52 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



THE VARIED CREEPING WARBLER. 



Mniotilta varia. 



PLATE XLI. FIG. 89 (Male.) 



(STATE COLLECTION. Male and female.) 



Molacilla varia. Linn.eus, Syst. Nat. 12 ed. Vol. I, p. 333. 



White-poll Warbler. Pennant, Aret. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 402. 



Certhia maculala. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 23, pi. 19, fig. 3 (male). 



Sylvia varia. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 81. 



Cerlhia varia. Audubon, fol. pi. 90 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 1, pi -152, and Vol. 5, p. 471. 



Black and White Warbler, or Creeper. Nottall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 384. 



Creeping Warbler. Aodubon, B. of A. Vol. 1, p. 105, pi. 114. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 70. 



Characteristics. Varied with white and black. Throat black. Female, and young of the 

 year, throat greyish. Length, 5 "5. 



Description. Bill somewhat dilated at the base, incurved, keeled, and compressed at the 

 sides ; lower mandible straight. Tail slightly emarginate, or even. Tips of the wings reach- 

 ing to within half an inch of the end of the tail ; the second quill rather longest. 



Color. Above white varied with black. Rump black. A white stripe along the summit 

 of the head and back part of the neck, bounded by black. Line above and below the eye 

 white. Quills rusty brown, edged externally with soiled white. Wings with two white 

 transverse bars. Inner webs of the tail-feathers marked with white. Beneath varied with 

 black and white. Female and young, greyish tinged with rufous on the throat ; beneath 

 greyish. Sides and under tail-coverts marked with black. Eye-strips obsolete. Sides of 

 the neck dull rufous. 



Length, 5*0 -5 - 5. 



This active little species is common throughout this Stat.?, making its appearance from the 

 South in this vicinity about the middle of April, and leaving us the latter part of September. 

 It is highly useful in destroying the various insects which hide themselves in the crevices of 

 the bark of trees. Its eggs are described as whitish, with brownish red spots at the larger 

 end. It has been noticed by Swainson in Mexico, and has also been observed as far north 

 as 50°, although not noticed in the Northern Zoology. Peculiar to America. 



