96 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE PRAIRIE WARBLER. 



Sylvicola discolor. 



plate xlix. fig. 110. 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



8, discolor. VlEILLOT, pi. 98. 



S. minuta. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 87, pi. 25, fig. 4. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. V. Vol. 2, p. 8'2. Audu- 

 bon, fol. pi. 14; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 76. 

 Prairie Warbler. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 394. Aodueon, Birds of Am. Vol. 2, p. 68, pi. 97 (male am 

 female). Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 52. 



Characteristics. Olive : more yellowish towards the head, with bay spots on the back. 

 Beneath yellow, spotted with black on the sides. 3-4 lateral tail fea- 

 thers white, spotted on the inner webs. Eye-stripe and crescent beneath 

 black. Female, paler yellow beneath ; no eye-stripe. Length, 5 inches. 



Description. Bill half an inch long, very slightly notched, depressed at the base. Tail 

 more than 1'5 long, rounded; the feathers acuminated. Second quill longest; the first four 

 subequal. 



Color. Above yellowish olive. Frontlet, line over the eye, a space beneath, and all 

 beneath bright yellow ; the central part of the frontlet is of the general color above. From 

 the corner of the mouth proceeds a black stripe through the eye ; and from the same place, 

 another beneath the eye in a crescent shape, leaving a bright yellow spot beneath ; a similar 

 colored stripe above the eye. A few of the feathers on the back, between the wings, tipped 

 with chesnut or bay. Wings and tail brown ; outer webs of the former tinged with yellow ; 

 the yellow bands on the wings often obsolete. Inner web of three or four of the lateral fea- 

 thers of the tail spotted with white. Sides with oblong black spots. Female, paler beneath : 

 the black stripes on the sides of the head wanting. 



Length, 4-5-5-0. Alar extent, 6"0-7-0. 



The Prairie Warbler is not uncommon on Long island, where I have procured many 

 specimens. It appears in this State, from Mexico, about the commencement of May ; and 

 in the interior, is found in great numbers on the shores of Lake Erie. Along the Atlantic it 

 has been observed as far east as Massachusetts, where it breeds as well as in this State : 

 builds its nest in low bushes, laying 4-5 white eggs with brown spots in a circle round the 

 larger end. 



