OPORORNIS FORMOSUS, KENTUCKY WARBLER. 73 



I am mformed by a letter from Mr. ^Maynard, that the species has been 

 found iu great abundance in West Virginia. This was before publica- 

 tion of the fact by Mr. VV. D. Scott, who found it abundant in Kanawha 

 County, "in damp places generally, mainly along the edges of the river." 



My anticipation of its occurrence in Massachusetts has since been un- 

 questionably confirmed by Mr. Allen, who mentions two instances of its 

 capture in tuat State. 



The Large-billed Water Thrush has been found breeding on the Wa- 

 chita Itiver, where the nest and eggs were secured by Mr. J. H. Clark, 

 and at the Kiowa Agency, where Dr. Palmer also procured them. The 

 one of these two nests iu the best condition was built upon a layer of 

 leaves, apparently upon the ground, composed otherwise entirely of root- 

 lets and fine grasses. The other contained five eggs ; they are more 

 globular than any of those of IS. novehoracensis 1 have seen, but not oth- 

 erwise difierent ; and other sets would probably not be distinguishable. 

 The roundest one of them measures only 0.69 by 0.59. 



OPOROENIS FORMOSUS, (Wils.) Bd. 



Eentncky Warbler. 



Sylvia formom, Wils., Am. Orn. iii, IHll, 85, pi. 25, f. 3.— Bp., Obs. Wils. 125.— Bp., Syn. 

 1828, 34.— NuTT., Mau. i, 1832, 399.— Aud., Oru. Biog. i, 1831, 19G, pi. 38. 



Sylvicola formom, Jakd., cd. Wils. 1832.— Rich., List, 1837.— Bp., List, 1838.— Maxi.m., 

 J. f. O. vi, 1858, 113. 



Myiodioctes formoHus, Aud., Syn. 1839, 50. — AuD., B. Am. ii, 1841, 19, pi. 74.— Bp., Consp. 

 i, 1850, 315.— Lemb., Aves Cubte, 1850, 37.— Gundi.., J. f. O. 1861, 32li (Cuba). 



Sijlrania formosa, WooDii., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 70 (Texas and Indian Territory). 



Oporornis formosm, Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 247 ; Rev. 18G4. 218.— Sci.. «fc Salv., Ibis, i, 1859, 

 10 (Guatemala).— Lawk., Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii, 62 (Panama).— ScL., P. Z. S. 1862, 

 19 (Plava Vicente, Mex.).— Scl., Cat. 1862, 28.— Wheat., Obio Agric. Rep. 

 1860, No. 69.— CouES &. Prpznt., Smltbs. Rep. 1861, 406 (Wasbington. I). C, 

 breeding).— Lvwii., Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii, 1866, 284 (New York) ; ix, 1868, 94 

 (Costa Rica).— CoUES, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 269.— Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 

 1868, 110 (Soutb Carolina, migratory).— Tuknb., B. E. Pa. 1869, 16 (in sum- 

 mer).— Coues, A. N. V, 1871, 197 (Kansas).— RiDGW., ihid. 1872, 431 (Illinois).— 

 Allex, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 125, 175 (Kansas).- Sxow, B. Kans. 5.— Scorr, 

 Pr. Bost. Soe. 1872 (breeding in West Virginia).- Coues, Key, 1872, 106, fig. 46. 



Triclias (Sylvicola) formom, lloy, Sniitbs. Rei). 1864, 438 (Missouri). 



" (?) Sylria (cquinoctialis, ViEiLL., O. Am. Sept. ii, 1807, 26, pi. 81 (Pennsylvania ; nee G.M.)." 



//«?A— Eastern United States. North to the Connecticut Valley. West to Kansas 

 and tbe Indian Territory. Missouri (Uoy). South to Guatemala and Panama. Cuba. 

 Breeds iu most of its United States range. Winters extralimital. 



This beautiful species is perhaps more abundant in the jMississippi 

 Valley than elsewhere, and ascends the Mis.souri to Leavenworth at least, 

 if not further. I observed it near Fort Riley, in Kansas, in ^lay, and 

 Allen found it breeding at the same season, the nest being nearly com- 

 pleted by the middle of the month. According to Dr. Woodhonse, it is 

 "common in Texas and the Indian Territory, frequenting the borders of 

 streams whose banks are covered with low bushes, procuring its insect 

 prey," which Audubon remarks (-onsists largely of s[)id<'rs, as that <if 

 O. ayilis also does. Its unusual abundance in Southern Illinois is at- 

 tested l)y Mr. Ridgway. Earlier accounts — even those down to the date 

 of Baird's Review — placed the Atlantic coast limit at Maryland, but since 

 then the si>ecies has been traced to the borders of New England. I 

 have several specimens, shot about Washington. I). C, when^ I occa- 

 sionally observed the bird, always in the low shrubbery to which it is so 

 evidently i)artiid, and generally in places near water. Its soiig I have 

 never heard, the only note witli which it ever saluted me being the or- 

 dinary chirp. I am not aware that the species has been traced up the 



