SYLVICOLID^ — THE WARBLERS. 267 



with whitish ; there are no black spots on the crown, but, instead, an oliva- 

 ceous stain ; the nape is olivaceous instead of black, and the black centres 

 to dorsal feathers more concealed ; the ash above is less pure, and there is no 

 trace of streaks on the sides. A female (autunnial ?) — 38,141 — from Ori- 

 zaba, Mexico, is grayish-olivaceous above, including the whole top of the head, 

 except beneath the surface ; the feathers on top of head have conspicuous 

 black centres, but there are none on the back ; the sides of the head, and 

 the bases of the feathers on its top, are soiled yellow ; the throat is dirty 

 white, with the feathers, dusky beneath the surface ; the breast and sides 

 have a strong brownish tinge. Another female, and an autumnal one (prob- 

 ably of the year), is more brown above, the specks on the top of the head 

 exceedingly minute : there are also obscure streaks along the sides, where 

 there is a strong brownish tinge. 



Habits. The Western or Hermit Wood Warbler, so far as known, is 

 limited in its distribution to the Pacific coast from Central America to Wash- 

 ington Territory. Specimens procured from Volcan de Fuego, Mexico, Ari- 

 zona, and California, are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 But little is positively known as to its history or habits. Nuttall, who first 

 met with it in the forests on the banks of the Columbia, had no doubt 

 that it breeds in the dark forests bordering on that river. He described it as 

 a remarkably shy and solitary bird, retiring into the darkest and most silent 

 recesses of thq evergreens, and apparently living among the loftiest branches 

 of the gigantic firs of that region. In consequence of its peculiar habits it 

 was with extreme difficulty that his party could get a sight of this retiring- 

 species. Its song, which he frequently heard from these high tree-tops at 

 very regular intervals for an hour or two at a time, he describes as a faint, 

 moody, and monotonous note, delivered when the bird is at rest on some 

 lofty twig, and within convenient hearing of its mate. 



Mr. Townsend, who was one of the same party, shot a pair of these birds 

 near Fort Vancouver, May 28, 1835. They were flitting among the tops of 

 the pine-trees in the depths of the forest, where he frequently saw them 

 hanging from the twigs, in the manner of Titmice. Their notes, uttered at 

 different intervals, he describes as very similar to those of the Black-throated 

 Blue Warbler {D. ccerulescens). 



Dr. Suckley obtained, June, 1856, two specimens at Fort Steilacoom. He 

 also describes them as very shy, feeding and spending most of their time in the 

 tops of the highest firs, so high up as to be almost out of the reach of fine shot. 

 Tlie species he regards as not at all rare on the Pacific coast, but only difficult 

 of procuring, on account of the almost inaccessible nature of its haunts. 



Dr. Cones procured a single specimen of this species in Arizona early in 

 September. It was taken in thick scrub-oak bushes. He thinks it may be 

 a summer resident of that Territory, but, if so, very rare. 



A single specimen was also obtained at Petuluma, Cab, by Mr. Emanuel 

 Samuels, May 1, 1856. 



