136 On the Birds of Ritchie County. 



24. Dendroica coronata (L.) Gr. Not very numerous, but saw more 

 or less of them every day up to the date of our departure. Associated 

 with the other warblers, in the woods. 



25. Dendroica Blackburnice (Gin.) Bd. First specimen May 1st, after- 

 wards quite abundant, frequenting the tops of the highest forest trees in 

 company with D. ccerirtea and Parula Americana. The males were in full 

 song. 



26. Dendroica castanea (Wils.) Bd. Two specimens observed- and 

 one taken, by Mr. Ingersoll, May 14th. 



27. Dendroica maculosa (Gm.) Bd. A male was seen by Mr. Inger- 

 soll, May 14th. 



28. Dendroica pinus (Wils.) Bd. On the 7th of May I shot a pair in a 

 high oak grove. They were evidently mated, the male warbling at inter- 

 vals his simple strain, and the female following him closely through the 

 branches. No other individuals were observed during our stay. The 

 almost entire absence of coniferous trees, would perhaps explain the 

 scarcity here of this and other pine loving species. 



29. Seittrus aurocapillus (L.) Sw. These woods being well suited to 

 their habits, they were abundant everywhere, and as usual a great nuis- 

 ance, their songs continually repeated from all sides, frequently drowning 

 every other sound. Arrived April 29th. 



30. Seiurus Noveboracensis (Gm.) Nutt. Common during our stay. 

 Found exclusively along the margin of Goose creek, where, in the early 

 morning, I several times heard the beautiful song of the male. Three 

 specimens taken vary quite appreciably from all of a large series collected 

 in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. The superciliary line is, in 

 each, dirty white, with a yellowish tinge where it intersects the eye, while 

 in the northern specimens it is at its lightest, decidedly yellowish, inten- 

 sifying at the anterior end to a brownish orange. The smallest bill 

 among the West Virginia examples also shows an excess in length of -03 

 over that of any of the northern birds, and the largest fully -05. As Mr. 

 Scott, in his "Partial list of Kanawha County," mentions an individual of 

 this species taken there in August, it may very possibly breed here. 



31. Seiurus Ludovicianus (V.) Bp. Not common, only seven speci- 

 mens were secured in all. 



While the Northern water thrush was confined to the muddy banks of 

 the creek — and I will remark en passant, that I never saw one other than 

 in a muddy locality — this species seemed to delight in the pebbly streams 

 of the hills ; just such streams as in the New England mountains would be 

 called good trout brooks, overshadowed by mighty forest trees, frequently 

 choked up by fallen logs, and abounding in beautiful cascades, still, deep 

 pools, and wild rocky ravines. 



In the deepest, darkest retreats you were most likely to find him and 

 here on several occasions I was fortunate enough to hear his song. It is 

 somewhat like that of 8. Noveboracensis, being quite as loud, almost as 

 rapid, and commencing in nearly the same way but lacking the beautiful 

 crescendo termination, and altogether, a less fine performance. 



