ME. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 43 



This remarkable bird was first noticed by La Perouse, who figured it in the atlas 

 to his voyages, and subsequently by Vieillot and Latham when treating of the Tenui- 

 rostres, on his authority, as a Promerops. 



La Perouse, at Monterey, merely remarks — " we killed and prepared a Promerops, 

 which most ornithologists believe peculiar to the ancient continent," and gives no 

 further description in addition to the plate, which, although inaccurate in several 

 particulars, serves to distinguish it. 



Several of these Thrush-like birds with elongated bills having been described, 

 some confusion in regard to them as yet, must necessarily exist. 



Wagler, in the Isis, 1831, forms the genus Toxost07na for a species very nearly 

 resembling my bird, but differing in size, colour beneath, and proportions ; having a 

 shorter bill, a much shorter tail, tipped with white, and somewiiat longer wings. 



This Toxostoma vetula of Wagler, is no doubt the bird figured by Temminck in 

 the Planches coloriees 441, under the name Pomatorhinus turdinus, and which Swain- 

 son supposed was intended for his Orpheus curvirostris, another good species with a 

 long bill, apparently common in Mexico, and extending even into Texas. 



I have seen a specimen of this latter, in the possession of Mr. Audubon, which 

 was brought from the borders of Texas by Major G. A. McCall, U. S. A., who says 

 that it is a most delightful songster, and frequently kept in cages by the inhabitants, 

 and that the iris is of an intense fiery red colour.* 



Among the undetermined birds of the Rivoli collection, I found two specimens 

 identical with mine from California, but which were labelled "New Zealand, Ver- 

 reaux." The species figured by Temminck is also put down as coming from New 

 Holland, but it is more than probable that ]:)oth are mistakes. 



Gray, in the Genera of Birds, throws them all together under the name of Mimus 

 curvirostris, which he could not have done had he compared the specimens. The 

 M. curvirostris, beside colour, marking and proportion, has an entirely different bill, 

 (although quite as long,) from the T. rediviva. 



I regret not being able to give any account of the habits of this interesting species ; 

 the few specimens I have seen, were shot, hopping about on the ground near bushes 

 at Monterey. Their stomachs contained the remains of coleopterous insects chiefly. 



CINCLUS, Bechst. 

 62. C. Americanus, Swaiiis. American Dipper. 



A few of these are found along the solitary streams of the interior. 



♦This account of the Mimus curvirostris, (Swains.) Gray, agrees with what Swainson says was stated to him by 

 Mr. Bullock, (see Faun. Boreal. Amer. Orn., p. 191.) The following is the description of the species as given by 

 Swainson in the Philosophical Magazine for 1827, viz.: — Gray; beneath whitish; throat and breast spotted; vent 

 pale fulvous; bill long, curved. Total length IO3 inches; bill H; wings 4i; tail 5; tarsi !{. 



