230 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



patch on the side of the breast, gamboge-yellow ; space beneath and anterior to the eyes, 

 forepart of breast and sides, black ; this color extending behind on the sides in streaks. 

 Middle of belly, under tail-coverts, a portion of upper and lower eyelids, and a broad band 

 on the wings, with a spot on each of the four or five exterior tail-feathers, white ; rest 

 of tail-feathers black. Female brown above ; the other markings less conspicuous and less 

 black. Length, 5.25 ; wings, 3.20 ; tail, 2.25. Young, first plumage, whole body, includ- 

 ing head all round and rump, conspicuously streaked with slaty-black upon an asliy ground 

 above and white below. No yellow on crown, rump, breast, or throat. Wings and tail as 

 in autumnal adult. 



Hab. Western and Middle Provinces of the United States ; Cape St. Lucas ; Western 

 Mexico and Orizaba ? Oaxaca (cold regions, October, Sclater) ; Guatemala (Salvin). 



This bird is very closely allied to D. coronata, but is distinguished by the 

 yellow (not Avhite) throat ; the absence of a superciliary white stripe (the 

 eyelids white, however) ; the restriction of the black of the face to the lores, 

 and to a suflusion round the eye ; and the presence of one broad band on the 

 wings, instead of two narrow ones. 



Habits. This beautiful Warbler, so strikingly simulating the D. coronata 

 in the character of its markings, and now so well known as a common species 

 on the Pacific coast, was first met with by Mr. Townsend near the Columbia 

 Itiver, where he found it very abundant. His account of its habits is incon- 

 sistent, and probably not reliable. Mr. Nuttall, who was with Mr. Townsend, 

 differs, also, essentially in liis account. He states that he first saw them about 

 the middle of April, and that their song bore a very close resemblance to tliat 

 of the D. Kstiva, but was delivered in a much superior style. They remained 

 his summer companions, breeding among the shady firs on the borders of 

 prairie openings, where there was an abundant supply of insect food. By the 

 8th of June he found their young already out, in small and busy flocks, so- 

 licitously attended by their parents. They greatly resembled the young of 

 the coronata. These birds frequented large trees, particularly the water-oaks, 

 and the lower branches of gigantic firs. 



Dr. Cooper found this Warbler one of the most abundant species of Wash- 

 ington Territory, and believed them to be, to some extent, a resident species, 

 as he met them about the Straits of Fuca in March. He speaks of its song 

 as lively, and heard everywhere on the borders of the woods, even near the 

 coast, where few of the smaller species ever visit. In the fall he noticed 

 straggling flocks of the young wandering about the low shrubl^iery in large 

 numbers. The same writer also states that tliis species is in winter a very 

 abundant bird in the southern part of California, flitting about among the 

 bushes and low trees. The males are then in the dull plumage of the females, 

 and do not put on their richer hues until March or April. He saw none 

 south of San Francisco after May 1, but they began to reappear in September. 

 As he found newly fledged young near Lake Tahoe, he thinks they breed 

 throughout the higher Sierra Nevada. At the sea level in latitude 37° they 

 appear late in September, and remain until March 20. 



Dr. Suckley regarded this bird as the most abundant species visiting the 



