172 BBOWN on Birds observed at Coosad", Alabama. 



fallen trees, in a partially cleared field ; one by Mr. J. EL Bond, February 

 L6,by the roadside, in piny woods ; both silent, and much less active than 

 the preceding species. 



18. Anorthura troglodytes var. hyemalis, (Vieill.) Coues. Winter 

 Ween. — Not very common winter visitant, and almost invariably seen 

 in company with the Carolina Wrens. It was the first of the winter birds 

 to disappear. None were met with alter about February 20. 



19. Cistothorus stellaris, (Licht.) Cab. SHORT-BILLED Marsh 

 Ween. — I captured a Bingle pair in an old rice-field, March 21. 



20. Anthus ludovicianus, (Gin.) Lieht. Titlark. — Common dur- 

 ing the winter. Stragglers remained till the last of March. 



21. Mniotilta varia, (L.) Vieill. Black-and-white Creeper. — 

 First seen on March 13 ; soon became common and generally distributed. 

 The males sang from the time of their arrival. 



22. Parula americana, (L.) Bp. Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. — 

 — Haifa dnxt/ii shy individuals met with, the first on March 25. 



23. Protonotaria citrea, (Bodd.) Bd. Prothonotary "Warbler. — 

 Arrived April 12, in full song. After April 20, specimens were seen 

 almost every day, but they never became common. Their haunts were 

 exclusively swamps and the dense hard-wood growths of the water-courses, 

 I found them always active, restless, and noisy. The song is stridulous 

 and piercing, and suggests that of the Black-and-white Creeper, but is 

 more detached and much more strongly accented ; it is indicated very 

 well by the syllables, eh-wiss', eh-wiss', eh-wiss 1 , eh-wi&s 1 , eh-wi&s 1 , eh-wistf, 

 eh-wis8'. A female dissected April 23 contained eggs almost ready for 

 deposition ; no nests, however, were found. 



2 1. Helmitherus swainsoni, (And.) lip. Swainson's Warbler. — 

 On April 12, while forcing my way through the dark, rank forest winch 

 boul the source of Coosada Creek, I caught the final notes of an un- 

 known song uttered close at hand. Instantly seating myself on a fallen 

 tree, 1 awaited its repetition. The woods immediately about me were 

 ipiite dry and comparatively deserted by birds, hut along the neighboring 

 creek many Vireos, Thrushes, and Swamp- Warblers were producing such 

 a babel of sounds that I feared the voice of my unknown songster might 

 escape me. After the lapse of a few minutes, however, a bird emerged 

 from a thicket within a tew yards of me, where he had been industriously 

 scratching amongst the fallen have-, flew into a small sapling, and gave 

 utterance to a Loud, ringing, and very beautiful song. Seen in the dim 

 Lighl of the wood-, he bore a decided resemblance to the Louisiana Water 

 Thrush, and his Bong might almost bave passed for an exceptional per- 

 formance by that bird ; hut 1 at once BUSpected his true identity, and in 

 a few seconds held in my hand the Lifeless body of a male Swainson'8 

 Warbler. 



During the succeeding nine days I repeatedly and most carefully 

 searched this tract of woods and other Localities apparently equally favor- 



