o6<i BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



DENDROICA PENSYLVANICA (Linx.) 

 274. Chestnut-sided Warbler. (659) 



Male ill xpriiuj : — Back, streaked with black and pale yellow (sometiine.s 

 <ishy or whitish), whole crown pure yellow, immediately bordered with white, 

 then enclosed in black ; sides of head and neck and whole under pai-ts, pure 

 -white, the former with an irregular black crescent before the eye, one horn 

 extending backward over the eye to Ijorder the yellow crown and be dissipated 

 on the sides of the nape, the other reaching downward and ))ackward to con- 

 nect with a chain of pure chestnut streaks that run the whole length of the 

 T)ody. the under eyelid and auriculars being left white ; wing bands, genei'allj- 

 fused into one large jjatch, and like the edging of the inner secondai'ies, much 

 tinged with yellow ; tail spots white as usual ; bill, blackish ; feet, brown. 

 Fcinafe in xpriii^j : — Quite similar ; colors less pui'e ; black loral crescent obscure 

 •or wanting; chestnut streaks thinnei'. Yoiiikj : — Above, including the crown, 

 •clear yellowish-green, perfectly uiiiforui or back with slight dusky touches ; 

 no distinct head markings ; l)eU)W, entirely white from bill to tail, oi- else 

 showing a ti'ace of chestnut streaks on the sides ; wing bands, clear yellow, 

 as in the adult ; this is a diagnostic feature, shared by no other species, taken 

 in connection with the continiu)usly white undei- parts ; bill, light coloi-ed 

 below. Length, o-o\ ; wing, 2^ ; tail, 2. 



Hab. — Eastern United States and Southern Canada, west to the Plains, 

 breeding southward to Central Illinois and in tlic Appalachian Highlands, 

 probably to Norther'U (leorgia. Visits the Bahauuis and Central Amei'ica in 

 winter. 



Nest, in the fork of a l)ush or sapling, three to eight feet from the gif)und, 

 <;omposed of l)ark sti'ips and grass, and lined with plant down and hair. 



Eiggs, four oi- five creamy-white v\ith reddish-Virown maiking. 



The Chestnut-sided is a coniinuii summer resident, breeding in 

 suitable places near the city and throughout the country, and raising 

 two broods in the season. It is very partial to briar patches, but 

 sometimes goes gleaning for insects among the trees, when the 

 blending of its varied plumage with the fresh spring foliage produces 

 n vei'y pleasing effect. It arrives from the south about the 10th of 

 May, and departs early in September. 



Although it seems quite at home in 8outhern Ontario, many 

 individuals must take a wider range, for Dr. Coues reports it as 

 a common summer resident in the woodlands near Pembina, and 

 Kennicott found it at the Lake of the Woods on the 25th of May. 

 The song, when heard in its haunts in the early spring, is pleasing, 

 and delivered with much spirit. Any of these birds whose note.s I 

 have once or twice heard I leadily recognize again, and trust to the 

 i'(ir more than to the ci/c to tell what birds are about me in the bush, 



