SAXICOLA. 



61 



Family SAXICOLID^. 



SAXICOIiA, Bechst. 

 Saxicola, Bechstein, "Gemein. Natnrg. 1802." (Type Motacilla cenanthe,L.') 



Saxicola cenanthe. 



Motacilla cenanthe, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, 1758, 186. — Saxicola cenanthe, 

 Bechst. "Gemein. Naturg. 1802," and of European authors. — 

 HoLBOLL, Orn. Green. (Paulsen ed.), 1846, 23 (Greenland). — Baikd, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, 220 (Europe).— Jones, Nat. Bermuda, 1859, 

 28 (Bermuda).— Codes, Pr. A. N. S. 1861, 218 (Labrador).— Rein- 

 HARDT, Ibis, 1861, 5 (Greenland). 

 ?Saxicola cenanthoides, Vigoks, Zool. Blossom, 1839, 19 (N. W. Ame- 

 rica). — Cassin, 111. I, 1854, 208, pi. xxxlv (Nova Scotia). 

 Hah. A European bird abundant in Greenland, found as an autumnal mi- 

 grant in L.abrador, Canada, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, etc. Occurs also in Behring 

 Straits. I have not seen any from the United States. 



This species of late years has been frequently detected in the 

 eastern portions of North America, and may be legitimately con- 

 sidered as belonging to our Fauna. The specimens collected all 

 appear to belong to the Greenland race (see Coues as above), which 

 is considerably larger than that of central Europe, and it is most 

 probable that they have reached North America by the Greenland 

 route. I have never seen a full plumaged spring specimen, all being 

 in autumnal livery, and it is not at all improbable that those hitherto 

 detected in America are merely winter visitors from Greenland 

 (where it is abundant), and to which they return to breed. The 

 bird may, however, nest in Newfoundland and Labrador. 



The specimen described by Vigors, from the N. W. coast of 

 America, is considerably smaller even than skins from central 

 Europe, and may be distinct, as suggested by Mr. Coues. 



Smith- 

 sonian 

 No. 



18,075 

 20,651 



Collec- 

 tor's 

 No. 



206 

 43 



Sex 

 and 

 Age. 



Locality. 



Grosvater Bay, Lab. 

 Quebec. [land. 



Godthaab, Green- 



When 

 Collected. 



Aug. 24, '60. 



Received from 



Elliot Coues. 

 W. Couper. 

 Williams Coll. Lye, 



Collected hy 



(18,075.) 7.00; 12.60; 4.30. 



