109 



Bright olive green, white below, sharply spotted on breast and sides like thrushes f. 

 crown orange brown, with two black stripes; L. 6^^; W. 3; T. 2^. An abun- 

 dant migrant, and common resident in suitable places. This and the two next are- 

 terrestrial warblers, warbling like titlarks, and spotted like thrushes, with both of 

 which they have been classed. Their vocal powers are preeminent. 



This species is noted for its loud ringing song and curious nest built on the- 

 ground and roofed over; hence named "oven bird." 



52. S. N^VIUS. Coues. tVa^er Thrush. Waizr Wagtail. Olive brown' 

 above; pale yellowish beneath, thickly spotted with the color of the back; a yel- 

 low superciliary line ; bill half inch long ; feet dark ; L. 6 ; W. 3 ; T. 23^'. An 

 abundant migrant; some remain to breed in secluded woods. {Nelson.) "One of 

 our liveliest singers, beginning with a sudden, almost startling burst of melody 

 that rings as clear as if the joyous bird had found a long lost mate, and then keeps- 

 falling till the slightest breath of air may blow the rest away." 



53. S. MOTACILLA, (Vieill.) Bon. Large- Billed Water Thrush. Same gen- 

 eral color as last, but white or pale buffy below, and less sharply spotted; bill 

 much larger, about ^ inch; bird larger; L. 6; W. 3}^; T. 23^. A summer resi- 

 dent, prefering dark woods or dense undergrowth in wet patches, 



OPORORNIS. Baird. Nimble Watblers. 



54. O. AGILIS, (Wils.) Bd. Connecticut Warbler. Olive green, ashy on head ; 

 throat and breast brownish ash ; otherwise yellow below ; not sharply marked ; in 

 fall more olivaceous; L. 5^; W. 3; T. 2^^. Hundreds of this species are 

 taken in New England in the fall, while it is rarely seen in the spring, as it appears 

 to migrate inland up the Mississippi valley. A shy, strong-voiced migrant, rather 

 common in the vicinity of Chicago. {Nelson.) 



55. O. FORMOSUS, (Wils.) Bd. Kentucky Warbler. Clear olive green, bright- 

 yellow below ; crown and sides of head and neck black, with a yellow superciliary- 

 stripe, which bends around the eye behind ; L. 5^ ; W. 3 ; T. 23^, A rare vis- 

 itant north ; resident near Cincinnati, (Langdon) ; song much like that of the- 

 Maryland yellow-throat, and both very sweet singers. 



GEOTHYPLIS. Cabanis. Ground Warblers. 



56. G. TRICHAS, (L.) Cab. Marylaftd Yellow Throat. Olive green; fore- 

 head and broad mask on sides of head and neck jet black bordered with clear ash ; 

 under parts yellow ; female obscurely marked without black mask and with less 

 yellow ; L. 45-2 ; W. 2j^; T. 23^. A handsome warbler. I have seen it rise to a 

 height of a hundred feet and descend, singing, to a tree in an open field; its usual 

 haunt is in thickets near swamps and streams. 



57. G. PHILADELPHIA, (Wils.j Bd. Mourning Warbler. Bright olive ; 

 clear yellow below ; head ashy; throat and breast black, the feathers usually ashy- 

 skirted as though the bird wore crape (hence "mourning warbler ") ; when not in 

 full plumage, both sexes resemble 0. agilis, except that the tail is as long as the 

 wings; L. 5}^ ; T. and W. 2^. Not common; migrant; comes with the wild- 

 crab blossoms. 



ICTERIA. Vieillot. Yellozu-breasted Chats. 



58. I. VIRENS. (L.) Bd. Olive green ; throat and breast bright yellow ; 

 belly abruptly white ; lores black ; a white superciliary line ; wings and tail plain ; , 



