124 THE GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 



the xanthochroic (yellow) phase and in the other {H. chrysoptera) the leucochroic 

 (white) phase represents the normal plumage, — and admitting that these two 

 species in their various conditions, hybridize (which seems to be an incontro- 

 vertible fact), — we have an easy and altogether plausible explanation of the 

 origin of the almost interminably variable series of specimens whieh have found 

 their way into the waste-basket labelled H. lencobronchialis." 



IN the spring of 1903 four individuals of this puzzling form, all singing 

 males, were observed near Oberlin. The first one seen haunted the same 

 spot — a little opening in a thicket of tall saplings — in which we. had closely 

 studied a Golden-winged Warbler the previous season. His song too re- 

 minded us strongly of the other bird, except that he usually sang three notes, 

 Sivee-zee-see, where the other had always given four, Zwee, zee, zee, zeet. 

 Another Brewster in a wood three miles removed exhibited the same pecu- 

 liarity ; while a third seen in the "Old South" woods with the first, rendered 

 a typical Blue-wing song of two drawling syllables. Here on another occa- 

 sion a Blue-wing and a Brewster were seen chasing each other about through 

 the smaller trees, and their excited songs hinted strongly of rivalry in love. 



The case of the Brewster Warbler is very perplexing — delightfully so — 

 but there is no reason why it should not find its solution here in Ohio. 



No. 54. 



GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER. 



A. O. U. No. 642. Helminthophila chrysoptera (Linn.). 



Description. — Adult male : Above and on sides bluish gray ; a crown-patch, 

 including forehead, and a large patch on the wing, formed by tips of median 

 coverts, and outer webs of greater coverts, bright yellow; a black patch through 

 eye, including lore and ear-coverts, separated from crown by a narrow, and from 

 throat by a wide, white stripe ; throat black, broadening below ; remaining under 

 parts white, tinged more or less with blue-gray; rest of wing and tail dusky, 

 with narrow blue-gray edgings; three outer pairs of tail-feathers with white 

 blotches on the inner web ; bill slender, acute, blackish ; feet dark brown. Female : 

 Like the male, but crown duller, and black of cheeks and throat partially ob- 

 scured; touched with bright olive above, especially on margins of inner quills. 

 Immature: Like female. Length 5.00-5.25 (127.-133.3) ; wing 2.54 (64.5); 

 tail 1.87 (47-5); bill .44 (11.2). This bird crosses freely with the preceding 

 species, H. pinus. See description of preceding form, also H. lazvrencei in Ap- 

 pendix A. 



