Birds. 



6785 



examined it that I perceived the difference, which is but slight, the 

 American willow wren being somewhat shorter and stouter, with more 

 and brighter yellow on the plumage, besides having on the breast, 

 sides and belly numerous longitudinal reddish brown streaks and spots. 

 Having occasionally had several at a time in my garden I have had 

 opportunities of observing their habits, which are similar to those of 

 the wood wren. They frequent low and swampy grounds where the 

 willow and other aquatic trees abound, among the higher branches of 

 which they may be seen in perpetual motion, flitting among the foliage 

 in quest of flies and other insects, and, like our own species, rarely 

 pitching on the ground, and but for a few seconds at a time. 



Wood Peewee Flycatcher (Muscicapa rapax). August. A common 

 species. One shot by me measured 6 inches in length and 10 inches 

 in extent of wings; mandible, J an inch ; tail, 2j inches, nearly even, 

 and has twelve light hair-brown feathers ; the wings are of the same 

 colour, but the first primaries are slightly, the rest broadly, margined 

 with white on the inner webs ; under wing-coverts gray ; under tail- 

 coverts light brown, margined with white ; upper wing-coverts brown, 

 tipped with gray ; throat and breast gray ; belly white. There is a 

 spot of gray beneath the eye. Mouth very large; the mandible 

 3-tenths of an inch wide at base. Thigh, § ths of an inch in length ; 

 tarsus, 6-tenths of an inch ; middle toe, 3j-tenths ; claw, 1 J-tenth. 

 Inner toe, 2-tenths ; claw, 1 J-tenth. Outer toe, 2j-tenths ; claw, 

 lj-tenth. Hind toe, 2-tenths ; claw, If -tenth. 



Green or Whitebellied Swallow (Hirundo viridis). August. This 

 appears to be the most common species, but Wilson states that the 

 brown swallow is more so, frequenting the houses, where they build 

 under the eaves. One that I measured was 5j inches in length and 

 12f inches in extent of wings. Tail somewhat forked, 2f inches in 

 length, and has twelve feathers. Bill black ; head and back glossy 

 green and blue ; wings and tail brownish black. Throat white ; 

 breast tinged with gray; the rest of the lower parts pure white. 

 Tarsus, J an inch in length, bare of feathers. 



Barn Swallow (Hirundo americana). August. Only less common 

 than the preceding. It greatly resembles the European redfronted 

 swallow. I observed them late in the season. The head and the 

 whole of the back is of a glossy purplish blue. The chin, throat and 

 forehead dark reddish brown. The belly, vent and under wing and 

 tail-coverts light rufous. There is a narrow collar of blue encircling 

 the lower part of the throat. The tail has twelve feathers, and is 

 greatly forked, the exterior feather being 1 inch and 1 -tenth longer 

 xvii. 3 p 



