48 DENDRCECA PINA. 



becomes redolent with their fragrance the desire to linger in such a spot becomes almost 

 irresistible. Hundreds of birds frequent these lovely retreats, and many build their nests 

 among the branches. These are places where one would naturally look for rare species, and it 

 was in an orange grove that Mr. Thaxter procured the specimen which I have described ; it was 

 taken on the 15th of April, 1869. 



GENUS H. DENDRCECA. THE WOOD INHABITERS. 



GEN. Cn. Bill, shorter than the head, slender, but not very acuminate. Tarsus, longer than the middle toe and 

 claw. Height of keel, a little exceeding one-half the width of the sternum but not as high as in the preceding genus. 

 Coracoid bones, shorter in length than the top of the keel. 



DEKTDRfECA PINA. 

 Pine Warbler. 



Dendrceca pina BAIRD, Birds of North America, 1858, 277. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, rather robust. Size, large. Bill, rather stout and conical. Feet, wings, and tail of moderate 

 size, the latter emarginate. Sternum, stoutly built. The keel is considerably higher than one-half the width of the 

 sternum in comparison with other members of the genus. Tongue, narrow, thin and quite acuminate, with the end 

 divided into rather coarse cilia about three-hundredths of an inch in length, which extend along the sides growing 

 gradually shorter until they disappear, occupying about one-fourth of the terminal length. 



COLOR. Adult male. Above, olivaceous-green, brightest on the back and palest on the upper tail coverts, with 

 the feathers of the top of the head showing darker centres. Wings, dark brown with the two rows of wing coverts 

 tipped with white, and forming bars. Tail, also brown but having spots of white on the inner webs of the four outer 

 feathers, which extend from the tip half way to the base. The feathers of the wings and tail are also slightly 

 edged with whitish. Throat, breast, sides and flanks yellow, but becoming paler on the latter. Abdomen, under tail 

 coverts and under wing coverts white. Lores, dusky. There are also dusky lines along the sides caused by the 

 feathers having darker centres. In autumn there is a bluish-white washing above ; the yellow beneath is a little 

 more extended ; the dark lines on the sides are not as conspicuous, but the lores and the ear coverts are quite dusky. 



The young male is somewhat like the autumnal adult but there is a brownish cast to the washing above; 

 there is a suffusion of white over the yellow beneath ; the dark lines on the sides are not visible ; the lores and 

 ear coverts are more dusky, and the white on the tail is less extended. 



Adult female. Browner on the back than the male ; dirty white beneath with a tinge of yellow across the throat 

 and breast ; otherwise similar. In autumn the brown above is more extended, nearly obscuring even the white tips 

 of the wing coverts, but the yellow beneath is more plainly perceptible. 



The young female is entirely slaty-brown above, with the white tips of the wing coverts scarcely observable. 

 Beneath, dirty white; the tail feathers are scarcely spotted with white; irides, brown; bill, brown, lighter at the 

 base of the lower mandible ; feet dark brown, in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



In the adult stages the Pine Warbler need not be confounded with any other of the family, but the young female 

 has so little resemblance to the adult that it is often difficult for the student to recognize It. It may be readily 

 known, however, by its large size, stout bill and pure white under tail coverts. Florida specimens are rather 

 brighter than northern ones. Habitat, Eastern United States, north to Labrador ; winters in the Southern states. 

 Not found on the Florida Keys. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of twenty-three specimens. Length, 5-43; stretch, 8-80; wing, 2-75; tail, 2-11; bill, -42; 

 tarsus, -70. Longest specimen, 5-70; greatest extent of wings, 9-60; longest wing, 3-00; tail, 2-25; bill, -50; tarsus, 

 77. Shortest specimen, 5-00; smallest extent of wings, 8-40; shortest wing, 2-20; tail, 2-00; bill, -40; tarsus, -65. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests usually placed in trees at some distance from the ground ; composed of grasses and pine leaves ; lined 

 with finer grasses. Dimensions : external diameter, 4-00 inches, internal, 2-50; external depth, 2-00 inches, internal, 

 1-50. 



