OF NEW ENGLAND. • 101 



autumn. They cbiefly frequented the budding maples, the 

 orchard-trees, and the shrubs and bushes which were just push- 

 ing forth their young leaves ; sometimes alone, more often in 

 pairs, and less commonly in small parties of three and four. 

 They constantly skipped from twig to twig, much as a Chicka- 

 dee does, often turning their heads in peculiar attitudes so as 

 to reach the crannies behind the buds, and occasionally^ even 

 lianging head downwards, the better to effect their purposes 

 through their constant activity. They would often take short 

 flights into the air in order to seize some passing insect, and 

 then would immediately return to their former avocations, 

 usually on the same tree. A great charm in the disposition of 

 these prett}^ and graceful little birds was their entire fearless- 

 ness of man, which was so absolute, that I many times was 

 within two or three feet of them, even when I was not motion- 

 less. The "Blue Yellow-backs," whilst migrating, may also 

 be found in the more open and lightly timbered woodland, but 

 seldom among the pines. In their summer-homes they inhabit 

 both the evergreens and hard-wood trees, wherever grouped 

 in abundance, and very generally prefer the higher branches, 

 where they build their nests (for they never, so far as I know, 

 descend to the ground). These nests are beautiful objects, 

 and very admirable architectural works, which distinguish their 

 builders from all the other members, at least the American 

 members, of their large family, the warblers ; for though nearly 

 all of them build neat and pretty nests, none ever construct 

 nests so striking in appearance as these, which are globular, 

 with an entrance on one side. They are often suspended from 

 the bough of a hemlock, and are usually composed of rather 

 long Spanish moss, which is a very pretty material for nest- 

 building. Wonderful must that instinct be which enables the 

 little warblers to weave the long threads together with security 

 and compactness, and finally to arrange them in the desired 

 form that the globular shape may be so nearly perfected. From 

 cases of which I have known, I have strong reason to believe 

 that these nests in Massachusetts are sometimes, perhaps acci- 

 dentally, not entirely rounded, but are left largely uncovered, 



