90 NEW- YORK FAUNA BIRDS, 



THE SPOTTED WARBLER. 



Sylvicola maculosa. 



PLATE L. FIG. 112 (Male). 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Motacilla maculosa, Gmelin. S. id. Vieillot, pi. 93. 



Sylvia magnolia. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 63, pi. 23, fig. 2. 



Black and Yellow Warbler. Auddbon, fol. pi. 123 (adult), pi. 50 (young); Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 260, where it is 



named sivainsoni ; Vol. 2, p. 145, and Vol. 5, p. 458. 

 Spotted Warbler. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 370. 

 Yelloiv-rump Warbler. Richardson, E. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 212, pi. 40. 

 Black and Yellow Wood Warbler. Aodubon, B. of A. Vol. 2, p. 65, pi. 96. 

 Blue-headed Yellow-rumpcd Wood-warbler. Giraud, Btrds of Long island, p. 54. 



Characteristics. Crown ashen. Rump and beneath yellow. Breast with oblong black 

 spots. Lateral tail-feathers white on the middle of the inner vanes. 

 Young, without the black eye-stripe. Length, ih inches. 



Description. Lower mandible straight, with a few bristles at the base. Second quill 

 slightly longest, but the first three subequal ; the fourth longer than the first. Tail slightly 

 emarginate, rounded, 1'5 longer than the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Upper part of the head and neck slate-blue. Frontlet and stripe passing through 

 the eye and dilated behind, black : a narrow line over the eye, running backwards, white. 

 Back and upper tail-coverts deep black ; the edges of the feathers greenish yellow. Rump 

 and beneath yellow. Chin immaculate. Throat and breast with confluent oblong black spots, 

 forming a sort of collar around the breast ; sides of the breast with similar oblong black spots. 

 Vent, middle of the inner webs of all the tail-feathers except the central pair, and under 

 tail-coverts, white. Young, I have not seen, but according to Audubon it is yellowish grey 

 above, with very faint streaks on the sides. 



Length, 4 - 5-5-0. Alar extent, 7 '5. 



This is one of the most beautiful, and occasionally in this State the rarest, of our war- 

 blers ; at other times it is more common. According to Vigors, it is common in Cuba, and 

 also in Maine and Labrador as far as 55° north, where it breeds ; but in the intermediate 

 regions it has been rarely observed. It is rare in the Southern and Western States, but Mr. 

 Audubon notices having observed them on the Pocano mountains (Pennsylvania) in the autumn, 

 with their young. It feeds on winged insects. It lays 4-5 small white eggs, sprinkled 

 with red at the larger end. In -the northern regions, it is called by the natives the Rain- 

 hird. The complete history of its migration is yet a desideratum. 



