594 KIKTLAND'S WAKP.I.El!. 



are indistinct, but the top of the hcail shows ibisky markings. The sides of the hea 1 are wholly nif )us. with 

 no sijrns whatever of l)lack markings, and the white of the eyelids is plainly distiug\iishalile. lieneath. the 

 vellow is not very pale, but is obscured on the sides with ashy rufous. l)ut the hhu-k niai'kings across breast 

 and along sides are (juite distinct. There is a small spjt only on the outer tiil feither which is nearly ter- 

 minal. The wing bars have not appeared, and the feathers are br.jadly ui irgine 1 with rufous ash. 



OBt^EHVATIONS. 



Out of twenty-f iur specimens now bef ire me. six have the second and third ipiiils the Inugest, nine 

 have the third, three have the second, two the third and fiurtli, and fiur the fifth. In cilor there is liut 

 little variation in adult specimens of the same ago and se.K. Some have the dark mirkings on the head 

 not as w-ell concealed as others, and the streakings on the back are broarler, and in some cases extend down 

 quite to the rump, and it is only in the most adult specimens that there is aiiy indication of white im the 

 third tail feather, in fiict, only one in the series has this. The a lult male plumage wlheh I ha\e liescribed 

 and figured, does not appear to have been given before. The sexes differ some, as shown, but n^t as much 

 as I expected. There is considerable variation beneath in what I consider as birds of the first and second 

 years, this is usually shown in the greater or less amount of sjmttings on the breast. In a young male of 

 the first year, this extends over the entire breast anil tln'oat, quite to the chin : the space thus mottled being 

 l.oO broad, from this, we find specimens in all stages of marking-;, to a few dots on the upper breast. 



The first specimen! of this fine Wai'bler, which was ever taken, was captured at sea. between the Island 

 of Abaco and Cuba in lS4."i. but it was n^t until the veteran ornithologist, the late Jarcd P. Kii'thinil. killed 

 a specimen at Cleveland, Cthio, in May. is.'il that the s])ecies was known to science. It was first described 

 by Prof. S. F. Baird in Annals of the New York Lyceum, Vol. V, June. 1S.V_'. The (Cleveland specimen 

 being used as the type. Previous to my visit to the Bahamas in ISS."), there wei-e liut nine sjieciuieris in 

 collections, seven of these having been obtained in the Uniteil States, one at sea, as stated, and one on An- 

 dres, Bahamas, by Mr. Chas. B. Cory. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length, ~>.-'ii>: wing. .'lN--) : tail. L'.lHi; bill. .47: tarsus, .7.'!. 



HABITS. 

 I shot tlie lirst spc'ciuR'ii of Kirthimrs W.-irhk'r that I c'Acr saw H\iii^ on Jiiiif "Jod. jM^M-i''^. 

 1884, two (lays ai'ttT nw arrixal in Nassau. Walking- aloii;j: a. road, wliich. L'X(a-])tiii_o-a (/ 



iiiUTow foot path, was grown up to huslics,! ohsrrved a warhk-r feedinoon the tiroinid. It 

 was elevating and lowering its tail after the manner of a. Water Thiaish, in ftet, li.ad it not 

 been for its small si/e I might have passed it as tliat species. Upon om approach it Hew 

 up into the scruh, and as it was disapjiearing in tlie thick foliage 1 tired at it with my 

 coUectiug gun. It was too far away for the shot to kill it instantly, t'lius it Hew into the 

 thicket for some distance, but my dog found it. This was a fine male, yet it ne\er utter- 

 ed a sound of any kind. Altljough I saw anotlier on January oOth, I did not st'cniv 

 another mitil February 1st. On tliis day I got two, and tlie remaining twenty-one speci- 

 mens were taken all in the \ieinity of Nassau, between that da.t(_' and .Vpril 4t!i of that 

 year. 



Kirtland's Waa-blers are shy birds of solitary habits, for nc\er in any cast' did I lind 

 two together. They inhabit the low scruj), preferring that which is only three or four 

 feet high, lait retire at night to ro(.)st in tlie liigiier, m(.)re dt'iise slnaibbery near the spots 



