SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 199 



soiigless bird, rarely giving forth any sounds, and these are compared by Dr. 

 liichardson to the creaking noise made by the whetting of a saw. Wilson 

 compares these sounds to the cracking of dry twigs or the striking together 

 of small pebbles. Mr. J. A. Allen speaks of its song as being similar to that 

 of the Chestnut-sided AVarbler, which latter bird, as is well known, has notes 

 so closely resembling those of the Summer Yellow-bird that it is difficult to 

 distinguish one from the other by their notes. Mr. T. M. Trippe states, also, 

 that this Warbler has a very fine song, resembling that of the Summer Yel- 

 low-Bird more nearly than any other. 



These Warblers arrive in Massachusetts about the first of May, and remain 

 about three weeks, when the larger portion move farther north. 



]\Iore recently Mr. Paine writes me that the Nashville Warbler has of 

 late years become a common bird in certain localities in Central Vermont. 

 They come and keep company with the Canada Warbler, but are more rest- 

 less than that species at the time of their first appearance. They always 

 in the breeding-season take up their abode in thickets, where there are also 

 tall trees. Mr. Paine adds that their song consists of repetitions of single 

 notes, the last terminating somewhat abruptly. Their song ceases by the 

 10th of June. After their young are ready to fly, they disperse about the 

 woods and fields, and are then not readily discovered. 



Helminthophaga virginiae, Baird. 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN WARBLER; VIRGINIA'S WARBLER. 



ffehninihojAaga virginice, Baird, Birds N. Ain. under exi)lanatioii of plates, 1860, xi, 

 pi. Ixxix, fig. 1 (Fort Burgwyn, N. M.) ; Rev. 177. —Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 85. 



Sp. Char. Somewhat like H. ruficapilla. Male. Top and sides of head, back, and 

 wings light ashy-plumbeous ; quills and tail-feathers brown, edged with pure ashy-plum- 

 beous, the latter indistinctly and narrowly margined with whitish internally and at the end. 

 Rump, with upper and lower tail-coverts, bright yellow, in vivid contrast with the rest of 

 the body. Crown with a concealed patch of rich chestnut. Rest of under parts brownish- 

 white, with a patch of rich yellow on the jugulum. Inside of wings and axillars pure white. 

 A white ring round the eye. Bill and legs dusky. The colors much duller in autumn. 



Female, spring. Similar to the male, but chestnut spot on crown obsolete, the yellow 

 jugular patch less distinct, the upper tail-coverts more greenish, and the lower less rich 

 yellow. 



Length, 5.00 ; extent, 7.25 ; wing, 2.50 when fresh. Dried skin : length. 4.90 ; wing, 

 2.50 ; tail, 2.20 ; tarsus, .67. 



Hab. Southern Rocky Mountains (Middle Provhicc of United States) ; East Humboldt, 

 Wahsatch, and Uintah Mountains. 



A young bird (No. 53,355, East Humboldt Mountains, Nevada, August 5) 

 is olive-gray above, becoming green on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; the 

 middle 'and secondary coverts narrowly tipped with pale grayish-buff, pro- 

 ducing two indistinct bands. The lower parts are pale dirty-buff, except the 



