194 I'llli IIKKMIT VVARBLEI* 



wale iti fall and ti'inter: Yellow of crown veiled by olive green ; black of throat 

 veiled by whitish tips; black streaking of upperparts less conspicuous. Adult 

 female in sprimj: Like male in spring but duller, yellow of head less extensive, 

 gray of uppcr|)arts duniinating: black streaks reiluced or obsulite; black f>f throat, 

 etc., absent, white or (hill yellowish instead; sometimes du>kv s|M>t of various 

 proportions on chest. Youiui birds like adult female but yellow ui crown veiled 

 by olive and sides washed with brownish. Length of ailnit alxnit 4.<>3 ( 124.4) '< 

 wing 2.65 ( 67.3 ) ; tail 2.20 ( 35.0 ) ; bill .40 ( 10.2 > ; tarsus .44 ( 1 1.3 I. 



Recognition Marks. — Siualler Warbler size; yellow mask of male outlined 

 against black of tbro.it and hind neck distinctive — female and young more difficult 

 but distinctive ])attern of mask with white wing-bars usually suggestive. 



Nesting. — Kcsl: saddled on horizontal branch of fir tree at a gcnid height; 

 a compact structure oi lir twigs, mosses and vegetable down, lined with fine 

 grass and horse-hair; measures, outside. 4 wide by 2'4 dce(). insidi-, 2 wide 

 by I '4 deep. Etjiis: 4 or 3, dull white heavil\' blotched and spotted with various 

 shades of red-brown and lavender. Av. size, .(h^ x .33 ( 17.3 x 13.51. Season: 

 c. June I ; one brood. 



General Range. — Pacific coast district and Cascade-Sierra system with its 

 outliers north to liritish Columbia; "in winter south into Lower California and 

 through .\rizoiia over Mexican ]>lateau to highlands of C.uatemala." 



Range in Washington. — Not common summer resident, in heavier conifer- 

 ou-- timber oidy. 



Authorities. — Sylria occidenlolis Townsend, lourn. .\c. Xat. Sci. I'hila. 

 \II. 1S37, uyo ("forests of the Columbia River" I. C&S. L'. D'. P.. 



Specimens. — C. 



THI'-Rlv is a piece of woodland .south of Taconia which \vc call the 

 Hermit Woods, because here on any May day may be heard the v<iice of this 

 e.xalted Warbler. The jjroper hour in which to approach this forest is early 

 morning, before the winds have begiui to stir in its dim aisles, and while the 

 hush of its nightly i)eace is upon everything — save the birds. The soft moss 

 muOles the footsteps, so that the devotee may move about iinherabled from 

 shrine to shrine, as he pay.s .silent homage to each, in turn, of those morning 

 stars of song, the Wood Warblers. There is Audulmii with his ha.stening 

 mekxly of gladness. There is Rlack-throated Gray with his still drowsy s<in- 

 net of sweet content. Then there is Hermit hidden aloft in the shapeless 

 greenery of the imder-dawn, — his note is sweetest, gladdest, most seraphic of 

 them all. Lilly, lilly. Hlly. lee " /<■<•/. It is almost sacrilege to give it form — 

 besides it is so hopeless. The prejiaratory notes are like the tinkle of crystal 

 bells and when our attention is focused, lo! the wonder happens, — the ex- 

 quisite lilt of the closing phrase, lee-oleet. 



In broad daylight it is the same. The singers remain in the tree-tops and 

 tease the imagination with thoughts of a domestic life lived \\\v^n a higher 

 plane than that of earth, an exalted state where all is beatific and serene. .\nd 

 tr\ you never so hard, with glasses of a high iK)wer, it is a good hour's work 

 to obtain a satisfactory sight of one of the uplifted creatures 



