Sylvia montana, Wils. Am. Orn. V, 1812, 113, pl. xliv, fig. 2 (“Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania”).—Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 294 (“California”!) Sylvicola montana, Jard.; Aud. Birds Am. II, 1841, 69, pl. xcviii. Dendroica montana, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 279; Rev. 190. Sylvia tigrina, Vieill. Ois. Am. Sept. II, 1807, 34, pl. xciv (U. S. and St. Domingo).
Sp. Char. This species is four inches and three quarters in length; the upper parts a rich yellow-olive; front, cheeks, and chin yellow, also the sides of the neck; breast and belly pale yellow, streaked with black or dusky; vent plain pale yellow. Wings black; first and second rows of coverts broadly tipped with pale yellowish-white; tertials the same; the rest of the quills edged with whitish. Tail black, handsomely rounded, edged with pale olive; the two exterior feathers on each side white on the inner vanes from the middle to the tips, and edged on the outer side with white. Bill dark brown. Legs and feet purple-brown; soles yellow. Eye dark hazel. (Wilson.)
Hab. “Blue Mountains of Virginia.” St. Domingo?
This species is only known from the description of Wilson, Vieillot, and Audubon, and we are not aware that a specimen is to be found in any collection. If described correctly, it appears different from any established species, although the most nearly related to D. pinus, which, however, differs in the absence of a yellow frontlet, in having a greener back, less distinct streaks beneath, and in the white of the anal region.
Habits. Whether the Blue Mountain Warbler is a genuine species or an unfamiliar plumage of a bird better known to us in a different dress is a
question not altogether settled to the minds of some. It was described by Wilson from a single specimen obtained near the Blue Ridge of Virginia. Audubon found another in the collection of the Zoölogical Society. From this he made his drawing. A third has also been met with and described by Vieillot. We know nothing in regard to its habits, except that its song is said to be a single screep, three or four times repeated. Its breeding-habits, its manner of migration, and the place of its more abundant occurrence, yet remain entirely unknown.
Dendroica kirtlandi, Baird.
KIRTLAND’S WARBLER.
Sylvicola kirtlandi, Baird, Ann. N. Y. Lyc. V, June, 1852, 217, pl. vi (Cleveland, Ohio).—Cassin, Illust. I, 1855, 278, pl. xlvii. Dendroica kirtlandi, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 286; Rev. 206.
Sp. Char. Above slate-blue, the feathers of the crown with a narrow, those of the middle of the back with a broader, streak of black; a narrow frontlet involving the lores, the anterior end of the eye, and the space beneath it (possibly the whole auriculars), black; the rest of the eyelids white. The under parts are clear yellow (almost white on the under tail-coverts); the breast with small spots and sides of the body with short streaks of black. The greater and middle wing-coverts, quills, and tail-feathers are edged with dull whitish. The two outer tail-feathers have a dull white spot near the end of the inner web, largest on the first. Length, 5.50; wing, 2.80; tail, 2.70. (4,363.)