692 



BULLETIN ">(). UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ICTERIA VIRENS VIRENS (Linnaeus). 

 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 



Adult iiKiJe hi Kj>r!)i(/ <(ri<lsniinii('r. — Ahovi; jjlain grayi.sh olivo-gTeen, 

 grayer on upper tail-coverts and (usually) lower rump; a superciliary 

 stripe (extending from nostrils to a short distance behind eye), a cres- 

 centie mark on lower eyelid, and anterior ])()rtion of malar region 

 white; lores and suborbital region (innuediateU^ l)eneath the white 

 mark on lower eyelid) ])lack or dark slaty; auricular region gray 

 (sometimes tinged with olive-green), with narrow and indistinct paler 

 shaft-streaks; chin, throat, malar region (except anterior portion), 

 chest, breast, upper abdomen, and anterior half or more of sides rich, 

 pure gamboge or lemon yellow, sometimes (in highly plumaged speci- 

 mens) tinged witii orange;^ ilanks pale gray, butiy gray, or grayish 

 buffy; rest of under parts white, the under tail-coverts sometimes 

 tinged with buff; axiUars and under wing-coverts yellow; bill and 

 inside of mouth black; iris brown; legs and feet dusk}' in dried skins, 

 bluish gray in life; length (skins), 154-173 (162.8); wing, 73.5-81 

 (76.6); tail, 70-83.5 (74.5); exposed eulmen, 13-14.5 (14.1); tarsus, 

 25-27 (26.3); middle toe, 15.5-17 (16.2).' 



Adult female in sprimj and .siuiinicr. — Similar to the adult male, Ijut 

 slightly smaller, and more or less duller in coloration,'* the black or 

 dark slate of lores and suborbital region usually replaced ])y gray, the 

 yellow of under parts usually less pure or deep (that on sides of breast 

 sometimes tinged with olive), the flanks and under tail-coverts more 

 strongly butfy, and the mandible usually more or less light colored; 

 length (skins), 148-162 (157.4); wing, 72-77 (74.4); tail, 69-75 (71.8); 

 exposed eulmen, L3-14 (13.5); tarsus, 25-27 (25.9); middle toe, 15-16.5 

 (15.7).* 



' The orange sometimes as irregular patches or blotches. 



' Ten specimens. 



^Brighter coll )re<l female.'*, however, are not distinguishable from duller colored 

 males. 



* Eight S2)ecimens. 



Specimens from oppijsite sides of the Allegheny Mountains average, respectively, as 

 follows: 



