BIRDS OF KANSAS. 569 



SP. CHAR. "Adult, in spring: Head (above) chestnut red; rest of upper parts 

 brownish olive gray; the feathers with darker centers, the color brightening on 

 the rump, upper tail coverts, and outer margins of wing and tail feathers, to 

 greenish yellow. A streak from nostril over the eye, and under parts generally 

 (including the tail coverts), bright yellow; paler on the body. A maxillary line; 

 breast and sides finely but rather obsoletely streaked with reddish brown. Cheeks 

 brownish (in highest spring plumage chestnut, like the head); the eyelids and 

 spot under the eye olive brown; lores dusky. A white spot on the inner web of 

 the outer two tail feathers at the end. Sexes nearly alike. Autumnal males 

 are more reddish above; under parts tinged with brown; the axillars yellow. 

 This species varies considerably in different stages, but can generally be recog- 

 nized. Immature specimens resemble those of D. tigrina, but differ in the 

 chestnut crown, browner back, less bright rump, brighter yellow of under tail 

 coverts, smaller blotches on tail, no white bands on the wings, etc., as well as in 

 the shape of the bill." 



Stretch of 

 Length. iving. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.25 8.00 2.50 2.20 .78 .45 



Female... 5.15 7.75 2.40 2.00 .75 .42 



Iris dark brown; bill dusky, the under sometimes pale at 

 base; legs, feet and claws olive brown; bottoms of feet green- 

 ish yellow. 



These "Warblers are largely terrestrial, and in many respects 

 differ from most of the family; and they are the only birds of 

 this genus that nest upon the ground. They are social in their 

 habits, and outside of their breeding grounds assemble together 

 in small flocks, and in their search for food often associate with 

 the Sparrows and Myrtle Warblers. Like the Pipits, they keep 

 their tails vibrating up and down, especially as they run about 

 on the ground and hop from bush to bush; busy little bodies, 

 that are ever on the move. 



During the early spring, when insect life is most abundant 

 among the unfolding leaves and buds, I have occasionally seen 

 them in the treetops, but their natural haunts are within the 

 straggling shrubby growths on grassy lands, in waste fields, 

 orchards, etc. 



Their song is but a feeble effort, a grasshopper trill, and their 

 ordinary call note a low ' 'Chip, ' ' but when alarmed it is uttered 

 in a sharp, shrill manner. 



I have never met with the birds in their summer homes. 

 They are supposed to nest wholly north of the United States, 



