BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, OR CREEPER. 385 



Union a month later, so that it does not appear to be 

 much affected by the commencement of frost, and proba- 

 bly, at this season, occasionally feeds on berries. As 

 they are observed round Vera Cruz towards the com- 

 mencement of winter, and are described as inhabiting 

 the West India islands, it is probable they wholly pass 

 the extremity of the winter beyond the southern boun- 

 dary of the United States. 



Like the Creepers and Nuthatches, this species is 

 seldom seen to perch upon the branches of trees, but 

 creeps spirally around the trunk and larger boughs up 

 and down, in quest of insects which alight upon or hide 

 within the crevices of the bark. In this employment they 

 display all the dexterity of the more regular climbers. 

 For this purpose the hind toe is rather stout, and extends 

 backward so as to balance with the rest of the anterior 

 part of the foot, and allow a motion like that of the 

 Creepers, from which genus they are, at the same time, 

 wholly distinct. 



At the period of nesting the male scrapes out a little 

 monotonous ditty in recognition of his mate, resembling 

 somewhat the syllables te tshe tsJie tshe tsh' tshete, pro- 

 ceeding from high to low, in a tolerably strong and 

 shrill, but somewhat filing tone. As the season of incu- 

 bation advances, this note, however, becomes more mel- 

 low and warbling, and, though feeble, is very pleasing, 

 bearing at this time some resemblance to that of the Red- 

 start (Si/Ivcmia ruticilla.) This song is like the ascend- 

 ing call of 'ticee 'twee 'twee 'tivee 'tweet. At the romantic 

 estate of the Cold Spring place in Roxbury, the proprie- 

 tor, Mr. Newman, pointed out to me the nest of this 

 bird, which, on the 27th of June, contained 4 young 

 about a week old. Other birds of this species, I had 

 seen fledged this year about the I7th of the same month, 

 33 



