■^ 



570 ORANGE-CRUVVNED WARBLER. 



GENUS HELMINTHOPHAGA. THE ACUMINATE-BILLED WARBLERS. 



Gen. Ch. Bill, about equal in length to the head, slender, and very acuminate. Tarsus, longer than 

 the middle toe and claw. Height of keel, equal to one-half the width of the sternum. CoracoiJ bones. 

 shorter in length than the top of the keel. 



Members of this genus are closely related to those of the preceding, but may ivadily be distinguished 

 from them by the smaller, more acuminate bill. As far as is known, with a single exception, they all place 

 their nests upon the ground. The colors are generally dull with occasionally prominent markings on throat 

 and breast. 



HELMIIMTHOPHAGA CELATA 

 Orange-crowned Warbler- 



Ilelminthophaga celata Baird, Birds of North America. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, quite slender. Size, not large. Bill, slender, not long. Tail, slightly emarginate, 

 wing bars, white spots on tail absent. Sternum, quite stoutly built. Tongue, long, narrow, thin .and horny, 



with the end cleft and coarsly ciliated ; these cilia do not extend alung the 



sides, however. •. . . ..:■■:■ 



Color. Adult male, uniform dull olivaceous green, brightest on the 

 rump and lighter beneath. There is a slight indication of a greenish super- 

 ciliary line. There is a concealed patch of bright orange on the crown- 

 Tail and wings, brown with the outer webs edged with greenish The 

 adult female is similar but has less orange on the crown. The young are 

 without the orange crown and have a suffusion of ashy over the entire sur- 

 Fig. 84. Head fjice of the body which is more perceptible on the sides of the head. The 



of Adult Orange- colors beneath are paler and there are two whitish bands on the wing, 



crowned Warbler. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 The birds which 1 have described are from Florida. Those from the West are greener above, and much 

 yellower beneath ; there is no more orange on the crown of specimens from the latter locality than from the 

 former. The adults may be known from all other Warblers by the orange crown. The young are more 

 ashy than any other members of the genus. This species appears to be distributed tliroughout Fasten 

 temperate North America in summer, but is rare east of the Alieghanies; commen westward ; winters in 

 Florida, Cuba and northern South America. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of si.v specimens from Florida. Length, 1.94 ; stretch, 7. 88; wing, L'.'.O; tail, 

 L80; bill, .44; tarsus, .65. Longest specimen, 5.30; greatest extent of wings, 8.-5: longest wing, ■_'.!)(); 

 tail, li.OO ; bill, .50, tarsus, ,70. Shortest specimen, 4.75 ; smallest extent of wings, 7.10; shortest wing, 

 2.10; tail, 1,75; bill, .40; tarsus, Xi). 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



The following description was made by Mr. Ridgeway, from specimens in the Smithsonian Institute, 

 taken by Mr. Kennicott, at Yukon River, Alaska. 



Nests, composed entirely of grasses, which are finer in the lining. It is deeply cup-shaped. Dimen- 

 sions, external diameter, 3 inches, internal, 2; external depth, 2.50 inches, internal, 1.75. Efios, six in 

 number, oval in form, pure white in color, finely sprinkled around the larger ends with reddish brown and 

 lilac. 



