MOURNING WARBLER. 163 
MOURNING WARBLER. — SYLVIA PHILADELPHIA. —Fic. 63. 
TRICHAS? PHILADELPHIA. — Janvine. 
Sylvia Philadelphia, Bonap. Synop. p. 85. 
I wave now the honor of introducing to the notice of naturalists 
and others a very modest and neat little species, which has hitherto 
eluded their research. I must also add, with regret, that it is the only 
one of its kind I have yet met with. The bird from which the figure 
in the plate was taken, was shot in the early part of June, on the bor- 
der of a marsh, within a few miles of Philadelphia. It was flitting 
from one low bush to another, very busy in search of insects ; and had 
a sprightly and pleasant warbling song, the novelty of which first at- 
tracted my attention. [ have traversed the same and many such places, 
every spring and summer since, in expectation of again meeting with 
some individual of the species, but without success. I have, however, 
the satisfaction to say, that the drawing was done with the greatest 
attention to peculiarity of form, markings, and tint of plumage; and 
the figure on the plate is a good resemblance of the original. I have 
yet hopes of meeting, in some of my excursions, with the female, and, 
should I be so fortunate, shall represent her in some future volume of 
the present work, with such further remarks on their manners, &c., as 
I may then be enabled to make. ; 
There are two species mentioned by Turton, to which the present 
has some resemblance, viz., Motacillu mitrata, or Mitred Warbler, and 
M. éucullata, or Hooded Warbler; both birds of the United States, 
or, more properly, a single bird; for they are the same species twice 
described, namely, the Hooded Warbler. The difference, however, 
between that and the present is so striking, as to determine this at 
once to be a very distinct species. The singular appearance of the 
head, neck, and breast, suggested the name. 
The Mourning Warbler is five inches long, and seven in extent ; 
the whole back, wings, and tail, are of a deep greenish olive, the tips 
of the wings, and the centre of the tail-feathers, excepted, which are 
brownish ; the whole head is of a dull slate color; the breast is orna- 
mented with a singular crescent of alternate, transverse lines of pure 
glossy white, and very deep black; all the rest of the lower parts are 
of a brilliant yellow ; the tail is rounded at the end; legs and feet, a 
pale fe color ; bill, deep brownish black above, lighter below; eye, 
hazel.* 
* Wilson saw this bird only once, and I have met with no one who has since seen 
it. From the general appearance of the representation, it seems to approach nearest 
to the generic appellation we have given, but which must rest yet undecided. 
Bonaparte observes, “The excessive rarity might lead us to suppose it an acci- 
dental variety of some other, — perhaps S. trichas.” —Ep. 5 
