INSESSORES. 163 



This species differs from both of the preceding in having the fore- 

 head white, and the specimen now described is rather smaller than 

 either of them. If measured, however, minutely, or by tenths or 

 twelfths of an inch, each one of the three specimens now before us 

 would differ from the others, but not to an extent unusual in different 

 specimens of the same species in many families of birds. We much 

 suspect that the three birds now described as distinct, are really one 

 and the same species, variable perhaps in color, like some other species 

 of the Pacific Islands. 



Of the last bird, Mr. Peale remarks : 



" Killed at the Samoan Islands, where it frequents bushy grounds, 

 like the Vassi-vassi, but is not so common. All three of the last-de- 

 scribed birds are closely allied, if not specifically the same, but as tlieij 

 are all considered to he different species hy the natives, who generally 

 have a very correct knowledge of the products of their islands, and 

 as they all differ in plumage, although killed in the same season (Oc- 

 tober and November), we have thought it proper to present them to 

 our readers as we found them; expressing, at the same time, our sus- 

 picions of their identity." 



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



5. Family SYLVIAD^. 

 1. Genus SAXICOLA, Bechstein, Orn. Tasch. p. 216 (1802). 

 1. Saxicola oenanthe (Linn.). 



MotaciUa oenanthe, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 332 (1766). 



Gould, B. of Eur. Plate XC. 

 Mr. Peale observes : 



" A male specimen, in beautiful condition, flew on board the U. S. 

 Ship Peacock, on the I9th of October, in latitude 6° 50' N., longitude 

 21° 38' W. of Greenwich. It was captured, but refusing the kind of 

 food we were able to offer, it died soon afterwards." 



The land nearest to the point at which this bird was captured is the 

 coast of Africa. 



