19. Helminthophaga ruficapilla (Wils.) Bd. Nashville Warbler.—Two specimens,—March 30 and April 1.
20. Helminthophaga celata (Say) Bd. Orange-crowned Warbler.—Arrived the first week in March and thereafter was the most abundant of the Warblers. One of my specimens is a partial albino, the first, I believe, that has been detected in this peculiar phase of plumage.
21. Parula americana (Linn.) Bp. Blue Yellow-back.—Rare migrant. Arrived March 20 in full song.
22. Dendrœca coronata (Linn.) Gray. Yellow-rump.—An abundant winter visitor, seen throughout my stay.
23. Dendrœca blackburnæ (Gm.) Bd. Blackburnian Warbler.—A single male taken March 31.
24. Dendrœca dominica albilora, Bd. White-browed Yellow-throat.—Uncommon migrant, first seen on March 19. The song of this variety is very different from that of its eastern analogue, and is a close reproduction of the Field Sparrow’s familiar chant, without his decrescendo termination.
25. Dendrœca chrysoparia, Scl. and Salv. Golden-cheeked Warbler.—Previous to the capture of my Boerne specimens, there were only about seven[[19]] skins of this elegant Warbler in existence. It was a rare bird at Boerne, and my own series was not brought up to a total of seven without special exertion. The first individual made his appearance on March 12. Within forty-eight hours from that time, under the influence of a biting norther, the mercury sank to 29° and hovered about that figure for several days. So that in his semi-tropical habitat this little bird is sometimes called upon to endure pretty severe weather. The remaining examples were taken at intervals up to March 24, after which I saw none. I found them usually in cedar brakes; never more than a few rods distant from them. They were sometimes very shy, at other times easily approached, but almost always pursued their various avocations rather silently. I did not hear the song at all, until by this I was attracted to the last specimen that I procured. The notes were an exact counterpart of the song of Dendrœca discolor, as I heard it in Alabama, and, indeed, for the utterances of that bird I mistook them.
By the few examples of this species hitherto existing in cabinets, the plumage of the adult male has been represented with much green on the back. Four of my five males conform to this pattern of coloration, but the fifth is in a much more beautiful dress, undoubtedly showing the male bird in full perfection. In this specimen the back is deep black, glossy and continuous. Upon close examination, faint and irregular traces of greenish are perceptible, but in much too slight a degree to materially affect the groundwork. This high state of plumage greatly enhances the bird’s beauty and renders its wearer one of the handsomest of the Sylvicolidæ.
26. Dendrœca virens (Gm.) Bd. Black-throated Green Warbler.—An uncommon migrant, first seen on March 13. Found in hardwood growth and never in company with the preceding species. On March 25 I heard a male singing the plaintive song so familiar in northern woods.
27. Siurus motacilla (Vieill.) Coues. Large-billed Water Thrush.—A single male taken, March 25, in one of the “oases” of the creek.