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MACGILLIVRAYS WARBLER. 



Sylvia Macgillivrayi. 



PLATE CCCXCIX. Male and Female. 



When I first saw the specimens of this bird, which had been trans- 

 mitted by Dr Townsend to the Academy of Natm-al Sciences of Phi- 

 ladelphia, I considered them as identical with Sylvia Philadelphia of 

 Wilson ; but on subsequently comparing them with a number of in- 

 dividuals of the latter species, procured by my friend Edwaro Har- 

 ris, Esq. in our Middle and Eastern Districts, I found differences suf- 

 ficient to indicate their being specifically distinct. In consequence of 

 this first impression, the two figvires in the plate representing a male 

 and a female procured on the Columbia River, were erroneously named 

 " Moiu-ning Warbler, Sylvia Philadelphia^ But now, thinking that I 

 cannot do better than dedicate this pretty little bird to my excellent 

 friend William Macgillivray, Esq., I feel much pleasure in intro- 

 ducing it to the notice of the ornithological world, under a name which 

 I trust will endure as long as the species itself. 



Dr TowNSEND, who found it on the banks of the Columbia, states 

 that it is " mostly solitary and extremely wary, keeping chiefly in the 

 most impenetrable thickets, and gliding through them in a cautious 

 and suspicious manner. It may, however, sometimes be seen towards 

 mid-day perched upon a dead twig over its favom-ite places of conceal- 

 ment, and at such times warbles a very sprightly and pleasant little 

 song, raising its head until its bill is almost vertical, swelling its throat 

 in the manner of its relatives." 



Mr NuTTALL has also favoured me with the following interesting 

 account of it. — " This species is one of the most common summer resi- 

 dents of the woods and plains of the Columbia, appearing early in May, 

 and remaining imtil the approach of winter. After the manner of the 

 Maryland Yellow-throat, it keeps near the ground in low bushes, where 

 it gleans its subsistence. When surprised or closely observed, it is shy 

 and jealous, immediately skulking off, and sometimes uttering a loud 

 snapping clink. Its note has occasionally the hurried rattling sound 

 of Turdus aurocapilliis, resembling ftsh ftsh ttsh tsheetee, alternating intq 



