A NEW SPECIES OF SYLVIA. 
149 
Description of a New Species of Sylvia, from the 
Columbia River. By John K. Townsend. 
Read April 2d, 1839. 
Sylvia Tolmoei, Tolmie’s Warbler. Audubon’s 
Birds of America, Yol. IV., pi. 399, male and fe- 
male. (S. Philadelphia in the plate.) 
The bill is brownish above, pale flesh-color be- 
neath, darker at the point ; lores, and narrow front- 
let, black ; whole head, neck, and upper part of the 
breast, dark sooty-ash, the feathers of the latter 
fringed with white; upper parts greenish-yellow- 
olive ; the tail brighter, and of a uniform color, 
without spots; wings lightish-cinereous, the exte- 
rior vanes of all the feathers, including the coverts, 
yellow. Legs and feet flesh color. Length 5 
inches. Extent of wings 6j inches. 
The female differs from the male, chiefly by 
having the head and throat light ash color, without 
any black, and m being destitute of the black front- 
let and lores. 
This pretty species, so much resembling the cu- 
rious S. Philadelphia , of Wilson, is common in 
spring on the Columbia. It is mostly solitary, and 
extremely wary, keeping chiefly in the densest and 
most impenetrable thickets, and gliding through 
them in a very cautious and suspicious manner. It 
may, however, sometimes be seen, towards mid-day , 
perched upon a dead twig, over its favorite place of 
concealment, and at such times it warbles a spright- 
ly and pleasant little song, raising its head until the 
