194 THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 



markings are obscure. The fall plumage of the male is 

 similar. 



The nests are built in evergreen trees, of leaf skeletons 

 and tendrils, lined with grass. The eggs are four or five 

 in number, w^hite or soiled white, with brown spots, and 

 seveji-tenths by one-half an inch in size. 



The birds breed mainly north of the United States and 

 many spend the winter as far south as Panama, being dis- 

 tributed throughout the southern Middle States at this 

 season. Although a number winter in New Jersey they 

 are more numerous here during migrations, from April 

 25 to November 1. 



Their note is a mere chirp. 



Their food is composed of insects, but in the fall and 

 winter they also eat quantities of bay berries and the ber- 

 ries of the poison sumach. 



If*«rft/^i', »^'€tshi'iil€. — Length, four and three- 

 fourths inches; extent, seven inches; bill, one-fourth of an 

 inch, dusky, tapering to a fine point; top and sides of 

 head, slate color; a small chestnut spot on the crown; 

 back, rich olive green; breast and belly, bright yellow, 

 whitish posteriorly; tail, slightly forked, dark olive, 

 broadly edged with olive green; wings, brownish, edged 

 with olive green; legs, ash; feet, dirty yellow. 



The nest is built on the ground of pine needles and 

 grasses, lined with finer grasses and moss. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, white, thickly dotted with brown, 

 and three-fifths by one-half an inch in size. 



The birds breed in Canada as far north as Hudson's Bay 

 and spend the winter in eastern Mexico and southward to 

 Guatemala. In New Jersey they are regular during mi- 

 grations, occurring between May fi and May 15 and again 

 between September 15 and October 1. 



Wilson says that their "notes very much resemble the 

 breaking of small twigs, or the striking of small pebbles 

 of different sizes smartly against each other for six or 



