iSSs-] Brewster oh Swainson's Warbler. 67 



Next in chronological order comes a specimen which I saw in 

 the collection of Mr. Christopher D. Wood, a Philadelphia taxi- 

 dermist, in 1S73, and which, if I remember rightly, was killed 

 near Beaufort, South Carolina, in April or May of the preceeding 

 year. This bird, so far as I know, has escaped the notice of pre- 

 vious recorders. At last accounts it was still in Mr. Wood's 

 possession. 



The year 1S7S brought an important contribution to our 

 knowledge of the mysterious bird from the pen of Mr. N. C. 

 Brown, who met with three specimens at Coosada, Elmore Coun- 

 ty, Alabama, and who, after Bachman, seems to have been the first 

 observer to learn anything respecting its habits. Mr. Brown's 

 account* of his experience is so interesting and graphic that I 

 transcribe it in full : 



"On April 12, while forcing my way through the dark, rank 

 forest which lies about the source of Coosada Creek, I caught the 

 final notes of an unknown song uttered close at hand. Instantly 

 seating myself on a fallen tree, I awaited its repetition. The woods 

 about me were qnite dry and comparatively deserted by birds, 

 but along the neighboring creek many Vireos, Thrushes, and 

 Swamp- Warblers were producing such a babel of sounds that I 

 feared the voice of my unknown songster might escape me. After 

 the lapse of a few minutes, however, a bird emerged from a thicket 

 within a few yards of me, where he had been industriously scratch- 

 ing amongst the fallen leaves, flew into a small sapling, and gave 

 uttei'ance to a loud, ringing, and very beautiful song. Seen in 

 the dim light of the woods, he bore a decided resemblance to the 

 Louisiana Water Thrush, and his song might almost have passed 

 for an exceptional performance by that bird ; but I at once sus- 

 pected his true identity, and in a few seconds held in my hand 

 the lifeless body of a male Swainson's Warbler. 



"During the succeeding nine days I repeatedly and most care- 

 fully searched this tract of woo'ds and other localities apparently 

 equally favorable, without detecting additional specimens. 

 Finally, April 22, while exploring a slough near the union of the 

 Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, I met with two more males. 

 Piloted by their song, I readily approached them, but, unfortu- 

 nately, lost one, badly wounded, in the impenetrable cane. 



* Bull. N. O. C, Vol. Ill, 1878, pp. 172, 173. 



