304 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



jugulum broader, concealing more the black. The adult female in autumn 

 is considerably more dully colored tlian in spring. 



Habits. This comparatively new Warbler was first met with by Town- 

 send, and described by Audubon in the last volume of his Ornithological 

 Biography. It has since been found to have a wide range throughout the 

 western portion of North America, from Cape St. Lucas to British Amer- 

 ica, and from the Plains to the Pacific. It has also been obtained at Choa- 

 pan in the State of Orizaba, Me.\ico, by Mr. Boucard, and in Guatemala by 

 Mr. Salvin, who states that throughout the district between the volcanoes of 

 Agua and Fuego this was a common species, frequenting the outskirts of tlie 

 forests and the edges of the clearings. It bi'eeds in abundance in Utah, 

 Montana, Idaho, Oregon,- Washington Territory, and probably also in Xorth- 

 ern California. 



Townsend first met with it on the banks of the Columliia. He states that 

 it was mostly solitary and extremely wary, keeping chiefiy in the most im- 

 penetrable thickets, and gliding through them in a cautious and suspicious 

 manner. Sometimes it might be seen, at midday, perched upon a dead twig, 

 over its favorite places of concealment, at such times warbling a very sprightly 

 and pleasant little song, raising its head until its bill is nearly vertical. 



Mr. Nuttall informed Mr. Audubon that this Warl)ler is one of the most 

 common summer residents of the woods and plains of the Columbia, where 

 it appears early in May, and remains until the approach of winter. It 

 keeps near the ground, and gleans its subsistence among the low bushes. It 

 is shy, and v/hen surprised or closely watched it immediately skulks off, often 

 utteving a loud click. Its notes, he states, resemble those of the Seiurus 

 aurocapillus. On the 12tli of June a nest was brought to Mr. Nuttall, con- 

 taining two young birds quite fledged, in the plumage of the mother. The 

 nest was chiefly made of strips of the inner bark of the Thuja occidentalism, 

 lined with slender wiry stalks. It was built near the ground in the dead, 

 moss-covered limbs of a fallen oak, and was partly hidden by long tufts of 

 usnea. It was less artificial than the Yellow-Tlnxiat's nest, but was of the 

 same general appearance. On his restoring the nest to its place, the parents 

 immediately approached to feed their charge. 



Dr. Suckley found this Warbler very abundant between the Cascade Moun- 

 tains and the Pacific coast. Like all Ground Warblers it was entirely insec- 

 tivorous, all the stomachs examined containing coleoptera and other insects. 

 He did not find them shy, but as they frequented thick brush they were very 

 difficult to procure. 



Dr. Cooper found this species very common about Puget Sound, frequent- 

 ing the underbrush in dry woods, occasionally singing a song from a low tree, 

 similar to that of the Yellow-Throat. He found its nest built in a bush, a 

 foot from the ground. It was of straw, loosely made, and without any soft 

 lining. Dr. Cooper found this species as far east as Fort Laramie, in Wyo- 

 ming. They reach the Columbia Piiver by the 3d of May. 



