DENDRffiCID.E — THE WARBLERS — HELMINTHOPHAGA. §5 



would have clone, but did not suceeed in discovering tlieni building. I ob- 

 tained li\-e males and one female, all in good plumage. 



Helminthophaga Virginice, Hurd. 



VIKGINIA'S WARBLER. 



Helminthophaga Virginia!, B.iiiiii, Birds N. Anier. 18G0, xi. ; |j1. 79, f. 1. Ib. Rev. Aiiier. 

 Birds, 177. — CouES, Pi-. Ac. N. Sc. 18G6, 70. 



Sp. Ciiak. Similar to //. rufcapilla. Top and sides of liead, back, and wings, light 

 ashv pinnibcous, with an ahnost imperceptible wash uf olivactous-grcen ; quills and tail 

 feathers brown, edged with pure ashy plumljeous, the latter indistinctly and narrowly mar- 

 gined with whitish, internally, and at the end. Rump, with upjjer and lower tall coverts 

 bright yellow, in vivid contrast with the rest of the bod)-. Crown with a concealed patch 



of orange-brown. Rest of under parts brownish-white, with indications of yellow from chin 

 to breast, perhaps entirely yellow there wdien mature. Inside of wings and axillars whit- 

 ish. A white I'ing round the eye. Bill and legs dusky. Length, 5.00 ; extent, 7.25 ; wing, 

 2.50; tail, 2.20; tarsus, 0.C7. 



Hah. Prescott, Arizona, and Fort Burgwyn, New Jlexico. 



Of this very rare species but two specimens have been observed, and 

 nothing is known of its habits, which, however, in all probability resemble 

 those of H. cclata, riificainlla, etc., in nesting on or near the ground, feeding 

 on minute insects, etc. The plitmage described al)ove is not quite mature, 

 and tlie colors during the breeding season are doubtless considerably 

 brighter and better defined. 



The discovery within a few years in Arizona and New Mexico of new 

 warblers, such as Helmintliojiliaga Virginice, Helminthophaga Luciai, and 

 Bendroica Gi-acim, shows that the ornithological fauna of the West is not yet 

 exhausted, and that as its hitherto ttnexjjlored regions, especially those to- 

 wards the sottthern Isoundaries of the United States, are investiuated, addi- 

 tional varieties will be brought to light. These will in all probability con- 

 sist of insecti\'orous oscines and flycatchers, rather than of conirostral birds. 



