BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 277 



NOTE. Dr. Spencer Trotter, formerly of Philadelphia, now residing at Swarth- 

 more College, Delaware county, mentions (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 77, 1877, pp. 79-80) 

 the capture of a male Brewster's Warbler (77. leucobronchialis, Brewst ) by 

 Christopher D. Wood, "May 12, 1377, in an apple orchard near Clifton, Delaware 

 county." Although I do not now have the data at hand, my impression is thatsince 

 the date above mentioned one other example of this possibly tenable species has 

 been captured in southeastern Pennsylvania. Personally, I am unacquainted with 

 this bird, concerning which the following is quoted from Dr. Coues' Key, p. 293: 

 " Like H. chrysoptera : but a black bar through the eye as inpinus, and lacking the 

 black breast patch of chrysoptera, the entire under parts being white ; thus 

 chrysoptera X pinus, and doubtless a hybrid between the two, thoueh up to date al 

 dozen or more specimens have been described, from New England, New York, 

 Pennsylvania and Michigan." 



Helminthophila ruflcapilla (WiLs). 



Nashville Warbler. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length 4^ to 5 but generally less than 5 ; extent about 7 ^the average of five speci- 

 mens in flesh); wing a little less than 2^ (six specimens average 2.37); tail little 

 under 2 (about 1.90). Bill (dried specimens) brownish (mandible and edges of 

 maxilla paler); tarsi brownish ; feet lighter. No wing-bars or no white patches on 

 tail feathers ; lores yellowish (sometimes ashy or grayish) but not black ; no super- 

 ciliary stripe, but a conspicuous yellowish-white ring around eye. Plumage of 

 upper parts olive-green, brightest on rump ; upper surface of wings (on most coverts 

 and edges of outer webs) and outer webs of tail feathers above (especially edges) 

 similar to rump but a little paler ; neck behind, sides of head, sides of neck and 

 upper part of back, ashy-gray ; top of head similar, but the ashy-gray tips of feathers 

 of crown when pushed aside reveal a chestnut patch. Edge of wing, chin, throat, 

 breast, and under tail-coverts yellow ; belly paler ; sides greenish-yellow. 



Habitat. Eastern North America to the plains, north to the Fur Countries, breed- 

 ing from the northern United States northward. Mexico in winter. 



This species usually is first seen in the southern part of Pennsylvania 

 about the 10th of May ; often in orchards, but generally about bushes, 

 thickets or in open woodland, in the vicinity of streams and ponds. 

 When migrating in the fall the Nashville Warbler is found here from 

 about the middle of September until, some seasons, as late as the middle 

 of October. In spring I have mostly observed these birds singly or in 

 pairs, sometimes in company with other species, but generally by them- 

 selves. In the fall they are usually seen in small parties, and are then 

 often with other warblers. Willow trees along streams and on the 

 banks of ponds, appear to be their favorite feeding resorts, as they 

 leisurely migrate southward. I believe this species breeds sparingly in 

 our higher mountainous regions. Food similar to that of other species 

 of its genus. 



