62 



BLACK-THROATED GREY WOOD-WARBLER. 



Sylvicola nigrescexs, TownsencL 



PLATE CXIV.— Males. 



This is another of the interesting species discovered and named by Mr. 

 Townsend, who informs me that it is called "Jlh Kah a qual" by the 

 Chinook Indians; that it is abundant in the forests of the Columbia, where it 

 breeds and remains until winter; and that the nest, formed externally of 

 fibrous green moss, is generally placed on the upper branches of the oak, 

 suspended between two small twigs. Mr. Nuttall's notice respecting it is 

 as follows: — "This curious species, so much resembling Sylvia striata, was 

 seen to arrive early in May; and from its song more regularly delivered at 

 intervals, in the tops of deciduous-leaved trees, we have little doubt but that 

 they breed in the forests of the Columbia. On the 23d of May I had the 

 satisfaction of harkening to the delicate but monotonous song of this bird, as 

 he busily and intently searched every leafy bough and expanding bud for 

 larvae and insects in a spreading oak, from whence he delivered his solitary 

 note. Sometimes he remained a minute or two stationary, but more gene- 

 rally continued his quest for prey. His song, at short and regular intervals, 

 seemed like '/ shee '/ shay t shaitshee, varying the feeble sound very little, 

 and with the concluding note somewhat slenderly and plaintively raised." 



Sylvia nigrescens, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, 



vol. vii. p. 191. 

 Black-throated Grey Warbler, Sylvia nigrescens, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 57. 



Wings of moderate length, with the outer three quills nearly equal, the 

 second longest, the first shorter than the fourth; tail slightly rounded and 

 cmnrginate. Male with the upper parts bluish ash-grey, the middle of the 

 back and tail-coverts streaked with black; the upper part of the head and 

 neck, the loral space and cheeks, and the fore part of the neck, with a small 

 portion of the breast, black; a band from the nostril to near the eye, yellow; 

 a band over the eye, and another from the lower mandible along the side of 

 the neck, white; breast and abdomen white, the sides tinged with grey, and 

 streaked with black; wings blackish-brown, with two white bands formed 

 by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; quills 



