BIRDS OF NEW YORK 51 3 



third tipped with white; forehead and line over the eye black. Female: 

 Similar but duller, no black on the head. 



Length 4.5-5 inches; extent 6.3-7; wing 2.1; tail 2. 



Distribution. This species ranges from eastern Nebraska, southern 

 Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario, southwestern Pennsylvania and southern 

 New Jersey to Texas and central Florida. Winters from the Gulf States 

 to the Bahamas, Cuba and Guatemala. In New York it is an irregular 

 and uncommon summer visitant. There is, as far as I know, no definite 

 record of its breeding within our limits, except that a nest evidently of this 

 species was found in the fall of 1890 at Coldwater, Monroe county, bv 

 Ernest H. Short, reported in his " Birds of Western New York," page 20. 

 The following records of its occurrence may be of interest to New York 

 bird students: Canarsie, L. I., 1849 (Dutcher, Auk, 10:277); Far Rock- 

 away, L. I., April 18, 1874 (N. T. Lawrence, Auk, 2:272); Fort Hamilton, 

 L. I., October 11, 1879, young bird (Berier, N. O. C. Bui. 6:126); 

 Penn Yan, N. Y., May 1877 (Gilbert, Auburn List, page 8); Montauk 

 Point, L. I., September 2, 1885 (Dwight, Auk, 5:324); Canandaigua, N. Y., 

 June 3, 1886, a pair collected by Elias J. Durand; Rochester, N. Y., May 10, 

 1891 (Charles R. Taylor); April 30, 1892 (Harry Denslow); Piermont, 

 N. Y. (Chapman, Auk, 6:305); Bridgehampton, L. I., July 1, 1893 (Knoess 

 and Dutcher); Shelter Island, L. I., September 22, 1896 (W. W. Worth- 

 ington) ; Bellport, L. I., summer of 1899 (W. A. Babson); Central Park, 

 N. Y., May 22, 1901 (Isham, Auk, 19:91); Rochester, N. Y., May 3, 1903 

 (E. H. Eaton); Branchport, May 30, 1901 (C. F. Stone); Charlotte, Monroe 

 county, N. Y., May 7, 1905 (Lawrence and Paul Achilles); Canandaigua, 

 April 25, 1906 (Maurice Blake, Auk, 24:226); Middle Granville, August 12, 

 1908 (Weber, Auk, 26:82). 



It is evident that this species, like the Tufted titmouse and the Carolina 

 wren, is of frequent occurrence in the interior of New York, but has never 

 established itself as a breeding species. 



Haunts and habits. The Gnatcatcher is a bird of the forest and is 

 usually found in trees of dense foliage. It is restless in habit like the 



