,)0 PEAIIiU-: AVAKBI-I-.n, 



PRAIRIE WARBLER. 



r>eiirtroica discolor. 



Plate V, Fig. 3, male; Fig. 4, female. 



Size, 4.50 to 5.20 Yellow beneath, with black streak- 

 ings on sides of head, on neck and on sides; abovC; yellowish 

 oreen. Locally common in Eastern Massachusetts and south- 

 ward. 



Male. Yellowish green above, with a few prominent spots of chestnut in 

 the middle of the back. Space above and below eye and loAvcr parts, cxceptirg 

 abdomen and under tail coverts, which are white, yellow, with a series of spots 

 and streaks, beginning at base of bill and extending along sides, black. Wing 

 bars, ycllo\\ i-b. 



Fem.vle. While generally similar to the male, is much more dull in color, 

 with the chestnut of hack not very clearly defined, and the strcakings beneath 

 are dusky, not black. 



YorxG. Similar to the adult female, but paler, and, especially in females, 

 often without a trace of chestnut above or spots below. 



Dimensions. Length, .5.7.) ; stretch, 7.013 ; Aving, 2.2.5 ; tail, 1.8.5 : bill, 

 .4.5 ; tarsus, .70. 



CoMPARisoxs. Readily known in the adult stage by the yellow beneath 

 with black streakings as described, and chestnut spots on back. In other stages 

 by the yellowish wing bars, this being the only species of New England warbler 

 that has these so colored. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests, compact structures, jilaced in bushes, composed 

 of weeds, strips of bark and grass, etc., lined with very fine grasses. 



Eggs, four or five, wdiite, spotted and blotched irregularly with reddish- 

 brown and lilac. Dimensions, .GO by ,50. 



General Habits. The Prairie AVarl)ler did not receive 

 a very aj^propi'iate name as it is not found on grassy plains, 

 but occurs on hill-sides and in fields grown up to bushes. 

 At least this is its regular habitat here in Massachusetts, and 

 on the Bahamas it also occurs in shnilar growths. In South- 

 ern Florida and among the Ke^'S I found these birds in man- 



