BIEDS — STLVICOLIDAE — DENDEOICA AESTIVA. 283 



several cases are almost entirely brown, excepting on tlie inner edge. Sucli is the case in 

 10170, from Fort Tejon, 5295, Yellowstone, and 758, Carlisle, all apparently young of the 

 year. Some adult females, too, have more or less of a brown margin on the inner side of the 

 shaft towards the base. 



In'nearly all full plumaged males of this species from the Missouri plains there is a strong 

 indication of a brownish orange (like the pectoral spots) on the top of the head, especially along 

 the shafts of the feathers. It is this plumage, with perhaps a littlfe greater intensity of red on the 

 crown, which I consider to be the Motacilla petecJiia of Linnaeus, as stated further under the 

 head of Ber^droica palmarum, and as the former name has priority over aestiva, it is a question 

 whether it should not be used for the present species. By some authors the two states of 

 plumage are considered distinct, in which case both names could be used. I agree with 

 Bonaparte, however, (Notes Orn. Delattre,) in considering them the same, but as indicating a 

 variety, not the average of the species ; and in view of there being after all some doubt as to 

 what Motacilla petechia really is, I have retained the name of aestiva. The same objections 

 apply to the use of Grmelin's name oi ruficapilla. 



The Motacilla albicollis of G-melin answers telerably well to this species, and the name would 

 have priority over aestiva. As, however, the neck is, not white, but yellow^ the term albicoUis 

 would convey a false idea of the species, and to be rejected. 



The Sylvia flava of Vieillot comes nearer this species than any other North American, but 

 does not exactly agree with it. 



There is a South American species to which this is closely related, differing in larger ize, 

 and in having the entire head all round of a brownish orange. The quills and tail feathers 

 are much darker, showing a more vivid contrast with the yellow. This is called '^Sylvia 

 ruficapiUa, Latham," by Vieillot, in Nouv. Diet. XI, 18 IT, 228, but is not Latham's species, nor 

 is it the "Sylvia ruficapiZtus" of Vieillot on a preceding page, (187.) He quotes for it a name 

 of Feuillee in " Observations Physiques, 1714-1725," of Chloris eritTiachorides, and its descrip- 

 tion, referring evidently to the bird before me. Should the species, therefore, have received no 

 better name it may be called Dendroica erihtachorides. 



