SYLVIADiE. 229 



[57.] 2. Seiurus aquaticus. (Swainson.) Aquatic Accentor. 



Genus, Seiurus. Swainson. 



La fauvette tachetee de la Louisiane. Buffon. PI. Enl. 752, f. 1 ? 



New York Warbler. Penn. Arct. Zool., ii., p. 308, No. ? ? 



Sylvia Novseboracensis. Lath. Ind., ii. p. 518, sp. 33 ? ? 



Turdus aquaticus. Wilson, iii., p. 66, pi. 23, f. 5. 



Seiurus tenuirostris. Swains. Syn., No. 36. 



Sylvia Novaeboracensis. Bonap. Syn., p. 77> No. 103 ? 



PLATE XLIII. 



On first receiving this species from Mexico, we thought it distinct from the 

 Turdus aquaticus of the American Ornithology, as Wilson particularly says " that 

 the bill is formed almost exactly like that of the Golden-crowned Thrush," without 

 adding that it is much more gracile. A comparison, however, of the Mexican 

 with the Arctic specimens proves they are of one species, — the aquaticus of 

 Wilson probably. Whether the Turdus motacilla of Vieillot be also the same, 

 is another question, and admits of considerable doubt. Again, Wilson alludes 

 to what he calls a variety of his Turdus aquaticus, which inhabits the mountain- 

 streams of Tennessee, where it is " pretty numerous, and particularly distin- 

 guished by the legs being of a bright-yellow colour." He adds, " in other 

 respects it differs not from aquaticus, whose legs are flesh-coloured." The colour 

 of these members cannot be traced in the dried skin, and therefore this distinction 

 is of little use in our present difficulty. These particulars, given by Wilson, and 

 the difference in the bill before alluded to, give rise to strong suspicion that there 

 are two species confounded under this head, while the other may possibly be our 

 bird, or the T. motacilla of Vieillot. The latter, in fact, seems to differ in several 

 respects from both. Whether these variations really exist in nature or arise from 

 inaccurate description we know not ; the point merits attention from the American 

 ornithologists. Innumerable instances might be mentioned, in addition to those 

 exemplified in this work, of species clothed nearly in the same coloured plumage, 

 which are absolutely and essentially distinct. We may further remark, that 

 Wilson says the lower parts are white, tinged with yellow-ocAre; whereas, in our 

 specimen, the tint is of a pale and clear straw-colour*. On mature consideration, 



* As it is totally impossible to say what is the Sylvia Novcehoracensis of the old writers, a bird, according to Pen- 

 nant, found in the hedges of New York, we have retained the expressive name of Wilson, whose description of 

 aquaticw is certainly more applicable to our bird than to any other we have yet seen. Should this, however, eventu- 

 ally prove distinct, it can then preserve the name of tenuirostris, by which we formerly distinguished it. — Sw. 



