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GENUS TRICHAS — SWAINSON. 



GROUND WARBLER. 



[In this Genus the bill is slightly decurved — the tail rounded, always plain, of 

 without spots ; in other respects similar to the preceding.] 



TRICHAS MARYLANDICA— LINN. 



MARYLAND GROUND WARBLER. 



Maryland Yellow-throat, Sylvia Marilandica, Wils. Amer. Orn. 

 Sylvia Marylandica, Bonap. Syn. 

 Maryland Yellow-throat, Nutt. Man. 



Yellow-breasted Warbler, or Maryland Yellow-throat, Sylvia 

 Trichas, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Third and fourth quills equal and longest ; 

 second next in length ; fifth longer than the first ; wings rather 

 short ; tail rounded ; upper pai'ts yellowish-green ; throat, fore 

 neck, and fore part of the breast yellow. Adult with the fore- 

 head, loral space, and sides of the head black, bordered with pale 

 bluish-Avhite ; upper parts yellowish-green, with a slight tinge of 

 red on the crown; quills and tail feathers brown, margined with 

 yellowish-green ; throat, fore part of the neck and breast, edges 

 of the wings, and lower tail-coverts, bright yellow; rest of the 

 lower parts tinged with yellow. Female with- the general plu- 

 mage duller ; the black and bluish-white bands on the head and 

 sides of the neck wanting. Length of male four inches and three 

 quarters, wing two and a quarter. 



This sociable and prettily- marked species is one of our most 

 common warblers, and is found in all parts of the United States. 

 It inhabits low, swampy grounds, passing its time among the 

 small bushes and briars, suffering itself to be nearly approached 

 without exciting suspicion. When alarmed, it merely flies to a 

 neighboring bush, and recommences its simple song as if nothing 

 had occurred to disturb it. It arrives among us in the early part 

 of May — builds its nest on the ground among the briars — deposites 

 five white eggs, speckled with reddish-brown — and retires south- 

 ward early in the month of September. 



