64 



BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER. 

 SYLVIA BLACKBURNIA, 

 [Plate XXni.— Fig. 3.] 



Latham, II, p. 461, No. 67. — Pe ale's Museum, No. 7060. 



THIS is another scarce species in Pennsylvania^, making its 

 appearance here about the beginning of May; and again in Sep- 

 tember on its return, but is seldom seen here during the middle of 

 summer. It is an active silent bird. Inhabits also the state of 

 New York, from whence it was first sent to Europe. Mr. Latham 

 has numbered this as a variety of the Yellow -fronted Warbler, a very 

 different species. The specimen sent to Europe, and first described 

 by Pennant, appears also to have been a female, as the breast is 

 said to be yellow, instead of the brilliant orange with which it is 

 ornamented. Of the nest and habits of this bird I can give no ac- 

 count, as there is not more than one or two of these birds to be 

 found here in a season, even with the most diligent search. 



The Blackburnian Warbler is four inches and a half long, 

 and seven in extent ; crown black, divided by a line of orange ; the 

 black again bounded on the outside by a stripe of rich orange pass- 

 ing over the eye; under the eye a small touch of orange yellow ; 

 whole throat and breast rich fiery orange, bounded by spots and 

 streaks of black; belly dull yellow, also streaked with black; vent 

 white ; back black, skirted with ash ; wings the same, marked with 

 a large lateral spot of white ; tail slightly forked ; the interior vanes 

 of the three exterior feathers white ; cheeks black; bill and legs 

 brown. The female is yellow where the male is orange; the black 

 streaks are also more obscure and less numerous. 



