SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 195 



Helminthopliaga pinus, Baird. 



BLUE -WINGED YELLOW WARBLER. 



Certhia pinus, Linn. Syst. Nat. \, 1766, 187. Sylvia pinus. Lath., Vieill. (not of Wil- 

 son). HdmintlwpluKja pinus, Baiki), Birds N. Am. 1858, 254 ; Rev. 174. — Sclater 

 & Salvik, Ibis, 1, 1859, 11 (Guatemala). — Sclater, Catal. 1861, 28, no. 176. Sylvia 

 solitaria, Wilson, Am. Orn. II, pi. .xv. — Aud. Oru. Biog. I, pi. x.x. Sylvicola sol. 

 Rich. Vennivora sol. Sw. Itdinaia sol. Aud. Birds Am. II, pi. cxi. Helmillierus 

 sol. Bon. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, 291 ^Corllova). Hebninthoplmija sol. Cab. 



Sp. Char. Upper parts and clieeks olive-green, brightest on the rnmp; the wing.s, tail, 

 and upper tail-covert..;, in part, blui-^^h-gray. An intensely black patch from the blue-black 

 bill to the eye, continued a short di.stance behind it. Crown, except behind, and the under 

 parts generally, rich orange-yellow. The inner wing and under tail-coverts white. Eye- 

 lids, aud a short line above and behind the eye, brighter yellow. Wing with two white 

 bands. Two outer tail-feathers with most of the inner web, third one with a spot at the 

 end, white. Female and young similar, duller, with more olivaceous on the crown. Length, 

 -1.50 ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 2.10. 



Hab. Eastern tfnited States and Mexico to (Guatemala (Cordova; Coban). Not 

 noted from West Indies. 



Habits. The Blue-winded Yelb.nv Warbler is not known .so far to the 

 north as New England, aud is rare even in Eastern and Southern New York. 

 It seems to be distributed through tlte United States from Pennsylvania to 

 Florida, and from the Mississippi Valley eastward. It has also been taken 

 in Central America. Mr. Trippe states that it breeds in the vicinity of 

 Orange, N. Y. Mr. Audubon ibund it abundant in the barrens of Ken- 

 tucky, and as far north on the Mississippi as St. Genevieve. 



In regard to the song of this bird, ]\Ir. Trippe states that its notes are very 

 forcible and characteristic. Once heard, they will always be remembered. 

 He describes them as a rapid chirrup resembling ehuuchich, k'-a-rc-r'r'r'r'r, 

 uttered very quickly. According to ]\Ir. Bidgway, they are -wonderfully 

 similar to the rude lisping chirrup of the Coturniculus 'posserinus. 



Wilson says that these AVarblers come from the South early in May, fre- 

 quenting thickets and shrubberies in search of insects, which they seek in 

 the branches. They are also fond of visiting gardens and orchards, gleaning 

 for insects among the low bushes. They generally build their nests on the 

 edge of sequestered woods. These Mr. Wilson states to have been, in every 

 instance observed by him, fixed on the ground, in a tliick tussock of long 

 grass, and built in the form of an inverted cone, the sides being formed 

 of the dry bark of strong filirous weeds lined with fine dry gTasses. These 

 materials, he remarks, are not arranged in the usual circular manner, but 

 sheh'e downward from the top, the mouth being wide and the bottom narrow. 

 He describes the eggs as five in number, pure white, with a few faint dots 

 of reddish near the larger end. The young appear the first week in June. 

 The nests were always in an oi)eu but retired part of tlie woods, and were 

 all as thus described. 



