On the Birds of Ritchie County. 137 



Represented by words it would be nearly as follows: pseur, pseur, per 

 see ser. 



This is usually uttered several times in succession from some shelving 

 rock, or fallen log overhanging the stream, the bird in the intervals be- 

 tween each repetition tilting his body incessantly, and looking nervously 

 about as if he didn't half like your presence and had a good mind to be off, 

 and this expression in the majority of cases soon finds vent in action, for 

 he is a very shy little fellow the moment he begins to suspect that he is 

 wanted to grace your cabinet. Come upon him suddenly however, as he 

 is running nimbly along the margin of some quiet pool or rippling eddy, 

 and at times he will seem to pay little regard to your presence and you 

 may have a fine chance to observe his motions and sandpiper-like ways, 

 as he wades knee deep into the water, or splashes through it in hot pur- 

 suit of some aquatic insect. 



I could distinguish not the slightest difference in general appearance 

 and actions at such times, between him and his Northern analogue, and 

 the sharp chirp of alarm is precisely the same. The larger size and gen- 

 eral lighter color of the under parts will, however, usually serve to dis- 

 tinguish the Southern bird if you get a good view of him. The first speci- 

 men was taken April 29th. 



32. Oporonis formosus (Wils.) Bd. First specimen May 4th. Soon 

 became rather common frequenting nearly the same localities as Relmi- 

 therus vcrmivorus. Almost exclusively terrestrial in habits it reminded 

 me much of 0. agilis, though it was not so shy. You would fiud it most 

 frequently in the vicinity of brush piles, fallen logs, etc., but if suddenly 

 startled, instead of seeking refuge in them, it usually flew up to some low 

 limb where it sat silent and thrush-like, awaiting further developments. 

 On the ground it walked in somewhat the manner of Seiurus aurocapillus, 

 though not quite so nimbly. The song of the male, usually delivered 

 from some low limb or old stump, is a most beautiful one and very loud, 

 but almost impossible of description. It most resembles that of Geo- 

 thlypis Philadelphia with the first two notes omitted, is extremely rich and 

 full, and altogether one of the best Sylvicolidine performances with which 

 I am acquainted. 



The only other note that I heard was a chuck so extremely like that of 

 the ground squirrel (Tamias striatus') that I often found it very difficult to 

 separate them. 



33. Geothhjpis trichas (L.) Cab. Rare. Only three specimens were 

 observed. 



34. Icteria virens (L.) Bd. Not very common and found only in cer- 

 tain localities, usually thickets of blackberry bushes and bull briers in 

 retired portions of the woods. Arrived May 1st, and for a few days were 

 silent, but soon became very nois} r , especially when their retreats were 

 invaded. Their notes are so varied as almost to defy description. 



What I took to be the song of the male was a series of about eight very 

 loud bell-like whistles, commencing quickly, and becoming slower and 

 May, 1875. 10 Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist., Vol. xi. 



