of the vicinity of Montreal, 357 



blue ; the three secondaries next the body edged with white, and 

 the first and second row of coverts also tipt with white; tail 

 coverts, large black, also broadly tipt with blue, so as to appear 

 nearly wholly of that tint ; sides of the breast, spotted or streaked 

 with blue ; belly, chin, and throat, pure white ; the tail is forked ; 

 the five lateral feathers on each aide with each a spot of white ; 

 the two middle more slightly marked with the same ; from the 

 eye backwards extends a line of dusky blue ; before and behind 

 the eye, a line of white ; bill, dusky above, light blue below ; legs 

 and feet, light blue. (Wilson.) 



The black and yellow wood-warbler, (Sylvicola maculosa^ 

 Lath.) — Few of the warblers are so highly gifted as the species 

 now before us. His varied and beautiful plumage, his sweet, soft 

 warble, his lively habits, and his general usefulness, all tend to 

 interest every beholder. He cannot be said to be common with 

 us; some, no doubt, always breed here, but the majority go 

 farther north. Low woods are his favorite resorts ; there he may 

 be heard singing to his beloved partner, from sunrise to sunset ; 

 there you may see his tiny nest. The motions of this bird are 

 quick and interesting. Suddenly his song ceases, and he darts 

 forth from the thick foliage of the maple, and remains poised, 

 with quivering wings, before a cluster of blossoms, every now and 

 again darting into them, after some favorite insect. Again he 

 returns to the tree, and with spread tail and drooping wings 

 commences his search among the leaves, seeming to try and show 

 off" his beauty to the best advantage. He makes no clicking 

 sound with his bill, while feeding. His nest is always placed in 

 the thickest part of the foliage, and is seldom seen. Audubon 

 says the eggs are five, rather elongated, and white, with reddish 

 spots on the larger end. Our Museum of Natural History con- 

 tains a good specimen of this pretty species. 



Specific characters. — Length, five inches; extent, seven and a 

 half inches ; front, lores, and behind the ear, black ; over the eye, 

 a fine line of white, and another small touch of the same imme- 

 diately under; backj nearly all black; shoulders, thinly streaked 

 with olive ; rump, yellow ; tail coverts, jet black ; inner vanes of 

 the lateral tail feathers, white, to within half an inch of the tip, 

 where they are black; two middle ones, wholly black; whole 

 lower parts, rich yellow, spotted from the throat downwards with 

 black streaks; vent, white; tail, slightly forked; wings, black, 

 crossed with two broad transverse bars of white; crown, fine 

 ash ; legs, brown ; bill, black. Female like male, but smaller. 



