WARBLERS. 131 



visits, which are individually brief, they frequent woodland, 

 often that which is swampy, though also dry pines, and the 

 shrubbery in or near it. Occasionally they venture to gardens 

 and shrubbery near houses ; but they are naturally fond of re- 

 tired or even secluded spots. They journey singly or in pairs, 

 and are never gregarious, nor often very numerous in any one 

 place. Among the White Mountains they frequent those for- 

 ests where the undergrowth of ferns and living plants, and the 

 entanglement of moss-covered logs and stumps, are both so 

 rich. 



The Canada Warblers are very active, occasionally alighting 

 on the ground, and almost invariably keeping near it, and 

 move among the shrubbery from one low branch to another, 

 continually catching insects in the air. They occasionally run 

 over fences or walls with great ease, and, in fact, in all their 

 motions exhibit grace and agility. They are not very shy, and 

 suffer a near approach to inquisitive persons. When, however, 

 their nest is approached, they become vigilant and anxious, 

 particularly the males, who plainly show their distress. These 

 latter, in such cases, often fly about among the branches above 

 one's head at quite a distance from the ground, emitting their 

 notes of complaint, but at other times, mindful of household 

 cares, continue to collect insects among the bushes and lower 

 limbs of the surrounding trees. I remember watching one, 

 who in fifteen minutes, during my presence, collected as many 

 moths and caterpillars, continually uttering his loud cliuck^ 

 and yet I could not find his nest, so well did he avoid indicat- 

 ing its immediate whereabouts. I have known Catbirds, in 

 a like way, to sing even while holding in their bills a worm, 

 or perhaps material for their nests : it certainly seems a diffi- 

 cult performance. 



d. The Canada " Flycatchers " have a very sweet and 

 agreeable song, which unfortunately is not often to be heard 

 here. It is simple, like those of the other Warblers, but is 

 rather more pleasing than those of the Yellowbird or Red- 

 start, which it usually resembles. Their ordinary notes are a 

 soft and loud cAip, and a chuck^ which is almost exactly like 

 that of the Maryland " Yellow-throat." 



