CONSPICUOUSLY BLACK AND WHITE 401 



In twelve days the nestlings were growing quite a 

 respectable coat of brownish gray like that of the female, 

 and could be seen stretching their wings in the saucer- 

 shaped nest so near the edge that they were in imminent 

 danger of falling off. Their call was exactly like that of 

 the young cedar waxwings, a prolonged " pee-eet," sweet 

 and plaintive. The song of the adult is more remark- 

 able for enthusiasm than musical quality, and his call- 

 note is a shrill two-syllabled utterance in the harsh tones 

 of a blue jay. Besides this he has a variety of conversa- 

 tional tones which remind one somewhat of the gentle 

 waxwings. 



In some localities the Phainopepla is called the black 

 mockingbird, but he has not a single characteristic of 

 the mockingbird family, and certainly his vocal powers 

 do not put him in that list. 



665. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. 



Dendroica nigrescens. 



Family : The Wood Warblers. 



Length: 4 70-5.40. 



Adult Male in Spring and Summer : Head, throat, and chest black, 

 except for broad white stripe above ear-coverts, broad wliite niahir 

 stripe, and a yellow spot over lores ; upper parts bluish gray, the back 

 and sides streaked with black ; breast and belly pure white ; two 

 white wing-bars ; tail with inner web of two outer feathers white. 



Adult Fenuile in Spring and Summer: Similar to male, but colors 

 duller ; crown usually grayish, often streaked with black. 



Adult Male in Fall and Winter : Similar to summer male, but gray of 

 upper parts tinged with brown, and black markings restricted, some- 

 times nearly obsolete. 



Adult Female in Fall and JVintrr : Similar to summer female, but plu- 

 mage softer and streaks on back and upi)cr tail-covcrts wanting. 



26 



