354 Vennor on the Wood-warhlers 



of the lower parts are pure white ; legs and feet ash ; bill, black ; 

 irides, hazel. Female, hind head much lighter yellow, and the 

 chestnut on the sides is considerably narrower, and not of so deep 

 a tint. 



The Yellow-crowned wood-warbler {^Sylvicola covnata^ Lath.) 

 — This is another lively and beautiful little warbler, and is, we 

 are happy to state, a regular visitor to our island. Like the 

 preceding, however, they are most numerous during spring, as 

 they pass northward ; a few breed in our mountain. Though 

 most of the warblers are extremely unsocial in their habits, this 

 is an exception ; they may be seen flying from tree to tree in com- 

 pany, chattering, one to another, as they roam among the 

 branches. As is the case with the majority of the wood-warblers, 

 it prefers low shrubbery to the higher trees ; sometimes, however, 

 it may be seen skipping about among the blossoms of the maple 

 tree, in search of its favorite insects. It fixes its nest generally 

 on a branch a few feet from the ground. It is an expert fly- 

 catcher, and also devours great numbers of caterpillars. This 

 species and the preceding are truly useful scavengers in our 

 woods and forests. It indeed very much resembles the fly- 

 catchers. Wilson says: "Though the form of the bill of this 

 bird obliges me to arrange it with the warblers, yet, in its food 

 and all its motions, it is decisively a flycatcher." Seldom is it 

 seen very deep in the woods ; the roadside, the garden, and 

 orchard, are his favorite resorts. They are by no means timid, 

 but let you approach very close to them. Labrador seems to be 

 a favorite summer resort for many of our warblers ; this species 

 breeds there abundantly. The nest is generally lined with 

 feathers and hair. Their notes are not worthy the name of song, 

 they are nothing more than a twitter, as they fly from bough to 

 bough. The snapping of their bill may be heard at a considerable 

 distance. 



Specific characters, (Wilson.) — This species is five inches and a 

 half long and eight inches broad ; whole back, tail-coverts, and 

 hind head, a fine slate colour, streaked with black ; Crown, sides 

 of breast, and rump, rich yellow ; wings and tail black ; the 

 former crossed with two bars of white ; the three exterior feathers 

 of the latter spotted with white ; cheeks and front, black ; chin 

 line over and under the eye, white; breast, light slate, streak- 

 ed with black, extending under the wings ; belly and vent, white ; 

 latter spotted with black ; bill and legs, black. 



