550 HISTORY OF THE 



Island, N. Y., are, in dimensions: .65x.4-J:, .66xA5, .67x.48, 



.68x.47; in form, oval. 



Genus DENDROICA Gray. 



•• Bill conical, attenuated, depressed at the base, where it is, however, scarcely 

 broader than high, compressed from the middle. Culmen straight for the basal 

 half, then rather rapidly curving, the lower edge of upper mandible also con- 

 cave. Gonys slightly convex and ascending. A distinct notch near the end of 

 the bill. Bristles, though short, generally quite distinct at the base of the bill. 

 Tarsi long, decidedly longer than middle toe, which is longer than the hinder 

 one; the claws rather small and much curved, the hind claw nearly as long as 

 its digit. The wings long and pointed; the second quill usually very little 

 longer than the first. The tail slightly rounded and eniarginate. Colors: Tail 

 always with a white or yellow spot; its ground color nearly clear olive green. 

 In J). CBstiva, edged internally with yellow." 



Subgenus DENDROICA Gray. 



No white spot at base of quills, or else no other white markings on outer sur- 

 face of wings; wing less than half as long again as tail. (Ridgway.) 



Dendroica sestiva (Gmel.). 



YELLOW WARBLER. 

 PLATE XXXII. 



Summer resident; abundant in the eastern part of the State; 

 not uncommon westward. Arrive the last of April; begin lay- 

 ing about the middle of May; leave the last of August to first 

 of September. 



B. 203. R. 93. C. 111. G. 40, 279. U. 653. 



Habitat. North America at large; breeding from northern 

 Mexico northward to the Arctic coast; wintering in Mexico, 

 Central America, and southward into South America.* 



Sp. Char. ''Adult: Head, all round, and under parts generally, bright yel- 

 low; rest of upper parts yellow olivaceous, brightest on rump; back with obso- 

 lete streaks of dusky reddish brown; fore breast and sides of the body streaked 

 with brownish red; tail feathers bright yellow; the outer webs and tips, with the 

 whole upper surface of the innermost one, brown; extreme outer edges of wing 

 and tail feathers olivaceous like the back; the middle and greater coverts and 

 tertials edged with yellow, forming two bands on the wings. Female similar, 

 with the crown olivaceous like the back, and the streaks wanting on the back 

 and much restricted on the under parts; tail with more brown. Toung: Dull 

 brownish olive above; pale ochraceous yellow beneath, with the throat more 



* Dendroica astiva morcomi (^OALE, an alleged western form, is not recognized by the 

 A. O. U. Committee, as the little differences that may exist are thought to be too inconstant 

 and uncertain to entitle it to a subspecific separation. 



