308 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PASSERES— OSCINES. 



species may always be kuown by the lack of any special sharp markings whatever, except the 

 superciliary Hue ; and by the combination of white wing-bars with large oblique tail-spots 

 confined to the two outer pairs of feathers. One of the largest species, as well as most simply 

 colored; length 5.50-5.75; extent 8.50-9.00; wing '2.75-3.00; tail 2.40; tarsus 0.70; bill 

 0.45. Eastern U. S., strictly; N. only to Canada and New Brunswick, W. only to the Missis- 

 sippi Valley. Breeds tliroughout its whole range, and abounds in winter in the Southern 

 States; is nearly resident, being sometimes seen in the Middle States in midwinter, and in 

 New England early and late, with snow. Nests in pine-trees ; nest and eggs not peculiar. 



*#* Thus passing in review the 23 " solid " species of Dendroeca, with two varieties lately 

 introduced, I may allude to two species described by early authors, but never identified. 

 1. Si/lvia montana, Wilson. This I have given (in the orig. ed., p. 105) some reasons for sup- 

 posing to be a young D. virens. 2. Sylvia carbonata, Audubon. A strongly -marked bird, 

 the like of which has never been seen since. It has been conjectured to be a hybrid of B. 

 tigrina and D. striata. 

 40. SIU'RUS. (Gr. o-ei'w, seio, I wave or brandish ; ovpa, oura, tail.) Wag-tail Warblers. In 

 general form scarcely distinguishable from Dendroeca; larger in size, different in pattern of 

 coloration, in habits, gait, and nidification. BiU ordinary. Rictal bristles short but evident. 

 Wings pointed, much longer than tail. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Tail nearly 

 even, with rather acute feathers, and long, copious under coverts. Neither wings nor tail parti- 

 colored. Above olivaceous, with or without head-markings, otherwise uniform ; below white, 

 buffy, or yellowish, profusely streaked. Legs slender, usually pale-colored. Habits terrestrial 

 to some extent ; nest on the ground ; eggs white, spotted. Vocal powers preeminent. Gait 

 ambulatorial, not saltatorial, and some other traits decidedly Motacilline. 



Analysis of Species. 



Crowu orange-brown, with two black stripes ; no superciliary line auricapillus 135 



Crown like back ; a long superciliary line. 



Below, yellowish, heavily streaked ; smaller; bill not over 0.50 ncevius 136 



Below, whitish, lightly streaked j larger ; bill over 0.50 motacilla 138 



135. S. auricapil'lus. (Lat. aurum, gold ; capiUus, hair. Fig. 169.) Golden-crowned Wag- 

 tail Warbler. Golden-crowned Accentor. Golden-crowned Thrush. Oven-bird. 

 (J 9 J adult : Entire upper parts, including the wings and tail, uniform bright olive-green, 

 without markings. Top of head with black lateral stripes, bounding a golden-brown or dull 

 orange space. A white ring round eye ; no white super- 

 ciliary stripe. Under parts white, thickly spotted with 

 dusky on the breast, the spots lengthening into streaks on 

 the sides ; a narrow black maxiUary line ; under wing- 

 "* ^"^ «aBMH^^ coverts tinged with yellow. Legs flesh-colored. Length 

 ^ ti^HP^ 5.75-6.50, usually 6.00-6.25; extent 8.75-10.40, usually 



X'^^^^ 9.50-10.00 ; wing 2.90-3.25 ; tail about 2.50. Varies 



nuch in size, but is remarkably constant in coloration with 

 Fi«.i69.-Oveu-bird, nat. size. (Ad age, sex, and season; sexes indistinguishable, and young 

 nat. flel.E. c.) scarcely to be told from the adults. Fall specimens 



ordinarily quite as bright-colored as those of spring ; and the orange-brown crown-spot, though 

 it may be less bright, is acquired by the young with their first full feathering. There are 

 at first no crown-stripes, and the lower parts are bufty, indistinctly streaked; upper parts 

 fulvous-brown ; wings and tail as in the adult. N. Am., W. to Colorado, Dakota, and 

 Alaska ; breeds throughout its N. Am. range ; winters from the southern border southward. A 

 pretty and engaging species, called '• Oven-bird" from the way it has of roofing over its nest, 

 abundant in woodland, inigratory. In May the w^oods resound with its loud crescendo chant, 

 so incessant and obtrusive that the bird was long in acquiring the reputation of musical ability 



m 



