86 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE NASHVILLE WARBLER. 

 Vermivora rubricapilla. 



PLATE XLV1I. FIG. 104 (Mais). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Sylvia ruficapilla et rubricapilla. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 120, pi. 27, fig. 3. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. 



Y. Vol. 2, p. 87. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 412. 

 Nashville Warbler. Audubon, fol. pi. 89 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, p. 450. 

 Sylvicola (Vermivora) rubricapilla. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 220, pi. 42 (male). 

 Helmaia id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 2, p. 103, pi. 113 (male and female). 

 H. id., Nashville Warbler. Gibaub, Birds of Long Island, p. 69. 



Characteristics. Greenish olive ; beneath yellow. Head and neck light ash. Crown 

 dotted with dull reddish. Wings without bands. Female : Jrlead dull 

 olive^j chin buff. Length, 4j inches. 



Description. Second quill-feather longest ; the first shorter than the third. Tail slightly 

 emarginate, 0-7 longer than the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Head and sides of the neck ashen. On the summit of the head, a few chesnut- 

 colored spots, produced by feathers of that color at their bases, tipped with ash, and nearly 

 concealing the bay crown : occasionally the whole crown of a uniform bay. Circle round the 

 eye white. Outer web of the first primary white, or tinged with yellow ; the others light 

 greenish olive. Wings and tail brown ; the latter margined with olive on the outer webs. All 

 beneath, with the exception of the centre of the body, bright yellow. Female : The ches- 

 nut marks on the crown scarcely distinguishable, and all the colors more dull. Head olive- 

 brownish ; sides of the neck brownish buff. Chin bright buff. Tail-feathers more acumi- 

 nated than in the male. 



Length, 4 '5. Alar extent, 7 • 0. 



This is another rather rare species. Those in the State Collection were shot in Rockland 

 county, September 10. The specimen figured by Richardson appears to be a strongly marked 

 variety of this species. It arrives in this State about the middle of May, and breeds farther 

 north. Its geographical limits are between the 23d and 55th parallels of north latitude, but 

 it appears to be exceedingly rare. History imperfect. 



