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681. Maryland Yellow-throat, fr. — la fauvette trichas. Geothlypis trichas. 

 L, 5-33. Plate XL1II B. 



Distinctions. The adult male with its black mask is easily recognized and needs no 

 special characterization. Juvenile males have sufficient indications of the mask to be 

 easily recognizable. Adult females and juveniles are very much alike. They can be 

 recognized by their even coloration above, warm yellow throat, buffy white underparts 

 washed with darker on flanks, and undertail-coverts yellowish. They are most 

 likely to be mistaken for the Mourning or Connecticut juveniles but the sharp division 

 between throat and cheek colours, the Drightness of the throat, and the general warmer 

 yellow tint will separate them. They have been confused with the Nashville and the 

 Tennessee but the grey rather than buffy or ruddy olive head and crown of the former and 

 the nearly white breast instead of distinct yellow of the latter should make separation 

 easy. 



Field Marks. In addition to coloration, the marshy habitat, hiding habits, and 

 characteristic actions of the Maryland Yellow-throat soon become familiar to the observer. 

 Its scolding wren-like note is easily recognized. 



Nesting. On or near the ground in bulky nest of strips of bark, coarse grasses, and dead 

 leaves, lined with fine grasses, tendrils, and rootlets. 



Distribution. North America north to the limit of settlement. The Northern Yellow- 

 throat, our eastern Canadian subspecies and the type form, breeds west to the prairies 

 and south to Virginia, being replaced in both directions by other subspecies. 



SUBSPECIES. The Yellow-throat is divided into a number of subspecies only one 

 of which, the Northern Yellow-throat 6. t. trichas, the type form, is found in eastern 

 Canada. 



The particular haunts of the Maryland Yellow-throat are damp 

 marshes where the wire-grass grows long and clumpy. It regards its 

 immediate neighbourhood as its own particular property and resents 

 human intrusion vigorously. The usual song of the Yellow-throat is one 

 of the characteristic sounds of the damp meadows. It has been poetically 

 translated as "Witchery — witchery — witchery," which gives a close approxi- 

 mation to it. 



683. Yellow-breasted Chat. fr. — la fau vettm a poitrinb jatjne. Icteria 

 virens. L, 7-44. The largest and least warbler-like of its family. All upperparts and 

 cheeks green; lores black bordered above and below with white; throat to breast bright 

 clear yellow; underparts white; bill comparatively shorter and stouter than that of any 

 other Warbler. 



Distinctions. Size is sufficient to distinguish the Chat at all times but its colours 

 are equally characteristic. 



Field Marks. Large size, bright yellow foreparts, and black lores bordered above 

 and below with white make striking field marks. 



Nesting. In a crotch near the ground in rather bulky nest of coarse grasses, leaves, 

 and strips of bark lined with finer grasses. 



Distribution. Eastern United States and just across the Canadian boundary in 

 southern Ontario along lake Erie. 



The Chat frequents tangle thickets and brushy wastes, coming and 

 going unseen but not unheard. It is a rare bird in Canada and is found 

 regularly only in Essex county, Ontario, along the border of lake Erie. 



Genera — Wilsonia and Setophaga. Flycatching Warblers. 



Small Warblers largely coloured yellow. Bill slightly flattened or 

 widened at the base suggesting that of the Flycatchers and with well- 

 developed bristles about the mouth. In these respects like the Redstart 

 but not as extreme. The Redstart, however, being without or with little 

 clear yellow, can be easily distinguished. 



