157 



to me to be very slow and deliberate ; and it is generally mute, though 

 on one occasion my attention was attracted to a bird that produced 

 a remarkable jingling noise in a cedar-tree, and proved, on being shot, 

 to be a young male of the present species. 



Dimensions. — Measurements of No. 1,275 ^, Consook Island, Hud- 

 son River, September 8, 1876: length, 5-20; stretch, 8-31; wing, 2-69; 

 tail, 2 00-, bill from nostril, -30; tartans, -75. 



39. Dendroeca discolor, ( Fiei7ZaO Prairie Warbler. A rare 

 summer resident: breeds. I found a nest of this small "Warbler, on 

 June 23, 1877. One day, returning from a long tramp, I discovered 

 the nest as I neared home, but not until after I had shot both of the 

 parents ; then, too late, I regretted the act, for I was shown their 

 beautiful nest, placed on the low limb of an apple tree beside a cow 

 stable, close to the road-side. The young were full-fledged, and flew 

 away when the nest was approached. The person who showed me 

 the nest seemed grieved at the death of the old birds ; remarking that 

 his fiimily had been greatly entertained by the sprightly manners and 

 sweet song of the little birds, which had delighted them since the 

 commencement of summer; and he left the place with a kind wish 

 that the young orphans might thrive, which he afterwards told me he 

 believed was the case. I brought the nest away, together with the 

 old birds; the first and only ones I have ever seen. The nest was an 

 elegant and somewhat bulky structure ; felted of cows' hair, strips of 

 bark, and feathers. 



Dimensions. — Measurements of No. 1,479 J*, June 23, 1877, Highland 

 Falls, N. Y. : length, 4:-88: stretch, 7-15; wing, 2-19; tail, 1-95; bill 

 from nostril, -28 ; gape, -50 ; tarsus, -67 ; middle toe, -38 ; its claw, -15. 



40. Dendroeca palmarum, {Gmelin). Yellow Red poll War- 

 bler. A common spring and autumn migrant. Arrives about the 

 middle of April, remaining till the second week in May (April 14 to 

 25, 1874; 30 to May 8, 1875; 14 to May 8, 1876; 16 to May 5, 1877; 20 

 to April 27, 1878 ; 11, 1879). In autumn I have found it from Septem- 

 ber 20 (1879) to October 24 (1876). It arrives, in company with Z>. 

 pinns, long before the other Warblers, excepting only D. coronata. 

 Both species are eminently terrestrial in their habits, and are first 

 seen hopping upon lawns and grassy banks, accompanying the various 

 sorts of Sparrows ; later, they are found inhabiting damp, bushy places, 

 beside ponds and streams. The Red-poll's tail executes a perpetual 

 lateral vibratory movement, which is as characteristic as is the tilting 

 motion of the Siuri ; this motion is often accompanied by a feeble chip, 

 the only note I have heard it utter. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of nineteen specimens : length, 

 5-43; stretch, 8-38; wing, 2-61; tail, 2-10; bill from nostril, -31; gape, 

 •56; tarsus, -77; middle toe and claw, "67. 



ESSEX INST, bulletin. XI 12 



