74 



MACGILLIVRAY'S GROUND- WARBLER. 



Teichas Macgillivrayi, Jlud. 

 PLATE C— Male and Female. 



When I first saw the specimens of this bird, which had been transmitted 

 by Mr. Townsend to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, I 

 considered them as identical with Sylvia Philadelphia of Wilson; but on 

 subsequently comparing them with a number of individuals of the latter 

 species, procured by my friend Edward Harris, Esq. in our Middle and 

 Eastern Districts, I found differences sufficient to indicate their being speci- 

 fically distinct. In consequence of which I have dedicated this pretty little 

 bird to my excellent friend William Macgillivray, Esq. and feel much 

 pleasure in introducing it to the notice of the ornithological world, under a 

 name which I trust will endure as long as the species itself. 



Mr. Townsend, who found it on the banks of the Columbia, states that it 

 is "mostly solitary and extremely wary, keeping chiefly in the most im- 

 penetrable thickets, and gliding through them in a cautious and suspicious 

 manner. It may, however, sometimes be seen towards mid-day perched 

 upon a dead twig over its favourite places of concealment, and at such times 

 warbles a very sprightly and pleasant little song, raising its head until its 

 bill is almost vertical, swelling its throat in the manner of its relatives." 



Mr. Nuttall has also favoured me with the following interesting account 

 of it. — "This species is one of the most common summer residents of the 

 woods and plains of the Columbia, appearing early in May, and remaining 

 until the approach of winter. After the manner of the Maryland Yellow- 

 throat, it keeps near the ground in low bushes, where it gleans its subsist- 

 ence. When surprised or closely observed, it is shy and jealous, immediately 

 skulking off, and sometimes uttering a loud snapping clink. Its note has 

 occasionally the hurried rattling sound of Turdus aurocapillus, resembling 

 Vtsh fish ttsh t sheet ee, alternating into tsh tsh tsh teet shee. Another 

 male, on the skirts of a thicket, called out at short intervals vish vishtyiij 

 changing to vit vit vit vityu and vit vit vityu, sometimes, when approach- 

 ed, dropping his voice and abbreviating his song. Another had a call of 

 visht visht, visht e visht tfshew, and visht visht vishteshew or vititshee. 

 On the 12th of June, a nest of this species was brought to me, containing two 

 young birds nearly quite fledged, in the garb of the mother, pale yellow 



