134 On the Birds of Ritchie County. 



contained young, as the parent birds passed in at frequent intervals with 

 food in their bills. 



Family TROGLODYTID^E. The Wrens. 



14. Thryothorus Ludovicianus (Gm.) Bp. Rather common. Most par- 

 tial to the thickets along fences, brush piles ou the edges of the woods, 

 and dark rocky ravines. Found them very unsuspicious and easy of cap- 

 ture, even when in the most tangled thicket. If shot at and missed they 

 seemed at once to become very angry, hopping nimbly from twig to twig 

 with tail erect and uttering almost incessantly a shrill chirr ree, chirr r, 

 chir r r, chirr ree, and occasionally a harsh chatter precisely like that of 

 T. ceclon, which bird, indeed, they closely resemble in every look and 

 action. The song of the male is a beautifully clear and pure one, but it 

 is so always and invariably the same that one soon tires of it. Heard in 

 some deep, silent glen or ravine its loudness is positively startling, the 

 rocks taking up and flinging back the sound till the air is fairly filled with 

 the ringing melody. By May 1st several broods of young were seen fully 

 fledged and on wing, and the females were laying again. 



15. Troglodytes oedonV. Two specimens only taken : the first a male, 

 April 30th; the second a female; both in deep woods, and silent. 



Family SYLVICOLID^. The American Warblers. 



16. Mniotilla varia (L.) V. Perhaps the most abundant of the family 

 here, being found everywhere throughout the woods. 



17. Parula Americana (L.) Bp. Frequent from the time of our arri- 

 val, but less abundant than the preceding. As their numbers showed no 

 sensible diminution with the advance of the season, they probably breed 

 here. 



18. Ilelmitherus vermivorus (Gm.) Bp. First specimen taken April 

 30th. Soon became common. Most partial to the retired thickets in the 

 woods along water courses, and seldom or never found in the high open 

 groves. They keep much on the ground, where they ivalk about rather 

 slowly, searchiug for their food among the dried leaves. In general ap- 

 pearance they are quite unique, and I rarely failed to identify one with an 

 instant's glance, so very peculiar are all their attitudes and motions. 

 The tail is habitually carried at an elevation considerably above the line 

 of the back, which gives them quite a smart, jaunty air, and if the dorsal 

 aspect be exposed, in a clear light, the peculiar markiug of the crown is 

 quite conspicuous. Seen as they usually are, however, dimly flitting 

 ahead through the gloom and shadow of the thickets, the impression re- 

 ceived is that of a dark little bird which vanishes unaccountably before 

 your very eyes, leaving you quite uncertain where to look for it next; 

 indeed, I hardly know a more difficult bird to procure, for the slightest 

 noise sends it darting off through the woods at once. Occasionally you 

 will come upon one winding around the trunk of some small tree exactly 



