1.,.' THE TOVVNSEND WARBlSk. 



Authorities. -Sylvia toii'tisendi "(N'uttall)," To\\nscnil, Jouni. Ac. Nat. 

 Sci. I'hila. \ 11. pt. II. 1837, lyi ("forests of tlic Columbia River"). C&S. Rh. 

 Ra. IV. I!. K. 



Specimens. — l'. dt W . I'rov. C. K. 



\\ ll.\T a iiiorning llial was at the old parsonage in the .\iitanuin valley, 

 when the shaile trees of the five acre enclosure were lit up by the presence i>f a 

 (U>zen of these fairies! Waste acres of sage lay around, or fields of alfalfa 

 and growing wheal, hanlly more inviting, but the eye of the leader, winging 

 languidly from the South, at early dawn had spied a patch of w<j(j<lsy green 

 and had ordered a halt for the day in our conifortabledooking bo.\-elders and 

 insect-harlx)ring apple trees. To be sure it was absurdly late for migrants, 

 June 3th. but they ajjpeared more like an embassage of foreign grandees, who 

 deigned to make re(|uisition upon our hospitality, than mere birds with threats 

 of family cares ahead. So while they sought breakfasts of ai)his ami early 

 worm, or disported among the branches in the growing sunshine, 1 attended 

 their movements in rustic wonder. \<>w and then a member of the ])arty 

 paused to atljust his golden trappings, or to settle the black heail-j)iece with a 

 dainty shake. It was, indeed, a notable occasion for the bird-man, inasmuch 

 as these dandies were in "higher" plumage than any yet recognized by the best 

 bird-books of the day," in that the shining black. sn])posedly confined to the 

 lower throat, now occupied the very chin ;is well. 



There was a little conversational lisping in a foreign tongue, in which the 

 ladies of the party were included ; and after breakfast the males ventured song. 



Seventy-eight days later, viz., on the J^d of .August, a soutinvanl bound 

 partv visited our orchard. The males were still in song, and it was dilVicuh 

 to believe that all the joys and sorrows of wedlock and child-rearing had inter- 

 vened ; yet such was probably the ca.se. 



.\ bird sighte<l at Chelan on the 25th <lay of .May, IM05, haunteil a pine 

 and a balm tree at the foot of the Lake, singing constantly. The .song ran, 

 iicxi'cc, dcwcc, dcii'i'c. dzxvcc, dc7\.'cclsci\ the first four notes drowsy and drawl- 

 ing, the fourth prolonged, and the remainder somewhat furry and squeaky. 

 The bird hunted patiently thru the long nee<lles of the pine, under what would 

 seem to an observer great difficulties. Once he es])ied an especially desirable 

 tidbit on the under side of a needle-beset branch. The bird leaned over and 

 peered beneath, until he (piilc lo.st his balance and turne<l a somersault in the 

 air. Hut he returned to the charge again and again, now creeping cautiously 

 around to tiie under side, now clinging to the i)ine needles themselves and 

 again lluttering bravely in the midst, until he succeeded in exhausting the little 

 pocket of provender, whatever it was. 



In June, 1906, we found these birds in the valley of the Stehekin, and 



especially rcfrrrr<l to. The matter hat been cor- 



