7.2 



PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 

 SYLVIA FROTONOTARIUS. 

 [Plate XXIV.— Fig. 3.] 



ArcL Zool. p. 410.—BuFroN, V, 316.-— Lati-iam, II, 494. PL Enl 704.— » 



Pe ale's Museum, No. 7020. 



THIS is an inhabitant of the same country as the preceding 

 species; and also a passenger from the south; with this difference, 

 that the bird now before us seldom approaches the house or gar- 

 den ; but keeps among the retired deep and dark swampy woods, 

 through which it flits nimbly in search of small caterpillars ; utter- 

 ing every now and then a few screaking notes, scarcely worthy of 

 notice. They are abundant in the Mississippi and New Orleans 

 territories, near the river; but are rarely found on the high ridges 

 inland. 



From the peculiar form of its bill, being roundish and remark- 

 ably pointed, this bird might with propriety be classed as a sub- 

 genera, or separate family, including several others, viz, the Blue- 

 winged Yellow Warbler ; the Golden-crowned Warbler, and Gold- 

 en-winged Warbler of the second volume, and the Worm-eating 

 Warbler of the present plate, and a few more. The bills of all 

 these correspond nearly in form and pointedness, being generally 

 longer, thicker at the base, and more round than those of the genus 

 Sylvia, generally. The first mentioned species, in particular, great- 

 ly resembles this in its general appearance ; but the bill of the Pro- 

 thonotary is rather stouter, and the yellow much deeper, extending 

 farther on the back; its manners and the country it inhabits are 

 also different. 



This species is five inches and a half long, and eight and a 

 half in extent; the head, neck, and whole lower parts (except the 



