232 ' APPENDIX TO OSCINES. 



In its lialiits and notes, tlio Titlark is precisely the same as the abnndant, well-kuowu 

 bird that abounds in the Northern States thronghont spring and fall — restless, vacil- 

 lating creatures, ever on tlie move, (querulous and tidgety. They are more shy during 

 summer, however, not willingly ])erniittiug one to approach nearer than iifty or sixty 

 yards. During the breeding season the males have a song unheard at other times, 

 with which they serenade their mates. Rising in the air at an angle of forty-five de- 

 grees, with a tluttering, uncertain Uight, they commence singing when they are up a 

 little way, and continue till they have reached the height of a hnndred yards or so; 

 then descending, lluttering their wings as before, till they light on a stone or sod, not 

 far from where they started. They have several ditiereut variations, all consist- 

 ing of two or three notes, quickly repeated over and over again, with quite a musical 

 and pleasing eiiect. One of these variations sounds very much like the plaint of a 

 little chicken lost from its brood. As one approaches their nests, they hover silently 

 about, uttering, at intervals, a chirp expressive of their anxiety. Daring their stay 

 above timber-line — they do not ever go below it during the breeding season — they 

 prefer wet, springy i)laces, which abound near the sunnnit of the range. They may 

 often be seen running over the vast snow-banks that remain on northern slo])es 

 throughout the year. In August and September they gather into ilocks, and begin de- 

 scending into the valleys, reaching Idaho toward the close of tbe latter month. Many 

 remain above timber-line until October, and some few throughout the month, or as 

 long as they can find open ground to feed in. In November they iinally disappear., 



[To the synonyms of Hclmhithophaga ruficapiUa add : Hehninlliophafja ntjicapilla var. 

 ocularis et var. guttxralh, B. 13. & K., N. A. B. i, 1874, 191, vrhich may not necessarily 

 be recognized by varietal name. — E. C] 



Dendijceca ,^stiva, Yellow Warbler. The Yellow Warbler is abundant along the 

 foot-hills, and ranges as high as 6,50U feet. Stragglers undoubtedly wander as far as 

 Bergen's Park, although I did not observe any there. 



D. coitoNATA, Yellow-crowned IVarhler. Abundant; migratory; does not breed. Ap- 

 pears at Idaho in the latter jiart of April, and goes up as high as 8,500 or 9,000 feet; 

 disappearing about the 10th of May, a few days before the following species. In fall 

 I did not observe it; probably it does not venture in the mountains, to any extent, in 

 that season. [It has also been taken in Colorado by Mr. Ilenshaw. — E. C] 



D. AUDUBONi, AndHl)on\s Warbler. Abundant; migratory; breeds from about 9,500 

 feet up to timber-line. Audubon's Warbler arrives at Idaho about the middle of May, 

 bnt goes higher up into the mountains to breed, rarely being seen below 9,000 feet 

 during tlie latter part of June and July, in which months it rears its young, preferring, 

 during this season, the dense, dark forests of black siiruce. In spring it haunts the 

 same localities as the Yellow-crowned Warl)k'r, but is more partial to the uiidershrub- 

 bery, and frequently ventures into open fields and clearings, alighting on bushes and 

 weeds, and even on the ground, exhibiting much of the manners of the Red-polled 

 Warbler. Its usual note is one very similar to that of the Barn Swallow; its song is 

 a simple little carol, like that of the preceding sj^ecies. In August it begins to descend, 

 by Se[)teniber it is common in the lower parts of the country, and by October has dis- 

 api)ear(Ml. 



D. xi<;i:f,scen8, Blaclc-tltroated Gray Warbler. A single specimen seen at Idaho 

 Springs, May 23. 



Gkothi.ypis macgillivkayi, Mace/illivraifs Warbler. Common; migratory; breeds 

 up to a little above 9,000 feet. Very similar in habits to the Mourning Warbler. Ar- 

 rives in the latter part of May and disai)pears in August and September. 



Myiodioctes pusii.i.us. Green Blaelc-eapped Fh/eatelier. Abundant; breeding in great 

 numbers in the bushes near timber-line. Fiist seen at Idaho, May 5, bnt not connnon 

 till the '22(\. By the middle of June all had hift the valleys, and at tJie close of the 

 month I ibnnd them very numerous in the den.se coppices of brush that extend for 

 some hundred feet above timber-line. They breed in July, reappearing at Idaho 

 toward tin; close of September, finally disappearing in the following month. It has 

 quite a sprightly little song, and is very activ^e. Hitting rapidly from bush to bush, and 

 rarely ascending among the trees. 



Setoimiaga KiTTicii.LA, Ixedniavt. Apparently not very common ; breeds. First ap- 

 peared at Idaho Springs May "20, from which date until the 1st of June a few were 

 daily seen ; snbseiiuently I .saw but a single individual, a female, near timber-line, in 

 July. 



Geothhjpis irichas and Helmuilliophaga celata are abundant along the edge of the plains, 

 bnt probably never wander as high up as Clear Creek County. 



Pyrang.v iatdoviciana, Louisiana Tanager. This bird arrives at Idaho toward the 

 close of Juno, and soon becomes quite common, remaining till late in August or early 

 in September. It does not extend its range beyond 9,000 feet, bnt breeds from that 

 limit, or !i little lower, all the way down to tlii^ plains It bears a close resemblance 

 to the Scarlet Tanager, both in notes and habits ; rambling leisurely through the pine 

 Avoods, and singing at intervals from the tree tops; descending at times to the lower 

 branches and bushes, where its bright yellow is almost as conspicuous as the flaming 



