176 THE CALAVERAS WARBLER. 



No. 72. 

 CALAVERAS WARBLER. 



A. (). U. No. 645a. Helminthophila rubricapilla gutturalis (Ridgw.j. 



Description. — Adult male: Head above and on sides bluish ash with a 

 partially concealed crown-patch of bright chestnut ; a whitish eye-ring ; remaming 

 upperparts bright olive-green becoming yellowish green on rump and upper tail- 

 coverts ; underparts including crissum, bright yellow, but whitening on belly ; bill 

 small, short, acute, blackish above, brownish below; feet brown. Adult fcuiale: 

 Like male but somewhat duller below ; ashy of head less pure, glossed with 

 olivaceous and not so abruptly contrasting with yellow of throat ; chestnut crown- 

 patch less conspicuous or wanting. Immature: Olive-green of upperparts duller; 

 head and neck grayish brown instead of ashy ; below dull olive-yellow, clearing 

 on belly and crissum. Length of male (skins) 4.05-4.75 (103-121); wing 2.35 

 (60) ; tail 1.75 (45) ; bill .38 (9.6) ; tarsus .63 (16). Female smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Smaller; bright yellow of throat (and underparts), 

 contrasting with ashy of head, distinctive. 



Nesting. — Nest: usually sunk well into ground or moss at base of bush- 

 clump or rank herbage, well made of fine bark-strips and grasses, lined with finer 

 grasses, horse-hair and, occasionally, feathers ; outside, 3 in. wide by 2 in. deep ; 

 inside 1^4 wide by ij4 deep. Eggs: 3-5, usually 4, dull white as to ground-color, 

 but showing two distinct types of markings : one heavily sprinkled with fine dots 

 of reddish brown, nearly uniform in distribution, or gathered more thickly about 

 larger end : the other sparingly dotted, and with large blotches or "flowers" of 

 the same pigment. Av. size .64 x .49 (16.3x12.5). Season: May 20-July 20, 

 according to altitude : two broods. Chelan Co. Ji-ily 22, 1900, 3 fresh eggs. 



General Range. — The Pacific States and British Columbia south to Calaveras 

 County, California, and east (at least) to northern Idaho; found chiefly in the 

 higher mountains ; in migrations to Lower California and western Mexico. 



Range in Washington. — Summer resident on brushy slopes and in timbered 

 valleys of the higher ranges thruout the State, and irregularly at lower levels, at 

 least on Puget Sound (Tacoma). 



Migrations. — Spring: Wallula, April 23, 1905; Benton County, May 4, 

 1907; Chelan, May 21, 1896; Tacoma, April 24, 1897. Fall: Last week in 

 August (Blaine). 



Authorities.— Dawson, Auk, XVIIL Oct. 1901, 463. (D'). J. B. 



Specimens. — B. 



THERE is something distinct and well-bred abixit this demure exquisite, 

 and the day wliicii discovers one searching the willow tops with genteel 

 aloofness is sure to be underscored in the note-book. The marks of the 

 spring male are as unmistakable as they are regal : a bright yellow breast 

 and throat contrasting with the ashy of cheeks and head, the latter shade 

 relieved bv a white eye-ring, and surmounted by a chestnut crown-patch. 

 li vou stumble upon a company of them at play among the thorn bushes. 



