SYLVICOLID.E — THE WAUIJLEKS. 201 



A patch on the vortox, as in //. rufirapiUa, and the npyr tail-covorts, dark ch«'stniit- 

 browij. Lores to nostrils and rc^'ion r<»uiid the eye, likt- the throat, in rather decided con- 

 trast to the a^^h of the crown. Quills and tail-teat hers brown, narrowly ed;^ed externally 

 with crray. An obsolet*' terminal white patch on the inner web of the outer feather; this 

 web in inj)st of the other tail-leathers likewise narrowly edirt.'d with white. Axillais and 

 inner face of wings white. Iris brown. Tarsi blue. Length, in life, 4.40; extent, (i.JMJ; 

 wing, 2.40. Length of skin, 3."J0 ; wing, 2M'o ; tail, L{S(j ; tarsus, .04; middle too and 

 claw, .r>0 ; bill above, .3r>; gai)e, .;"»0. 



Hab. Fort Mohave, Colorado Kiver (Middle Province of United States) ; Fort Whipple, 

 Arizona. 



Habits. This is also a new or recently discoAered species of this interest- 

 ing group of Warblers. In regard to its nest and eggs nothing is positively 

 ascertained, yet as all the birds of tliis gentis are known to bnihl on the 

 ground, and to have a great uniformity in the characteristics of their eggs, it 

 seems to be a matter of natural inference that this species also is a ground 

 builder, and has eugs similar to those of the Xashville Warbler. For the 

 little we know in regard to its lial)its and distribution, we are indebted to 

 the observations of Dr. J. G. Cooper of California, who first discovered it, 

 and to Dr. Cones, who has since met witli it in Arizona. 



Dr. Cooper first o])served this species near Fort Mohave, where it made its 

 appearance about the last of ^Farch. His attention was called to it by its 

 pecidiar notes, resendding those of some Dc/idroica', Ijut lixinter. After con- 

 siderable watching and scr.imbling through dense mez(|uite thickets in its 

 pursuit, he succeeded in shooting one, and found it to be a new species. 

 Afterwards they became more numerous, fre«|uenting the tops of the mez- 

 quite-trees in pui-suit of insects, and constantly uttering their short but 

 pleasing notes. About ten days after the first appearance of the males, Dr. 

 Coo[)€i obtained the first female, and thinks that without doubt they are 

 much later in their migrations, as is the case with other Warblers. Ho 

 was not able to discover their nest, having to leave tlie vallev late in 

 IMay. 



Mr. Holden obtained other specimens of this bird, near the *Uth parallel, 

 in March of 1863. 



Dr. Coues met with three individuals of this species near Fort Whipple, 

 where it is a summer resident. It arrives there between the 15tli and the 

 20th of April, and remains until the latter j)art of September. It mates 

 about the last of April, and the young birds api)ejir early in June. 



Dr. Coues regards its habits as more like those of the true Ground War- 

 blers than those of the other sj^ecies of this group. It shows a decided 

 preference for thickets and copses, rather than for high open woods, and is 

 also an exceetlingly shy and retiring species. To the extreme ditticulty of 

 observing or procuring it Dr. Coues attributes its having so long remained 

 unnoticed. 



It is described as exceedingly active in all its motions, and quite as rest- 

 less as a PoUoptila, to which class, in its colors, it also bears a close resem- 



20 



