LANIAD^E. 147 



mistaken for the Pevvee. A glance, however, at their bills at once shews a material 

 difference: that of nunciola being more elevated and compressed, the ridge on the 

 upper mandible more distinct, and the sides less dilated ; while the feet in T. Richard- 

 sonii are not only much smaller, but do not exceed in size or length those of Wilson's 

 querula. The incumbent crest on the head of our bird is particularly thick and 

 lengthened, more so, indeed, than in any of its congeners ; its upper plumage, when 

 compared with nunciola, is more olive, the whitish margins of the lesser quills more 

 obscure, and the under plumage of a more olive-whitish tint; the frontal setaceous 

 feathers are also longer : but all these are secondary characters, which, had they not 

 been supported by a difference of organization in the two species, would not have 

 authorised their separation. We may, however, add, that the tail of Richardsonii 

 is more forked. The paler margin of the exterior tail feather is not a peculiar 

 distinction of nunciola, for it is found in this and several other of these obscure- 

 coloured American Fly-catchers. In the arrangement of the quill feathers, how- 

 ever, our bird exhibits another strong point of distinction : the third and fourth 

 quills are equal and longest ; but in nunciola this character belongs to the second 

 and third, the latter quill being alone the longest ; in this the second and fifth 

 quills are equal, in that the fifth is two-tenths of an inch shorter. Our Tyrannula 

 barbirostris makes the nearest approach, in the peculiar tint of its upper plumage, 

 and its thick incumbent crest, to this species, of any we are acquainted with ; 

 but it is a very distinct bird. It is manifestly impossible to ascertain what are 

 the species intended to be characterized by M. Vieillot under the names of 

 M. fasca, Todus obscurus, M. acadica, and querula ; they are obviously distinct, 

 as Bonaparte observes, from such species as were known to Wilson, and had 

 better be consigned to oblivion, unless they are re-described with greater accu- 

 racy. — Sw. 



This new species was found in the neighbourhood of Cumberland House, fre- 

 quenting moist, shady woods by the banks of rivers and lakes. It probably extends 

 its summer range to the shores of Great Slave Lake ; but much more accurate 

 observations than we had in our power to make are required to ascertain the exact 

 geographical limits of a bird so nearly resembling other species. — R. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a specimen, killed at Cumberland House, June, 1827- 



Colour of the dorsal aspect hair-brown, very slightly tinged with olive-green, much darker 

 on the head than elsewhere. Wings and tail liver-brown ; the margins of the secondaries and 

 their coverts, and the outer edges of the exterior tail feathers, paler, as if worn. The under 



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