308 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PASSESES— OSCINES. 



gpecies may always be kuown by the lack (if any special sharp markings whatever, except the 

 suijercihary Hue ; and by the couibiuatioii of white wiug-bars with lai-ge ublique tail-spots 

 coutined to the two outer pairs of feathers. One of the largest species, as well as most simply 

 colored; length 5.50-5.75; extent 8.50-9.00; wing 3.75-3.00; tail 2.40; tarsus 0.70; bill 

 OAo. Eastern U. S., strictly; N. only to Canada and New Brunswick, W. only to the Missis- 

 sippi Valley. Breeds throughout its whole range, and abounds in winter in the Southern 

 States ; is nearly resident, being sometimes seen in the Middle States in midwinter, and in 

 New England early and late, with snow. Nests in pine-trees ; nest and eggs not peculiar. 



*^* Thus passing in reviev\f the i'i " solid" species of Uendrceca, with two varieties lately 

 introduced, I may allude to two species described by early authors, but never identified. 

 1. Sylvia mo)dana, Wilson. This I have given (in the orig. ed., p. 105) some reasons for sup- 

 posing to be a young D. virens. 2. Sylvia carbonata, Audubon. A strongly -marked bird, 

 the like of which has never been seen since. It has been conjectured to be a hybrid of D. 

 iigrina and D. striata. 

 40. SIU'RUS. (Gr. a-eiio, seio, I wave or brandish ; ovpa, oura, tail.) Wag-tail Waeblers. In 

 general form scarcely distinguishable from Dendrceca ; larger in size, different in pattern of 

 coloration, in habits, gait, and nidification. Bill ordinary. Eictal bristles short but evident. 

 Wings pointed, much longer than tail. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Tail nearly 

 even, with rather acute feathers, and long, copious under coverts. Neither wings nor tail parti- 

 colored. Above olivaceous, with or without head-markings, otherwise uniform ; below white, 

 buffy, or yellowish, profusely streaked. Legs slender, usually pale-colored. Habits terrestrial 

 to some extent; nest on the ground; eggs white, spotted. Vocal powers preeminent. Gait 

 ambulatorial, not saltatorial, and some other traits decidedly Motacilline. 



Anahjsis of Species. 



Crown orange-brown, with two black stripes ; no superciliary line auricapilJus 135 



Crown like back ; a long superciliary line. 



Below, yellowish, heavily streaked ; smaller; bill not over 0..50 nmvius 13G 



Below, whitish, lightly streaked ; larger ; bill over 0.50 motacilla 1;3S 



135. S. auricapU'lus. (Lat. aurum, gold ; eainllus, hair. Fig. 1G9.) Goldex-crowneu Wag- 

 tail Wakbler. Golden-crowned Accentor. Golden-crowned Thrilsh. Oven-bird. 

 ^ 9 , adult : Entire upper parts, including the wings and tail, uniform bright olive-green, 

 without markings. Top of head with black lateral stripes, bounding a golden-brown or dull 



orange space. A white ring round eye ; no white super- 

 ciliary stripe. Under parts white, thickly spotted with 

 ^l 'M!^1^^8||lfete^ dusky on the breast, the spots lengthening into streaks on 



the sides ; a narrow black maxillary line ; under wiug- 

 -«™«T coverts tinged with yellow. Legs flesh-colored. Length 



V'^'^'^^P 5.75-6.50, usually 6.00-6.25; extent 8.75-10.40, usually 



X'^^^'rJ^^ 9-50-10.00; wing 2.90-3.25; tail about 2.50. Varies 



much in size, but is remarkably constant in coloration with 

 Fio.ieo.-Oven-bird, nat. size. (Ad age, sex, and season; sexes indistinguishable, and young 

 (lat. ilel.E. C.) scarcely to be told from the adults. Fall specimens 



ordinarily quite as bright-colored as those of spring ; and the orange-brown crown-spot, though 

 it may be less bright, is acquired by the young with their first full feathering. There are 

 at first no crown-stripes, and the lower parts are buffy, indistinctly streaked ; upper parts 

 fulvous-brown; wings and tail as in the adult. N. Am., W. to Colorado, Dakota, and 

 Alaska; breeds throughout its N. Am. range ; winters from the southern border southward. A 

 jiretty and engaging species, called '• Oven-bird " froui the way it has of roofing over its nest, 

 abundant in woodland, migratory. In May the woods resound with its loud crescendo chant, 

 so incessant and obtrusive that the bird was long in acquiring the reputation of musical ability 



