THE BLACK-POLL WARBLER. 235 



try, in spring and summer ; and that it should become 

 exceedingly abundant in autumn is inconsistent with reason 

 and nature. The description of the young of the Black-poll 

 also agrees with that of the Autumnal Warbler, as do also 

 its habits and characteristics. 



I will append Wilson's description of the habits of the 

 Black-poll and Autumnal Warbler, and also their general 

 description. He says of the Autumnal Warbler, — 



" This plain little si^ecies regularly visits Pennsylvania from the 

 North, in the month of October, gleaning among the willow-leaves, 

 but, what is singular, is rarely seen in spring. From the 1st to the 

 15th of October, they may be seen in considerable numbers, almost 

 every day, in gardens, particularly among the branches of the 

 weeping-willow, and seem exceedingly industrious. They have 

 some resemblance, in color, to the Pine-creeping Warbler, but do 

 not run along the trunk like that bird, neither do they give a 

 preference to the pines. They are also less. After the 1st of 

 November, they are no longer to be found, unless the season be 

 uncommonly mild. These birds doubtless pass through Pennsyl- 

 vania, in spring, on their way to the North ; but either make a very 

 hasty journey, or frequent the tops of the tallest trees : for I have 

 never yet met with one of them in that season, though in October 

 I have seen more than a hundred in an afternoon's excursion. 



" Length, four inches and three-quarters ; breadth, eight inches ; 

 whole upper parts olive-green, streaked on the back with dusky 

 stripes ; tail coverts ash, tipped with olive ; tail black, edged with 

 dull-white ; the three exterior feathers marked near the tip with 

 white ; wings deep-dusky, edged with olive, and crossed with two 

 bars of white ; primaries also tipped, and three secondaries next 

 the body edged with white ; upper mandible dusky-brown ; lower, as 

 well as the chin and breast, dull-yellow ; belly and vent white ; legs 

 dusky-brown ; feet and claws yellow ; a pale-yellow ring surrounds 

 the eye. The males of these birds often warble out some low but 

 very sweet notes, while searching among the leaves in autumn." 



He says of the Black-poll Warbler, — 



" This species has considerable affinity to the Flycatchers in its 

 habits. It is chiefly confined to the woods, and, even there, to the 



