BIRDS OF NELSON COUNTY. 19 



Genus Icteria. 



53. *Icteria virens (Linn.). Yellow-breasted Chat. 



A common summer resident ; arrives about April 25tli. 

 If birds were not known to be temperance lolks, the 

 Chat would be accused of "alcoholism," for this woukl 

 be a very logical explanation of his absurd squawkings 

 and clown- like gyrations in mid-air when the nuptial 

 ecstasy is upon him. Like the preceding species they 

 prefer the seclusion of thickets to all other places, and in 

 such haunts they generally bring up their families ; but I 

 once knew a pair to build their nest in a wren box on a 

 luazza. [See Bulletin NuttaU Ornithological Club, 1881, 

 Vol. vi., p. 115]. 



Genus Sylvania. 



54. Sylvania mitrata (Gmel.). Hooded Warbler. 



Transient. One of our rarer, as well as most beautiful 

 warblers. I have never taken but two specimens — April 

 19th and May 9th, 1877. 



55. Sylvania pusilla (Wilson.) Black-capped Yellow 



Warbler. 



Transient in May ; not common. Generally in low trees 

 in sparsely wooded thickets. 



56. Sylvania canadensis (Linn.). Canadian Fly-catching 



Warbler. 



Transient. Abundant in May ; arrives May 10th to 15th. 

 A bird of the forest. This and the Black-poll generally 

 form the "rear guard" of the great sylvicoline army in 

 their annual march towards the Noith, as it is always, 

 with us, the last of the warblers to appear. 



