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Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wiscoxsix — Cory. 641 



Genus HELIXAIA Audubon. 



302. Helinaia swainsonii Aud. 

 SwAixsox's Warbler. 



Distr.: Southeastern United States, from eastern Texas and 

 Arkansas to the Atlantic coast, north to southern Indiana, breeding 

 throughout its United States range, except in southern Florida; 

 south in winter to southern Florida, Cuba, Jamaica, and eastern 

 Mexico (Vera Cruzl. 



Adult: Upper plumage, dark olive brown; crown and wings, 

 tinged with cinnamon-brown ; tail, dark olive brown, without any 



white marking; a dull yellowish 



white stripe over the eye; under 



^^^^^^^^^^^^ parts, yellowish white, tinged with 



j/'^ brownish olive on the sides; bill, pale 



brown. 



Sexes similar. 



Length, 5.25; wing, 2.60; tail, 2; 

 bill, .50. 



It is doubtful if this species has ever actually been taken in 

 Illinois, although it undoubtedly occurs in the southern portion of the 

 state. Mr. Ridgway in his Notes on Birds observed at Mt. Carmel, 

 southern Illinois, in the spring of 1878 (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 1878, 

 p. 163) states: "In the Cyprus swamp a bird was several times no- 

 ticed by Mr. Brewster and myself, which we both agreed must be 

 this species. It was well seen on several occasions and its song 

 heard, while one specimen was shot, but unfortunately could not be 

 found." In the synonomy of his Birds of North and Middle America 

 (1902, p. 438) he refers to this record as from "Knox Co., Indiana," 

 from which it would appear that the birds were observed on the 

 Indiana side of the "Wabash River. 



Mr. Otto Widmann gives Swainson's Warbler as a summer resi- 

 dent in southeast Missouri (Birds of Missouri, 1907, p. 214). 



Mr. Alfred O. Gross records having seen a Swainson's Warbler 

 near Du Quoin, Perry County, Illinois, on June 17. 1907. (The 

 Auk, Vol. NXV, 1908. p. 225.) 



