This curious and little known owl, is an exceedingly interesting contribution by Mr. Swift to the collection of this Academy, to which specimens from him were for the first time presented some years since. Previously, it was unknown to the naturalists of this country, though they were constantly reminded of it by Vieillot's plate in Ois. d'Am. Sept., cited above. The specimens described originally by Daudin, were from the Island of Porto Rico.

3. TYRANNUS DOMINICENSIS, Brisson.

Tyrannus dominicensis, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 394, (1760).

Tyrannus griseus, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. i. p. 76, (1807).

Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. pl. 46. Aud. B. of Am. pl. 170, oct. ed. i. pl. 55. Numerous specimens very similar to specimens from Florida, but rather lighter colored. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the difficult group of American flycatchers to have entire confidence in my provisional conclusions, but, at present, I am inclined to think the bird now before me, in Mr Swift's collection, is probably entitled to be regarded as distinct, specifically, from the bird of the Southern United States usually bearing the same name. 4. TYRANNULA MARTINICA, (Linnæus).

Muscicapa martinica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 325, (1766).

Muscicapa albicapilla, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. p. 66, (1807).
Muscicapa martinicana cristata, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 362.

Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. pl. 37. Brisson Orn, ii. pl. xxxvi. fig. 2.

This species scarcely appears to have been identified by late naturalists, but like many others founded on Brisson's descriptions and figures, it is undoubtedly an absolute and veritable existence. That great ornithologist and most excellent describer, mainly, and in fact almost entirely, relies on specimens actually before him, for descriptions, and is exceedingly careful to refer to the collections in which they are to be found. His figures frequently are not recognizable, but no descriptions extant are more complete and satisfactory.

One specimen only, in Mr. Swift's collection, is not in fully mature plumage, but appears to be the bird described by Brisson, as above, to which Linnæus gave a name, and an abstract of Brisson's description. It more nearly corresponds with Vieillot's description than with his figure above cited, but appears to be the species of that author. It is a white-crested species, strictly of the same group, and much resembling Tyrannula albiceps, (D'Orbigny et Lafresnaye), and about the same size.

This is one of the most interesting birds in Mr. Swift's collection, and we hope to receive other specimens, which he has kindly promised to endeavor to procure. Like all birds in the present collection, it was obtained by Mr. Swift, in the Island of St. Thomas. Brisson's specimens were from the Island of Martinique.

5. VIRROSYLVIA ALTILOQUA, (Vieillot).

Muscicapa altiloqua, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. i. p. 67, (1807).
Vireo longirostris, Swains. Faun. Bor. Am. ii. p. 237, (1831).
Phyllomanes mysticalis, Cabanis ?

Turdus hispaniolensis, Gmelin?

Cassin, B. of Cal. and Texas, pl. 37. Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. pl. 38.
Edwards' Birds, v. pl. 253.

Mr. Swift's specimens appear to be rather large, but they are apparently identical with the bird of Jamaica and Cuba, and a visitor to Florida. It is easily recognized and distinguished from all other species by the narrow line of black running downward, on each side of the neck, from the base of the fower mandible. I much regret that there is not at present in the Acad, Mus. a series of specimens of this species, sufficient for comparison with those in the present collection, which, according to my recollection, are larger than usual,

and especially stronger in the bill. All the specimens of this species, except one, and specimens of various other species of this group, were stolen by a visitor to the Acad. Mus. some years since, and never recovered.

Several specimens, in excellent plumage and condition, are in Mr. Swift's collection.

6. DENDROICA PETECHIA, (Linnus).

Motacilla petechia, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 334, (1766).
Motacilla ruficapilla, Gm. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 971, (1788).

Chloris eritachoides, Feuille, Jour. Obs. Phys. iii. p. 413, (1725).
Ficedula pensylvanica erythrocephalos, Briss. Orn. iii, p. 488.
Ficedula martinicana, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 490, (1760).

Edwards' Birds, v. pl. 256, fig. 2. Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii, pl. 91.

Bris. Orn. iii. pl. xxii. fig. 4.

This is undoubtedly the true Motacilla petechia, Linnæus, founded on the description of Ficedula martinicana, by Brisson, as above cited. Though we have frequently seen this species in collections, Mr. Swift's specimens are the first that have come under our notice, the locality of which is authentic.

Numerous specimens in Mr. Swift's collection are in various plumages, though the greater number are nearly or quite mature, and show the reddish chesnut-colored crown quite well defined and conspicuous. This bird is

larger than D. aestiva of the United States, with which it has sometimes been confounded, and is not difficult to recognize from Brisson's excellent description above cited. It is the same bird also as Brisson's Ficedula pensylvanica erythrocephalos, founded on Edwards' figure, above referred to, who (Edwards) expressly states that he did not know the locality of the specimen figured, but guessed, wrongly, that another, received from Pennsylvania, was the female of the same species. Hence concluding erroneously that his bird was a North American species. This erroneous guess and conjectural conclusion misled Brisson, Buffon, and a host of other authors, to the present era, but is easily detected by referring to the text of Edwards, vol. v. p. 99.

