricans, Swainson, Sjmops. of Mex. Birds. Phil. Mag. N. S. vol. i. 

 p. 367. 



Adult Male. Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 6. 



Bill shorter than the head, elongated, triangular when viewed from 

 above, much broader than high at the base, compressed only at the 

 tip ; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, deciu-ved at 

 the end, the ridge narrow and distinct, the sides sloping and a little 

 convex, the edges overlapping with a sinus close to the very slender, 

 decTU-ved, abrupt tip ; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length 

 and rather wide, the ridge narrowed toward the end, the sides convex, 

 the edges a little inflected, the tip acute ; the gape-line straight. Nos- 

 trils small, roundish. 



Head of moderate size, oblong ; neck short ; body slender. Feet 

 short ; tarsus a little shorter than the middle toe with its claw, com- 

 pressed, with seven very broad scutella which meet behind ; toes short, 

 slender ; hind toe stronger, lateral toes nearly equal ; claws moderately 

 arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe much larger, those of 

 the lateral toes very small. 



Plumage very soft and blended ; bristles at the base of the bill ra- 

 ther large. Wings of moderate length ; first quill longer than the sixth 

 and four and a half twelfths shorter than the second, which is equal to 

 the fourth, the third half a twelfth longer. Tail long, nearly even, the 

 middle feathers being only half a twelfth shorter than the longest. 



Bill and feet black ; iris brown. The head, hind neck, fore part of 

 the back, fore neck, a portion of the breast, and the sides dark sooty- 



JE 



