224 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY.
these habits, while Accentor has the second. Fourthly, it is frequently “ flirting
its expanded tail from side to sidethus preserving its analogy to the Fantailed
Warblers of Australia, which Setophaga, in fact, represents. Fifthly,
marshy and watery places are its favourite haunts: this we should naturally
expect in any group which typifies the Natatores, or aquatic order, and, the
Fissirostres in its own circle. Lastly, this curious bird, in the disposition of its
colours so much resembles the Redstart of Europe (Phcenicura, Sw.), that it is
called in America by that name! Now it may be demonstrated, by an analysis
of the sub-family Philomelinw, Sw., that Sdophaga actually represents Phcenicura.
We know not in what manner to expound these relations, so wonderfully minute,
and yet so beautifully exact, but by supposing that, in this group at least, the
true plan of Creative Wisdom has been discovered. To frame a system such
as this, which explains affinities the most varied, and analogies almost interminable,
surpasses the utmost pitch of human ingenuity.—Sw.
DESCRIPTION
Of a male, killed at Cumberland House, May 20.
C olour.— Head, neck, back, throat, and breast shining black, very slightly glossed with
blue; wings and tail reddish-black. A band across the quills y the inner wing coverts,
sides of the breast, and middles of the tail feathers, rich and vivid orpiment-orange, except
the central pair of the latter, which are wholly black. The black on the breast descends and
forms a curve on each side of the orange patch, leaving the middle nearly white. Belly,
flanks, and under tail coverts white. Bill pitch-black. Legs light-brown.
F orm, typical. Bill entirely depressed, with an acute ridge; the vibrissce more than
half its length. First and fourth quills equal, and very little shorter than the second and
third. Tail lengthened, rounded ; the feathers rather broad, their tips suddenly terminating
in a small acute, point.
A young male, (which, according to Wilson’s observations, must be nearly a year old,)
killed at Cumberland House on the 5th of June, 1830, has the dorsal aspect liver-brown;
the head greyish; and those parts of the breast, wings, and tail which are orange in the
adult, tinged with pale lemonryellow. Under parts greyish-white; the bill and legs dark
umber-brown. Dimensions as in the adult. Wilson informs us that,the female has the same
colours with the young male, but wants the yellow band on- the wing..
D im en sio n s
Inch. Lin. Of the male. Inch. Lin.. Inch. Lin.,
Length total . . . 5 2 Length of bill above . . 0 4 Length of middle claw . 0 2 '
,, of tail 2 *i ,, of tarsus . .- 0 8 ,, of hind toe . 0: 3 :
of folded wing . 2 n „ of middle toe . . 0 41 „ of its claw . . 0 2i ,, of bill from rictus 0 fi}