SMALL-HEADED FLYCATCHER.
Muscicapa minuta, Wilson, Am. Orn. VI, 1812, 62, pl. 1, fig. 5.—Aud. Orn. Biog. V, pl. ccccxxxiv, fig. 3.—Ib. Birds Am. I, pl. lxvii. Sylvia minuta, Bon. Wilsonia m. Bon. List, 1838. Myiodioctes minutus, Baird, Rev. Am. Birds, 1864, 241. Sylvania pumilia, Nutt. Man. I, 1840, 334.
Sp. Char. Wings short, the second quills longest. Tail of moderate-length, even. General color of upper parts light greenish-brown; wings and tail dark olive-brown, the outer feathers of the latter with a terminal white spot on the inner web; a narrow white ring surrounding the eye; two bands of dull white on the wings; sides of the head and neck greenish-yellow; the rest of the lower parts pale yellow, gradually fading into white behind. Male, 5 inches long; extent, 8.25 inches.
Hab. Eastern United States.
Habits. All that is known in regard to this species we receive from Wilson and Audubon, and there is a decided discrepancy in their several statements. Wilson states that his figure was taken from a young male shot on the 24th of April, but in what locality he does not mention. He adds that he afterwards shot several individuals in various parts of New Jersey, particularly in swamps. He found these in June, and has no doubt they breed there.
Audubon claims that Wilson’s drawing was a copy from his own of a bird shot by him in Kentucky on the margin of a pond. He throws a doubt as to the correctness of Wilson’s statement that they have been found in New Jersey, as no one else has ever met with any there. That may be, however, and Wilson’s statement yet be correct. The same argument carried out would reject the very existence of the bird itself, as no well-authenticated records of its occurrence since then can be found. They are at least too doubtful to be received as unquestionable until the genuine bird can be produced. Mr. Nuttall, it is true, states that Mr. Charles Pickering obtained a specimen of this bird many years ago, near Salem, Mass., and that he had himself also seen it in the same State, at the approach of winter. In the fall of 1836, when the writer resided in Roxbury, a cat caught and brought into the house a small Flycatcher, which was supposed to be of this species. It was given to Mr. Audubon, who assented to its correct identification, but afterwards made no mention of it. The presumption, therefore, is that we may have been mistaken.
In regard to its habits, Wilson represents it as “remarkably active, running, climbing, and darting about among the opening buds and blossoms with extraordinary agility.” Audubon states that in its habits it is closely allied with the pusillus and the mitratus, being fond of low thick coverts in swamps and by the margin of pools. He also attributes to it a song of rather pleasing notes, enunciated at regular intervals, loud enough to be heard at the distance of sixty yards. These peculiarities seem to separate it from the true Flycatchers and to place it among the Warblers.
Myiodioctes pusillus, Bonap.
GREEN BLACK-CAPPED FLYCATCHER.
Muscicapa pusilla, Wilson, Am. Orn. III, 1811, 103, pl. xxvi, fig. 4. Wilsonia pus. Bon. Sylvania pus. Nutt. Myiodioctes pus. Bon. Consp. 1850, 315.—Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, 291 (Cordova); 1858, 299 (Oaxaca Mts.; Dec.); 1859, 363 (Xalapa); 373.—Ib. Catal. 1861, 34, No. 203.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 293 (in part); Rev. 240 (in part).—Sclater & Salvin, Ibis, 1859, 11 (Guatemala).—Samuels, 246. Myioctonus pus. Cab. M. H. 1851, 18.—Ib. Jour. 1860, 325 (Costa Rica). Sylvia wilsoni, Bon.; Nutt. Muscicapa wilsoni, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, pl. cxxiv. Setophaga wilsoni, Jard. Myiodioctes wilsoni, Aud. Birds Am. II, pl. lxxv. Sylvia petasodes, Licht. Preis-Verz. 1830.