36 
THE CHESTNUT-SIDED WOOD- WARBLER. 
districts resorted to by it. I can only suppose, that if it is at all plentiful 
in any portion of the United States, it must be far to the northward, as 1 
ransacked the borders of Lake Ontario, and those of Lakes Erie and 
Michigan, without meeting with it. I do not know of any naturalist who 
has been more fortunate, otherwise I should here quote his observations. 
The females had the ovaries furnished with numerous eggs, about the 
size of the head of a common pin. The stomach of all the birds which I 
killed contained some grass seeds of the preceding year, and a few small 
black spiders ; but the birds appeared half starved. Having procured 
them near the ground, I have placed them on a plant which grows about 
the fields, and flowers in the beginning of May. 
Ciiestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 99. 
Sylvia icterocephala, Bonap. Syn., p. 80. 
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala , Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 380. 
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Sylvia icterocephala , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 306. 
Outer three quills nearly equal, second slightly longer ; tail slightly emar- 
ginate. Male with the upper part of the head light yellow, a small part of 
the forehead white ; loral space and two bands proceeding from it, one over 
and behind the eye, the other downwards, black ; upper parts bluish ash- 
grey, tinged behind with greenish-yellow, and streaked with black ; second- 
ary coverts and first row of small coverts largely tipped with pale yellow ; 
quills and tail-feathers brownish-black, primaries edged with greyish-white, 
secondaries with yellowish-green ; outer three tail-feathers on each side with 
a white patch on the inner web at the end ; lower parts white, sides of the 
neck and body deep chestnut. Female similar, but with the chestnut on 
the sides less extended, and the yellow on the head tinged with green. 
Male, 5i, 8. 
From Texas northward. Rather common. Migratory. 
The Moth Mullein. 
Verbascum blattaria, Willd., Sp. PI., vol. i. p. 1005. Pursch, Flor. Amer., 
vol. i. p. 142. Smith., Engl. Flor., vol. i. p. 513. — Pentandria monogynia, 
Linn. — Solane.®, Juss. 
A biennial plant, distinguished from the other species of the same genus 
by its amplexicaul ovato-oblong, rugose, serrated, glabrous leaves, and one- 
flowered solitary pedicels. The ordinary colour of the flowers is yellow, but 
the plant represented is of a variety with larger whitish or pale rose-coloured 
flowers. It grows in fields and bye-roads, and is of common occurrence. 
