64 



IOWA ORNITHOLOGIST. 



give no description of its habits. 



Seiurus aurocapillus iGolden- 

 crowned Thrush: Oven Bird). The 

 terrestrial Warblers differ widely 

 in appearance and habits from 

 the rest of the family. The Oven 

 Bird is the most familiar species 

 of the genus. It is abundant 

 with us during the migration, and 

 a common summer resident in 

 many localities. Breeds in dense 

 hilly woods. The appearance of 

 the nest, from which the bird 

 takes its name, and the bird's 

 habit of feigning a broken wing 

 when startled from the eggs, are 

 well known to every ornithologist. 



Seiurus noveboracensis (Grin- 

 nell's Water Thrush). An abun- 

 dant migrant and quite common 

 during the breeding season. Near- 

 ly always found in dense woods 

 near water-courses and ravines. 

 The peculiar see-saw movement 

 of the tail gives it a very odd ap- 

 pearance. The nest is placed 

 under a small, projecting trunk, 

 on a mass of roots or drift. A 

 shy, solitary bird, preferring the 

 lonliest localities, which it en- 

 livens with its loud, rapid song. 



Seiurus motacilla (Louisiana 

 Water Thrush). Closely resem- 

 bles the latter in appearance and 

 habits. A southern bird, not 

 common with us, seldom passing 

 beyond the southern half of the 



state. The two Water Thrushes 

 are so nearly alike as to be often 

 confused. 



Geothlypis formosa (Kentucky 

 Warbler). This is a southern 

 bird, coming but rarely over our 

 bo-rder. In a recent letter to me 

 Mr. Lynde Jones says: "The 

 Kentucky Warbler was taken at 

 Burlington, on May ii, 1884, by 

 Dr. F. Knitham and Prof. C. J. 

 Reed. I can find no other au- 

 thentic record for the state." I 

 have taken a specimen, however, 

 at LaPorte City, and this is,J be- 

 lieve, the most northerly point it 

 has been known to occur this side 

 of the Mississippi. It is a large, 

 handsome Warbler, someNvhat 

 resembling the Maryland Yellow- 

 throat in marking, though much 

 larger and not so sprightly in its 

 movements. It is usually found 

 in swamps and among dense un- 

 derbrush. 



Geothlypis agiler (Connecticut 

 Warbler.) I have included 

 this species in my list of Iowa 

 Warblers, for, though I have no 

 absolutely authentic record of its 

 occurrence in the state, it un- 

 doubtedly crosses bur borders 

 during migration, as we are on 

 the direct line of its route. The 

 ornithologist above quoted fur- 

 nishes me with a doubtful record, 

 and I myself once observed a 



