442 WOOD WARBLERS 



eye; back and rump bright olive-green; wings and tail bluish gray; greater 

 and middle wing-coverts tipped with white or yellowish white; outer three 

 tail-feathers with large white patches on their inner webs, fourth feather with 

 a much smaller patch. Ad. 9. Similar, but yellow on the head confined to 

 the forehead; underparts duller. L., 4'80; W., 2'40; T., 1'80; B. from N., '33. 



Remarks. The only variation of note in the plumage of otherwise typical 

 specimens of this species occurs in the color of the wing-bars, which in some 

 specimens are tinged with yellow. A specimen in Mr. Brewster's collection 

 (No. 25,511, Seymour, Conn., June 11, 1889, E. A. Eames) shows this varia- 

 tion carried to an extreme, and has the wing-bars as broadly yellow as in F. 

 chrysoptera, though in every other respect it is typical pinus. Between this 

 species and V. chrysoptera there exists a complete set of intergrades, which are 

 variously called K . leucobronchialis and V. lawrencei. They are generally 

 considered to be hybrids, and it has also been suggested that dichromatism 

 may aid in producing their coloration. Their relationships will be found dis- 

 cussed under the following references: Brewster, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1881, 

 218; Ridgway, Auk, 1885, 359; Manual N. A. Birds, 486; Chapman, Warb- 

 lers of N. A., 74; Faxon, Memoirs Mus. Comp. Zool., 1911, No. 2. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds from se. Minn., s. Mich., w. N. Y., Mass. 

 (rarely), and s. Conn. s. to ne. Kans., cen. Mo., Ky. Md., and Del. (casually 

 further s.); winters from s. Mex. casually to Colombia; very rare migrant in 

 se. U. S. s. of Va. and e. of La. ; occasional in s. Ont. 



Washington, rather uncommon T. V., Apl. 26-May 22; Aug. 13-Sept. 

 2; a few breed. Ossining, common S. R., May 4-Sept. 7. N. Ohio, common 

 S. R., Apl. 27-Sept. 15. Glen Ellyn, irregular, possibly S. R., May 1-Sept 

 15. SE. Minn., uncommon S. R., Apl. 30-Sept. 1. 



Nest, of bark and leaves, lined with fine strips of bark and tendrils, and 

 firmly wrapped with numerous leaves, whose stems point upward, on the 

 ground, generally in or at the border of second growth. Eggs, 4-6, white, 

 thinly speckled with rufous, cinnamon-brown, or rufous-brown, *62 x "50. 

 Date, Chester Co., Pa., May 22; New Haven, Conn., May 20; Oberlin, Ohio, 

 May 10; se. Minn., May 16 (nest finished). 



This species may be found in scrubby second growths, woodland 

 borders, or even the lower trees of dense woods. Its movements are 

 rather slow and leisurely, and, like a Chickadee, it may sometimes be 

 seen hanging head downward while searching for food. 



It is at times a rather persistent songster, and its peculiar song is 

 not likely to be mistaken for that of any other Warbler. As a rule, 

 it consists of the two drawled, wheezy notes swee-chee] the first inhaled, 

 the second exhaled. A less common song, uttered later in the season, 

 is wee, cht-cM-cht-chi, chur, chee-chur, and is sometimes accompanied 

 by peculiar kik notes. 



1909. WRIGHT, H. W., Auk, XXVI, 337-345 (nesting in Mass.). 



Vermivora leucobronchialis (Brewst.}. BREWSTER'S WARBLER. 

 Ad. cf . Forehead and forepart of the crown yellow, a black line from the 

 bill through the eye; rest of the upperparts bluish gray; wing-bars broadly 

 yellow; tail like the back, three to four outer feathers marked with white; 

 underparts pure white, faintly washed with yellow on the breast. Fall 

 specimens are more heavily washed with yellow, and the upperparts are 

 margined with olive-green. Ad. 9 . Similar, but wing-bars white, and crown 

 not so bright. 



Remarks. The descriptions are from typical specimens of the puzzling 

 bird known as Vermivora leucobronchialis. Between it and V. pinus there are 

 specimens showing every degree of intergradation. Typical examples are 

 comparatively rare, and the most common form has the breast heavily 

 washed with yellow, the back tinged with olive-green, and the white wing- 



