232 APPENDIX TO OSCINES. 



In its habits and notes, the Titlark is precisely the same as the abundant, well-knowu 

 bird that abounds in the Nortbcra States throughout spring and fall — restless, vacil- 

 lating creatures, ever on the move, querulous and fidgety. They are more shy during 

 summer, however, not willingly permitting one to approach nearer than fifty or sixty 

 yards. During the breeding season the males have a song unheard at other times, 

 with which they serenade their mates. Rising in the air at an angle of forty-five de- 

 grees, with a fluttering, uncertain flight, they commence singing when they are up a 

 little way, and continue till they have reached the height of a hundred yards or so ; 

 then descending, fluttering their wings as before, till they light on a stone or sod, not 

 far from where they started. They have several diftereut variations, all consist- 

 ing of two or three notes, quickly repeated over and over again, with quite a musical 

 and pleasing effect. One of these variations sounds very much like the plaint of a 

 little chicken lost from its brood. As one approaches their nests, they hover silently 

 about, uttering, at intervals, a chirp expressive of their anxiety. During their stay 

 above timber-line — they do not ever go below it during the breeding season — they 

 prefer wet, springy places, which abound near the summit of the range. They may 

 often be seen running over the vast snow-banks that remain on northern slopes 

 throughout the year. In August and September they gather into flocks, and begin de- 

 scending into the valleys, reaching Idaho toward the close of the latter mouth. Many 

 remain above timber-line until October, and some few throughout the month, or as 

 long as they can find open ground to feed in. In November they finally disappear. 



[To the synonyms of Helminthophaga ruficapilla add : Helminlhophaga ruficapiUa var. 

 ocularis et var. gutiuralis, B. B. & R., N. A. B. i, 1874, 191, which may not necessarily 

 be recognized by varietal name. — E. C.] 



Dendrceca iESTiVA, YeUow Warbler. The Yellow Warbler is abundant along the 

 foot-hills, and ranges as high as 6,500 feet. Stragglers undoubtedly wander as far as 

 Bergen's Park, although I did not observe any there. 



D. coKdXATA, Yellow-crowned TVarhler. Abundant; migratory; does not breed. Ap- 

 pears at Idaho in the latter part of April, and goes up as high as 8,500 or 9,000 feet; 

 disappearing about the 10th of May, a few days before the following species. In fall 

 I did not observe it ; probably it does not venture in the mountains, to any extent, in 

 that season. [It has also been taken in Colorado by Mr. Hensliaw. — E. C] 



D. AUDUBOM, Audubon's Warbler. Abundant; nii^^ratory; breeds from about 9.500 

 feet up to timber-line. Audubon's Warbler arrives at Idaho about the middle of Jlay, 

 bnt goes higher up into the mountains to breed, rarely being seen below 9,000 feet 

 during the latter iiart of June and July, in which months it rears its young, preferring, 

 during this season, the dense, dark forests of black spruce. In spring it haunts the 

 same localities as the Yellow-crowned Warbler, but is more partial to the under-shrub- 

 bery, and frequently ventures into open fields and clearings, alighting on bushes and 

 wieds, and even on the ground, exhibiting much of the manners of the Red-polled 

 Warbler. Its usual note is one very similar to that of the Barn Swallow ; its song is 

 a simple little carol, like that of the preceding species. In August it begins to descend, 

 by September it is common in the lower parts of the country, and by October has dis- 

 appeared. 



D. NiGRESCENS, Blaclc-throated Gray Warbler. A single specimen seen at Idaho 

 Springs, May 23. 



Geothlypis macgillivrayi, Macgillivraij's Warbler. Common ; migratory ; breeds 

 up to a little above 9,000 feet. Very similar in habits to the Mourning Warbler. Ar- 

 rives in the latter part of May and disappears in August and September. 



Myiodioctes PUSILLUS, Green Black-capped Fhicalclier. Abundant; breeding in great 

 numbers in the bushes near timber-line. First seen at Idaho, May 5, bnt not common 

 till the m. By the middle of June all had left the valleys, and at the close of the 

 month I found them very numerous in the dense coppices of brush that extend for 

 some hundred feet above timber-line. They breed in July, reappearing at Idaho 

 toward the close of September, finally disappearing in the following month. It has 

 quite a sprightly little song, and is very active, flitting rapidly from bush to bush, and 

 xarely ascending among the trees. - 



Setophaga ruticilla. Redstart. Apparently not very common ; breeds. First ap- 

 peared at Idaho Springs May 20, from which date until the 1st of June a few were 

 daily seen ; subsequently I saw but a single individual, a female, near timber-line, in 

 July. 



Geothlypis trichas and Selminthopliaga celata are a'bundant along the edge of the plains, 

 l)ut probably never wander as high up as Clear Creek County. 



Pyraxg.i ixdoviciaxa, Louisiana Tanager. This bird arrives at Idaho toward the 

 close of Juno, and soon becomes quite common, reraainiug till late in August or early 

 in September. It does not extend its range beyond 9,000 feet, but breeds from that 

 limit, or a little lower, all the way down to the plains. It bears a close resemblance 

 to the Scarlet Tanager, both in notes and habits ; rambling leisurely through the pine 

 -n-oods, and singing at intervals from the tree tops; descending at times to the lower 

 branches and bushes, where its bright yellow is almost as conspicuous as the flaming 



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