Birds of Pennsylvania. 215 



hie the female, but young males may usually be known by indistinct black leathers 

 on sides of head, though feathers of forehead are quite similar to those of female. 



Hab. — Eastern United States, mainly east of the Alleghanies, north to Ontario and 

 Nova Scotia, breeding from Georgia northward. In winter south Atlantic and Gulf 

 States and the West Indies. 



lu eastern Pennsylvania the Maryland Yellow- throat is an exceed- 

 ingly abundant summer resident from about May 1st to the latter part 

 of September. During migrations, particularlj'- in the spring, it often 

 visits apple trees to seek among the leaves and blossoms for numer- 

 ous small insects. Frequents especially thickets, tangled underbrush, 

 brush piles and high weeds, generally near streams or swampy places. 

 Its voice is rather loud, yet its song is not unmusical. 



This species builds a rather large cup-shaped nest of leaves and 

 dried grasses, usually carefully concealed in a tussock of grass, among 

 weeds or at the base of low bushes, commonly in low and moist situa- 

 tions. The eggs, mostly live, are white, finely speckled, usually about 

 the larger end with black and brown. They measure about .70 by .50 

 of an inch. The Maryland Yellow-throat feeds on numerous kinds of 

 small insects and larvc^e. 



Genus ICTERIA. Vieillot. 

 683. Icteria virens (Linn.). 



Yellow-breasted Chat. 



Description. 



Length about 7| ; extent about 10 inches ; wings rounded and shorter than tail, 

 which measures about ?t\ inches in length ; bill rather long (measuring along gape 

 about I of an inch), stout, higher than broad at base ; ridge of upper mandible and 

 commissure much curved. Birds of this genus are the largest of the family. Upper 

 parts uniform olive-green ; chin, throat, chest, breast and inside of wings bright 

 gamboge-yellow ; loAver part of belly and under tail coverts wliite ; eye-lids, line 

 under lower jaw and a stripe above the black lores, white. Bill black ; feet lead 

 color. 



Hah. — Eastern United States to the plains, north to Ontario and southern New 

 England, south in winter to eastern ^Mexico and Guatemala. 



The Yellow-breasted Chat arrives in Pennsylvania about the first 

 week in May, and remains until about the 20th of September. Al- 

 though this bird is an abundant summer resident in briery thickets 

 and tangled undergrowth, in open woods or along the edges of woods, 

 it is much oftener heard than seen, except, perhaps, during the mating 

 season, when it often may be observed to mount into the air, above 

 the tops of its tangled bushy retreats, and perform most curious evo- 

 lutions. When migrating this bird skulks silently about bushes and 

 thickets, but when he locates for the summer he becomes one of the 

 most noisy inhabitants of the place. Often when perched in a tree 

 top near his favorite retreats his song is not unpleasant, but if his 



