1 24 THE GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 



the xanthochroic (yellow) phase and in the other (H. chrysoptera) the leucochroic 

 (white) phase represents the normal plumage, and admitting that these two 

 species in their various conditions, hybridize (which seems to be an incontro- 

 vertible fact), we have an easy and altogether plausible explanation of the 

 origin of the almost interminably variable series of specimens which have found 

 their way into the waste-basket labelled H. Icucobronchialis." 



IX the spring of 1903 four individuals of this puzzling form, all singing 

 males, were observed near Oberlin. The first one seen haunted the same 

 spot a little opening in a thicket of tall saplings in which we had closely 

 studied a Golden-winged Warbler the previous season. His song too re- 

 minded us strongly of the other bird, except that he usually sang three notes, 

 Swee-zee-zee, where the other had always given four, Zwee, zee, zee, sect. 

 Another Brewster in a wood three miles removed exhibited the same pecu- 

 liarity; while a third seen in the "Old South" woods with the first, rendered 

 a typical Blue-wing song of two drawling syllables. Here on another occa- 

 sion a Blue-wing and a Brewster were seen chasing each other about through 

 the smaller trees, and their excited songs hinted strongly of rivalry in love. 



The case of the Brewster Warbler is very perplexing delightfully so 

 but there is no reason whv it should not find its solution here in Ohio. 



No. 54- 



GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 



A. O. U. Xo. 642. Helminthophila chrysoptera (Linn.). 



Description. Adult male : Above and on sides bluish gray ; a crown-patch, 



including forehead, and a large patch on the wing, formed by tips of median 



coverts, and outer webs of greater coverts, bright yellow ; a black patch through 



eye, including lore and ear-coverts, separated from crown by a narrow, and from 



throat by a wide, white stripe ; throat black, broadening below ; remaining under 



s white, tinged more or less with blue-gray; rest of wing and tail dusky, 



with narrow blue-gray edgings; three outer pairs of tail-feathers with white 



blotches on the inner web ; bill slender, acute, blackish ; feet dark brown. Female : 



the male, but crown duller, and black of cheeks and throat partially ob- 



ed; touched with bright olive above, especially on margins of inner quills. 



rTrr,7,\ k \ f T ale \ Le T h ^- 5 ' 25 ( I2 /~-'33-3); wing 2.54 (64.5); 

 1.87 (47.5); bill .44 (n.2). This bird crosses freely with the preceding 



S endTx' \ ' ! deSCnpti n of P rece ding form, also H. lanrencei in Ap- 



