98 VIRGINIA'S WARBLER 



British Columbia and southward in the Sierras ; this brighter western 

 form having been described under the subspecific name gutturahs in 

 1874. 



Of this bird, as it occurs in California, Walter Fisher writes: 

 "The Calaveras Warbler is a characteristic denizen of the chaparral 

 and is found on both slopes of the Sierra Nevadas about as far south 

 as Mt. Whitney. It frequents the belts of the yellow, sugar, and 

 Jeffrey pines, and ranges up into the red fir zone. During the height 

 of the nesting season one may see them flitting about among thickets 

 of manzanita, wild cherry, huckleberry, oak and buck brush, almost 

 always in song; and while the female is assiduously hunting among 

 the dense cover of bushes, the male is often singing in a pine or fir, 

 far above mundane household cares. 



"These Warblers are conspicuous fellows, the yellow underparts 

 showing in bold contrast to the gray crown and cheeks, and olive-green 

 upper-parts. It is likely that the brilliant mountain sunshine heightens 

 the color effect. I have observed this Warbler at lower altitudes on 

 the west slope among small black oaks, in company with Hermit 

 Warblers, from which it can be readily distinguished by the absence of 

 yellow cheeks and black throat." (Fisher, MS.) 



Nesting Site. — "Nests on the ground, on the dry, open prairies 

 at the foot of a small bush." (Bowles, MS.) 



Eggs. — The eggs of this bird in all respects are the same as 

 those of the Nashville Warbler. 



Nesting Dates. — Tacoma, Wash., April 28 9 building; June 24 

 three fresh eggs (Bowles). 



Virginia's Warbler 



HELMINTHOPHILA VIRGINIA (Baird) Plate VI 



Distinguishing Characters. — General color gray; crown-patch chestnut, upper 

 and under tail-coverts and breast-patch yellow. Length (skin), 4.20; wing, 2.40; 

 tail, 1.85; bill, .40. 



Adult <$, Spring. — Crown-patch chestnut tipped with gray; cheeks and 

 back brownish gray, eye-ring white; rump and upper tail-coverts dull yellow; 

 tail fuscous, outer pair of feathers usually margined with white on the inner 

 web; wings margined with gray, no white bars; below grayish white, breast- 

 patch and under tail-coverts yellow. 



Adult <?, Fall. — Similar to above but crown-patch more broadly tipped, 

 underparts more buffy. 



Young <?, Fall. — Not seen. 



Adult ?, Spring. — Similar to adult d in Spring, but chestnut and yellow 

 areas somewhat paler and more restricted. 



