164 CITIZEN BIRD 



"Yes, I see that you know him; 'that dark-backed 

 bird with a yellow spot on his tail' is not a bad descrip- 

 tion of the Myrtle Warbler," said the Doctor ; "at least, 

 as you generally see it, in autumn or winter, when 

 that particular spot is the only one of the four which 

 shows off well." 



" But why is he called Myrtle Warbler ? " asked Nat. 

 " Does he build his nest in myrtle ? I thought myrtle 

 was that shiny -leaved plant down on the ground, that 

 doesn't have berries." 



" No, my boy, the bird is not named from that sort 

 of creeping flowering myrtle ; his name comes from a 

 Latin word for 'bay berry,' because the bird feeds upon 

 its fruit, as Rap told you." 



" And bayberry is that low sweet-smelling shrub that 

 we gather in the rocky pasture, to fill the great jar in 

 the fireplace," said Olive. "Some call it candle-berry, 

 and others wax-myrtle." 



"Yes," said Rap, "and these Warblers stay round 

 that pasture in winter as long as there is a berry left." 



The Yellow-nimped "Warbler 



(Or Myrtlebird) 



Length about five and a half inches. 



Upper parts dark gray, streaked with black ; two white bars on 

 each wing; large white spots on some of the tail-feathers. A yel- 

 low patch on the rump and crown. 



Under parts white, streaked with black on the breast and sides. 

 A yellow patch on each side of the breast. 



A Summer Citizen of the northern United States and northward. 

 Much less common in the West than the East. Travels south, 

 and spends the winter everywhere from southern New England to 

 Panama 



A great Seed Sower and a Tree Trapper. 



