WOOD WARBLERS 423 



with down and feathers. Eggs : yellowish or creamy white, spotted 

 chiefly around the larger end with brown and purple. 



GENUS SEIURUS. 



General Characters. — Bill with rictal bristles short, but evident ; wings 

 pointed, much longer than tail ; tail nearly even ; tarsus longer than mid- 

 dle toe and claw. 



KEY TO ADULTS. 



1. Crown with orange brown patch inclosed by blackish stripes. 



aurocapillus, p. 423. 

 1'. Crown plain brown like back iiotabilis, p. 423. 



674. Seiurus aurocapillus [Linn.). Oven-bird. 



.idults. — Croivn with orange brown patch bordered by two blackish stripes ; 

 rest of upper parts olive green ; imder parts white, streaked 

 with blackish across breast and on sides. In winter, colors 

 rather brighter. Young : crown without stripes, back deep 

 brown, narrowly streaked with blackish : under parts strong 

 buffv, with narrow lines of blackish. Male : length (skins) 

 5.00^5.6."";. wing 2.7U-8.11, tail 2.05-2.28. bill .44-.4U. Fe- 

 male: length (skins) 4.U0-.5.45, wing 2.75-3.11, tail 1.9()- 

 2.34, bill .45-.47. 



Distribution. — Breeds in eastern North America northwest to Ala.ska 

 and from the Arctic Circle to Virginia and southern Kansas; west to thi- 

 base of the Rocky Mountains ; winters in southern Florida, the West Indies, 

 and southern Mexico to Panama. 



Nest. — In dry woods imbedded in ground, made of dry leaves usually 

 roofed over, the entrance on one side. Eggs : 3 to 6, white or creamy, 

 spotted with reddish brown and lilac gray. 



675a. Seiurus noveboracensis notabilis (Ridgw.). Grin- 



NELL WaTEK-THKUSH. 



Adults. — Upper parts sooty olive brown ; superciliary dingy white ; 

 stripe through eye dark brown ; under parts usually white with little if 

 any yellow tinge ; threat finely, and breast and 

 sides broadly streaked with blackish. Young : 

 like adults, Init streaks on under parts less dis- 

 tinct, and feathers of upper parts tipped with 

 light fulvous, producing a sj)otted appearance. 

 M<de: length (skins) 5. 14-.-..S4, wing 2.110-3.20. tail 

 Female : length (skins) 5.<)l-.'..'.tl>, wing 2.S8-;;. 1 1, tail l.!»2-2.2S. bill .4S-..-.»'.. 



/distribution. — From Alaska and British America (Fort Churclnll) south 

 to Mexico, and from Illinois west to the Pacific coast ; wintei-s from tlu' 

 southern border of the United States south to Lower California, Mexico, 

 and northern Soutli America. 



Nest. — On or near the ground, in wet woods or on borders of swamps ; 

 made of moss and grass, .sometimes lined with fur. Eggs : 3 to 0, white, 

 spotted with reddish brown and lilac gray. 



Tlu- Griiincll watcr-thrusli. like the other water-tliruslies, is a soli- 

 tary bird walking (|uietly over the banks of forest brooks or wading 

 in their sluUlows tilting its tail like a pipit. When its emotions are 

 stirred, it bursts forth into a loud musical song. 



