YELL W- THRO A TED FL YCA TCHER. 



117 



YELLOW-THEOATED FLYCATCHER. (Muscicapa 



sylvicola.) 



PLATE VII.— Fig. 3. 



PeaWs Museum, No. 6827. 

 VIBEO* FLAVIFBONS.—YmihhOT. 

 Vireo flavifrons, Bonap. Synop. p. 70. 



The summer species is found chiefly iu the woods, hunting 

 among the high branches, and has an indolent and plaintive 

 note, which it repeats, with some little variation, every ten or 

 twelve seconds, like preed preed, &c. It is often heard in 

 company with the red-eyed flycatcher (Muscicapa olivacea) 

 or whip-tom-kelly of Jamaica ; the loud energetic notes of the 

 latter, mingling with the soft, languid warble of the former, pro- 



* Vireo is a genus originally formed by Vieillot to contain an Ameri- 

 can group of birds, since the formation of wliich several additions have 

 been made by Bonaparte and Swainson of species which were not at first 

 contemplated as belonging to it. 



The group is peculiar to both continents of America, — they inhabit 

 woods, feed on insects and berries, and in their manner have consider- 

 able alliance to the warblers and flycatchers. By Mr Swainson they 

 are placed among the Ampelidce, or berry-eaters, but with a mark of 

 uncertainty whether they should stand here or at the extremity of some 

 other family. The Arctic Expedition has added a new species much 

 allied to V. olivaceus. Mr Swainson has dedicated it to the venerable 

 naturalist Bartram, the intimate friend of Wilson, and mentions that, 

 on comparing seventeen species, Vireo Bartramii was much smaller, the 

 colours rather brighter, the wings considerably shorter and more rounded, 

 and the first quill always shorter than the fifth, — that V. olivaceus is 

 confined to North America, while V. Bartramii extends to Brazil. The 

 species of the Arctic Expedition were procured by Mr David Douglas 

 on the banks of the Columbia. Mr Swainson also met with the species 

 in the Brazils ; and, from specimens sent to us by that gentleman, I have 

 no hesitation in considering them distinct, and of at once recognising the 

 differences he has pointed out. 



Mr Audubon has figured another species, which will rank as an addi- 

 tion to this genus, and, if proved new, will stand as Vireo Vigorsii ; he 

 has only met with a single individual in Pennsylvania, and enters into 

 no description of its history, or distinctions from other allied birds. — Ed. 



