SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 201 



A patch on the vertex, as in //. ruficupUkt, and the Hpjicr tail-eoverts, dark chestnut- 

 brown. Lores to nostrils and region round the eye, Uke the throat, in rather decided con- 

 trast to the ash of the crown. Quills and tail-feathers brown, narrowly edged externally 

 with gray. An obsolete terminal white patch on the inner web of the outer feather; this 

 web in most of the otlicr tail-feathers likewise narrowly edged with white. Axillars and 

 inner face of wings white. Iris brown. Tarsi blue. Length, in life, d.-tO ; extent, G.90 ; 

 wing, 2.40. Length of skin, 3.90 ; wing, 'l.'i'i ; tail, L8G ; tarsus, .64 ; middle toe and 

 claw, ..50 ; bill above, ..3.5 ; gape, ..50. 



Had. Fort Mohave, Colorado River (Middle Province of LTnited States) : Fort Whipple, 

 Arizona. 



Habit.s. Thi.s is also a new or recently discovered species of this interest- 

 ing group of Warblers. In regard to its nest and eggs nothing is positively 

 ascertained, yet as all the birds of tiiis genus are known to l)uild on the 

 ground, and to have a great uniformity in the characteristics of their eggs, it 

 seems to be a matter of natural inference that this species also is a ground 

 builder, and has eggs similar to those of the Nashville Warbler. For the 

 little we know in regard to its habits and distribution, we are indebted to 

 the observations of Dr. J. G. Cooper of California, who first cUscovered it, 

 and to Dr. Coues, who has since met with it in Arizona. 



Dr. Cooper first oliserved this species near Fort Mohave, where it made its 

 appearance about the last of March. His attention was called to it by its 

 peculiar notes, resembling tliose of some Dfiidroicw, but fainter. After con- 

 siderable watching and scramliling througii dense mezciuite thickets in its 

 pursuit, he succeeded in shooting one, and found it to be a new species. 

 Afterwards they became more numerous, frequenting the tops of the mez- 

 quite-trees in pursuit of insects, and constantly uttering their short but 

 pleasing notes. About ten days after the first a])pearance of the males. Dr. 

 Cooper obtained the first female, and thinks that without doubt they are 

 much later in their migrations, as is the case with other Warlilers. He 

 was not abile to discover their nest, ha\-ing to leave the valley late in 

 May. 



Mr. Holden obtained other specimens of this bird, near the 34th parallel, 

 in March of 1863. 



Dr. Coues met with three individuals of this species near Fort Whijjple, 

 where it is a summer resident. It arrives there between the loth and the 

 20th of April, and remains until the latter ])art of September. It mates 

 about the last of April, and the young birds appear early in June. 



Dr. Coues regards its habits a-s more like those of the true Ground War- 

 blers than those of the other species of this group. It shows a decided 

 preference for thickets and copses, ratiier than for high open woods, and is 

 also an exceedingly shy and retiring species. To the extreme difliculty of 

 observing or procuring it Dr. Coues attributes its having so long remained 

 unnoticed. 



It is described as exceedingly active in all its motions, and quite as rest- 

 less as a Polioptila, to whicli class, in its colors, it also bears a close resem- 

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