WORX-EATIXG WARBLES. 45 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty-nine specimens. Length, 6-55; stretch, 10-30; wing, 3-30; tail, 2-45; bill, -48; 

 tarsus, -80. Longest specimen, 7-00; greatest extent of wings, 11-00; longest wing, 3-60; tail, 2-75; bill, -50; tarsus, 

 90. Shortest specimen, 6-13; smallest extent of wings, 9-95; shortest wing, 3-15; tail, 2-45; bill, -50; tarsus, -90. 



DESCRIPTION OF NEST AND EGGS. 



The accompanying descriptions were made from a nest and eggs, now in the Smithsonian Institution, by my 

 friend Mr. i:id:. r way. who kindly forwarded them to me. The specimens were taken at Rendezvous Lake, Arctic 

 dust, ou the L'Jth of June, 1SG1, 1>\ Mr. R. McFarland. 



V ft composed entirely of coarse grass, lined with liner material; it is quite compact and deeply saucer-shaped. 

 Dimensions : external diameter, 4 inches, internal, 2-50; external depth, 2 inches, internal, 1-50. 



I'.ijijx, live in number, oval in form, dull gray in color, with spots ol chocolate-brown thickly sprinkled over the 

 whole surface. 



HABITS. 







The Titlarks make their appearance on the coast of New England in September; they 

 come pouring in from the North in large flocks and frequent the barren, wind-swept hills which 

 lie along the shore. These birds are very restless, never remaining long in one spot, and will 

 seldom alight in masses but scatter along the beaches ; sometimes a company of several 

 hundred will spread over a quarter of a mile of shore, yet so prone are they to take flight that 

 if a single individual becomes frightened enough to rise and sound its clear cry every bird iu 

 the tlock -will take alarm and instantly depart. They fly with an undulating motion, uttering a 

 shrill double note. When once in air they seem to dislike to alight, for although they will 

 frequently sweep downward and appear about to stop will often proceed for a mile or more 

 without settling. 



The Titlarks appear to subsist mainly upon insects, and I have observed them darting 

 upwards from the ground to catch passing flies. They remain in New England until the middle 

 df November, when they depart for the South. These birds are exceedingly abundant about 

 Jacksonville, in Florida; here they frequent open fields along the river, behaving much as when 

 at the North, with the exception of being tamer. I have, while there, approached within a few 

 feet of a flock without starting them. They occur in all sections of the state, even at Key 

 West, but are not common much south of Jacksonville. In March the Titlarks leave Florida 

 for the North, passing Massachusetts in April. They breed in Labrador and the fur countries. 



FAMILY VIII. SYLVICOLID.E. THE WOOD WARBLERS. 



Coracoid bones, about ei/ual in length to the top o/ the keel, sometimes being either but little longer or shorter. 

 Marginal indentations, exceeding in depth the height o/ the keel. Feet, o/ moderate size. Wings, not long. 



This family embraces several genera and many species. They are all birds of a small size and are generally 

 marked with bright colors such as yellow, orange, etc. 



GENUS I. HELMITHERUS. THE WORM-EATING WARBLERS. 



GEN. Cii. Bill, large and stout, equal in lenyth to the head. Tarsus, not longer than the middle toe and claw. 

 Height o/ keel, exceeding one-half the width of the sternum. Coracoid bones, equal in length to the top of the keel. 



HELMITHERUS VEBMIVOBUS. 



The Worm-eating Warbler. 

 Ilelmitherus vermicorus BONAP., Conspectus, 1850, 314. 



DESCRIPTION. 



si. Cir. Form, rather stout. Size, not large. Bill, slightly curved. Feet, rather large. Tail, short, square 

 and slightly emargiuate. Sternum, stoutly- built. Tongue, thick and fleshy, something like those of sparrows ; not 



