203 



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 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 YeUow-throat O. 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 approxima- 

 tion to it. 



683. Yellow- breasted Ghat. 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; biU 

 comparatively shorter and stouter than that of any other warbler. 



Distinctions. Size is sufiicient 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 tangled 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. 



GENUS — WILSONIA. FLYCATCHING WARBLERS. 



L, 5-0— 5-67. 



Small warblers largely coloured yellow. Bill slightly flattened or 

 widened at 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 much or any clear yellow, 

 can be easily distinguished. 



684. Hooded Warbler. Wilsonia citrina. L, 5-67. Male: green above and bright 

 yellow below; entire head and neck black with a bright yellow mask similar in shape to 

 the black one of the Maryland Yellow-throat. The female is without the black except for 

 an indistinct patch on rear head and the yellow mask blends softly into the yellow of 

 throat and underparts. 



Distinctions. The adult male of this species is too distinctive for confusion. The 

 yellow face with dark hind crown of the female is also easily recognized. 



The Hooded Warbler is included here on the basis of a few Canadian 

 records in the lake Erie region of southern Ontario. 

 57172—14 



