94 MYIADESTES TOWNSENDII, FLYCATCHING THRUSH. 



Myiadesles fownsetiMi, Cah., Wiegm. Arcliiv, i, 1847, 208.— ScL., P. Z. S. 1h.".7, 5; 1858, 

 97.— Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 321 ; Rev. li-:68, 4-29.— Ke.nn., P. R. R. ICep. x, 1859, 

 Whipple's Route, 25.— Hebrm., iMd. Williamson's Route. 3H.— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 

 162.— Lord, Pr. Roy. Arty. Inst, iv, 1864, 116 (British Columbia).— Coues, Pr. 

 PLila. Acad. 1866, 72.— Coop., Am. Nat. iii, 1869, 34.— Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 

 1872, 176.— Aiken, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 198 (Colorado, resident).- Stev., U. S. 

 Geol. Surv. Ter. 1870, 464 (Wyomiug).— CouES, Key, 1872, 117, tig. 57. (_Not of 

 Bhew., Pr. Bost. Soc. 1873, 109 ; the nest and eggs there de.scribed being those 

 of Plicerropepla nitens!) 



Hdb. — Middle and Western Provinces of tlie United States, in mountainous regions. 

 North to British Columbia. East to the Black Hills. Not south of the United States, 

 if the M. unicolor and M. obsourus be different. 



List of specimens. 



A clue to the trne position of this genns is found in the fusion of the tarsal platf^s, 

 and in the spotted plumage of the young, warranting the inference that it belongs 

 among the Turdidw. This fact was noticed by Dr. Suckley and myself while preparing 

 a report upon the Birds of the Northwest Boundary Survey, in 1862, and is adverted 

 to by Baird in his Review, in my paper in the Philadelphia Academy's Proceedings, 

 and in the "Key." The eminent vocal powers of all the species of the genus bear out 

 the inference. 



Dr. J. S. Newberry has given a very interesting account of the bird. 

 Noticing its occurrence in the Des Cliutes Basin, he continues : " It does 

 not inhabit dense forests, nor prairies entirely destitute of trees, but 

 chooses sui'faces covered with a scattered growth of pine and cedar. 

 We first met with it in the caflon of Mptolyas Kiver, at the base of Mt. 

 Jefferson. As we piclied our way with infinite difi&culty down the side 

 of this gorge, my attention was attracted by the delightful song of, to 

 me, a new bird, of which a few were sitting in the pines and cedars 

 Vrhich, by a precariocs tenure, held a footing on the craggy face of the 

 cliff. ■ The song, so clear, full, and melodious, seemed that of a Mimus ; 

 of the bird 1 could not see enough to judge of its aflflnities. The next 

 day we followed down the river in the bottom of the canon ; all day the 

 deep gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet soiinds from hundreds and 

 thousands of these birds, which, from their monotonous color, and their 

 habit of sitting on the branch of a free projecting into the void above 

 the stream, or hanging from some beetling crag, and flying out in nar- 

 row circles after insects, precisely in the manner of Flycatchers, I was 

 disposed to associate with them. Two days afterward, in the ciiQon of 

 Psucseeque Creek, of which the terraced banks were sparsely set with 

 low trees of the western cedar, I found these birds numerous, and had 

 every opportunity of hearing and seeing them, watching them for hours 

 while feeding and singing, and procuring specimens of both male and 

 female. With the first dawn of day they began their songs, and at sun- 

 rise the valley was vocal with their notes. Never, anywhere, have I 

 Heard a more delightful chorus of bird-music. Their song is not greatly 

 varied, but all the notes are particularly clear and sweet, and the stream 

 of. pure gushing melody is as spontaneous and inspiring as that of the 

 Song Sparrow." 



Tnis bird ajjpears to feed mostly upon cedar-berries, and its abun- 

 dance is to be in a measure determined by the presence of the juniper. 

 Thus Dr. Cooper says: "I saw only a few of this species among some 

 junipers on the westerri'slope of the mountains, not far from the summit, 

 in September, 18C3. ^he scarcity of the juniper on the western slope, 

 toward the north, seems to be the reason why this bird is not more fre- 

 quent there ; as, according to all accounts, they are found wherever that 

 tree grows in abuudancfi^fSJKffiiyiy McMftSQft®ntain ranges of the great 



