Aug. 1887.] 



AIS^D OOLOGIST. 



121 



than those of smaller structure, and seldom 

 do we see them in any flight than that whieh 

 is necessary to their sober duties of life. Theie- 

 fore it is the more remarkable when this species, 

 one of tlie largest of our Eaptores^ presents it- 

 self to our notice in the I'ole of a comedian. 

 We do not criticise it. Woidd there was more 

 of it in a world of too much tragedy. And 

 what more stately or better formed bird tlian 

 the Osprey to enact it. 



Notes on Some Birds of W^arwick 

 County, Virginia. 



BY OHAKLES L. rHILLIl'S, TAUNTON, MASS. 



The following notes were made during a 

 week spent in Warwick Countj^, Va., at wiiich 

 place I arrived May 23, 1887, after a somewhat 

 boisterous voyage of fortj^ hours fiom l*rovi- 

 dence, R. I.^ for which, however, I felt amply 

 repaid by finding a locality propitious for bird 

 life. M}' stay was not of sufficient extent to 

 note all the birds of the locality. Using Kidge- 

 ways nomenclature, I commence wMth 



Morula migratorin, Robin ; abundant outside 

 of the towns, but less familiar than in Massa- 

 chusetts. 



3Iimus pnlijyhittui^^ Mocking-bird; com.non, 

 but rather shj'. I did not see them far from 

 the towns. 



Galeoscoptes carolinensis, Catbird ; very com- 

 mon, but kept concealed in the thickets tliat 

 fringed the creeks. 



Harporhynchus rnfus, Brown Thrush ; only a 

 few seen. 



Sialia sialix^ Bluebird ; common ; no difterent 

 habits noted than at the north. 



Thrijothorus ludovicianus, Carolina Wren ; 

 abundant around the creeks. They have a 

 beautiful song wliich is frequently reiterated. 

 I secured several fine specimens. 



Dendroeca mstiva, Yellow Warbler; I saw a 

 single individual. 



Siurus (ntricapUJus, Oven Bird ; several were 

 heard, and one shot. 



(jeothlypis trichas^ Maryland Yellow-tliroat ; 

 connnon around the creeks. 



Icteria virens, Yellow-breasted Chat; I se- 

 cured several specimens of this bird. They 

 frequented the dense thickets, from whence 

 tlieir scolding notes issued. 



Myiodioctes mitratus, Hooded Warbler. I se- 

 cured two male specimens in a swampy lo- 

 cality. 



Vireosylvia olivacea, Red-eyed Vireo ; abun- 



dant; their cheerful note may be heard 

 throughout the day. 



Lanivireo flavifrons^ Yellow-throated Vii-eo. 

 This bird was seen and heard occasionally in 

 the mulberry and elm trees in the towns. 



Lnnias hidoriciauns, Loggerhead Shrike; 

 connnon around the plantation, where I secured 

 several. 



Hiriindo erythrogastra^ Barn Swallow; abun- 

 dant. I saw young ready to fly, 



Pyranga cestiva, Summer Redbii-d. I secured 

 one pair of tliese gaudy birds and saw several 

 more. They seem to conceal their brilliant 

 plumage in the foliage. 



Fn.-isr')- dovu'stirus, English Sparrow. These 

 exotic tyrants were as abundant and as trouble- 

 some as in Massachusetts. 



Corturniculus passerinns, Yellow - winged 

 Sparrow; common around the open fields, in 

 the herbage. They have a peculiar, faint, note, 

 but when once heard, ever after recognized. 



Coturniculns henslowi, Henslow's Sparrow. 

 I secured a single specimen, a female, the only 

 one seen. 



Spizcdla Domcstica, Chipping Sparrow; abun- 

 dant. 



Spizella pusillai Field Sparrow; common; 

 found in company with C. passerinus. 



Mdospiza fasciata^ Song Sparrow; abundant 

 around the plantations. 



Cardinalis virginianus, Cardinal Grosbeak; 

 common in the dense thickets, but hard to ob- 

 serve; their loud whistling notes betray them, 

 however. 



Passcrina cyanra^ Indigo Bunting; not very 

 common. They are only found in the bushes 

 which fringe the creeks. 



Spiza americana, Black-throated Bunting; 

 rather uncommon in this section; a few noted 

 in the open fields, retreating to the thicket at 

 first approach of alarm. 



Stnrnella magna, Meadow Lark; abundant 

 around the plantations and seemingly less diffi- 

 cult of approach than at the north. 



Quiscahis pitrpnreus, Purple Crackle; abun- 

 dant in the evergreen trees. 



Corvus ossifragus, Fish Crow ; abundant 

 around the creeks, where they feed on the small 

 crabs at low water. Their notes were uttered 

 with more of a drawl than their northern con- 

 geners. 



Cyanocitia cristata, Blue Jay ; a few noticed. 



Tyranmis carolinensis, King Bird; common. 

 They annoy the crows and buzzards exceed- 

 ingly. 



Myiarchns criuitns, Great-crested Flycatcher; 

 common around the towns. 



