



SPECIES 22. SYL VM PROTONO TARIUS. 



PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 



[Plate XXIV. Fig. 3.] 



Arct. Zool.p. 410. BUFFON, v, 316. LATHAM, n, 494. PL Enl. 

 704. P KALE'S Museum, No. 7020. 



THIS is an inhabitant of the same country as the Painted 

 Bunting; and also a passenger from the south; with this diffe- 

 rence, that the bird now before us seldom approaches the house 

 or garden; but keeps among the retired deep and dark swampy 

 woods, through which it flits nimbly in search of small cater- 

 pillars; uttering every now and then a few screaking notes, 

 scarcely worthy of notice. They are abundant in the Missis- 

 sippi and New Orleans territories, near the river; but are rare- 

 ly found on the high ridges inland. 



From the peculiar form of its bill, being roundish and re- 

 markably pointed, this bird might with propriety be classed as 

 a sub-genus, or separate family, including several others, viz. 

 the Blue-winged Yellow Warbler; the Golden-crowned War- 

 bler, the Golden-winged Warbler, the Worm-eating Warbler, 

 and a few more. The bills of all these correspond nearly in 

 form and pointedness, being generally longer, thicker at the 

 base, and more round than those of the genus Sylvia, gene- 

 rally. The first mentioned species, in particular, greatly re- 

 sembles this in its general appearance; but the bill of the Pro- 

 thonotary is rather stouter, and the yellow much deeper, ex- 

 tending farther on the back; its manners and the country it in- 

 habits are also different. 



This species is five inches and a half long, and eight and a 

 half in extent; the head, neck, and whole lower parts (except 

 the vent) are of a remarkably rich and brilliant yellow, slightly 



VOL. II. 3 A 



