124 LAND-BIRDS. 



quite certain that there are bachelors among birds.^i The 

 Pine Warblers are not only extremely useful in protecting 

 our evergreens, but are also very charming, partly, no doubt, 

 because there is a spice of " something " in their character 

 which we cannot altogether sanction from a moral point of 

 view. 



d. Their note is as deliciously drowsy as that of the 

 " Black- throated Green," but is not so often repeated, though 

 heard both earlier and later in the year. It is apparently a 

 delicately trilled whistle, but really a series of fine notes, as is 

 proved by the fact that the birds open and shut their bills 

 whilst emitting the sound. It closely resembles one of the 

 Snow-bird's whistles, and also the trill of the Swamp Spar- 

 row. The Pine Warblers have also a cAip, and a few weak 

 notes, such as chip-a-see, and we-chee-we-chee-ive-chee^ which 

 are not very expressive, or often heard. 



IT. PALMARUM HYPOCHRYSEA. ^^ Red - polV WaMer. 

 Palm Warbler. " Yellow Med-poll.^'' A common migrant 

 through Massachusetts.* 



a. About five inches long. Dull olive above, (obsoletely) 

 streaked. Crown, reddish crimson (or " chestnut "). Beneath, 

 yellow, inconspicuously streaked on the breast with bright 

 reddish brown. Tail-feathers with a few white blotches. (De- 

 tails omitted.) 



h. The nest is said to be placed on the ground, usually in 

 a swampy locality. The eggs of each set are four (?) ; average 

 about .70 X '^^ of an inch ; and are (creamy) white, with 

 purplish, faint lilac, and reddish brown markings, chiefly at 

 the larger end. 



c. The Yellow " Red-polls " pass the summer in the north, 

 almost entirely beyond the limits of New England, and the 



^1 There is other evidence that such only as a common spring and autumn 



is undoubtedly the case. An interest- migrant, but it breeds sparingly and 



ing article on the subject has been writ- locally in eastern Maine, and rather 



ten by Mr. Abbott of New Jersey. commonly and generally in New Bruns- 



* Throughout most of New England wick and Nova Scotia. — W. B. 

 the Yellow Red poll Warbler occurs 



