126 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS, 



THE YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. 



IcTERIA VIRIDIS. 

 PLATE XXXII. FIG. 71. 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Muscicapa viridis, Gmelin. Chattering Flycatcher, Pennaht, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 385. 



Garrulus australis, Bartram, p. 290. Icteria dumicola, Vieillot, Ois. de l'Am. pi. 55. 



Pipra pollyglotta. Wilson, Orn. Vol. 1, p. 90, pi. 6, fig. 2. 



Icteria viridis. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 69. Audcbon, fol. pi. 137 ; Om. Biog. Vol. 2, p. 223, 



and Vol. 5, p. 433. 

 Yellow-breasted Icteria. Nottall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 299. 

 I. polyglotta. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 157. 



YelloM-breasted Chat. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 4, p. 160, pi. 244 (male and female). Giraud, Birds'of Long 

 island, p. 162. 



Characteristics. Greenish olive. Throat and breast yellow. Belly and line around the 

 eye white. Length, 7 inches. 



Description. Bill typical, subcarinate between the nostrils, 0"7 in length from the rictus. 

 Tail three inches long, rounded, and extending 2-2 beyond the tips of the closed wings ; the 

 inner vanes of the feathers attenuated so as to render them acuminated. Hind claw largest. 



Color. Deep olive green above. Inner webs of the quills and tail-feathers brownish ; 

 outer webs olive. Frontlet occasionally deep slate. Lores, and a line under the eye black. 

 Chin margined on each side by a short white line, which occasionally consists of a series of 

 white points. A line of white from the nostrils, encircling the eye, and extending beyond it. 

 In the adult, the breast is of a rich orange-yellow, passing into lemon-yellow beneath. Abdo- 

 men and under tail-coverts white. Female, scarcely differing from the male, except in 

 having the black and white adjacent to the eye less pure. 



Length, 6 • - 7 • 0. Alar extent, 8 • 5 - 9 • 0. 



This bird, which attracts general attention whenever seen, by the oddity of its motions and 

 its singular notes, arrives from the tropical regions of America, in the southern part of this 

 State (where it is common), in the early part of May, and scarcely advances farther north 

 along the Atlantic. It is not uncommon in the Western States, and has been noticed by Mr. 

 Say near the Rocky mountains, among the sources of the Arkansas river. I cannot state 

 from my own observation that it breeds in this State, although it is extremely probable. It 

 lays 4-6 light flesh-colored eggs, spotted with reddish brown. Feeds on beetles, and 

 berries of various kinds. It is among the earliest of the birds which leave us ; taking its 

 departure about the middle of August. 



