

SPECIES 20. SYLVM BLACKBURNM. 

 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. 



[Plate XXIII. Fig. 3.] 

 LATHAM, n, /?. 461, JVo. 67. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 7060.* 



THIS is another scarce species in Pennsylvania, making its 

 appearance here about the beginning of May; and again in 

 September on its return, but is seldom seen here during the 

 middle of summer. It is an active silent bird. Inhabits also the 

 state of New York, from whence it was first sent to Europe. 

 Latham has numbered this as a variety of the Yellow-fronted 

 Warbler, a very different species. The specimen sent to Eu- 

 rope, and first described by Pennant, appears also to have been 

 a female, as the breast is said to be yellow, instead of the bril- 

 liant orange with which it is ornamented. Of the nest and hab- 

 its of this bird I can give no account, as there is not more than 

 one or two of these birds to be found here in a season, even with 

 the most diligent search. 



The Blackburnian Warbler is four inches and a half long, and 

 seven in extent; crown black, divided by a line of orange; the 

 black again bounded on the outside by a stripe of rich orange 

 passing over the eye; under the eye a small touch of orange 

 yellow; whole throat and breast rich fiery orange, bounded by 

 spots and streaks of black; belly dull yellow, also streaked with 

 black; vent white ; back black, skirted with ash ; wings the same, 

 marked with a large lateral spot of white; tail slightly forked; 

 the interior vanes of the three exterior feathers white; cheeks 

 black; bill and legs brown. The female is yellow where the 

 male is orange; the black streaks are also more obscure and less 

 numerous. 



*Molacilla fifacft&urnte , GMEL. Syst- i, p. 977. Sylvia Blackburni*, LATH. 

 Ind. Orn. u, ji. 527. Vixiu,. Ois. de I' Am. Sept. pi. 96. 



