356 Trotter, English Names of American Birds. [oct 



species as "The Tyrant," whence the name of general application. 

 Wilson speaks of its name in Maryland as the "Field Martin," 

 and "Bee Martin" is another name in certain localities. 



"Gnatcatcher" is a name that first appears in Audubon, from the 

 Swainsonian genus Culicivora. The species (Polioptila coeruJea) 

 was originally "the little bluish grey wren" of Bartram (Travels, 

 291), and later the "Small Blue Grey Flycatcher" of Wilson 

 (A. O., II, 164)." 



Several species of Warblers early received names indicative of 

 peculiar habits. The Worni-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermi- 

 voriis) of Wilson and later authors was originally "The Worm- 

 eater" (Edwards, Gleanings), from Bartram; also Latham and 

 Pennant from the same source. The Pine-creeping Warbler 

 (Dendroica vigorsi) of Wilson was the "Pine Creeper" of Catesby 

 (I, 61). Edwards (Gleanings, 92) quoting a letter from Bartram 

 says of Seiurus aurocapillus that it "builds its nest upon the ground, 

 and always chooses the south side of a hill ; that it makes a hole in 

 the leaves, like a little oven, and lines it with dry grass," etc. This 

 is the first reference I have found of the familiar vernacular "Oven- 

 bird," although Edwards calls the species "Golden-crowned 

 Thrush." "Water Thrush" and "Wagtail" were names early 

 given to the other species of the genus, and Pennant speaks of one 

 as the "New York Warbler" (Arct. Zool., II, 308) whence its old 

 specific name of noveboracensis. The vernacular "Myrtle Bird" 

 first appears in Nuttall, hence probably "Myrtle Warbler" of 

 authors, though early accounts speak of the bird's fondness for the 

 berries of the Wax Myrtle (Myrica). Catesby calls it "The Yellow- 

 rump" (I, 58) and Edwards (Glean., VI, pi. 298) "The Golden- 

 croAvned Flycatcher." The Magnolia Warbler was found by 

 Wilson "among the magnolias, not far from fort Adams on the 

 Mississippi." He called it the "Black and Yellow W T arbler, 

 Sylvia Magnolia" (A. O., Ill, 63), hence "Magnolia W 7 arbler" of 

 later authors. Dendroica palmarum, the "Palm Warbler" of 

 Latham (Synop., II, 491), is the "Yellow red pole" of Edwards 

 (Parus aureus vertice rubro of Bartram) and the "Yellow red-poll 

 Warbler" of Wilson. Wilson called Dendroica discolor the "Prairie 

 Warbler" from the open tracts of Kentucky where he first found it. 



Of the Sparrows several species have received names indicative 



