234 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



completely, that the differences, although conspicuous in their modes of life, are 

 only evinced, in external structure, by modifications so nice and delicate as fre- 

 quently to elude detection. We have seen this fact exemplified among the olive- 

 coloured Fly-catchers, and we shall now explain similar differences in the present 

 group. It may be remarked that Wilson, in his account of Sylvia olivacea, 

 alludes to another and a rather smaller species, which is frequently found in its 

 company. " Its eyes are hazel, its back more cinereous* than that of the other, 

 and it has a single light streak over the eye. The notes of this bird are somewhat 

 plaintive, but warbled out with great sweetness, and form a striking contrast to 

 those of the Red-eyed Fly-catcher (M. olivacea)." Pennant's account of the Red- 

 eyed Fly-catcher f does not agree with any known species. It has a general 

 likeness to all, without shewing a particular application to any one. It includes, 

 in short, the whole of these long-billed species under the same name. — Sw. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a female, killed on the 2nd of June, 1827, at Cumberland House, lat. 54°. 



Colour. — TJpper part of the head, and a streak from the angle of the mouth to the ears, 

 blackish-grey : above this streak a larger greyish-white one passes over the eye, its upper 

 border formed by a narrow, but conspicuous line of black. The whole dorsal plumage, 

 with the neck, the tertiaries, and the wing coverts, oil-green. Quills and tail feathers dark 

 clove-brown, margined with yellowish- green. The under plumage delicately white, very 

 slightly tinged with grey; the flanks, inner wing coverts, and under tail coverts pale primrose- 

 yellow. Bill blackish-brown above, pale beneath. Legs blue-grey. 



Form, &c. — Bill straight, lengthened, the tip abruptly bent and conspicuously notched. 

 Lower mandible with the gonys ascending ; the sides of both compressed, and the whole 

 appearance resembling that of a Myoihera, 111. Nostrils roundish, basal : a few short, 

 curved, and very weak bristles at the rictus. Wings lengthened, pointed, half an inch 

 shorter than the tail. Second and third quill feathers equal and longest; first and fourth 

 also nearly equal, and about a line and a half shorter than these. Secondaries truncated 

 at the end, but not emarginate. Tail even, but appears slightly emarginated from the inner 

 webs of the feathers being obliquely truncated : the tips pointed. Tarsus, with the anterior 

 scales, transversely divided : lateral scales entire. The three anterior toes all more or less 

 connected at their base ; the inner one shortest. Nails much curved and compressed ; the 

 hinder one strongest. 



■& v 



* If this distinction is intended for the Sylvia melodia of Wilson, which we have not seen, it may be correct ; 

 but it is altogether inapplicable to our Vireo Bartramii, which is rather more green on the back than Vireo olivaceus. 

 — Sw. 



f Arctic Zoology, iii., p. 79. 



