2o6 THE WESTERN CHAT. 



Length 6.75-7.50 (171.5-190.5') ; wing 3.07 {78) ; tail 3.01-3.39 (76.5-86) ; bill .57 

 (14.5); tarsus 1.04 (26.5). 



Recognition Marks. — Strictly "Sparrow" size, but because of bright color 

 having nearer the size value of Chewiiik ; — the largest of the Warblers. Bright 

 yellow breast with contrasting white below, with size, distinctive. 



Nesting. — Xcst: a bulky and often careless structure. 7 inches wide and 4 

 inches deep (lutside, 3 inches wide and 13.4 deep inside; of coarse grasses and 

 weed-stems, lined with tiner grasses or rootlets, placed in upright fork of bush or 

 small tree in thicket. Jigys: 4, white, somewhat glossed and marked irregularly 

 with spots and dots of lavender antl rufous, most heavily, or not, about larger 

 end. Av. size. .80 x .68 (22.6 .x 17.3). Season; first week in June; one brood. 



General Range. — Western United States from near eastern border of Great 

 Plains west to the Pacific Coast, breeding north into south-central British Co- 

 luniliia southward to valley of Mexico ; in migration south in winter to Alexico. 



Range in Washington. — ^Snmhier resident in thickets about springs and 

 streams of eastern Washington ; does not deeply invade mountains ; rare or casual 

 west of Cascades (Tacoma, June 4, 1905, by J. H. Bowles; Sunias, B. C, May 26, 

 1897, by -Allan Brooks). 



Migrations. — Sj^riiig: May 18, 1900 (Yakima county). 



Authorities. — ?■ Ictcria -dridis (Bonap.), Townsend, Journ. .Xc. Nat. Sci., 

 Phila., Vn., 1839, 153 (N. W. United States) Atict. Cooper and Suckley, Rep. 

 Pac. R. R. Surv. p. 288 ("Towns, and Nuttall. Seen at Walla-Walla. Washing- 

 ton Territory"). Dawson, Auk. XIV., 1897, p. 179. (T). D'. D-. Ss'. Ss-\ B. 



Specimens. — ( U. of W. ) P'. Prov. B. 



STRUCTURALLY allied to the Wood Warblers, the Chat has yet 

 such a temperamental affinity with the Catbird, that it is difficult, for me, 

 at least, to dissociate the two birds in thought. Both love the thickets; 

 both excel in song; both plague their neighbors bv mimicry; and both alike 

 are clearly provoking bundles of contradictions. The Chat is, perhaps, tlie 

 greater buffoon, as he is certainly tlie more handsomely dressed of the two. 

 Beyond this we must consider him on his own merits. 



Ten to one vou know him. if at all. onlv as a voice, a tricksy hush- 

 whacker of song, an elusive mystery of the thicket ; or you have unconsciously 

 ascribed his productions to half a dozen mythical birds at once. But look 

 more closely. It is well worth the quest to be able to resoh'e this genius of 

 roguery. Be assured he knows }-ou well enough by sight, for he does not 

 poke and pry and spy for nothing, in the intervals of song. He has still the 

 proverbial curiosit}^ of woman. Seat 3-ourself in the thicket, and when you 

 hear the mellow, saucy Kook, with its whistled vowel, bounded by consonants 

 barely thought of, imitate it. You will have the bird up in arms at once. 

 Kzvoflk, returns the bird, starting toward you. Repeat it, and you ha\'e won. 

 The bird scents a rival and he will leave no stem unclasped but he finds him. 

 A.s the bird alternately squints and stares from the brush, note the rich 

 warbler oli\-e of his upperparts, the gorgeous yellow^ of the throat and breast, 



