WOOD WARBLERS 173 



are ilicn in evidence in city parks and about the 

 lawn, wherever shelter and food are to be had. 

 About thirty-five varieties may be found in the 

 north during the spring and summer; in some 

 localities a few more. Of these we shall consider 

 about twenty of the more common ones. 



Myrtle Warbler. One of the first Warblers 

 to put in an appearance in April is the Myrtle, 

 one of the most common of the family, as well 

 as one of the hardiest. He is rather gayly dressed 

 and may be easily distinguished by the four dis- 

 tinct patches of yellow, on either side of the 

 breast, on the rump, and crown. Otherwise the 

 upper parts of the male are bluish gray, streaked 

 with black. The imder parts are light, and, 

 except the throat, heavily streaked w4th black. 

 There are two distinct wing bars of white, and 

 the outer tail feathers are dashed with white. 

 The dress of the female is similar, with a faint 

 wash of brown above and less black on the 

 under parts. In the fall, both show much less 

 yellow, sometimes only the patch on the rump 

 being visible. 



This is a bold Warbler, often seen in the open 

 cotmtry in company with others more timid, 

 who seem to seek his protection. I find them in 

 the dense woods in nesting time, but as soon as 

 the young can travel they move about the open 

 coimtry in family parties, often visiting lawn 

 and garden. They come to our premises fre- 

 quently w^here they flit in and out among the 

 fruit and shade trees, deftly snapping up pass- 

 ing insects and clinging to the tree trunks like 

 creepers, sometimes resting on the ground. 



