HERMIT WOOD-WARBLER. 61 



or two at a time, is a soft, moody, faint, and monotonous note, apparently 

 delivered chiefly when the bird is at rest on some lofty twig, and within 

 convenient hearing of its mate and only companion of the wilderness." 



Mr. Townsend's note is as follows: — I shot this pair of birds near Fort 

 Vancouver, on the 2Sth of May, 1835. I found them flitting among the 

 pine trees in the depth of a forest. They were actively engaged in search- 

 ing for insects, and were frequently seen hanging from the twigs like Tit- 

 mice. Their note was uttered at distant intervals, and resembled very much 

 that of the Black-throated Blue Warbler, Sylvia canadensis." 



Sylvicola occidentalis, Hermit Wood- Warbler, Towns., Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Phila- 

 delphia, vol. vii. p. 190. 

 Hermit Warbler, Sylvia occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 55. 



Wings of moderate length, the outer three quills almost equal, the third 

 longest; tail slightly emarginate. Male with the upper parts bluish-grey, 

 spotted with black; the upper part of the head, which is similarly spotted, 

 the cheeks, and sides of the neck, bright yellow; throat black; breast and 

 abdomen white; ground and tail-feathers greyish-dusky; two white bands on 

 the wing formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small 

 coverts; two outer tail-feathers on each side almost entirely white. Female 

 with the upper parts of a duller grey, the yellow of the head less extended 

 and not so bright; throat whitish, spotted with dusky. 



Male, 3 T J 2, wing 2^. 



Columbia river. Migratory. 



For a description of the plant see page 28. 



Vol. IL 10 



