352 Vennor on the Wood-warhlers 



the tall rank grass, that this warbler delights to dwell ; there only, 

 his nest may be seen suspended over the running brook, and his 

 song, simple but not unmusical, heard in all its mellowness. Here 

 he may be seen sitting beside his loved partner, and pouring into 

 her ear notes of joy and love. Here, again, he is seen running 

 along the branches, searching under every leaf, and into every cre- 

 vice to secure some dainty morsel for his clamorous young. Some- 

 times he leaves the tree for an instant in pursuit of some favorite 

 insect in the manner of a flycatcher. This fly catching warbler, 

 truly seems to be as a link placed by Nature between the warb- 

 lers and flycatchers ; thus allowing no sudden change of form or 

 habits. The migratory movements of this and indeed of all the 

 warblers are very retiring and are seldom seen. This species has 

 been seen in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and 

 also in the country of Labrador. In all of these places it seems 

 likely it breeds. 



Specific characters, (Wilson) ;— »This species is four and a half 

 inches long and eight in extent; front black; crown dappled 

 with small streaks of grey and spots of black ; line from nos- 

 tril to around the eye yellow ; below the eye a streak or spot of 

 black descending along the sides of the throat, the breast being 

 marked with a broad rounding band of black composed of large 

 irregular streaks ; black wings and tail cinereous brown ; vent 

 white ; upper mandible, dusky ; lower, flesh coloured ; legs and 

 feet the same ; eye hazel. The female differs only in having the 

 spots on the breast of a fainter hue. 



The next group is much more largely represented in this neigh- 

 bourhood, viz., the wood-warblers, birds of this genus are con- 

 fined for the most part to the forests, orchards, hedges. They are 

 in fact more useful to man than any of the other genera. 



The Yellow-poll wood-warbler [Sylvicola cestiva^ Wilson) — 

 We have naturally taken this bird first, from its abundance, and 

 also on account of its being so well known. Indeed we need only 

 place its name on the list, without any remarks on its habits as 

 they are so common. 



It may be found in every garden in the city that is of any size, 

 helping to rid the plants of vermin. Its nest may sometimes be 

 found in the low bush, at others atnong the topmost branches of 

 the maple, materials of nest generally flax, hemp, or cotton. 



Among the many birds imposed upon by the cow-bunting is 

 this little species, and it is remarkable the amount of ingenuity 



