a THE WESTERN CHAT. 
Length 6.75-7.50 (171.5-190.5) ; wing 3.07 (78) ; tail 3.01-3.39 (76.5-86) ; bill .57 
(14.5); tarsus 1.04 (26.5). 
Recognition Marks.—Strictly “Sparrow” size, but because of bright color 
having nearer the size value of Chewink ;—the largest of the Warblers. Bright 
yellow breast with contrasting white below, with size, distinctive. 
Nesting.—Nest: a bulky and often careless structure, 7 inches wide and 4 
inches deep outside, 3 inches wide and 1% deep inside; of coarse grasses and 
weed-stems, lined with finer grasses or rootlets, placed in upright fork of bush or 
small tree in thicket. Eggs: 4, white, somewhat glossed and marked irregularly 
with spots and dots of lavender and rufous, most heavily, or not, about larger 
end. Ay. size, .89 x .68 (22.6 x 17.3). Season; first week in June; one brood. 
General Range.—Western United States from near eastern border of Great 
Plains west to the Pacific Coast, breeding north into south-central British Co- 
lumbia southward to valley of Mexico; in migration south in winter to Mexico. 
Range in Washington.—Summer resident in thickets about springs and 
streams of eastern Washington; does not deeply invade mountains; rare or casual 
west of Cascades (Tacoma, June 4, 1905, by J. H. Bowles; Sumas, B. C., May 26, 
1897, by Allan Brooks). 
Migrations.—S pring: May 18, 1900 ( Yakima county). 
Authorities.— ? /cteria viridis (Bonap.), Townsend, Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci., 
Phila., VIL, 1839, 153 (N. W. United States) Auct. Cooper and Suckley, Rep. 
Pac. R. R. Surv. p. 288 (“Towns. and Nuttall. Seen at Walla-Walla, Washing- 
ton Territory”). Dawson, Auk, XIV., 1897, p. 179. (1). Dt. D2. Sst. Ss. B. 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) P?. Prov. B. 
STRUCTURALLY allied to the Wood Warblers, the Chat has yet 
such a temperamental affinity with the Catbird, that it is difficult, for me, 
at least, to dissociate the two birds in thought. Both love the thickets; 
both excel in song; both plague their neighbors by mimicry; and both alike 
are dearly provoking bundles of contradictions. The Chat is, perhaps, the 
greater buffoon, as he is certainly the more handsomely dressed of the two. 
Beyond this we must consider him on his own merits. 
Ten to one you know him, if at all, only as a voice, a tricksy bush- 
whacker of song, an elusive mystery of the thicket ; or you have unconsciously 
ascribed his productions to half a dozen mythical birds at once. But look 
more closely. It is well worth the quest to be able to resolve this genius of 
roguery. Be assured he knows you well enough by sight, for he does not 
poke and pry and spy for nothing, in the intervals of song. He has still the 
proverbial curiosity of woman. Seat yourself in the thicket, and when you 
hear the mellow, saucy Kook, with its whistled vowel, bounded by consonants 
barely thought of, imitate it. You will have the bird up in arms at once. 
Kwook, returns the bird, starting toward you. Repeat it, and you have won. 
The bird scents a rival and he will leave no stem unclasped but he finds him. 
As the bird alternately squints and stares from the brush, note the rich 
warbler olive of his upperparts, the gorgeous yellow of the throat and breast, 
