38 JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Purple finches were very active this morning. I heard several 

 young birds in song, wearing a plain streaked dress, with no rosy 

 color yet showing. The adult plumage is not attained before the 

 third year of the Finch's life. Yellow Warblers are now plentiful 

 and may be seen dashing into the air after insects on the wing, as 

 they are quite expert flycatchers. Chestnut-sided Warblers, both 

 male and female, are common in the Cape woods, and beyond a 

 doubt they will nest there as usual. It seems to me that more 

 White-throated Sparrows than ever before are singing in this local- 

 ity. Perhaps the cool spring will induce many of the birds to nest 

 somewhat farther south than usual. Ovenbirds are abundant 

 everywhere, and already they are preparing to build their curious 

 nests on the ground. A pair of Kingbirds may build a nest in 

 the same tree which they occupied last year, as they are con- 

 stantly seen sitting on its branches. 



May 19. — There was this morning a great wave of migrants, 

 and more birds were seen than on any daj^ before this season, all 

 the fields, pastures, swamps and roadside bushes being thronged 

 with them. During a walk of two hours I saw forty-two different 

 species, and might easily have found more if I had extended my 

 route where certain birds are sure to be tarrying. Most of the 

 visitors, which had come in during the night or early morning, 

 were Warblers, at least fourteen species of these brilliant little 

 birds being represented. The Black-poll and Blackburnian War- 

 blers were seen today for the first time this spring. These are 

 both very handsome, but they are very different in their markings. 

 The Black-poll, in spring plumage, has the whole top of the head 

 black, while the rest of the body is a mixture of black and white. 

 In the fall, when this Warbler returns from its nesting places, its 

 dress is a streaked yellow. The Blackburnian has a brilliant 

 orange throat and head markings, so that it is easily recognized at 

 all times, being one of the most gaily colored of its family. Quite 

 a few Wilson's Warblers, yellow with jet black cap, were with the 

 others this morning, also the Water Thrush, Parula,. Magnolia, 



