1853.J 311 
*SYLVICOLA ICTEROCEPHALA, Lath. 
This beautiful little warbler is extremely abundant. It prefers localities with 
a dense under-brush, especially hazel, thinly covered with trees. In such situa- 
tions it is not uncommon to hear the songs of a dozen males at the same time. 
They construct a nest of blades of grass and thin strips of bark intermingled 
with caterpillars’ web, fixed in a low bush, (generally hazel,) seldom more than 
two or three feet from the ground ; the eggs, 4 or 5 in number, closely resemble 
those of the S. estiva. But one brood is raised in a season—nest from the 10th 
to 15th of June. If the nest be approached when the female is in it, she will drop 
to the ground and hobble along with one wing dragging, uttermg at the same 
time a peeping note of distress. 
I once caught a young bird of this species that had just left the nest; the 
parent birds, in their alarm for its safety, approached so near to me that I caught 
the male in my hand. I let them both go, upon which, the joy of the old bird 
appeared to be greater for the escape of the young fledgling than for his own 
release. 
SYLvicota casTaNnea, Weilson. 
Arrives in large numbers about the 10th of May; all gone north by the 25th. 
SyLvicona striata, Lath. 
Equally numerous with the preceding; the two species arrive and depart in 
company. 
*SYLVICOLA PINUS, Lath. 
Not a numerous species with us. Nest in the northern pine forests. 
SYLVICOLA DIscotor, Vee2l/. 
A few are occasionally seen about the middle of May. Rarein Wisconsin. 
*Sytvicota AmERIcANA, Lath. 
Common. The beautiful pensile nest of this bird has never, to my knowledge, 
been described. Audubon undoubtedly erred in attributing the nest described 
by him to this species. That presented by me to the Collection of the Academy is 
formed by interlacing and sewing together, with a few blades of grass, the pen- 
dant lichen (Usnea barbata) which grew upon a dead horizontal branch of an 
oak, fifty or sixty feet from the ground. A hole, just large enough for the bird to 
enter, is left in the angle immediately under the branch, which forms a complete 
roof for the nest; it'is finished with a slight lining of hair. The whole forms a 
beautiful basket of moss, which is so admirably adapted to the purpose intended, 
so effectually concealed, so light and airy, that it would be almost impossible 
to suggest an improvement, and is certainly one of the most interesting speci- 
mens of ornithological architecture. The eggs, four or five in number, are white, 
with a band of light brown spots near the greater end; they measure 5 by 7; 
lines in diameter. The young leave the nest about the first week in July. 
SyLvICcoLA CANADENSIS, Linz. 
Abundant from the 5th to 25th of May, and again from the Ist to 20th of 
October. 
SyLvicoLa ForMosA, Bonap. 
Rare. Shot one near Racine, May 10, 1851. 
*SYLVICOLA CGERULEA, Wilson. 
Not common. A few nest with us. 
SyLvicoLa MARITIMA, Walson. 
By no means a rare bird during the month of May. It frequents the vicinity 
of streams and swamps that abound with tall willows, in the tops of which this 
interesting warbler is commonly seen flitting about; busily searching for inseets 
and their larve. It is probable that a few nest in this vicinity. 
*TRICHAS MARYLANDICA, Wilson. 
Common. 
48 
