40G NATURAL HISTORY. 



Spring and autumn visitant. Exceedingly abundant from April 25 till 

 May 15. Perhaps a few breed, as we have found them the first week 

 in August. In fall abundant from August 25 to second Aveek in Oc- 

 tober. Inhabits exclusively high, open woods, and usually seen in 

 the tops of the trees, or at the extremities of the branches, in the 

 tufts of leaves and blossoms. (Albino obtained.) 



55. Protonotaria citrea, (Bodd.,) Bd. — Prothonotary Warbler. Ex- 

 ceedingly rare; perhaps only an accidental visitor. An individual 

 seen in a swampy briar patch May 2, 1861. Probably its most north- 

 ern range, if regularly found here. 



5G. Geothlypis trichas, (Linn.,) Cab. — Maryland Yellow-throated 

 Warbler. Very abundant summer resident, breeding in great num- 

 bers. Arrives April 25, becoming exceedingly numerous on its first 

 appearance. Remains until October. Inhabits the densest briar 

 patches, generally in swampy situations. Never seen in high woods, 

 seldom in orchards or hedgerows. Associates with Cistothorus palus- 

 ti'is, in the Zizania aquatica marshes. Nest on ground. 



[G . philadel2jMa is undoubtedly an inhabitant of the District.] 



57. Oporornis agilis, (Wils.,) Bd. — Connecticut Warbler. Rather 

 uncommon in the fall, during the month of October. Excessively 

 rare in spring; we never have seen it in that season. Frequents old 

 buckwheat and corn fields, searching for food among the dry, rank 

 weeds; also low thickets in swampy places. 



58. Op)orornis formosus, (Wils.,) Bd. — Kentucky Warbler. Rare. 

 Found chiefl}^ in low woods with thick undergrowth, ravines, &c. 

 Yery silent, but not shy. A few breed here, 



59. Icteria viridis, (Gm.,) Bon. — Yellow-breasted Chat. Summer 

 resident, breeding very abundantly. Arrives the last week in April, 

 leaves about the middle of September. Frequents exclusively most 

 dense and impenetrable briar patches. Males exceedingly shy and 

 difficult to procure until the females commence incubation, when they 

 are quite the reverse. 



60. Helmitherus vermivorus, (Gm.,) Bon. — Worm-eating Warbler. 

 Rathen uncommon summer resident, breeding sparingly. Arrives 

 first week in May, remains till third week in September. Slow and 

 sedate in its movements. 



61. Helminthophaga chrysoptera^ (Linn.,) Cab. — Golden-winged War- 

 bler. Spring and autumn visitant. Yery rare. 



62. Helminthophaga p«7i!<.s, (Linn.,) Baird. — Blue- winged Yellow 

 Worm-eating Warbler. Spring and autumn visitant. Yery rare. 



63. Helminthophaga rujicapilla, (Wils.,) Bd. — Nashville Warbler. 

 Spring and autumn visitant. Rare. 



64. Helminthophaga peregrina, (Wils.,) Cab. — Tennessee Warbler. 

 Spring and autumn visitant. Yery rare. 



[Our observations warrant the belief that all the Helminthophagece 

 are exceedingly rare. Though the four species given have been de- 

 tected, the data with regard to their arrival and departure have not 

 been ascertained.] 



65. Seiurns aurocapilliis, (Linn.,) Sw. — Golden-crowned Wagtail. 

 Exceedingly abundant summer resident. Arrives April 12 ; for 

 about two weeks keeps perfectly silent, hiding in the thickets and 



