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A NEW SPECIES OF CYPCELUS. 
Description of a New Species of Cypcelus, from 
the Columbia River. By John K. Townsend. 
Read March 5th, 1839. 
Cypcelus Vauxii. 
Bill slender, black; upper parts of a dull smoke- 
brown, inclining to blackish upon tbe interscapular 
region ; shoulders and primary quills blackish ; the 
rump and tail are of a much lighter color than the 
back, being dull cinereous-brown ; shafts of the tail- 
feathers, and their points, black ; wings of ordinary 
length, extending about two inches beyond the 
tail ; throat, and upper portion of the breast, gray- 
ish-white; belly, and all below, cinereous-gray. 
Leg's and feet brownish-black. Irides dark hazel. 
Length 31 inches. Extent of wings 10 inches. It 
differs from the C. pdas (jins, with which it has been 
confounded, in several very striking particulars. 
It is one inch shorter, and two inches less in ex- 
tent ; the body is proportionably smaller in every 
aspect, and the color much lighter. 
This species (which I dedicate to my friend, 
Wm. S. Yaux, Esq., of Philadelphia) is common 
on the Columbia river ; breeds in hollow trees, 
forming its nest in the same manner as the pelas- 
gius, and lays four white eggs. 
