276 NORTH AMKKKAX UIltDS. 



Dendroica discolor, Baiud. 



PBAIBIE WABBLEB. 



Sijhiii discohtr, ViF.iM.. Ois. Am. Stpt. II, 18U7, 37, ]>1. xcviii Box.; Ari). Orn. lUog. 

 I, j! viv ; Nrir. Lkmhkvi:, Aves Cuba, IS'iO, 32, \A. vi, lig. 2. Siflrimh lUtcofar^ 

 J.vi:i>. ; Ki< II. ; r><»\. : .\t i». Hird.s Am. il, pi. xrvii. —Gos.sk, Birds .lam. lf<4i, 1M>. 

 Ji/iiiiiiiii/i/nr. liiM-n/nr, « Ai!. .lour. Ml, l*i5, 474(rul)ii; wiiitti). Ihndiuticn discolor, 

 B.\ii:i», lintls N. Am. 1n.^>N •_".»0 ; It.'V. 2l:{. — Niavion, Ibis, l.s-,!», U4 (St. Croix).— 

 r.KV.v.- r, Tr. B..-,t. Sue. VII, 1>.'.1» ( Bahaiua.s). - In. LS(it) (I'uit.t Bi.o) ; lbtJ7, 1»1 

 (IIa;,ti). — CiNhi A< n, Ca}). .lour. iMil. ;52t» (Cuba; wry com mon). — S A.Mr Ei..s, 241. 

 a-jtcia luiuutK, WiLsoN, 111, jtl. XXV. tig. 4. 



Rr. CiiAit. Spriiif/ lunJe. Abovr uiiironn olivo-^'rcon ; tho intor.^cajmlar rcjrion with 

 che>t!iut-i«'<l «'eiitii'^ to featluTs. I'ikI- r parts and sides of the head, iiuliidiiii,' a broad 

 sujHMvihary hue from tlie nostrils to a liitU- btiiind the eye, britrht yellow. I»rii:htest an- 

 teriorly. A well-defuKMl narrow stripe frt)in the eomniissiire of the month through the 

 eye, and another from the same ])oint ein\ ing p-ntly below it, also a series of streaks on 

 'aeh side of tlu" bod , , extending from the throat to the ilank.s, black. Quills and tail- 

 fe.ithers brown, edged with white; the terminal half of tiu' inner welt of the lirst and 

 seeond tail-feathers white. Two yellowish bands on the wintrs. Femafe similar, but 

 duller. The dorsal streaks indislinet. Length, 4.8G ; wing, 2.25; tail, 2.10. 



First plumage of the young not seen. 



Had. Atlantiir region of United States, north to Massa<lmsetts ; South Illinois ; in 

 winter very al)undant throughout all the West India Islands, as fur, at least, as tlie Virjjin 

 Islands. Not reeorded from Mexico or Central Amerie;u 



Aiituinnal .specimens liave the ]»liimai;e more Mended, hut the marl<in<:^s 

 not changed. A young male in autumnal dress is wholly hrownish olive- 

 green ahove, the whole wing unit'orm ; tlie forehead ashy, the markings ahout 

 the head rather ohsolete, the chestnut spots on the hack and the hlack ones 

 on tlie sides nearly concealed. 



Habits. The I*rairie AVarhler, nowhere an al)un('ant species, is jn-etty 

 generally, though somewhat irregidarly, disuibuted tlirough the eastern por- 

 tion of the United States from ^lassachusetts to Georgia during its hreeding- 

 seas(m. Tlie Smithsonian Museum embraces no .s]>ecimens taken west of 

 rhiladeli)liia or Washington. T have had its nest and eggs foinid in 

 Central New York. Mr. Audubon speaks of its occurring in Louisiana, but 

 his accounts of its nesting are so obviously inaccurate that we must receive 

 this statement also with misgivings. AVilson, however, obtained sj)eciniens 

 in Kentucky, and gave to it the ina])propriate name of Prairie Warbler. 

 Xuttall regarded it as I'are in New England, which opinion more carefid 

 observations do not confirm. They certainly are not rare in certain i)ortions 

 of Mas.sachusetts. In Essex County, and, according to Mr. Allen, in the 

 vicinity of Springfield, they are rather common. The Smithsonian possesses 

 specimens from the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Croix, St. Thomius, and other West 

 India islands. Dr. Cundlach speaks of it as common in Cuba. In the 

 Bahamas, Dr. Bryant i'ound these Warblers more al)undant than he had ever 

 known them in the United States. In January all the males were in winter 



