SLACK-THBOATED GREEN WARBLER. 169 



Elbe, on his way to Hamburg, seems destined to be a rich, field of 

 discovery to the European ornithologist. So many new forms have 

 lately turned up in Heligoland, that the celebrated Professor of 

 Brunswick — Blasius, has been induced to make an excursion thither, 

 and examine for himself the treasures which have been collected by 

 the resident naturalist, Herr Gatke. The results of this visit, as well 

 as that of Herr Gatke's experience, have been communicated to the 

 ornithological world in the last number of '' Naumannia." 



Blasius gives at least four species entirely new to Europe, of which 

 two are American forms; while Herr Gatke mentions no less than 

 twenty-three species which he considers new to Europe, observed in 

 the island up to 1858; and he concludes his paper with the very 

 natural exclamation, what will 1859 bring forth? 



The most interesting part of these papers is the number of American 

 species which the lists contain: among them is the subject of the 

 present notice. Perhaps the evidence adduced by these lists may 

 rather remove the hasty scepticism with which my introduction of 

 the Bald Eagle into the European fauna was met. 



Dendroica vit'ens is an inhabitant of America generally. The 

 specimen which Herr Gatke records was killed on Heligoland, on 

 the 19th. of October, 1858, by a small boy with a pea-shooter; and 

 in order that there may be no mistake about the determination of 

 the species, I will here give a verbatim translation of Herr Gathers 

 very clear description. The bird is in its winter plumage, and thus 

 differs from my figure, which is in its summer dress. 



"The upper part of the head, back, and rump, a beautiful clear 

 yellowish olive green, more inclining to yellow towards the rump; 

 forehead, a broad stripe over the eyes, and sides of the throat, very 

 beautiful clear yellow; from the beak to the eyes is a blackish stripe, 

 which is continued on the under side of the eye, and terminates, or 

 is blended with the colouring of the ear coverts. Chin, and front 

 of head and neck, are clear black, the feathers having yellowish white 

 edges, which from the chin very much conceal the ground colour. 

 According to Wilson these bright borders wholly disappear in summer, 

 and leave these parts clear and shining black, (see figure,) which has 

 given to the bird its name of 'Black-throated Green Warbler.' Sides 

 of breast, belly, and under tail coverts are yellowish white, having on 

 each side two broad black stripes. 



Wing and tail feathers are black, with bluish ash grey borders, which 

 on the back of the wing become almost white; greater wing coverts 

 have broad white tips, the smaller entirely white, by which two shining 

 white bands across the wing are formed. Both the outer tail feathers 



YOL. II. Z 



