168 



BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Sylvia marylandica WrLS. Am. Orn. i. 1808, 88. pi. 6,flg. 1; ii. 1809, 16.3, pi. 18,flg. 4. 



Trichas marylandica Nutt. Man. ed. 2, i, 1840. 453.— A UD. Synop. 1839,65; B. Am. ii.lSU. 

 78.pl. 102. 

 Sylvia roscofi AVD. Orn. Biog. i, 1832, 12-1. pi. 24. 



Trichas roscoe Nutt. Man. 2d ed. 1, 1840.457. 



B, oocidentalis.— WESTEEN YELLOW-THBOAT. 

 Fopnlar synonyms. (Same as for the Eastern form.) 

 Geothlypis trichas AUCT.— (TVestern references.) 



(feothlypis trichas occidentalis Bkewst. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, viil, July, 1883. p. 1,W. 

 Hab. The true G. trichas chiefly east of the AUeghanies, or at least east of the low- 

 land portions of the Mississippi Valley. G. trichas occidentalis from the Mississippi 

 Valley to the Pacific Coast. 



Sp. Chab. Adult male. Above olive-green, becoming browner on the nape. Fore- 

 head, lores, orbits, auriculars, and malar region deep black ; this bordered posteriorly by 

 light ash-gray or grayish white. Chin, throat, jugulum, and breast, rich gamboge-yel- 

 low. Abdomen, sides and flaniis.dull yellowish white in true G. trichas, yellow in occi- 

 dentalis. Adult female. Much duller in color than the male, without black, gray, or 

 white on head, which is mostly dull brownish, the pileum or auriculars, or both, some- 

 times tinged with reddish. Yellow of throat. etc., much duller than in the male. Young, 

 first plumage. Somewhat like the adult female, but still duller in color. Lower parts 

 dull oUvaceous, anteriorly, tinged with yellow on throat, the posterior portions pale 

 dull buff. Young, in first fall. Lower parts entirely lightduU buff. 



Wing (of male). 2.00-2.40; tail, 1.80-2.40. 



We have not formally separated the two races indicated in the 

 above synonymy and description, for the reason that at present we 

 are not sui-e of their exact hmits. Occidentalis is evidently the pre- 

 vailing form in Illinois and Indiana, much the larger number of 

 specimens having the larger size and more extensively yellow lower 

 parts of the western form. StiU there is much variation in this 

 latter character, and it may be that both forms occur. 



This merry httle denizen of the briar-patches is one of the most 

 conspicuous members of the family to which he belongs, being both 

 abimdant and familiar, and furthermore decked with such a marked 

 plumage that he cannot fail to attract notice. The broad, velvety 

 black spectacles contrast handsomely with the bright yellow of his 

 throat and the whitish hne above them, gi\nng liim a very wise 

 look, as he peers at one through the briars or weed-stalks ; and his 

 pretty song of witchity — witchity — icitchhy-, uttered from the top of 

 a rose bush or among the brambles, is to be heard throughout the 

 day. Its nest is usually budt between upright weed-stalks or coarse 

 grass- or sedge-stems, in the damper portions of a meadow, and is 

 deeply cup-shaped, the opening being at the top. The eggs vary in 

 number from four to six, and before being blown are of a delicate 

 pinkish white, the larger end marked by a ring of specks and "pen- 

 lines" of different shades of brown. 



