DENDRCECID^ — THE WARBLEKS — ICTERIA. 99 



Many of this species arrived at Fort Mojave about April 20, 1861 ; 

 and at San Diego I saw one on April 26, 1862. Most of them, prob- 

 ably, take an inland route towards the north. They inhabit chiefly the 

 warmer valleys, near streams and marshes ; and the only place on the coast 

 where I have seen them was Santa Cruz, where I fomid a nest, with young, 

 in June. In deference to the opinion of most American naturalists, we 

 have retained a distinct name for the California Chat, as distinguished from 

 I. virois of the East. Tlie principal difference, however, is a greater 

 lenoth of tail, which, in view of the variations in this respect observed 

 in many species, appears hardly of specific value. 



At Fort Mojave on May 19th I found a nest built in a dense thicket of 

 Algarobia, containing three eggs, besides one of the cowbird {Molothrus). 

 It was made of slender green twigs and leaves, and lined with grass and 

 hairs. The eggs were white, sprinkled witli cinnamon near tlie large end, 

 somewhat in the form of a ring. Size, 0.75 X 0.64 inch. 



The nest is usually closely concealed, but that found at Santa Cruz 

 was in a very open situation, and only about two feet above tlie ground. I 

 found it by chance, after hunting the dense thickets around thoroughly, 

 and when on the point of giving it up. Tlie old birds are very bold when 

 the nest is approached, keeping up a constant scolding, and almost flying 

 in the intruder's face. At other times they are very shy, and scarcely to 

 be seen without long watching for them. 



During the spring both day and night the song of the male is heard, 

 which consists of a great variety of grotesque notes, more odd than musical, 

 and like those of no other liird. They resemble sometimes the noises of 

 clucks, cats, and puppies, but these sounds are not imitated, as they are sim- 

 ilar everywhere, and are the same with our species as with the Eastern. 

 Their food consists chiefly of insects and berries. They probably leave the 

 State in September. 



A male specimen from Fort JMojave has the tail as short as the Eastern 

 /. virens (3.25 inch), but resembles coast specimens in its grayish color. 

 A female like it has since been found there by Mr. Holder. The time of 

 arrival of this bird seems remarkably uniform, as they reached Santa Cruz, 

 in 1866, about April 27tli. 



A chat from Mexico has been described as Idcria Velasquezi, differing 

 principally from the species of the United States in the whitish color of 

 the lower mandible. Young birds, however, of /. vircns exhibit tliis same 

 peculiarity, and it is ahnost certain that this IMexican species has no claim 

 to a distinctive name. 



In the general appearance of the Idcria there is quite a close relation- 

 ship to a genus Terdristis from Cuba. 



