1060 Report of State Geologist. 



rived September 11, 1894, departed September 21, 1895; at Greens- 

 burg, Ind., last seen September 25, 1897; Cincinnati, 0., arrived Sep- 

 tember 4, 1879; the fall of 1878 they were common until October 1, 

 and the last departed October 20. In Indiana, they are much more 

 regular in appearance, as well as more numerous, in the fall, sometimes 

 'being very abundant. The falls of 1894 and 1895 they were common 

 at Lafayette (L. A. and C. D. Test). Prof. King notes that nineteen 

 ate 7 ants, 7 lepidoptera, 6 diptera, 15 beetles, 6 leaf hoppers and 1 

 dragon fly (Geol. of Wis!, I., p. 497). 



In the fall, when so many of these birds are in immature or im- 

 perfect plumage, it is very difficult to distinguish such birds from the 

 next species. This species (castanea) is white below, tinged with 

 buffy or creamy-buff, especially on the flanks, while the next species 

 (striata) is clear, pale yellowish below. Dr. Langdon gives the fol- 

 lowing notes on distinguishing characteristics of these fall birds: '"'A 

 comparison of specimens of both species shows that the chin, or 

 feathered space between the forks of the lower mandible, is consider- 

 ably wider in castanea than in striata, arguing a greater width ot 

 base of bill in the former species. The bill of castanea is generally 

 the larger in every way, but its greater width at base is especially evi- 

 dent" (Jour. Gin. Soc. N. H., L, 1879, p. 171). 



r 



272. (6^il). Dendroica striata (Korst.). 



Black-poll Warbler. 



Adult Male. — Crown, deep black; other upper parts, grayish, 

 streaked with black, the wings with two white bars; lower parts, in- 

 cluding lower tail coverts, pure white; sides of throat, streaked with 

 black, meeting on the chin. Adult Female. — Above, dull olive-green, 

 everywhere streaked with black; beneath, whitish, tinged with yellow, 

 the sides, and sometimes the sides of throat, with dusky streaks. 

 Immature. — Above, brighter olive-green, not so distinctly streaked; 

 below, more yellowish, sides not streaked; lower tail coverts, pure 

 white. 



Length, 5.00-5.75; wing, 2.80-2.90; tail, 2.05-2.25. 



Note. — It is almost impossible to distinguish the immature plu- 

 mages of this species and D. castanea. However, with close attention 

 to three characters, they may be distinguished when other means fail. 

 In D. striata, (1) the lower tail coverts are pure white; (2) the color- 

 ing of the lower parts is decidedly j'^ellowish; (3) the sides of the 

 breast are unstreaked. In D. castanea, (1) the lower tail coverts are 

 buffy; (2) the coloring of the lower parts is buffy; (3) the sides of the 

 breast are often indistinctly streaked with dusky. 



