SPECIES 22. SYLVM PROTONOT^RIUS. 
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER. 
[Plate XXIV.— Fig. 3.] 
Arct. Zool. p. 410. — Buffon, v, 316. — Latham, ii, 494. PL Enl. 
704. — Peale’s Museum, Mo. 7020. 
This is an inhabitant of the same country as the Painted 
Bunting; and also a passenger from the south; with this diffe- 
rence, that the bird now before us seldom approaches the house 
or garden; but keeps among the retired deep and dark swampy 
woods, through which it flits nimbly in search of small cater- 
pillars; uttering every now and then a few screaking notes, 
scarcely worthy of notice. They are abundant in the Missis- 
sippi and New Orleans territories, near the river; but are rare- 
ly found on the high ridges inland. 
From the peculiar form of its bill, being roundish and re- 
markably pointed, this bird might with propriety be classed as 
a sub-genus, or separate family, including several others, viz. 
the Blue-winged Yellow Warbler; the Golden-crowned War- 
bler, the Golden-winged Warbler, the Worm-eating Warbler, 
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, gene- 
rally. The first mentioned species, in particular, greatly re- 
sembles this in its general appearance; but the bill of the Pro- 
thonotary is rather stouter, and the yellow much deeper, ex- 
tending farther on the back; its manners and the country it in- 
habits 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 vent) are of a remarkably rich and brilliant yellow, slightly 
VOL. II. — 3 A 
