206 WAKE-ROBIN 



and, to be seen, must be sought for. In passing 

 through the woods, most persons have a vague con- 

 sciousness of slight chirping, semi-musical sounds 

 in the trees overhead. In most cases these sounds 

 proceed from the warblers. Throughout the Middle 

 and Eastern States, half a dozen species or so may 

 be found in almost every locality, as the redstart, 

 the Maryland yellow-throat, the yellow warbler 

 (not the common goldfinch, with black cap, and 

 black wings and tail), the hooded warbler, the black 

 and white creeping warbler; or others, according to 

 the locality and the character of the woods. In 

 pine or hemlock woods, one species may predomi- 

 nate; in maple or oak woods, or in mountainous 

 districts, another. The subdivision of ground war- 

 blers, the most common members of which are the 

 Maryland yellow-throat, the Kentucky warbler, and 

 the mourning ground warbler, are usually found in 

 low, wet, bushy, or half-open woods, often on and 

 always near the ground. The summer yellowbird, 

 or yellow warbler, is not now a wood-bird at all, 

 being found in orchards and parks, and along streams 

 and in the trees of villages and cities. 



As we go north the number of warblers increases, 

 till, in the northern part of New England, and in 

 the Canadas, as many as ten or twelve varieties 

 may be found breeding in June. Audubon found 

 the black-poll warbler breeding in Labrador, and 

 congratulates himself on being the first white man 

 who had ever seen its nest, ^yhen these warblers 

 pass north in • May, they seem to go singly or in 



