SYLVIAD.E. 215 



[48.] 3. Sylvicola petechia. (Swainson.) Yellow Red-poll Warbler. 



Sub-family, Parians. Genus, Sylvicola, Swainson. 



Yellow Red-poll (Avicula lutea, vertice rubra). Edwards, pi. 256. 



Ked-head Warbler. Penn. Arct. ZooL, ii., p. 401, No. 289. 



Sylvia petechia. Lath. Ind., ii., p. 535, sp. 103. 



Yellow Red-poll Warbler (Sylvia petechia). Wilson, iv., p. 19, pi. 28, f. 4. Male* 



Sylvia petechia. Bonap. Syn., p. 83, No. 123. 



Plate xli. 



I shot a single specimen of this bird on the swampy banks of the Saskat- 

 chewan, at Cumberland House, in a shady thicket of willows, alders, and ash- 

 leaved maples. It seemed to be a shy, solitary, and silent bird ; but I saw only 

 one individual ; and although I know that it quits that country on the approach 

 of winter, I cannot state the date of its arrival and departure, nor the extent of 

 its range to the northward. If the identity of our bird with Wilson's be allowed, 

 it may be stated, from that author, that it visits Pennsylvania early in April, and 

 departs in September. It is supposed to winter in the southern states, as several 

 were shot in Georgia late in February. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a specimen, killed at Cumberland House, lat. 54°, May 26, 1827. (Sex not ascertained.) 



Colour of the dorsal aspect between hair-brown and liver-brown, shaded on the rump with 

 greenish-yellow. Between the eyes a large patch of orange-brown. A short msesial streak 

 of yellow divides the forehead ; a broader yellow line extends from the nostrils over the eye 

 to the ear. Quill feathers pale on their margins, as if worn : two exterior tail feathers tipped 

 with white on their inner webs. Under surface. — Throat, vent feathers, and under tail 

 coverts gamboge-yellow, the former obscurely spotted with brown. Belly and breast faded 

 greyish-yellow, with umber-brown streaks on the shafts. There is a slight yellowish tinge on 

 the interior wing-coverts, and the insides of the quill feathers are pale clove-brown. Bill 

 midfeet umber-brown. 



* The general resemblance of our specimen to the Sylvia petechia of Wilson induces us to refer it to that 

 species, although there are sufficient differences to throw a doubt on their identity. Wilson's description, which 

 follows, may be compared with that of our bird. " Length five inches, extent eight ; line over the eye and whole 

 lower parts, rich-yellow ; breast streaked with dull-red ; upper part of the head reddish-chestnut, which it loses in 

 winter; back yellow-olive, streaked with dusky ; rump and tail coverts greenish-yellow; wings deep blackish-brown, 

 exteriorly edged with olive ; tail slightly forked, and of the same colour as the wings. The female wants the red cap, 

 and the yellow of the lower parts is less brilliant : the streaks of red on the head are also fewer and less distinct." — Sw. 



