OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 283 



clear yellowish -green, pertectly uniform or back with slight dusky touches ; 

 no distinct head-markings ; below entirely white from bill to tail, or else show- 

 ing a trace of chestnut streaks on the sides ; wing-bands clear yellow, as in the 

 adult ; this is a diagnostic feature, shared by no other species, taken in con- 

 nection with the continuously white under parts ; bill light colored below. 

 Length, 5-5^ ; wing, 2^ ; tail, 2. 



Hab. Eastern United States and Southern Canada, west to the Plains, 

 breeding southward to Central Illinois and m the Appalachian Highlands, 

 probably to Northern Georgia. Visits the Bahamas and Central America in 

 winter. 



Nest, in the fork of a bush or sapling, 3 to 8 feet from the ground ; com- 

 posed of bark strips and grass, and lined with plant down and hair. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; creamy-white with reddish-brown marking. 



A common summer resident, breeding in suitable places near 

 the city and throughout the country, and raising two broods in 

 the season. It is very partial to briar patches, but sometimes 

 goes gleaning for insects among the trees, when the blending of 

 its varied plumage with the fresh spring foliage produces a very 

 pleasing effect. It arrives from the south about the loth of 

 May, and departs early in September. 



262. DENDROICA CASTANEA (Wils.). (i60. 



Bay-breasted Warbler. 



Male, in spring, back thickly streaked with black and grayish-olive ; fore- 

 head and sides of head black, enclosing a large deep chestnut patch; a duller 

 chestnut (exactly like a Blue-bird's breast) occupies the whole chin and throat, 

 and extends, more or less interrupted, along the entire sides of the body ; rest 

 of under parts ochrey or buffy- whitish, a similar buffy area behind the ears ; 

 wing-bars and tail-spots ordinary ; bill and feet blackish. The female, in spring 

 is more olivaceous than the male, with the markings less pronounced, but 

 always shows evident chestnut coloration, and probably traces of it persist in 

 all flrfz</f birds in the fall. The young, however, so closely resemble young 

 striata that it is sometimes impossible to distinguish them with certainty. 

 Castanea is, however, tinged with buffy or ochrey below, instead of the clear 

 pale yellowish of striata ; moreover, castanea is usually not streaked on the 

 sides at all. Size of striata. 



Hab. Eastern North America, north to Hudson's Bay. Breeds from 

 Northern New England and Northern Michigan northward ; winters in 

 Central America. 



