212 THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 



by one and one-sixth inches in size. It breeds in northern 

 North America and spends the summer in the South At- 

 lantic states southward to South America. It is common 

 during migrations on the coast and occasionally found in- 

 land, occurring between April 30 and May 10 and again 

 between July 15 and October 10. When taken along the 

 sea coast its flesh generally has a sedgy flavor, but when 

 taken inland it is esteemed palatable. 



^ ^Maryland. Length, five and one 

 third inches; extent, eight and one-half inches; bill, two- 

 fifths of an inch, black; a broad black band across the 

 forehead and on the cheeks, bordered with gray above; 

 back, olive green; throat and breast, bright yellow; belly, 

 white; sides white with a brown tinge; tail, olive green 

 above, with yellow feathers below; wings, brownish olive; 

 feet, flesh-colored. In the fall the birds are browner 

 above, the belly is a deeper yellow, the sides are a deeper 

 brown and the black mask is scarcely discernible. The 

 female never has black on the forehead or on the cheeks. 

 [For illustration see facing page 28.] 



The nest, which is large for a bird of this size, is built 

 on or near the ground, of bark, grasses and leaves, lined 

 with skeleton leaves and small roots. The eggs are from 

 three to five in number, white, with brown spots, more 

 numerous near the large end, and seven- tenths by one- 

 half an inch in size. 



The birds breed in the eastern United States northward 

 to Canada and spend the winter in the south Atlantic 

 states, the West Indies, Mexico and southward to Pana- 

 ma. In New Jersey they are abundant from April 25 to 

 October 12. 



The song is generally written wicJiity-wichity-wichity- 

 wichity. 



The food of the birds is composed of insects. 



