648 HISTORY OF TIIK 



lum and malar region are much less distinctly buff: the sides much grayer, etc. 

 Some specimens of alii-ue and swainsonii are identical in the color of the upper 

 parts, but a large majority of the former species are decidedly darker and less 

 brown, appearing on actual comparison almost gray in contrast. (Ridgway.) 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 7.60 12.60 4.15 3.15 1.20 .55 



Female... 7.30 12.30 4.00 3.00 1.18 .53 



Iris brown; bill dusky, with basal half of under yellowish; 

 legs and feet flesh color, the feet a shade darker, with bottoms 

 pale; claws brown. 



This species frequents alike the woods and scattering trees 

 and bushes fringing the streams. Shy, restless birds; and, as 

 they prefer for their feeding grounds open spaces or forests 

 free from underbrush, they are not easily approached. They are 

 largely terrestial in their habits, and spend much of their time 

 hopping over the ground in search of food, standing almost 

 erect when they stop to listen, or utter from the perch their 

 low, whistling "Whew." I am wholly unacquainted with their 

 breeding habits, and therefore take pleasure in quoting from 

 Mr. E. W. Nelson's "Report upon Natural History Collections 

 made in Alaska:" 



"This species is comnfon throughout all the northern portion 

 of Alaska wherever willow and alder thickets afford it shelter. 

 Its western range extends to Behring Straits and beyond, and 

 it has been recorded from Kamtchatka, and probably occurs on 

 the Chukchi Peninsula. Along the entire Yukon, and other 

 streams bordered by trees and bushes in this region, it is present 

 in great abundance during the breeding season. On the first of 

 June, 1879, as I came down the Yukon by boat, large numbers 

 of their old nests were seen in the leafless bushes along the river 

 banks. A number of these nests were close to the ground 

 within two or three feet while others were from eight to twelve 

 feet high, at the division of two stout branches, where the com- 

 pact structure of fine grass and leaves was placed. This species 

 reaches the mouth of the Yukon and adjacent coast in large 

 numbers the last of May or first of June. The earliest arrival 

 which I have recorded is on May 24th. They are soon found 

 in every thicket, whence their low, sweet song is frequently 



