166 WARBLERS. 



lower growth ; tliicliets of cat-brier are his favorite 

 haunts. He is therefore nearer our level, and seems to 

 address us more directly than do the birds that call from 

 the tree tops. If you linger near his home he will inquire 

 your business with a vigorous " I say, who are you, eh ? " 

 and if you do not take this hint to move on he will 

 doubtless follow it with a scolding whose intent is unmis- 

 takable. He has a variety of exclamatory calls, and 

 sometimes may be heard softly singing a song composed 

 largely of imitations of the notes of other birds. 



The White-eye can easily be known from the Red-eye 

 and Warbling Yireos by the narrow white bands across 

 the tips of its wing-coverts. In this respect it resembles 

 the Yellow-throat, from which it is to be distinguished 

 by its smaller size (length 5*25 inches), white iris, and 

 white breast, only the sides of the breast being tinged 

 with yellow. It winters from Florida southward, and 

 reaches us in the spring about May 1, to remain until 

 October. 



Waeblers. (Family Mniotiltid^.) 



Warblers may be described as among our most abun- 

 dant, most beautiful, and least-known birds. Of the 

 thirty-five species regularly found in the northeastern 

 States, only three or four are familiar to the casual ob- 

 server. The presence of the others is unsuspected, and 

 when some chance brings one of these exquisite little 

 creatures into our lives, the event is attended by all the 

 excitement of an actual discovery. We never forget our 

 first Warbler. 



It is because we do not see Warblers unless we look 

 for them that they are strangers to so many persons who 

 go to the woods. They are, with some exceptions, small 

 birds of limited vocal powers. They live in the tree tops, 



