SYLVICULIDJ!: — THE WAKliLEUS. 203 



Habits. Tlie geoi:rra])liic5il distrilmtion of H. rchita is involved in some 

 doubt, owini,' probably to its irreguliirity of migration. In a few nccasionul 

 instances this species has been ol (served in the Atlantic States. Several liave 

 been obtained near Philadelphia. Mr. Au«hibon attirms to having seen it in 

 the Middle States about the loth of Mav, and in Maine later in the month. 

 Beyond tliat lie did not trace it. Mr. J. A. Allen procured one si)ecimen of 

 this bird in Springfield, Mass., May 15, 18b3. There were quite a uundjer 

 among the fruit-trees of the garden and orchard, then in bloom, and, mis- 

 taking them for ILIininthophafja rujimpilla, he at first neglected to shoot any, 

 until, being in doubt, he procured one, and found it the Orange-Crown. The 

 group passed on, and one was all he obtained. It is not given by Mr. 

 Turnbull as one of the birds of Xew Jersey and Pennsvlvania, nor by Mr. 

 Boardman or Professor Verrill as occuriing in Maine. I am informed by 

 Mr. Ridgway that it is a regular spring and autumn migrant in Southern 

 Illinois, and in some seasons is (piite connnon. 



It was taken as a migmtory species at Oaxaca, ^lexico, during the winter 

 months, by M. A. Boucard. 



Mr. Audubon's account of the habits and movements of this species must 

 be received with much caution. His description of its nest is entirely inac- 

 curate, and nuich that he attributes to this s^^ecies we have reason to believe 

 relates to the habits of other birds. 



On the Pacific coast it seems to be quite abundant, at different seasons, 

 from Cai^)e St. Lucas to the arctic regiiais, where it breeds. Mr. Kennicott 

 obtained several specimens at Fort Yukon and at Fort Kesolution, and Mr. 

 Itoss met with them at Fort Simpson. Xantus obtained these birds both at 

 Fort Tejon and at Cape St. Lucas. It is common in Southern California 

 during the winter, freiiuenting low bushes and the margins of streams. Dr. 

 Gambel met with it in early spring on the island of Santa Catalina, where 

 !ie had an o])portunity of listening to its simple and lively song. Tliis he 

 describes as commencing in a low, sweet trill, and ending in fshv-up. It 

 is sometimes considerably varied, but is described as genei-ally resembling 

 er-r,r,r,r-she-iip. 



Dr. Cooj>er speaks of this Warbler as an abundant and constant resident 

 of California, near the coast, and found in summer throughout the Sierra 

 Nevada. In March they begin to sing their simple trill, which, he says, is 

 rather nmsical, and audible for a long distance. 



Dr. Coues met with this Warbler in Arizona, at Fort Yuma, Sept^mlier 17, 

 at Fort Mohave, October 1, and also at the liead-\vaters of Bill Williams 

 Iliver. Lieutenant C aich found it at Brownsville, Tex., seeking its food 

 and making its home among the low shrul)bery. 



Dr. Suckley found it very abundant at Fort Steilacoom, in Washington 

 Territory, where it kept in shady places among thick brush, generally in the 

 vicinity of watercourses. Dr. Heermann found a few pairs incubating near 

 the summits of the highest moimtains on the Colorado Iliver. The nestvs of 



