MERULIDiE. 183 



marshes. It, doubtless, breeds there ; but I had not an opportunity of seeing its 

 nest *, nor can I speak of the extent of its range to the northward. Wilson 

 states that it makes its appearance in Pennsylvania, from the south, regularly 

 about the beginning of May, stays a week or two, and passes on to the north and 

 to the high mountainous districts to breed. It has no song, he says, but a sharp 

 chuck. — R. 



We have compared the northern specimens with no less than five others, killed 

 last year in New Jersey, and now in our museum. It is with peculiar satisfaction 

 that, after much trouble, we find our own observations confirm, in their full extent, 

 the judicious remarks made upon this species by the Prince of Musignano ; and 

 gladly do we follow him in commemorating it by the name of the great American 

 ornithologist. True it is, that, by the strict rules of priority, we may not perhaps 

 be justified in so doing ; this species having received, in a popular compilation, 

 another name. But not even the laws of nomenclature, as the late venerated Sir 

 James Smith has expressed, must upon every occasion impose shackles upon 

 superior minds. Few ornithologists will be disposed to withhold from the memory 

 of Wilson the only honour it is now in their power to give. — Sw. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a specimen, killed at Carlton House, lat. 53°, May, 1827. 



Colour of the whole dorsal aspect an uniform deep hair-brown, inclining slightly to oil- 

 green. The cheeks and the spaces between the eyes and nostrils are pale yellowish-brown, 

 obscurely spotted with hair-brown. The under plumage is mostly white, tinged on the sides 

 of the throat with yellowish-brown, and faintly clouded and blotched on the flanks with hair- 

 brown. The throat and breast are marked with broad, triangular, blackish-brown spots on the 

 tips of the feathers. Bill dark umber-brown, pale at the base of the lower mandible. Legs 

 pale yellowish-brown. 



Form, &c. — Bill shorter than that of M. minor, less compressed, and having a less distinct 

 ridge. The tip droops a little in both, and has a small notch on each side. The wings, when 

 folded, are an inch shorter than the tail. The third quill feather is the longest, the second 

 and fourth are scarcely a line shorter, and are equal to each other ; the tenth is fourteen lines 

 shorter than the third, and the first is about three-quarters of an inch long. The outer webs 

 of the third and fourth are distinctly sinuated ; that of the fifth is even. The tail is very 

 slightly emarginated ; the central pair of feathers being, however, in our specimens, a little 

 longer than the adjoining ones. The tarsi are longer than those of M. silens, equal to those 

 of M. solitaria, and shorter than those of M. minor. 



* Mr. Yarrell has received eggs from America, which he is assured are those of this bird. They have a deep bluish- 

 green colour, without spots, and are an inch in length. — R . 



