Notes on Helminthophila leucobronchialis. — On Ma_y 26, 1S8S, I cap- 

 tured a male Helminthophila leucobronchialis which from comparison 4* 

 with the original description appears to be typical. Length 4. So, spread / 

 7.60 inches. The testes were 5-16 inch long. The stomach contained 

 insects only. Attracted by a new song, I found it among the branches of 

 an apple-tree close by. Apparently it was alone. Durmg the half-hour 

 I watched it, it alighted in the apple-trees in the orchard it was in every 

 time but one, then, for a moment only, on a small hickory. The locality 

 was dry, all the neighborhood being scrubby pasture with very little 

 woodland. 



On May 29 I heard this song again, and soon found the bird among the 

 branches of a gigantic and solitary hickory in a high, dry, scrubby pas- 

 ture-lot. It was extremely shy, but was unwilling to leave the spot. On 

 the 31st I again saw it, feeding and singing in the same tree, and equally 

 shy. Patient watching during three hours revealed nothing more than 

 occasional short and apparently inquisitive flights to several hickory sap- 

 lings growing about a hazel thicket in the edge of a bushy tract adjoining 

 this pasture. Its errand there seemed to be more with an eye to some- 

 thing below in the bushes than for the sake of feeding. June 3, after 

 ascertaining the bird's presence, I secreted myself and waited. Several 

 times did it come in my vicinity, but only casually as it were, never 

 evincing the least alarm ; yet it certainly made the rounds of the afore- 

 mentioned saplings more frequently than before. At last with more 

 eagerness than usual it descended, and disappeared in the bushes (an 

 unusual occurrence) where it apparently took possession of its nest, as in 

 less than half a minute thereafter an H. piims, the first I liad seen in the 

 neighborhood, flew hastily from about the same place. This occurred at 

 about sunset, and between that and dark leucobronchialis did not again 

 appear in sight. I had previously had it in view, or could hear its song, 

 almost continuously. On several days following I searched this thicket 

 thoroughly, as it seemed, and once succeeded in flushing a piiius, but 

 could not even then find its nest. In company with finas, leucobronchialis 

 cautiously approached and surveyed nie for a short time, then departed 

 with no apparent misgivings. At all other times leucobronchialis was 

 near by and always reconnoitred the track of my careful search when I 

 had moved to some distance, then, apparently satisfied, pursued its avoca- 

 tions as before. 



I was not able to visit the spot again until June 17, and neither then nor 

 since have I found this leucobronchialis, but I did find a brood of several 

 young being fed by an H. finus, possibly the result of a union between 

 the two. These two birds were the only ones of the genus which I had at 

 any time detected in the locality. 



During this time I had seen four other H. leucobronchialis {i. e. six in 

 all, this season), and in widely separated localities, as follows : 



June I, one was seen for a moment only in a hickory tree whence it flew 

 into an adjoining alder swamp. It was never seen afterward. 



June 4, one in the edge of a dry woodland was watched some time, but 

 never seen again, although upon a subsequent visit some time was spent 

 in hunting for it. 



June 10, two wei'e seen by a friend and myself. One, among the 

 branches of the taller trees in a pasture-lot adjoining a dry wood, was 

 again seen June 19 and July 7, this being the latest date I have heard its 

 song or seen the species. The other was seen about one hour later in a 

 similar situation, but fully three-quarters of a mile from the first. I saw 

 this one again June 22. It was always in full song, otherwise I might 

 never have detected it. 



The peculiarities of the species are numerous, especially its song, so 

 that, aided by my field-glass, identification was perfectly satisfectory to me 

 in each instance. Moreover, its leisurely movements in conspicuous 

 places always gave good opportunity for study. By actual count all these 

 birds with the exception of the one shot May 26 were seen in hickory trees 

 seven times to three in trees of all other species combined. Its flight on 

 many occasions was protracted to at least 400 feet, always, when so con- 

 tinued, to a tree towering far above the surroundings. 



I have heard of one other //. leucobronchialis taken in Connecticut 

 this year, at Stamford by a Mr. Hoyt.— Edwin H. Eamks, Seymour, Con- 

 necticut. Ank, V, Oct., 1888. p. *fJt7'?^' 



Saybroolc, Conn. ' 



O &0. XIV.Aug. 1889 p. 119 



