SE I TT R U S 1 Q D A T IC ÏÏ 8 .
Jjcmdoru P nrùbtdjvr Jokto M urray, Jjoo/câeüer to ïheJIdnurccÜ y, Jaruoc&y if'l829.
£57.] 2. S e ï u r d s a q u a t ic u s . (Swainson.) Aquatic Accentor.
Ge n u s , Seïurus. Swainson.
La fauvette tachetée de la Louisiane. Buffo n . PI. Enl. 752, f. 1 ?
New York Warbler. P e n n . Arot. Zool., ii., p. 308, No.,? ?
Sylvia Novæboracensis. L a t h . Ind., ii. p. 518, sp. 33 ? ?
Turdus aquaticus. W il so n , iii., p. 66, pl. 23, f. 5.
Seïurus tenuirostris. Sw ain s. Syn., No. 36.
Sylvia Novæboracensis. B o n a p. Syn., p. 77j No. 103 ?
PLATE XLIII.
On first receiving this species from Mexico, we thought it distinct from the
Turdus aquaticus of the American Ornithology, as Wilson particularly says “ that
the bill is formed almost exactly like that of the Golden-crowned Thrush,” without
adding that it is much more gracile. A comparison, however, of the Mexican
with the Arctic specimens proves they are of one species,—the aquaticus of
Wilson probably. Whether the Turdus motacilla of Vieillot be also the same,
is another question, and admits of considerable doubt. Again, Wilson alludes
to what he calls a variety of his Turdus aquaticus, which inhabits the mountain-
streams of Tennessee, where it is “ pretty numerous, and particularly distinguished
by the legs being of a bright-yellow colour.” He adds, “ in other
respects it differs not from aquaticus, whose legs are flesh-coloured.” The colour
of these members cannot be traced in the dried skin, and therefore this distinction
is of little use in our present difficulty. These particulars, given by Wilson, and
the difference in the bill before alluded to, give rise to strong suspicion that there
are two species confounded under this head, while the other may possibly be our
bird, or the T. motacilla of Vieillot. The latter, in fact, seems to differ in several
respects from both. Whether these variations really exist in nature or arise from
inaccurate description we know not ; the point merits attention from the American
ornithologists. Innumerable instances might be mentioned, in addition to those
exemplified in this work, bf species clothed nearly in the same coloured plumage,
which are absolutely and essentially distinct. We may further remark, that
Wilson says the lower parts are white, tinged with yellow-ochre; whereas, in our
specimen, the tint is of a pale and clear straw-colour*. On mature consideration,
* As it is totally impossible to say what is the Sylvia Novæboracensis of the old writers, a bird, according to Pennant,
found in the hedges of New York, we bave retained the expressive name of Wilson, whose description of
a quaticus is certainly more applicable to our bird than to any other we have yet seen. Should this, however, eventually
prove distinct, it can then preserve the name of tenvirostris, by which we formerly distinguished it— Sw.