BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 387 



its breeding quite far to the north of the national line. Asso- 

 ciated in families of two generations it is met with frequently 

 in early autumn, but not often later than the 1st of October, 

 indeed that is exceptionally late for them. 



Mr. Grant, who accompanied Professor Winchell to Ver- 

 milion lake in St. Louis county, on his Geological Survey of 

 that region in 1887, found this species breeding there, appar- 

 ently fairly represented. Nearly all of my correspondents re- 

 port it as common in their localities. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Upper parts streaked with black and pale bluish gray, which 

 becomes nearly white on fore part of back; middle of back 

 glossed with greenish-yellow; crown continuous yellow, bor- 

 dered by a frontal and superciliary band, and behind by a 

 square spot of white. Loral region black, sending off a line 

 over the eye, and another below it; ear coverts, lower eyelid 

 and entire under parts pure white, a purplish- chestnut stripe 

 starting on each side in a line with the black mustache, and 

 extending back to the thighs. Wing and tail feathers dark- 

 brown edged with bluish-gray, except the secondaries and ter- 

 tials, which are bordered with light yellowish-green, the 

 shoulders with two greenish- white bands; three outer tail 

 feathers with white patches near the end of the inner webs. 



Length. 5; wing, 2.50; tail, 2.20. 



Habitat, eastern United States and southern Canada west to 

 the Plains. 



DENDROICA CASTANEA (Wilson). (660.) 

 BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. 



This warbler is by no means a common species. Arriving 

 about the beginning of the second week in May it is frequently 

 seen until about the 20th, when those individuals destined to 

 remain and breed in the State seem to disappear with the 

 others, but to build their nests, presumably, for they are seen 

 at intervals in the forests all summer, and with the young with 

 them in the latter part of July and August, but disapjDear en- 

 tirely by the 25th of September. It has never been my fortune 

 to secure the nest, but I have several carefully prepared 

 descriptions of it which essentially agree in its construction of 

 fine twigs, stems of grass, or moss, lined with fibrous roots, 

 moss and bits of fur of animals. Three to four blue-green 

 eggs, all over spattered with brown, which becomes confiuent 

 at the larger end. Its presence at Red Lake, Mille Lacs and 

 in St. Louis county in several localities, rests on the testimony 



