BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — GEOTHLYPIS MACGILLIVEAYI. 



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In this species the wings are short and rounded, about as long as the tail, and reaching only- 

 over its basal third. The primaries are about half an inch longer than the tertials^ the first 

 quill intermediate between the fifth and sixth. The tail feathers are moderately graduated. 



This species bears a most remarkable resemblance to the T. pMladel-pliia, of which it is the 

 western representative ; the only prominent distinction is in the white spots on the eyelids. 

 The size and general proportions are much the same ; but the ash and black of the breast do 

 not come so far down in the western species, the loral region is much blacker, and the black 

 frontlet is wanting in Philadelphia. The bill is more slender, the wings more rounded, the 

 legs shorter. The females are only distinguishable by the slenderer bill and more rounded 

 wings of G. macgillivrayi, in which the first quill is intermediate between the fifth and sixth, 

 instead of being considerably longer than the fifth. 



The peculiarities of wing will serve to distinguish this species from Oporornis agilis in 

 autumn and winter. The crown then is probably tinged with olive. 



The selection of a specific name for this bird from the two at our command is a matter of 

 much perplexity. Both were apparently published in 1839, and without indication of the 

 month. Mr. Townsend's article was read before the Academy at Philadelphia, April 2, 1839, 

 (Journal VIII, n,) and printed on page 149. The next sheet contains a note dated September 

 10, 1839, in which he refers to the article and page of Audubon, and claims priority of pub- 

 lication for his Narrative of Travels. 



A few pages further on, and on the penultimate page (ITO) of Part I, is an article on 

 Fuligula grisea by Dr. Leib, " read January T, 1840." This evidently shows that the volume 

 was not issued till 1840, as it could not otherwise have contained a paper read January Y, 1840, 

 only 21 pages later than where Townsend's species is described. 



This clearly settles the question of priority in favor of Vol. V of the Ornithological Biography. 

 Although Townsend claims precedence of the description in his Narrative, yet as the one work 

 was published in Edinburgh, and the other in Philadelphia, the former might have been issued 

 first without the knowledge of the latter. The article in the Journal of Academy does not 

 quote the Narrative, while that in the Narrative quotes the volume of the Journal, (not the- 

 page, however.) The inference would, therefore, be that the latter appeared first of the two. 



Under the circumstances, then, I think it proper to retain the better known name of Audubon, 

 and accordingly adopt that of G. macgillivrayi. 



List of specimens. 



