ear
of the other. Their habits are like those of the other Yellow-throats
and the nests are similar to those of the latter, which are frequently
placed in cane over the water. Nests found by Mr. Walter E. Bryant were
situated in clumps of "cat-tails" between two and three feet above the
water; the nests were made of dry strips of these leaves, lined with
fibres; the eggs were like those of the common Yellow-throats but
larger; size .75 x .56.

682.1. RIO GRANDE YELLOW-THROAT. _Chamaethlypis poliocephala._

Range.--Mexico north to the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

This Yellow-throat has the crown and ear coverts gray, only the lores
and forehead being black. The nests and eggs of these birds, which are
fairly common about Brownsville, Texas, do not differ from those of the
other Yellow-throats.

683. YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. _Icteria virens virens._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding from the Gulf coast north to
southern New England and Minnesota.

This strange but handsome species is very common in underbrush and
thickets in the south; they are usually shy and endeavor, with success,
to keep out of sight, but their strange song and calls, consisting of
various whistles and squawks mingled together, are often heard. Their
nests are built in bushes or briars at low elevations, being made of
grass, strips of bark and leaves, lined with finer grass; their eggs are
white, sharply speckled and spotted with various shades of brown and
lavender; size .90 x .70.

683a. LONG-TAILED CHAT. _Icteria virens longicauda._

Range.--United States west of the Plains, breeding from Mexico to
British Columbia.

This bird is said to be grayer and to have a slightly longer tail than
the last. Its nesting habits and eggs are precisely the same.

[Illustration 415: Rio Grande Yellow-throat. Yellow-breasted Chat.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 414

684. HOODED WARBLER. _Wilsonia citrina._

Range.--Eastern United States, breeding north to southern New England
and Michigan; winters south of our borders.

This yellow and greenish species can be identified by its black head,
neck and throat, with the large yellow patch about the eye and the
forehead. The members of this genus are active fly-catchers, darting
into the air after passing insects in the manner of the Flycatchers.
They frequent tangled thickets where they build their nests within a few
inches of the ground, making them of l