BLUE YELLOW-BACKED WARBLER. 579 



OBSERVATIUNS. 



As already related under observations in the two previous articles, there is some variation in the spots 

 on the tail, a small percentage having the dark spot at the tip of the vein seen in H. chrysoptera (see Figs. 

 85 and 80 ) but on the other hand, a larger number of specimens have the white eidarged so as to cross the 

 vein. Some specimens also have tlie wing bars as golden yellow as in the avarage of H. chrysoptera, and 

 we find all gradations between this and the white of typical H. pinus. Occurs during summer throughout 

 Eastern United States, north to Southern New England and Minnesota, west to Nebraska, middle Kansas and 

 Texas; winters in Eastern Mexico and Guatemala. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length, 4.50 to 5.00 ; stretch, G.85 to 7.50; wing, 2.25 to 2.40; tail, 1.85 to 2.00; 1)111, .40 to .45 ; tar- 

 sus, .95 to .68. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground composed of weed stalks, strips of bark, leaves, moss etc., lined with finer 

 material. Eggs, four or five, oval in form, white in color finely sprinkled with reddish brown, umber and 

 black. Dimensions, .47 by .65 to ..50 by .67. 



HABITS. 

 I li;ive met with this line warbler uik)ii very few occa.sioiis, tlju.'^ can add nothiiiu; 

 of interest to our knowledge of its habits, wliieh do not appear to dider from those of nearest 

 rehitives. 



GENUS. COMPSOTHLYPIS. THE LITLLE WARBLERS. 



Gen. Ch. Bill, considerably shorter than the head, .slender and acuminate. Tarsus, longer than the 

 liind toe and claw. Height of keel, not exceeding one-half the width of sternum. Coracoid bones, e(jual in 

 length to the top of keel. Birds of this genus, although small in size, are rather stout in fjrm. 



COPVIPSOTHLYPiS AMERICANA. 

 Blue Yellow-backed Warbler. 



Parula Americana Bon., List of Birds of North America, ISoS. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Size, small. Wings, rather long. Tail, square and slightly cmarginate. Sternum, not 

 stoutly built. Tongue, rather thick an<l fleshy at the basal half, then suddenly l)ecomcs thin and acuminate- 

 The end is cleft for five-hundredths of an inch and the divided portions are coarsely ciliated. This tongue is 

 quite unique among Warblers, differing from any others that I have seen in having a fleshy base, terminat- 

 ing abruptly in a thin point. 



CoLOK. Adult male. Above, slaty blue, brightest on the head ; with a large patch of greenish yellow 

 in the middle of the back. Wings and tail, brown, edged with bluish ; the six outer feathers of the latter are 

 spotted subterminally, on the inner webs, with white. The two rows of ujiper wing coverts are tipped with 

 ■white, forming rather broad bars The blue above extends down on the sides of the head and neck, but is 

 rather dusky on these parts. The lores are black, and there is a spot of white on the upper and lower eye- 

 lids. The sides and flanks are tinged with pale bluish. Throat and breast, yellow, with a patch of chest- 

 nut brown across the upper part of the latter, which is sometimes preceded by a narrow line of the same color 

 as the sides of the neck. The remaining under surface, including under tail coverts, under wing coverts and 

 •closed wing beneath, white. Ventral region, tinged with yellow. Adult female, similar to the male, but 

 the chestnut of the breast and the yellow of the back is not as bright nor as extended. Young male, similar 



