224 KORTU AMERICAN BIRDS. 



surface quite ashy. But this is, iu fact, an actual Ijleacliiug, frequently to lie 

 seen iu birds from that region. 



Habits. The geographical range of the common Summer Yellow-Bird is 

 very nearly coextensive with Xorth America. In its iKirthcru distrilmtion 

 it is found as far toward the arctic sliores as any of our laud birds. Piicliard- 

 son speaks of it as well known throughout the fur countries as far as the 

 woods extend, and mentions meeting with it among the earliest arrivals in 

 spring, coming in company with the equalty well-known Robin and the 

 Grakle. At Fort Franklin, latitude 66°, he saw it tlie 15th of May, about 

 the time of its first appearance in New England. This was supposed to be 

 the limit of its northern range, but more recent observations give abundant 

 evidence of its presence, in considerable numbers, to the very shores of the 

 Arctic Ocean. The late Mr. Hepburn, in manuscript notes, states it to be a 

 common summer visitant both of California and Vancouver's Island, and that 

 along the coast he has traced it as far north as the frontier line of 54° 40', 

 wliere it arrives at the beginning of May, but does not nest until tlie end of 

 the month. 



]\Ir. Dall, in his notes on the birds of Alask'a, states that this Warbler is a 

 rather common bird all tlirough that territory, and gives its arrival as about 

 the 10th of May. 



Its extreme southern limit is not so distinctly traced, but is at least as far 

 as tlie northern portions of South America, inclusive of Cayenne andilcuador. 

 In all of the West Indies except Trinidad it is replaced by several closely 

 allied species or local races. In Trinidad, Mr. E. C. Taylor states that he 

 found this species common, <ind could perceive no difference from North 

 American specimens. In Guatemala it is abundant in the winter. 



Dr. Cones found this Warbler abundant in Arizona, where it is a summer 

 resident, from April 25 to the middle of September. There, as elsewhere, 

 its preference for watercourses was noticed. Wherever found, it is always 

 most abundant in allu\ ial meadows, and more rare in other localities. 



Dr. Samuel Cabot found this Warbler common in Central America, and 

 Dr. Cragin, of Surinam, .sent the Boston Society several specimens from 

 Guiana. Dr. Woodhouse found it abundant in Texas and New Mexico, 

 as did Drs. Suckley and Cooper in Washington Territoiy and California. It 

 breeds over the whole area of North America, from Georgia on the southeast 

 and from Mexico, northward. Dr. Sumichrast found it, only as a migratory 

 bird, abundant on the plains of Mexico. 



The notes of Mr. Kennicott and the memoranda of Messrs. McFarlane, 

 Eoss, and Lockhart attest the extreme abundance of this species in the farthest 

 Arctic regions. In nearly every in-stance the nests were placed in willows 

 from two to five feet from the ground, and near water. In one instance Mr. 

 Tioss found the eggs of this species in the nest of Turdus swainwni, which 

 had either been deserted or tlie parent killed, as the eggs were in it, and would 

 probably have been hatched Ijy the Warbler with lier own. 



