110 



tarsus almost booted. L. 71^ ; W. 3J^; T. ^/i- A quaint, restless songster, only 

 excelled by the mocking bird in the variety and volubility of its notes. Common 

 summer resident south ; rarer north. Eats soft fruits as well as insects, 



MYIODICETES. Audubon. Fly-caiching Warblers. 



59. M. MITRATUS. (Gm.) Aud. Hooded Fly-catching Warbler. Bright 

 yellow alive ; crown and neck all round jet black, enclosing a broad golden mask ; 

 under parts from the breast bright yellow ; tail with white blotches; female olive 

 instead of black; L, 5; W. 2^; T. 2^. Migrant; Nelson quotes it as a rare 

 summer resident about Chicago. "Breeds throughout its range." {Cones.) This 

 arid the three following are very expert in taking insects on the wing, having the 

 broad, flat bill and rictal bristles of the clammatorial fly-catchers [Tyjunnida:) , from 

 which they are readily known by their oscine tarsus, and nine primaries. 



60. M. PUSILLUS. (Wils.) Bon. Greert Black-capped Fly-caiching Warbler. 

 Clear yellow olive; crown glossy black; forehead, lores, sides of head and entire 

 under parts bright yellow; wings and tail unblotched ; female with less black; L, 

 4/£ J ^* 2/^ ' T- ^/^' Common migrant. 



61. M. CANADENSIS. (L.) Aud. Canada Fly-catching Warbler. Bluish 

 ash ; crown speckled with black ; under parts clear yellow, except the white cris- 

 sum ; lores black, continuous with black under the eye, and this passing as a chain 

 of black streaks down the side of the neck and encircling the breast like a neck- 

 lace ; wings and tail plain; female similar, with less black; L, 53^; W. 2^; T. 

 2^. An abundant woodland species, and one of the handsomest of warblers. 

 Migrant. 



SETOPHAGA. Swainson. Redstarts. 



62. S. RUTICILLA. (L.) Sw. Black; sides of breast and large blotches on 

 wings and tail orange red ; belly white, reddish tinged. Female olive, similarly 

 marked with reddish yellow. L. SX > W. 2^; T. 2^. An abundant migrant, 

 and common summer resident about Chicago. A handsome fly catcher ; getting 

 his full suit of black, white and orange in his third year, as is indicated by the 

 three sets of males observed in any vernal migration ; those, like the female, with- 

 out black or orange (first year) ; those, like the female, irregularly patched with 

 pure black and with increased yellow (second year) ; and the perfectly dressed 

 males nearly three years old, {Coues.) Mr. Gentry found many species of beetles, 

 plant lice, cut-worms, etc, in their stomachs — the beetles and cut-worms indicating 

 ground habits. He says: "We must admit that the redstart is not only a good 

 hunter, but a voracious and indiscriminate feeder, 'like some other beauties we 

 know of," 



FAMILY XI. TANAGRID^. 



{The Tanagers.) 



Primaries 9 ; bill conical (sometimes depressed or attenuated); the culmen curved ; 

 cutting edges not much inflected, sometimes toothed, notched or serrated ; tarsus 

 scutellate. Legs short; claws long; colors usually brilliant. Three hundred or 



