160 FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 
still the fact seemed more than doubtful, since this bird 
escaped the researches of Vieillot, and, what is more extra- 
ordinary, those of the indefatigable Wilson. It is, therefore, 
a very gratifying circumstance that we are able to introduce 
this fine bird with certainty into the ornithology of the 
United States, and, by the individual represented in the an- 
nexed plate, to remove all doubt on the subject. The speci- 
men from which our drawing was made is a beautiful male 
in full plumage; it was shot near Bridgetown, New Jersey, 
at the extraordinary season of the first week in December, 
and was presented by Mr J. Woodcraft, of that town, to Mr 
Titian Peale, who favoured me with the opportunity of exa- 
mining it. 
Brisson published the first account of this bird. That we 
have rejected the name given by Linné may appear contrary 
to our principles; but, in this instance, we certainly have no 
option, inasmuch as the same name has been very properly 
retained by Wilson, agreeably to Brisson, for the Lantus 
tyrannus of Linné. Had Linné himself included them both 
in the same genus, he would doubtless have retained that 
specific name for the kingbird, which is unquestionably a 
Muscicapa, and not a Lanius. As the kingbird is a very 
abundant species, known to every zoological reader by the 
name of 7'yrannus, it is obvious that less inconvenience will 
be produced by changing the name of an almost unknown 
species, than would result from altering that of one with 
which we are so familiar. We have, therefore, adopted 
Vieillot’s specific name of savanna, taken by that author 
from Montbeillard, who in Buffon’s work thereby endeavoured 
to commemorate this bird’s habit of frequenting inundated 
a section among the tyrants, to which he has given the characters of 
“ Ale longe remigum pogoniis internis emarginatis; cauda longissima for- 
ficata ;” * and afterwards to give it the rank of a subgenus, under the 
title of Jfilvulus, with which will also range the swallow-tailed flycatcher 
of next plate, Milvulus longipennis, &c. ; making this curious group to 
contain at least six or seven known species.—Eb. 
* See Monographical Sketch, Brand’s Journal, No. LX. p. 282. 
