KW BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Suleia marutaiidira WlLB. Am. Orii. i.lN0g.t<8.pl. Cfle. 1: il. 1S09, 1(R.|>I. lH,ne. 4. 



TiirhaH marulanilii-a NUTT. Mull. cd. 2. 1.1840,443. -Auii. Syuop. IK8.65: B. Am. II.1H4L 

 7X, pi. 102. 

 Suhin roKcor AuD. Orn. Hliic i. lKi2.124.pl. 24. 



Trie/to* roBCoe Nutt. Miin. 2<l oil. I. lWii.4". 



B. oooidentalis. WISTERN YELLOW THBOAT. 

 Popular synonyms. Sihik' as fiTilK' r.ii.m< rii fiTin.) 

 Geollilupif Irivhnii AucT.— (WostiTn refiTi-uees.) 

 Ueothlypis trichaa ovcidenlalin Ubewht. Bull. Nutt, Orn. Club. vlil.July, IHS.p. IK*. 



Had. Tho truo II. trichaa cliinfly cast of tlio AIU'kIihiiIcs. or at leiiKt ciwt of the li>w- 



laud portlona of the UisslHSippi Valley. U. trichnu i>,r,il,-i,tnHs fr ili.- MiHsJM8lj)pl 



Valley to tho Piiolflcr Cou8t. 



RP. Cbar. Adiilt mall'. Aliovu olIVf-Krecn. bcc oiimit.' Iirowmr ■n \iu- impi'. Forc- 

 hiMid. lores, urblts.aiirlculars.uiul malur rcKiim deep blai-k ; this bordt-rcd postiTiorly by 

 lieht ash-Kray or grayish whiti'. Chin, throat, jUKulum, and breast, rich eaniboei--yol- 

 hiw. .\b<l<>ini'n. sidi's and flanks, dull yidlowish whitf in true fi. trirlian. yellow In orci- 

 denlatis. Ailiill feninif. Mueh dulli'r in eolor than the male, without black, irniy. or 

 white on head.whieh is mostly dull brownish, the pileum or aurii-ulars. or both, some- 

 times tinned with reddish. Ycdlow of throat, etc., mueli duller than in the male. I'oiiiio. 

 first i>}ini\age. Somewhat like th<> adult female, but still duller in color. Lower parts 

 dull olivaceous, anteriorly, linked with yellow on throat, the posterior portions pali> 

 dull liufT. Young, in first fall. Lower parts entirely lieht dull buff. 



Wins (of male), 2.00-2. 40; tail,l.SW-2.40. 



We have not formally se])arated the two races mdicated iu the 

 above synonymy and description, for the reason that at present we 

 are not sure of their exact hmits. Occidentalis is evidently the pre- 

 vailing form in Illinois and Indiana, much the larger number of 

 specimens having the larger size and more extensively yellow lower 

 parts of the western foi-m. Still there is much variation in this 

 latter character, and it may be that both forms occur. 



This merry httle denizen of the briar-patches is one of the most 

 conspicuous members of the family to which he belongs, being both 

 abundant and famihar, and furthermore decked with such a marked 

 plumage that he cannot fail to attract notice. The broad, velvety 

 black spectacles contrast handsomely with the bright yellow of his 

 throat and the whitish hue above them, giving him a vei7 wise 

 look, as he peers at one through the briars or weed-stalks ; and his 

 pretty song of wltchiti/ — icitcliity — iritchity', uttered from the top of 

 a rose bush or among the brambles, is to be heard throughout the 

 day. Its nest is usually built between upright weed-stalks or coarse 

 grass- or sedge-stems, in the damper portions of a meadow, and is 

 deeply cup-shaped, the opening being at the top. The eggs vary in 

 number from four to six, and before being blown are of a delicate 

 pinkish white, the larger end marked by a ring of specks and "pen- 

 lines" of different shades of brown. 



