Ridgway.] 312 [February 18, 



droica coronata, a fair sprinkling of Sitta canadensis, and now and 

 then a Sayornis fuscus and Turdus pallasi ; while in very mild 

 winters the Seiurus noveboracensis is often seen. Of woodpeckers 

 ■eight species (JPicus villosus, P. pubescens, Spliyropicus varius, Hylo- 

 fomus pileatus, Centurus carolinus, Melanerpes erytlirocephalus and 

 Colaptes auratus) are abundant. 



Mary of the foregoing • species are nearly constant inhabitants of 

 the door-yards and orchards, even in towns, the most familiar ones 

 being J unco hyemalis, Zonotricliia leucophrys, Z. albicollis, Spizella 

 monticola^ Cardinalis virginianus, Loplwphanes bicolor, Parus caro- 

 linensis, Cyanura cristata and Dendroica coronata. 



With few exceptions, the birds of the bottom-lands are different 

 from those usually found in the dryer and more open districts. In 

 summer they are very difficult to procure, owing to the fatigue and 

 various anoyances endured in the search for them ; the value of the 

 few obtained, however, will almost surely compensate for all the 

 trouble experienced. Going into these heavy, luxuriant woods upon 

 a warm day in June or July, they are so perfectly silent as to ap- 

 pear at first entirely uninhabited. No sooner has one come to this 

 conclusion, however, than a yellow-throated vireo (V.flavifrons) flits 

 across the path, for this bird is always upon the alert for intruders, 

 and the individual in question has heard your approach. Alighting 

 on a prominent twig he stretches out his neck, and peers curiously 

 at you; if satisfied, he vanishes into the maze of foliage; but if his 

 curiosity develop into suspicion, he suddenly breaks the silence with 

 his harsh, scolding notes, which startle from their noon-day siesta all 

 the little birds in that part of the woods. It is the well-known signal 

 of the presence of an enemy, and soon the springing of light twigs 

 and jostling of leaves, with an occasional twitter and chirp, makes 

 you suddenly aware that there are birds all around. Among the 

 numerous little fellows which are now and then detected peeking 

 slyly at you, as they hop cautiously among the branches, or flit, with 

 as little noise as possible, through the foliage, may be distinguished 

 two sets, one keeping near or upon the ground, the other de- 

 scending from the tree-tops to the lower branches. The most 

 conspicuous member of the former class is the Kentucky warbler 

 (Oporornis formosus), while his companions are the hooded, worm- 

 eating, prothonotary, and blue-winged yellow, warblers (Myiodioctes 

 mitratus, Helmitherus vermiuorus, Protonotaria citrea and Helminiho- 

 phaga pinus), and large-billed water thrush (Seiurus ludovicianus). 



