294 INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The first individual of this species known to natural- 

 ists, was obtained in the month of April, by Wilson, on 

 the banks of Cumberland river. It was actively gleaning 

 up insects among the high branches of the tallest trees, 

 with all the agility of the Flycatchers. Its note was a 

 feeble chirp. According to Audubon it appears in Lou- 

 isiana only about the beginning of April, and soon pro- 

 ceeds further to the north or west, though it is rare 

 in Kentucky and Missouri, and unknown entirely in 

 New England. In the spring it has a soft and mellow 

 song, but so feeble as to be audible only for a short dis- 

 tance. Its nest is yet unknown. Although it dwells 

 chiefly in high forest trees, in the autumn it often de- 

 scends to feed on the berries of neighbouring shrubs. 

 It possesses in some degree the manners of the Vireos, 

 catching insects on the wing with a slight clicking of 

 the bill, and in the same manner, at times, cautiously 

 scanning any approaching individual. 



The length is 4^ inches ; and the alar extent 8. Above pale green- 

 ish blue, brightest on the front and forehead ; cheeks slightly tinged 

 with greenish ; tail forked, edged with greenish. Bill and legs light 

 blue ; the upper mandible dark brown. Audubon's specimen ap- 

 pears cinereous blue, beneath white, with the tail nearly even and 

 dusky ; primaries edged for a distance below the coverts with pale 

 blue. 



PRAIRIE WARBLER. 



{Sylvia discolor, Vieill. Audubon, pi. 14. Orn. Biog. i. p, 76. 

 S. minuta, Wilson, iii. p. 87. pi. 25. fig. 1. Phil. Museum, No. 

 7784.) 



Sp. Charact. — Yellow-olive, spotted on the back with bay; be- 

 neath yellow, spotted at the sides with black; wings with 2 .'' 

 yellow bars, and with the tail dusky ; 3 lateral tail-feathers broad- 

 ly spotted with white. — Male with a black crescent under the 

 eye. — Female less spotted, and without the crescent. 



