SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 29-5 



A nest of this bird from Chester County, Penn., is a very flat structure, 

 evidently built in a bed of fallen leaves. It has a diameter of six inches and 

 a height of only two. The cup is a mere depression only half an inch in 

 depth. Its base is loosely constructed of dried leaves, upon which is inter- 

 woven a coarse lining of long, dry, and wiry rootlets and stems of plants. 

 It was given to Mr. J. P. Norris, from whom I received it, and it is now in 

 the Boston collection. 



Mr. Eobert Eidgway furnishes the following valuable information in regard 

 to the abundance and general habits of this species as observed in Southern 

 Illinois : " It is a very common summer bird in Southern .Illinois, where it 

 arrives in the Wabash Valley towards the last of April. It is a wood-lovino- 

 species, and of terrestrial habits, like the Seiurus aurocapillus, but generally fre- 

 quents rather different situations from the latter bird, liking better the under- 

 growth of ' bottom ' woods than that of dry forests. In all its manners it 

 closely resembles the Seiuri, especially the two aquatic species, I iidovicianus 

 and novcboraccnsis, having the same tilting motion of the body, and horizontal 

 attitude when perching, so characteristic of these birds. The nest I have 

 never found, though well aware of its actual situation. I knew of one some- 

 where among the ' top ' of a fallen tree, but it was so well concealed that 

 the closest search did not enable me to discover it. In most cases the nest is 

 probably on the ground, among the rubbish of fallen tree-tops, or low brush- 

 wood. 



" The usual note of this Warbler is a sharp tship, almost precisely like that 

 of the Pewee (Sai/ornis fnsctis), uttered as the bird perches on a twig near the 

 ground, continually tilting its body, or is changed into a sharp rapid twitter 

 as one chases another through the thicket. Their song is very pretty, con- 

 sisting of a fine whistle, delivered very much in the style of the Cardinal 

 Grosbeak {Cardinalis virginianus), though finer in tone, and weaker." 



Dr. Cones found this Warbler rare at Washington, and chiefly in low 

 Avoods with thick undergrowth, and in ravines. Tliey were very silent, but 

 not shy, and a few breed there. 



Section GEOTHLYPE/E. 

 Genus G-EOTHLYPIS, Caban. 



Trichas, SwAlNSOX, Zool. Journ. Ill, July, 1827, 167 (not of Gloger, ilareli, 1827, equal to 



Criniger, Temm.). 

 Gcothlypis, Cabaxis, Wieguiaun's Areliiv, 1847, i, 316, 349. — Ib. Sehomburgk's Keise, 



Guiana, 1848. 



Gex. Char. Bill sylvicoline, rather depressed, and distinctly notched ; rictal bristles very 

 short or wanting. Wings short, rounded, scarcely longer than the tail; the first quill 

 shorter than the fourth. Tail long; much rounded or graduated. Legs stout; tarsi elon- 

 gated, as long as the head. Olive-green above, belly yellow. Tail-feathers immaculate. 

 Legs yellow. 



