Protonotaria, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 239. (Type, Motacilla citrea, Bodd.)

Protonotaria citrea, Baird.
7516

Gen. Char. Characterized by its long, distinctly notched bill, and long wings, which are an inch longer than the slightly graduated tail (the lateral feathers about .12 of an inch shorter). The under tail-coverts are very long, reaching within half an inch of the tip of the tail. The tarsi and hind toe are proportionally longer than in the true Warblers. The notch and great size of the bill distinguish it from the Swamp Warblers. Nest in holes; eggs much blotched with reddish.

The only North American species belonging to the group appears to be the old Sylvia protonotaria of Gmelin.

Protonotaria citrea, Baird.

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER; GOLDEN SWAMP WARBLER.

Motacilla citrea, Bodd. Tabl. 1783 (Pl. enl. 704, fig. 2). Protonotaria citrea, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 239; Rev. 173.—Sclater, Catal. 1861, 26, No. 166.—Gundl. Cab. Jour. 1861, 324 (Cuba; very rare). Helminthophaga citrea, Cab. Jour. 1861, 85 (Costa Rica). Motacilla protonotarius, Gm. Sylvia prot. Lath.—Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. II, pl. lxxxiii.—Wilson, Am. Orn. III, pl. xxiv. fig. 2.—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, pl. iii. Vermivora prot. Bon. Helinaia prot. Aud. Helmitherus prot. Bon. Compsothlypis prot. Cab. Jour. Motacilla auricollis, Gmel. I, 1788, 984. Sylvia aur. Lath., etc. (based on Le Grand Figuier du Canada, Brisson, Ois. III, 1760, 508, pl. xxvi, fig. 1). Female. Sylvicola aur. Nutt. Man. I, 1840, 431.

Sp. Char. Bill very large; as long as the head. Head and neck all round, with the entire under parts, including the tibiæ, rich yellow, excepting the anal region and under tail-coverts, which are white. Back dark olive-green, with a tinge of yellow; rump, upper tail-coverts, wings, and tail above, bluish ash-color. Inner margin of quills and the tail-feathers (except the innermost) white; the outer webs and tips like the back. Length, 5.40; wing, 2.90; tail, 2.25.

Hab. Eastern Province of United States (Southern region); Cuba, Costa Rica, and Panama R. R. Not recorded from Mexico or Guatemala. Accidental in New Brunswick (G. A. Boardman in letter). Yucatan (Lawrence).