OPOROKNIS FORMOSUS, KENTUCKY WARBLER. 73 



I am informed by a letter from Mr. Maynard, that the species has been 

 found in great abundance in West Virginia. Tliis was before publica- 

 tion of the fact by Mr. W. D. Scott, who found it abundant in Kanawha 

 County, "in damp places generally, mainly along the edges of the river." 



My anticipation of its occurrence in Massachusetts has since been uu- 

 questiouably confirmed by Mr. Allen, who mentions two instances of its 

 capture in tuat State. 



The Large-billed Water Thrush has been found breeding on the Wa- 

 chita Eiver, where the nest and eggs were secured by Mr. J. H. Clark, 

 and at the Kiowa Agency, where Dr. Palmer also procured them. The 

 one of these two nests in the best condition was built upon a layer of 

 leaves, apparently upon the ground, composed otherwise entirely of root- 

 lets and fine grasses. The other contained five eggs ; they are more 

 globular than any of those of S. noveboracensis 1 have seen, but not oth- 

 erwise different ; and other sets would probably not be distinguishable. 

 The roundest oue of them measures only 0.69 by 0.59. 



OPOEOENIS FOEMOSUS, (Wils.) Bd. 



Eentncky WarWer. 



Sjjlma formosa, Wils., Am. Orn. iii, lyu, 85, pi. 25, f. 3.— Bp., Obs. Wils. 125.— Bp., Syn. 

 1828, 34.— Nu-rr., Man. i, 1832, 399.— AuD., Orn. Biog. i, 1831, 196, pi. -iti. 



St/lvicola formosa, Jard., ed. Wils. 1832. — Rich., List, 1837. — Bp., List, 1838. — JIaxi.m., 

 J. f. O. vi, 1858, 113. 



Myiodiocies formosus, AuD., Syn. 1839, 50. — AuD., B. Am. ii, 1841, 19, pi. 74. — Bp., Consp. 

 i, 1850, 315.— Lemb., Aves Cubte, 1850, 37.— Gundl., J. f.'O. 1861, 32() (Cuba). 



Si/lrania formosa, Woodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 70 (Tesas and Indian Territory). 



O^orornis formosus, Bd., B. N. A. 1858, L'47 ; Rev. 1864. 218.— SCL. & Salv., Ibis, i, 1859, 

 10 (Guatemala).— Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii, 62 (Panama).— Sol., P. Z. S. 1862, 

 19 (Plava Vicente, Mex.).— Scl., Cat. 1862, 28.— Wheat., Ohio Agric. Eep. 

 1860, No. 69.— COUES & Peent., Smiths. Rep. 1861, 406 (Washington, D. C, 

 breeding). — Lawk., Ann. Lyo. N. Y'. viii, 1866, 284 (New York) ; ix, 186S, 94 

 (Costa Rica). — Cooes, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 269.— Codes, Pr. Bost. Soc. sii, 

 1868, 110 (South Carolina, mig.-atory).— Turnb., B. E. Pa. 1869, 16 (in sum- 

 mer).— Coitbs, A. N. V, 1871, 197 (Kansas).— RiDGW., ibid. 1672, 431 (Illinois).— 

 AxLEN, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 125, 175 (Kansas).- Snow, B. Kans. 5.— ScoTr, 

 Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872 (breeding in West Virginia). — Coues, Key, 1872, 106, fig. 46. 



Trichas (Sylvicola) formosa, Hor, Smiths. Rep. 1864, 438 (Missouri). 



"(f)Syh-ia wqiiinoctialiSjViEiLi.., O. Am. Sept. ii, 1807, 26, pi. 81 (Pennsylvania; nccGJi.)." 



Salt. — Eastern United States. North to the Connecticut Valley. West to Kansas 

 and the Indian Territory. Missouri (Hoy). South to Guatemala and Panama. Cuba. 

 Breeds in most of its United States range. Winters extraliniital. 



This beautiful species is perhaps more abundant in the Mississippi 

 Valley than elsewhere, and ascends the Missouri to Lea\eii worth at least, 

 if not further. I observed it near Fort Eiley, in Kansas, in May, and 

 Allen found it breeding at the same season, the nest being nearly com- 

 pleted by the middle of the month. According to Dr. Woodhouse, it is 

 "common in Tesas and the Indian Territory, frequenting the borders of 

 streams whose banks are covered with low bushes, procuring its insect 

 prey," which Audubon remarks consists largely of spiders, as that of 

 0. agilis also does. Its unusual abundance in Southern Illinois is at- 

 tested by Mr. Eidgway. Earlier accounts — even those down to the date 

 of Baird's Eevie-n' — placfed the Atlantic coast limit at Maryland, but since 

 then the species has been traced to the borders of ]S!"ew England. I 

 have several specimens, shot about Washington. D. C, where I occa- 

 sionally observed the bird, always in the low shrubbery to which it is so 

 evidently partial, and generally in places near water. Its song I have 

 never heard, the only note with which it ever saluted me being the or- 

 dinary chirp. I am not aware that the species has been traced up the 



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