Species XXXV. SYLVIA PARUS. 



HEMLOCK WARBLER. 



[Plate XLIV. Fig. 3.] 



This is another nondescript, first met with in the Great Pine Swamp, 

 Pennsylvania. From observing it almost always among the branches 

 of the hemlock trees, I have designated it by that appellation, the 

 markings of its plumage not affording me a peculiarity sufficient for a 

 specific name. It is a most lively and active little bird, climbing among 

 the twigs, and hanging like a Titmouse on the branches ; but possessing 

 all the external characters of the Warblers. It has a few low and very 

 sweet notes, at which times it stops and repeats them for a short time, 

 then darts about as before. It shoots after flies to a considerable dis- 

 tance ; often begins at the lower branches, and hunts with great regu- 

 larity and admirable dexterity, upwards to the top, then flies off to the 

 next tree, at the lower branches of which it commences hunting upwards 

 as before. 



This species is five inches and a half long, and eight inches in extent ; 

 bill black above, pale below ; upper parts of the plumage black, thinly 

 streaked with yellow olive ; head above yellow, dotted with black ; line 

 from the nostril over the eye, sides of the neck and whole breast rich 

 yellow ; belly paler, streaked with dusky ; round the breast some small 

 streaks of blackish ; wing black, the greater coverts and next superior 

 row broadly tipped with white, forming two broad bars across the wing ; 

 primaries edged with olive, tertials with white ; tail coverts black, 

 tipped with olive ; tail slightly forked, black, and edged with olive ; the 

 three exterior feathers altogether white on their inner vanes ; legs ana 

 feet dirty yellow ; eye dark hazel ; a few bristles at the mouth ; bill not 

 notched. 



This was a male. Of the female I can at present give no account. 



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