74 
MAC GILL I VR AY’S GROUND-WARBLE E. 
Triohas Macgillivrayi, Aud. 
PLATE 0 . — Male and Eemale. 
When I first saw the specimens of this bird, which had been transmitted 
by Mr. Townsend to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, I 
considered them as identical with Sylvia Philadelphia of AVilson ; but on 
subsequently comparing them with a number of individuals of the latter 
species, procured by my friend Edward Harris, Esq., in our Middle and 
Eastern Districts, I found differences sufficient to indicate their being 
specifically distinct. In consequence of which I have dedicated this pretty 
little bird to my excellent friend William Macgillivray, Esq., and feel 
much pleasure in introducing it to the notice of the ornithological world, 
under a name which I trust will endure as long as the species itself. 
Mr. Townsend, who found it on the banks of the Columbia, states that it 
is “mostly solitary and extremely wary, keeping chiefly in the most im- 
penetrable thickets, and gliding through them in a cautious and suspicious 
manner. It may, however, sometimes be seen towards mid-day perched 
upon a dead twig over its favourite place of concealment, and at such times 
warbles a very sprightly and pleasant little song, raising its head until its 
bill is almost vertical, swelling its throat in the manner of its relatives.” 
Mr. Nuttall has also favoured me with the following interesting account 
of it. — “This species is one of the most common summer residents of the 
woods and plains of the Columbia, appearing early in May, and remaining 
until the approach of winter. After the manner of the Maryland Yellow- 
throat, it keeps near the ground in low bushes, where it gleans its subsist- 
ence. When surprised or closely observed, it is shy and jealous, immediately 
skulking off, and sometimes uttering a loud snapping clink. Its note has 
occasionally the hurried rattling sound of Tardus aurocapillus, resembling 
t'tsn t'tsh ttsh tsheetee , alternating into tsh tsh tsh teet shee. Another 
male, on the skirts of a thicket, called out at short intervals vish vishtyu, 
changing to vit vit vit vityu and vit vit vityu, sometimes, when approached, 
dropping his voice, and abbreviating his song. Another had a call of visht 
visht, visht e visht t’shew, and visht visht vishteshew or vititshee. On 
the 12th of June, a nest of this species was brought to me, containing two 
young birds nearly quite fledged, in the garb of the mother, pale yellow 