7. PARULA AMERICANA, (Linnæus).

Parus americanus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 341, (1766).

Motacilla eques, Bod. Tab. Pl. Enl. p. 46, (1783).

Motacilla americana et ludoviciana, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 960, 983, (1788).
Sylvia torquata, Viell. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii. p. 38, (1808).

Sylvia pusilla, Wilson, Am. Orn. iv. p. 17, (1811).

Buff. Pl. Enl. 731, fig. 1. Viell. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii. pl. 99. Wilson, Am. Orn. iv. pl. 28. Aud. B. of Am. i. pl. 15 oct. ed. ii. pl. 91. One specimen only, in Mr. Swift's collection, is specifically identical with numerous others now before me, from the neighborhood of Philadelphia. In nearly mature plumage and excellent preservation, and probably a winter traveller from its place of nativity in the North.

8. MERULA FUSCATA, (Vieillot).

Turdus fuscatus, Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii. p. 2, (1807).

Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii. pl. 57, bis.

Numerous specimens, and apparently a common species in several of the islands of the West Indies.

9. PHONIPARA BICOLOR, (Linnæus).

Fringilla bicolor, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 324, (1766).

Tiaris omissa, Jardine, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. xx. p. 332, (1847)? Catesby's Carolina, i. pl. 37. Gosse, B. of Jamaica, pl. 64.

Two specimens only, in Mr. Swift's collection, are not in fully mature plumage, and we look for others from him with interest. They do not correspond in all respects with specimens in the Acad. Mus., which we have hitherto regarded as certainly the species to which this name is applicable, but we cannot, at present, venture to indicate a different species. It is possible that these

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specimens are Jardine's Tiaris omissa described as above cited, from the Island of Tobago.

10. CERTHIOLA FLAVEOLA, (Linnæus).

Certhia flaveola, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 187, (1766).
Nectarinia antillensis, Lesson, Traite d'Orn. i. p. 304, (1831).
Certhia bartholemica, Sparrm. Mus. Carls. No. 57, (1788)?
Catesby, Carolina, pl. 59. Swains. Zool. Ill. pl. 52. Gosse, B. of Jam.

pl. 16. Numerous specimens, in good plumage and excellent condition. They appear to be the same as described and figured by Mr. Gosse, as above, from the Island of Jamaica, and are probably of the species best entitled to the name given by Linnæus.

11. LAMPORNIS AURULENTUS, (Aud. et Vieillot).

Trochilus aurulentus, Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor. i. p. 29, (1802).

Trochilus dominicus, Linnæus ?

Trochilus margaritaceus, Gmelin?

Gould, Monog. Troch. pt. xv. pl. Aud. et. Vieill. Ois. Dor. pl. 12, 13. Numerous specimens of both sexes, and in mature plumage.

12. EULAMPIS HOLOSERICEUS, (Linnæus).

Trochilus holosericeus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 191, (1766).

Gould, Monog. Troch. pt. xiv. Aud. et Vieill. Ois. Dor. pl. 6, 65.

Appears to be this species, and evidently abundant in the Island of St. Thomas. The numerous specimens in Mr. Swift's collection are in very fine plumage.

13. CONURUS XANTHOLEMUS, Sclater.

Conurus xantholemus, Sclat. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1859, p. 225. Conurus chrysogenys, Massena et Souance, Rev. et. Mag. Zool. 1854, p. 72?

Numerous specimens of both sexes, in mature plumage, and others, which are young birds. This appears to be the bird described by Mr. Sclater, and we much suspect is also the bird described by Messrs. Massena and Souance, as above cited, its affinities being, perhaps, more accurately stated by the latter authors.

14. MELANERPES PORTORICENSIS, (Daudin).

Picus portoricensis, Daud. Am. du Mus. Paris, ii. p. 285, (1803).
Picus rubidicollis, Viell. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii. p. 63, (1807).

Vieill. Ois. d'Am. Sept. ii. pl. 117. Shaw, Nat. Misc. xxii. pl. 953.
Several specimens in excellent plumage and preservation.

15. COCCYZUS SENICULUS, (Latham).

Cuculus seniculus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 219, (1790).

Aud. B. of Am. pl. 169, oct. ed. iv. pl. 277?

Several specimens in Mr. Swift's collection, quite identical with others before us, in Acad. Mus., labelled as from various localities in the West Indies, and Northern South America; but I think, scarcely, the bird figured by Audubon. 16. CROTOPHAGA ANI, Linnus.

Crotophaga ani, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 154, (1766).

Buff. Pl. Enl. 102.

Numerous specimens.

17. COLUMBA CORENSIS, Jacquin.

Columba corensis, Jacq. Beytr. Gesch. Vog. p. 31, (1784).

Columba monticola, Vieill.

Columba portoricensis, Temm.

Columba imbricata, Wagler.

Knip, Pigeons, i. pl. 15. De Sagra's Cuba, Aves, pl. 27.