264 
FORK-TAILED FLYCATCHER. 
colour of the whole upper part of the body is also darker, the 
tail considerably shorter, and the exterior feathers not so much 
elongated as those of the adult. It is proper to remark, that 
the elongated tail feathers of the full-grown bird are sometimes 
very much worn, in consequence of the rapidity with which it 
passes through the bushes. 
Two coloured figures have been given of the fork- tailed 
flycatcher, the one by Buffon, which is extremely bad, al- 
though the rectilinear form of the tail is correctly represent- 
^ ed ; the other, by Vieillot, which has the exterior tail-feathers 
unnaturally curved, and, notwithstanding it is preferable to 
Buffon’s figure, yet it is far from being accurate. This author 
having been unable to procure a North American specimen, 
chose nevertheless to introduce the species in his Natural His-- 
tory of North American Birds^ on the authority of former au- 
thors, giving a figure from a South American specimen. The 
error in representing the exterior tail-feathers curved, doubt- 
less arose from the manner in which the dried skin was packed 
for transportation. That our drawing of this graceful bird is 
far superior to those above mentioned, will at once be evident 
on comparison ; this superiority is owing to the circumstance 
of this drawing, like all the others given in the present work, 
being made from the recent specimen. Buffon’s plain figure 
is a more faithful representation than that given in his coloured 
engravings. 
From the very great rarity of the fork-tailed flycatcher in 
this region, and the advanced season in which this individual 
was killed, it is evident that it must have strayed from its na- 
tive country under the influence of extraordinary circum- 
stances ; and we are unable to believe that its wanderings have 
ever extended as far as Canada, notwithstanding the statements 
of authors to the contrary. It may be proper to observe, that 
the difference indicated by Linne and Latham between the 
variety which they suppose to inhabit Canada, and that of Su- 
rinam, appears to have no existence in nature. 
Although this bird is so very rare and accidental here, we 
should be led to suppose it a more regular summer visitant 
