BIRDS OF KANSAS. 5^5 



tions of the males, who now sing as if delirious with the pleasur- 

 able sensations they experience. Before ten days have elapsed, 

 the pair begin to construct their nest, which is placed in any 

 sort of bush or brier, seldom more than six feet from the ground, 

 and frequently not above two or three. It is large, and com- 

 posed externally of dry leaves, small sticks, strips of vine bark 

 and grasses, the interior being formed of fibrous roots and horse 

 hair." 



Eggs three to five (normally four), .89x.67; glossy or pink- 

 ish white, minutely spotted and sometimes blotched with different 

 shades of reddish brown and lilac gray, thickest and often form- 

 ing a wreath around the larger end. They vary greatly in form, 

 size, and in the amount of markings. 



Icteria virens longicauda (Lawr. ). 



LONG-TAILED CHAT. 



Summer resident in the western part of the State; not uncom- 

 mon. Arrive early in May; begin laying about the 20th of May; 

 leave in August. 



B. 177. R. 123a. C. 145. G. , 299. U. 683a, 



Habitat. Western United States; east to the eastern edge 



of the Great Plains; south into Mexico; breeding throughout 



its United States range. 



Sp. Char. "Above, olive gray; the white malar stripe, wings and tail longer 

 than I. virens; in other respects similar." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 7.50 10.10 3.25 3.50 1.00 .55 



Female... 7.25 9.85 3.15 3..30 1.00 .55 



Iris brown; bill and claws black; legs and feet dark olive 

 brown. 



This western form of the Yellow-breasted Chat is precisely 

 similar in habits and actions. In my ' ' Revised Catalogue of the 

 Birds of Kansas," I stated that their notes and song were slightly 

 different. In this I think I was mistaken. 



The voice of the Chat is varied and peculiar, and its tone 

 and accent depend largely upon the vigor of the bird. 



Their nesting places, nests and eggs are also correspondingly 

 alike. 



