I20 SYLVICOLID^ : AMERICAN WARBLERS. 



TENNESSEE WARBLER. 



Helminthophaga peregrina ( Wils.) Cab. 



Chars. Adult male : Above, yellowish-olive, brightest posteriorly, 

 changing anteriorly to pure ash ; no crown-patch ; lores, eye-ring, 

 and frequently a supraciliary stripe, whitish. Under parts dull 

 white, scarcely or not tinged with yellowish. Wings and tail 

 dusky, strongly edged with the color of the back, the outer tail- 

 feathers frequently with obscure whitish spots. Bill and feet dark. 

 Female : The ashy of the head less pure, and the whole under 

 parts more or less tinged with yellowish. Young : Like the adult 

 female, but whole upper parts more decidedly yellowish-olive, and 

 under parts strongly tinged with yellowish. In distinguishing 

 this species, the great length of the pointed wing, in comparison 

 with the short tail, will be diagnostic when tlie plumage may be 

 much like that of riificapilla or celata. Length, 4.50-4.75 ; ex- 

 tent, 8.00 or more ; wing about 2.75, with the first three or four 

 quills of nearly equal lengths ; tail only 2.00, or less. 



The Tennessee Warbler would appear to be one of 

 those species whose range in the breeding season 

 helps to draw the New England line between the 

 Alleghanian and Canadian Faunas ; but it is rather 

 too rare a bird in this part of the world to enable 

 us to settle its geographical status in a perfectly 

 satisfactory manner. In southern New England, 

 according to the consenting testimony of all the local 

 lists, it occurs only during the migrations, and is 

 never common. It reaches Connecticut early in May, 

 passes on during that month, and reappears in Septem- 

 ber. Mr. Merriam mentions one instance of occur- 

 rence near Suffield, Conn., June 8, 1875, "which is 

 so late that one might almost suspect it of breeding 

 within our limits" (Rev. B. Conn., 1877, p. 14). 

 Allen, Brewer, and Minot concur in stating that it i^ 



