3o6 



Eames on Helminthophila finus and iis Allies. [October 



tricately involved and highly perplexing. The geographical seat 

 of the trouble seems to be centred in the small State of Connec- 

 ticut and the country adjoining on the north and west. 



Our little favorite Helminthophila finus is probably as abun- 

 dant in the southern part of this State, and in the river valleys 

 northward to Massachusetts, as in any other part of its range, it 

 extending its way still further north to a point as yet but poorly 

 defined. 



Of H. chrysoptera but little can be said, as it is properly con- 

 sidered a rather rare bird here, and our yearly records are but 

 few, usually less than half a dozen. 



The beautiful H. leucobronchialis is much ( more common 

 than the latter, and is eagerly sought after by most of our collec- 

 tors, latterly with good success, considering its former (sup- 

 posed) rarity. The section of country above accorded to pinus 

 seems to be the metropolis of this species, or else we have here 

 more enthusiastic collectors. The same is also true of H. laiv- 

 rencei. My obsei-vations last year served to acquaint me with 

 its traits of character and style of song, so that on the 6th of May 

 I was prepared to recognize the song of leucobronchialis^ when I 

 heard it. It was a typical bird, and was first heard and then seen 

 in an apple tree whose branches almost touched a house. It was 

 so tame at first that I could almost catch it in a hand net, and al- 

 though it was several times disturbed, showed no desire to feed 

 in other than apple trees. 



My earliest record of H. pinus was made on the following day, 

 but on the 9th they were surprisingly common, as at one time 

 (midday) I distinctly heard seven singing at one time, and could 

 see five by merely turning around. During a walk of a few hours 

 that day I counted 60, which was considerably short of the actual 

 number seen. Judging from a few I shot and from others I criti- 

 cally examined, and from their songs, they were all males, the 

 first female not appearing until the second day following. I have 

 never before seen as many in the same length of time, but for 

 years have considered them common, even fifteen miles north of 

 Bi-idgeport. 



The only H. chrysoptera I have seen this season was a male I 

 killed on May 14, in full song ; I killed also a male H. leuco- 

 bronchialis on the same morning, also in full song. One bright 

 male H. lavjrencei found its way into my collection, May t6, after 



1885.] Eames on Belminthophila finas and its Allies. 307 



favoring me with its song and a little of its shyness for an hour or 

 two. This bird was in a small but dense swamp, and kept 

 among the higher branches in the centre, with occasional forays 

 to the edge. 



May 17 I badly wounded a third leucobronchialis, which was 

 not secured, although I closely marked where it fell. It was well 

 marked with yellow on the foi'e-breast and a paler wash elsewhere 

 except on the lower throat which was pure white ; otherwise it was 

 typical. 



May 21 I saw another leucobronchialis which was beyond my 

 reach, being under the immediate protection of a guardian of the 

 City water works. Having obtained his permission to shoot it, 

 the following morning it fell a prey to my desires, and proved to 

 be a very handsome specimen of this form. Not until June 11 

 did I take another, which pi'oved to much resemhls pinus. 



Mr. C. K. Averill, Jr., of this city, found a leucobronchialis 

 early in June, he being attracted to it by its song. Two days 

 later he failed to find it. June 24 I accompanied him to the place 

 and we soon had the pleasure of watching the bird at shorter 

 range than I think has fallen to the lot of others, i. e., three to 

 ten feet, for so long a time that our patience gave out with the 

 daylight. Previous to this it was necessary to watch his actions 

 at a greater distance, as he (for it proved a male) was feeding 

 young, how many we never ascertained, probably but one. 



It came to the same conspicuous clump of bushes and briars 

 many times, with from one to five minutes intermission, each 

 time with one or more small green worms, about three quarters of 

 an inch long, first reconnoitring, then cautiously approaching, 

 and again hastily leaving a pai't of this clump of bushes not over 

 two feet in extent. We failed to discover the identity of the ob- 

 ject of its cares, but I have reason to believe it was a young Cow- 

 bird. The rest of this brood was being fed by the only H.pimts 

 (a female) to be found in the neighborhood. These young were, 

 I thought, a little too demonstrative when parental attention was 

 bestowed upon them. At this date they could fly well, and 

 gleaned much food for themselves. They showed a marked 

 general similarity to the young of piniis. I shot this male leuco- 

 bronchialis August 8 and also one of the young, carefully observ- 

 ing that the others were similar to the one killed, which was 

 altogether too familiar with the adult bird to allow a possibility of 

 doubt concerning its male parent. 



