304 Birds of Xoktii ('akoi.ixa 



lust week in March, and jicrhaps a week later in the mountains. It remains ail 

 summer, finally leaving in Oetober, thoush occasional specimens have been observed 

 in winter at Durham, Raleigh, and farther east. Ludlow Griscom found it not 

 uncommon in Currituck County in January, 1915. 



This is a rather trustful little bird, frequenting thickets everywhere, especially 

 along streams, and if unmolcstetl will often come to the edge of the thickets or 

 bushes to peer inquisitively at the passer-by. 



Fig. 248. M.VRVLAN-Ii Yki.i.hwtiip.ii.^t. 



The ne.st is constructed of grass or reed leaves, and is usually built in a bunch 

 of grass, clover, or weeds, only a few inches from the ground. The eggs are most 

 often four, laid in May or .lime, and have a white ground-color, spotted near the 

 larger end with various shades of gray and brown. Size .70 x ..52. 



.\]>|Kirciitlv. the fdriii (iccuniii!; throu|ili(Hit our Sl:ito is tlic typical Maryland Vcllow-tliroiit, 

 Init aiKitlici- slight Iv fliffpring siil)si)(!cii'.s is proliahly fmiiul in the coastal country. This is the 

 l-'loricia YcUow-tliroat. ujuold (Chai)m!in), whicli is said to havo the tail longer than the wings, 

 the black of (ho head slightly more extensive, and the yellow of the underparts more ochraceous; 

 but these differences are not readily detected in the field. 



Genus Icteria (Vieill.) 

 309. Icteria virens virens {Linn:). Vellow-bue.\.sted Chat. 



Ikun-ipliiin: Ads. — Largest of the warblers; upp^rp irts, win?s, and tail olive-green; line from 

 the eye to the bill, one on tlie side of the throat, and eye-ring white; throat, breast, and upper 

 belly'bright yellow; lower bellv white; sides grayish. L., 7.44; \V., 3.00; T., 3.07; B. from X., 

 .41. (Chap.', liirils of E. X. A.) 



/Ja/isc— Eastern United States, wintering in Mexico and Central America. 



Rajige in Xorlh CuroUua. — Centr.d and western portions in summer. 



The Chat, also locally called "Pompey," is an ainmdant smnmer visitor in cen- 

 tral and western North Carolina, occm-ring almost everywhere in stumy thickets 

 and among low second-growth trees. It arrives al)out the <dose of the tliird week 



