142 On the Birds of Ritchie County. 



where the beams fell more directly, threw so strong a light that the small- 

 est insect floating in the still clear air was discernible at hundreds of 

 paces, and as the chorus of bird voices swelled to the utmost, we heard 

 many of our newly acquired feathered friends to the best possible ad- 

 vantage. The cardinals as usual were most prominent and their bold 

 ringing notes quite drowned the efforts of some of the more modest per- 

 formers though the lofty reverie of the wood thrush stole up occasionally 

 from the valley below, and the bell like calls of the chat came almost in- 

 cessantly from the thickets on the opposite mountain side. Above all, 

 however, rose at intervals a clear loud warble resembling the spring song 

 of Passerella iliaca, but possessing withal a wild abandon, that to my ear 

 rendered it even more beautiful. Suspecting the author we approached 

 the spot and soon caught a glimpse of his fine chestnut and black plum- 

 age among the branches of a tall sycamore. After singing for some time 

 longer he dove down into a low thicket where we had a good chance to 

 observe his motions. His relatively longer tail and more slender shape 

 gave him quite a different aspect from his cousin the Baltimore, though 

 his ways were very similar. 



When closely approached he glanced at us suspiciously, jerking his tail 

 and uttering a note closely resembling that usually given by Agelceas phce- 

 niceus when on wing. Mr. Ingersoll informs me that their numbers did 

 not materially increase after our departure, and the species must be con- 

 sidered rather a rare one in this section. 



68. Icterus Baltimore (L.) Daudin. Arrived April 29th and soon be- 

 came common.' Noticed many old nests in the cottonwoods along the 

 creek. The song differed slightly from that of Northern individuals. 



69. Qitiscalus purpureas (Bartr.) Licht., var. seneus Ridg. Common, 

 nesting in small colonies in the holes of the decayed cottonwood trees. 

 All the specimens taken were quite typical of this variety. 



Family CORVID^. Crows, Jays, etc. 



70. Corvus Americanus Aud. Quite common everywhere. 



71. Cyanurus cristatus (L.) Sw. Common everywhere in the woods. 

 A nest found by Mr. Deane contained four fresh eggs. 



Family TYRANNIDJE. Flycatchers. 



72. Tyramius Carolinensis (L.) Bd. Arrived April 28th and soon 

 became rather common. Frequented for the most part, the belt of timber 

 along the creek. 



73. Myiarchus crinitus (L.) Cab. Abundant, affecting alike the open 

 oak woods and the heavy undergrowth of the ravines. Their ordinary 

 note is a single whistle, extremely loud, and possessed of something of a 

 weird character, making it peculiarly noticeable in the gloomy depths of 

 the forest where it is usually heard. In addition to this they utter a loud 



