MYIADESTES. 419 



Mijiadestes is a genus embracing a number of species quite similar 

 in character as well as in coloration, and belonging to the mountain- 

 ous regions of America, including the West Indies. The genus 

 was founded on the Muscicapa armillatus, of Martinique, which 

 is probably very similar to M. soliiarius, of Jamaica, taken here as 

 the type. This, however, is in some respects different from other 

 species, especially in the decided falcation of the first primary, and 

 the attenuation of the tips of the outer two or three quills. 



The species vary a little in the width of bill, the angularity of 

 culmen, the length of rictal bristles, the length of outer primary, 

 emargination of tail, etc. One of the most aberrant forms in this 

 respect is M. elisaheth, in which the bill is narrower, deeper, and 

 much more Thrush-like in appearance. 



The species are all of dull colors, in which ash gray or plumbeous 

 plays a principal part. All exhibit a peculiar pattern of coloration 

 of the wing. The bases of all the quills, except more or fewer of 

 the outer, are white or yellowish, best defined on the secondaries, 

 _where the patch is confined to the basal portion, extending more 

 along the inner edges of the primaries, the aggregate showing on 

 the inner edge of the wing as a well-defined patch, just as in the 

 Thrushes. Externally this patch is usually visible just below the 

 greater coverts of primary and secondary quills, although generally 

 altered in color, and is then succeeded by a dusky bar, and then 

 again by another bar like the first, which however is confined to the 

 outer webs of the quills. These two bars, sometimes pale yellowish, 

 sometimes plumbeous, separated by a dark one can be traced more 

 or less distinctly in all the species. In all likewise the tail is 

 whitish or grayish on its outer edge and on the tips of the more 

 lateral feathers. The bill and legs are sometimes dusky, sometimes 

 yellowish.' 



Common Chaeacteks. — General color ashy blue or gray (except in Myiadestes 

 elisabeth, which is olivaceous above and whitish beneath) ; the wing with 

 conspicuous light patch across quills at base inside, less evident externally, 

 where there is a second light bar separated from the first by a dusky one. 

 (if. leucotis is rufous above, black beneath, with white patch at base of 

 quills.) 



' As these sheets are passing through the press, the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion has received a specimen of M. leucotis of Tschudi, from Peru, presented 

 by the Museum of Neuohatel, which proves to be quite aberrant in shorter, 

 more rounded wings, longer bill, stouter legs, and different pattern of colora- 

 tion of the wing. It may reasonably constitute the type of a diiferent genus 

 or subgenus, but I do not at present propose to name it as such. The general 

 characters will be found in the diagnostic table, and a full description 

 farther on. 



