224 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



surface quite asliy. But this is, in fact, an actual 1 )leacliing, frequently to be 

 seen in birds from that region. 



Habits. The geographical range of the common Summer YelloM'-Bird is 

 very nearly coextensive with North America. In its northern distribution 

 it is found as far toward the arctic shores as any of our land birds. Pachard- 

 son speaks of it as well known throughout the fur countries as far as the 

 woods extend, and mentions meeting with it among the earliest arrivals in 

 spring, coming in company with the equally well-known liobin and thv 

 Grakle. At Fort Franklin, latitude 66°, he saw it the 15th of May, aljout 

 the time of its first appearance in New England. This was supposed to be 

 the limit of its northern range, l)ut more recent observations give abundant 

 evidence of its presence, in considerable numbers, to the very shores of the 

 Arctic Ocean. The late Mr. Hepburn, in manuscript notes, states dt to be a 

 common summer visitant both of California and Vancouver's Island, and that 

 along the coast he has traced it as far north as the frontier line of 54° 40', 

 where it arrives at the beginning of May, but does not nest until the end of 

 the month. 



Mr. Dall, in his notes on the birds of Alaska, states that this Warbler is a 

 rather common bird all through that territory, and gi\'es its arrival as about 

 the 10th of ]\Iay. 



Its extreme southern limit is not so distinctly traced, but is at least as far 

 as the northern portions of South America, inclusive of Cayenne and Ecuador. 

 In all of the West Indies except Trinidad it is replaced by several closely 

 allied species or local races. In Trinidad, Mr. E. C. Taylor states tliat he 

 found this species common, and could perceive no difference from North 

 American specimens. In Guatemala it is abundant in the winter. 



Dr. Cones found this A¥arbler abundant in Arizona, where it is a summer 

 resident, from April 25 to the nuddle of September. There, as elsewhere, 

 its preference for watercourses was noticed. Wherever found, it is always 

 most abundant in alluvial meadows, and more rare in other localities. 



Dr. Samuel Cabot found this Warbler common in Central America, and 

 Dr. Cragin, of Surinam, sent the Boston Society several specimens fi'oni 

 Guiana. Dr. Woodhouse found it abundant in Texas and New Mexico, 

 as did Drs. Suckley and Cooper in Washington Territorv and California. It 

 breeds over the whole area of North America, from Georgia on the southeast 

 and from Mexico, northward. Dr. Sundchrast found it, only as a migratory 

 bird, abundant on the plains of Mexico. 



The notes of Mr. Kennicott and the memoranda of Messrs. McFarlane, 

 Boss, and Lockhart attest the extreme abundance of this species in the farthest 

 Arctic regions. In nearly every instance the nests were placed in M'illows 

 from two to five feet from the ground, and near water. In one instance Mr. 

 Ross found the eggs of this species in the nest of Turdus swainsoni, which 

 had either been deserted or the parent killed, as the eggs were in it, and would 

 probably have been hatched by the Warbler with her own. 



