Plate XXI. 



GEOTHYLPIS TRiCHAS-Maryland Yellow-throat 



The Maryland Yellow-throat arrives in Central Ohio the latter part of April, and remains until the 

 first or second week in September. Two broods are commonly hatched during the summer, the first 

 nest being constructed about the middle of May, the second in July. 



LOCALITY: 



The nest is built in a thicket growing about the border of an upland woods, along the edge of a 

 field, or by a country roadside; or in rank grass or weeds in a low meadow or SAvamp, or about the 

 bank of a ditch, creek, river or pond. In fact, almost any locality where long grass grows or a tincket 

 is to be found, except in the interior of forests, may answer for the site. 



POSITION : 



Grenerally the nest is placed upon the ground in a tussock or at the root of a bush, or is built two 

 or three inches above the ground among upright stems, with its base resting upon an accumulation of 

 old leaves, weed-stalks or grass. Rarely it is situated among the stems of a brier or tangled bush, 

 several feet above the ground. 



MATERIALS: 



Dried leaves, coarse grasses, and pieces of weed-fibres and stems compose the walls of the ordinary 

 nest. The lining consists of well-selected blades of grass and roller-grass. Besides the materials men- 

 tioned, strips of bark from the wild grape-vine and from dead trees, together with other suitable sub- 

 stance found in the locality, occasionally enter into the foundation and superstructure. The lining some- 

 times contains a few horse-hairs. Mr. Maynard mentions a nest which was lined with feathers from 

 domestic fowls. 



The diameter of the cavity averages about 2.25 inches ; the depth varies from 1.75 to 2.50, average 

 about 2.00 inches. The external diameter varies from 3.00 to 4.00 inches, average about 3.50; external 

 depth varies from 2.25 to 3.50, average 2.75 inches. 



EGGS: 



The complement of eggs is usually four; sometimes five are laid. The ground color is pure white. 

 The marks consist of blotches, spots, speckles, and irregular fine lines of sepia of varying shades. Some 

 eggs are sparingly but uniformly marked with irregular-shaped spots and speckles of light shade, with 

 more deep-shell than superficial marks. Some have very dark, almost black, blotches at the base only, 

 interspersed with deep shell spots and speckles; the marks are sometimes well-defined in outline, some- 

 times are faded at the edges, like a blotch of color placed upon a damp porous paper. Some have a 

 ring about the crown composed of confluent lines, blotches, spots, and speckles. Others are a combination 



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