S90 



INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



somewhat more numerous towards the larger end, where 

 they appear connected or aggregated around a purplish 

 ground. The female made some little complaint, but 

 almost immediately resumed her seat, though 2 of the 

 eggs were taken away ; the male made off immediately, 

 and was but seldom seen near the place. 



I have a suspicion that Wilson's Hemlock Warhler, or 

 the following species, is little more than a variety or ac- 

 cidental state of plumage of the present species. 



The length of the Pine Warbler is about 5^ inches ; the alar extent 

 8^ to 9. Above, yellowish-green, inclining to olive ; throat, sides, and 

 breast yellow, clouded at the sides near the breast with a few olive 

 spots. Wings and tail dusky brown, the former marked with 2 

 bars of whitish. Tail forked and edged with ash, the two exterior 

 feathers marked near the tip with abroad spot of white ; vent white. 

 Iris hazel. — The young in their first plumage, while fed by the old, 

 are above dusky-olive, and below greyish-white, with scarcely any 

 yellow. Before leaving us in the autumn, the male, however, very 

 different from the Autumnal Warbler, acquires below, a yellow, 

 more brilliant than at any other period of its existence. 



AUTUMNAL WARBLER. 



(Sylvia autumnalis, Wilson, iii. p. 65. pi. 23. fig. 4. AuDUBOif, 

 pi. 83. Orn. Biog. i. p. 447.) 



Sp. Charact. — Yellovs^-olive with dusky spots on the back; be- 

 neath and cheeks pale yellow ; belly white ; wings with 2 white 

 bands and as well as the tail dusky ; two (rarely 3) of the lateral 

 tail-feathers with a white spot. 



This plain-looking species enters the southern ex- 

 tremity of the United States early in March, and pro- 

 ceeds to the Northern and Eastern States to breed- Gre- 

 garious flocks are seen in the larger solitary forests of 

 Massachusetts as early as the 20th of July, assembled 

 from the neighbouring districts probably, in which they 

 have been reared. They remain with us usually until the 



