276 NORTH A.MHItlCAN r.IlMKS. 



Dendroica discolor, Baiud. 



FBAIBIE WABBLES, 



Syln,, tlheolor, ViKii.r,. Ois. Am. Sr],!. II, 1SU7, ;i7, pi, xoviii, - Hon, ; Ai'i). Orn I5i„L' 

 I. 1.1. .viv ; Xiii, -. l,i;.MMi;vi;, Av.s CuImi, isr.(», 'M, pi. vi, li«. % S,jlri,vht diseuhr, 

 .Iaki). ; liiiii. : lioN. ; Aii>. Itinls Am. 11, pi. .xtvii. - (io.s.><|.„ lljids .Imii. 1847, 150 

 llhiu,„„i,lius Jiscnhr, Caii. ,l.mr. Ill, I8i5, 474 (CuUv ; wintn). Av„/n,/,v, .Ww 

 liAiiii), Hilda N. Am. Ks5,s, -Jito ; JJev. 213. — Nkwion, Ibis, hs.iu, I44 (St C'roi.v) — 

 HiiVA.sr, IV l!„st. Soc. VII, m,\> (li,.h,mia,s). - In. 18(i(i (I'.,ito l!i,„) ; lStJ7, !.] 

 (llayti). -CiiNiu.Aill, Ciil). Jour, 18til, :C2(I (Cuba; voiy common). -Sa.mukw, 241, 

 AyiKd wiiiitld, W11..S0N, 111, pi. x.w. tiy. 4, 



Rp. CllAl!. Si.rinij mah: Above iiMiloiiii (liiw-^'iccii ; tlio intoi-.xcapnlar iv-ion witli 

 ciR.stniil-ir.l (vnlivs to fualluT.-i. ('ndci- |.ails and si.lw oftlie iioa.i, iii.liulin|J n broa.l 

 ."iupcvilia.y hm. from the nostilLs to a liiilu brhin.l the cyo, brij-ht ydlow, bn-iitc.-<t an- 



tciiorly. A Woll-deliiiud narrow .stripe from llie eoinniis.suro of the iilli tlimiii,di the 



eye, and anotlier lioni llie .sanu^ point curving' -cnlly below it, al.^o a .seri.'.s of streaks on 

 eaeh side of (he body, e.Mendhifr (Wmi the throat to the llank.s black. Qnilis and tail- 

 feathers brown, edged with white; liie terminal half of the inner wel) of the (irst and 

 second tail-feathers white. Two yellowi.sh bands on the winps. F,;m,k similar, but 

 duller. The dorsal streaks indistinct. Length, 4.80 ; wing, 2.2ij ; tail, 2.10. 



First plumage of the yoinig not seen. 



IIab. Atlautie region of United States, north to J[as.saehusetts ; St)utli Illinois ; in 

 winter very abundant liiroughout all the West India Islands, lus far, at least, us tho Virgin 

 Islands. Not recorded Iroui Mexico or Central Ameiica. 



Autiuniml specimens have the pUiniarre more hlomled, but the markings 

 not cluiugetl. A youiiy nuile in auiunnial dres.s is wholly brownisli olive- 

 green above, the wliole wing unilbrm ; ilie Ibrehead ashy, the markings about 

 tlie liead ratlier ol)solete, tlie ciiestnut spots on tlie back and the black ones 

 on tiie sides nearly concetded. 



Habits. The Prairie AVarbler, nowlicre an abundant species is jn-etty 

 generally, though soniewliat irregidarly, distributed tin-ougli tlie eastern por- 

 tion of the United States from .Alassachusetts to (leoigia during its breeding- 

 sea,son, Tlie Smitlisonian :\ru.seum embraces no .specimens ttiken west of 

 riiiladelpliia or AVashington. T have had its nest and eggs found in 

 Central ^aw York. Mr. Auchdjon speaks of its occurring in Louisiana, but 

 his accounts of its nesting are so obviously inaccurate that we must receive 

 this statement also with misgivings. "Wilson, however, obtained ,s])eciniens 

 in Kentucky, and gave to it tlie inajipropriate name of Frairic Warbler. 

 Xuttidl regai'ded it as rare in New England, wliich opinion more careful 

 observations do not confirm. They certainly are not rare in certain jiortions 

 of Massachusetts. In Essex County, and, according to Mr. Allen, in the 

 vicinity of Sjiringfield, they ai'e rather common. The Smithsonian possesses 

 si)ecimens from the Eahamas, Jamaica, St. Croix, St. Thomtus, ami other West 

 India islands. Dr. CJundliich speaks of it as common in Cuba, In the 

 Bahamas, Dr. Bryant found the.se Warblers more abundant than he had ever 

 known them in the United States. In January all the males were in winter 



