Species XXII. SYLVIA PROTONOTARIUS. 



PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 



[Plate XXIV. Fig. 3.] 

 Ard. Zool. p. 410.— BuFFON, v., 316.— Latuam, ii., 494. PI. Enl. 704. 



This is an inhabitant of the same country as the Painted Bunting; 

 and also a passenger from the south ; with this difference, that the bird 

 now before us seldom approaches the house or garden ; but keeps among 

 the retired deep and dark swampy woods, through which it flits nimbly 

 in search of small caterpillars ; uttering every now and then a few 

 screaking notes, scarcely worthy of notice. They are abundant in the 

 Mississippi and New Orleans territories, near the river ; but are rarely 

 found on the high ridges inland. 



From the peculiar form of its bill, being roundish and remarkably 

 pointed, this bird might with propriety be classed as a sub-genus, or 

 separate family, including several others, viz., the Blue-winged Yellow 

 Warbler, the Golden-crowned Warbler, the Golden-winged Warbler, the 

 W6rm-eating Warbler, and a few more. The bills of all these corres- 

 pond nearly in form and pointedness, being generally longer, thicker 

 at the base, and more round than those of the genus Sylvia, generally. 

 The first mentioned species, in particular, greatly resembles this in its 

 general appearance ; but the bill of the Prothonotary is rather stouter, 

 and tlie yellow much deeper, extending farther on the back ; its manners 

 and the country it inhabits are also different. 



This species is five inches and a half long, and eight and a half in 

 extent ; the head, neck, and whole lower parts (except the vent) are of 

 a remarkably rich and brilliant j'^ellow, slightly inclining to orange; 

 vent white ; back, scapulars and lesser wing coverts yellow olive ; wings, 

 rump and tail coverts a lead blue ; interior vanes of the former black ; 

 tail nearly even, and black, broadly edged with blue, all the feathers, 

 except the two middle ones, are marked on their inner vanes near the 

 tip with a spot of white ; bill long, stout, sharp pointed and wholly 

 black ; eyes dark hazel ; legs and feet a leaden gray. The female 

 differs in having the yellow and blue rather of a duller tint ; the infe- 

 riority, however, is scarcely noticeable. 



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