INSESSORES. 



159 



2. Genus MICROSCELIS, Gray, List, of Gen. Birds, p. 28 (1840). 

 1. MiCROSCELIS TRISTIS {Blljtll). 



Atlas, Ornithology, Plate VII, fig. 4. Adult. 



Numerous specimens of this species are in the collection of the Ex- 

 pedition, and appear to have been obtained at Malacca. We have no 

 notes relating to it, nor do we notice anything peculiar in the speci- 

 mens before us. 



This bird is given in our plate of the natural size. 



13. Genus TATARE, Le&wn, Traite d'Orn. I, p. 317 (1831). 

 1. Tat ARE OTAiTiENSis, Lesson. 



Tatare oiaitiensis, Lesson, Traite d'Orn. I, p. 317 (1831). 

 Sitta otatare, Lesson, Voy. Coquille, Zoologie, I, p. 666 (1826). 

 Tatare fuscus, A. Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1842, p. 210. 

 Txirdus sandwichensi's, Gm. Syst. Nat. I, p. 813 (1788) ? 



Voy. Coquille, Zool. Plate XXIII, fig. 2. 



Of this bird, now well known as an inhabitant of the Sandwich 

 Islands, numerous specimens are in the collection. These vary much 

 in colors, and the general characters and form of this species are to 

 us quite incongruous, though it probably belongs to the family of 

 thrushes. 



Respecting this species, Mr. Peale remarks : 



" We obtained specimens of this variable species at the Paumotu 

 Islands, at Tahiti, at the Samoan Islands, at Tongatabu, and sundry 

 other places in the South Pacific Ocean. It is the most widely spread 

 of all the Polynesian land birds. 



" The most usual color is pale buff beneath, brown wings and tail, 

 the feathers of the latter tipped with buff, and the back and head 

 mottled with brown and buff. We have not seen any two specimens 

 exactly alike ; they vary from a chocolate-brown to white ; in fact, 



