YELLOW RED-POLL WARBLER.[38]
Sylvicola æstiva.
| Sylvia æstiva et petechia, | Lath.—Aud. pl. 95. |
| Sylvia citrinella et petechia, | Wils. |
| Sylvia Childrenii (young,) | Aud. pl. 35. |
| Sylvicola æstiva, | Sw. |
[38] Length 5¼ inches, expanse 8¹⁄₁₀, flexure 2⁶⁄₁₀, tail 2¹⁄₁₀, rictus ⁶⁄₁₀, tarsus ⁹⁄₁₀, middle toe ½.
Of this very beautiful species, which has been described under so many names, I have specimens in much diversity of plumage, from that in which the chestnut crown, and spots of the breast are deep and conspicuous, to that in which there is no trace either of the one or the other. There is little in their manners to distinguish them from others of this pretty family. They arrive in Jamaica in September, and depart in April; and, like their fellows, hop about low trees, feeding on small insects. In March, I observed it rather numerous, hopping about the Cleome pentaphylla, and other low shrubs which were then in flower, on the banks of the new cut of the Rio Cobre, not half a mile from the sea of Kingston Harbour. Whenever I have seen it, it has been very near the sea.
AURORA WARBLER.[39]
Sylvicola eoa.—Mihi.
[39] Length 5 inches, expanse 7⁶⁄₁₀, flexure 2⁷⁄₂₀, tail 1⁹⁄₁₀, rictus ⁶⁄₁₀, (nearly), tarsus ⁹⁄₁₀, middle toe ½. Irides dark hazel; feet horn-colour; beak pale horn, culmen and tip darker. Male. Upper parts olive, approaching to yellow on the rump: sides of head marked with a band of orange, extending from the ear to the beak, and meeting both on the forehead and on the chin. Wing quills and coverts blackish with yellowish edges. Tail blackish olive, with yellow edges; the outermost two feathers on each side, have the greatest portion of the inner webs pale yellow. Under parts pale yellow. The crown, rump, tertials, belly, and under tail-coverts, are sparsely marked with undefined patches of pale orange. Female. Nearly as the male, but the deep orange is spread over the whole cheeks, chin, throat, and breast. The head and back are dusky grey, tinged with olive, and patched with the fulvous, much more largely, but irregularly, and as if laid upon the darker hue.