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Lady William Cecil,



The Bay-breasted Warbler [Dendroica castanea] has a reddish

breast, in fact really “bay its crown too is the same colour, its back

greenish and black streaky. It has black cheeks and forehead, and

white bars on its wings; a white patch on either side of the neck is a

good identification mark. This little bird is also called the Autumnal

Warbler, I suppose because its breast is so like the colour of a withered

leaf. Bay-breasts are genei'ally found in the tall trees of the Canadian

forests, but often come, in small flocks, to feed in gardens and

hedgerows.


We first met the Magnolia Warbler [Dendroica maculosa] in

Canada, and renewed our acquaintance near New Orleans, at the

opposite ends of his migratory journey. His back is black, with olive

shading, and underneath he is all bright, clear yellow. His blue-grey

cap, with a white line behind and a broad black band all round, and

a large white spot on the wings, and white across the middle of the

quills of the tail, distinguish him very well. The Magnolia Warbler’s

song is a clear, distinct, quick whistle, which he seems thoroughly to

enjoy singing.


The Western Warbler [Dendroica occidentalis] is much like the

Black-throated Green Warbler, and seems to take its place from the

“ Rockies ” to the Pacific. It is olive greyish above, with crown and

sides of the head a clear yellow. The Western has no black line

running through the eyes like the Black-throated Green Warbler; the

breast and chin are black in both birds. The Western Warbler’s song

is very sw’eet, though it consists of only two or three notes. It builds

high up in the forest trees. Unknown to us a pair had built in a tall

pine in a clearing we were making in our garden in British Columbia.

The tree was cut down, and the pretty little nest of moss and grass

was destroyed. I was thankful to find that the very next day the little

couple were very busily employed in building themselves a new

abode, where in due time a small family was safely hatched and

fledged.


The Worm-eating Warbler [Helmintherus vermivorus] is a

difficult bird to see, as it “keeps itself to itself ” and has not much

song to attract a listener. It is, however, easily distinguished by its

striped pale yellowish-cream and black head, and its pale-coloured

feet. Its back is olive brown, and underneath it is cream shading to



