ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE WEST. 265 
at home, and as ‘vivacious and even more gayly colored than at 
the north. While he seemed to have forgotten none of the droll 
notes and fantastic ways one always expects from him, he has 
here added to his manners the familiarity that usually character- 
izes him in the more newly settled parts of the country, and anon 
` Surprised us with some new expression of his feelings or senti- 
ments,—some unexpected eccentricity in his varied notes, per- 
haps developed by his more southern surroundings. The yellow- 
breasted chat (Icteria virens) disported himself among the tangled 
underbrush, and seemed highly to enjoy the discomfiture to which 
he often put us, through his well-known ventriloquial accomplish- 
ments, in our search for his exact whereabouts. The Carolina 
wren (Thryothorus Ludovicianus) was more or less common, and 
already had young full-fledged on our arrival, while the only other 
birds then found breeding were the cardinal, the towhe and the 
brown thrush. Most of these, however, were still pairing and 
hestbuilding. The common chickadee (Parus atricapillus) and 
the house wren (Troglodytes aédon) were both common, but were 
far less numerous and much more retiring than their more demon- 
Strative southern relatives already mentioned. 
Among the warblers three southern forms were the most com- 
mon, their bright colors often attracting the eye as they flitted 
through the openings among the trees. These were the Ken- 
tucky (Oporornis formosus), the hooded ( Wilsonia mitrata Bon.) 
and the blue-winged yellow (Helminthophaga pinus). They seemed 
aware that they were especial objects of attention to the collector, 
and took good care not to exhibit themselves unnecessarily. The 
golden-crowned warbler (Helminthophaga celata) was also one of 
Most numerous of the Sylvicolide. The Nashville (H. rubrica- 
pilla), the blue yellow-backed (Parula Americana) and the black 
and white creeper (Mniotilta varia) were likewise moderately fre- 
Ment. The beautiful cærulean warbler (Dendreca cærulea) was 
met with a few times, the Blackburnian (D. Blackburniew) once or 
. twice, and the yellow rumped (D. coronata) but once, though the 
was doubtless common somewhat earlier in the season. The 
ie Tallow warbler (D. estiva) was more or less common along the 
_ mtskirts of the forests; the chestnut-sided (D. Pennsylvanica) 
was by no means rare; redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) were seen 
: hg few times, and the Maryland yellow-throat (Geothlypis 
48) was far from numerous. 
