462 
Letters , Announcements , fyc. 
This determination was founded on the inventory, in which 
the bird is named Turdus pectoralis } which synonym really 
belongs to Pithys rufigula. 
Since I wrote this I have found in the collection the speci¬ 
men in question, labelled (( Turdus modestus , Natterer," which 
designation was also added in the inventory. In the old 
catalogue and on the label of the specimen was also written : 
—“ Von H. Ficlitel, 1806, N. 200, Auction N. 1413, foemina, 
Christian's Isle under the Line." 
On examination, the bird proved to be Phceornis obscura 
(Gmel.). It agrees, though marked as female, very well with 
Cassin's description of the male (Unit. Stat. Expl. Exp. p. 155, 
t. 9. f. 3); and I scarcely doubt that it is the type of Latham's 
Dusky Flycatcher (Gen, Syn. iii. p. 344), which was contained 
in the Leverian Museum, and therefore also of Muscicapa 
obscura , Gmel. The only difficulty which could arise would 
be the habitat. Christian's Isle I cannot find; and its 
situation under the Line would be in discordance with that 
of the Sandwich Islands. 
Phceornis is decidedly a Pachycephaline bird, whereas I am 
of opinion that Chasiempis sandwichensis belongs to the 
Muscicapidse. The latter shows highly developed rictal 
bristles, some of which reach as far as, or even surpass the 
middle of the bill. 
Our Museum is in possession of a pair of Chasiempis sand¬ 
wichensis from Enero, Ohan, 1837, bought by Natterer, 1840, 
at Berlin, from H. Deppe. 
Latham's description is in tolerable accordance with our 
female ; but in the latter the bill is not yellowish at the base, 
the wing-coverts are edged with white, not with pale rust- 
colour, the quills not white-tipped (probably a misprint in 
Latham's book); on the sides of the neck there is no admix¬ 
ture of white; and on the chin dusky streaks are wanting or 
almost imperceptible; of the white uropygium no mention is 
made. 
I am, very truly yours, 
Pelzeln. 
