264 SINGING BIRDS. 



urban gardens and orchards, but soon retire to a more secluded 

 place to build ; and hidden away amid the thicker bushes of their 

 favorite haunts, are often overlooked by the collector, — the or- 

 nithological reporter, — and thus the species has acquired a repu- 

 tation of being " uncommon." 



The song is a typical Warbler-like performance, — a short trill of 

 sweet notes, whistled with little variation in tone, and little effort 

 at artistic execution ; but I have not heard any of the " harsh '' 

 and "creaking" effects noted by some writers. 



ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 



Helminthophila celata. 



Char. Above, olive, brightest on the rump ; crown with concealed 

 patch of brownish orange ; line over and around the eyes, pale yellow ; 

 beneath, pale greenish yellow ; sides shaded with olive. Length 4^^ to 

 53^ inches. 



Nest. On the ground among clumps of bushes; made of grass, moss, 

 and plant stems, lined with hair. 



Eggs. 4-6; white or creamy, marked, chiefly around the larger end, 

 with spots of reddish brown and purplish slate ; 0.65 X 0.50. 



This species, first discovered, early in May, on the banks of 

 the Missouri by my friend Mr. T. Say, appeared to be on its 

 passage farther north. It is not uncommon in winter in the 

 orange-groves of West Florida, where it proceeds to pass the 

 season, around St. Augustine ; and its note is described as a 

 mere chirp and faint squeak, scarcely louder than that of a 

 mouse. 



According to Audubon, these birds breed in the eastern part 

 of Maine and in New Bnmswick and Nova Scotia. In the 

 month of May we saw them abundant in the forests of the 

 Oregon, where no doubt they breed. The song is weak, some- 

 what resembling that of most of the Sylvicolas. 



Audubon must have gathered fh all the New Brunswick Orange 

 Crowns, for none have been seen there since his visit, nor can I 

 learn of any having been observed elsewhere in eastern Canada, 

 excepting the few discovered by Mcllwraith and Saunders in 



