220 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



trader, at times approaching within a few feet, and all the while expressing 

 their distress and anxiety by the most plaintive cries, until he withdraws ; 

 they even then frequently follow him for some distance. On smh occasions 

 several pairs in the vicinity are often attracted to the spot, and join their cries 

 with those of the afflicted parents. Besides these cries, and their usual cliirp, 

 these birds have a much lower softer " is*/);" and the males during the breed- 

 ing season have a very sweet, pleasant song. 



The flight of the Tit-lark is performed iu an unsteady undulating manner, 

 and is not ordinarily protracted to any great distance. On aliglitiug they 

 rapidly vibrate the tail several times, in the manner of all the MotaciUime. 

 They seldom or never alight on trees or bushes, but always on the ground, 

 where they walk or run with great ease and rapidity. They are fond of re- 

 sorting at low tide, to the " land-washes," (as the low muddy flats over which 

 the tide flows are styled in Labrador,) M'here they run about on the mud and 

 dried "Eel-grass," (Zostera), searching for food in company with the smaller 

 Sand-pipers, and very much in the same manner. Though finding an abun- 

 dance of food, none that I examined were at all fat. They at all times exhibit 

 a heedless familiarity and entire want of fear of man, though thi- observer may 

 be standing within a few paces. They feed unconcernedly around the doors of 

 the houses ; and I have frequently seen them searching for food on the very 

 roofs of the sheds and houses ; which, being thatched with brush, and a layer 

 of turf, afford a convenient lurking place for their insect prey. 



Dendkoica pinus (Wils.) Baird. — Pine-creeping Warbler. 



Sijlvicola pinus, And. Birds Amer. ii. 37 ; pi. 82. 

 Dendroica pinus, Baird, Gen. Rep. 277. 



This, and the succeeding species were the only Dendroicas met with in 

 Labrador. The single specimen of the Pine-creeping obtained was shot in 

 very dense tir woods, on the 1st of August, and was a young bird apparently 

 just able to fly. 



Dendroica striata Baird — Black Poll Warbler. 



Sylvicola striata, Aud. Birds Amer. ii. 28 ; pi. 78. 

 Dendroica striata, Baird, Gen. Rep. 280. 



This species I observed in every suitable locality, and was the only warbler 

 I found abundant. It is very numerous in all well wooded situations, and Is 

 a most expert fly-catcher. On many occasions I saw it dart into the air in 

 pursuit of flies, mosquitoes, and other insects, and return again to the same 

 twig, in the manner of our common Wood Pewee, Contopus virens. This seems 

 to be a more constant habit with this warbler, than with any other of its 

 genus. 



Parus Hudsonicus Forster. — Hudsonian Titmouse. 

 Parus Hudsonicus, Aud. Birds Amer. ii. 155 ; pi. 128. Baird, Gen. Rep. 395. 



This species I met with on several occasions, always finding them associat- 

 ing in small restless companies. I experienced great difficulty in procuring 

 specimens, owing to the dense nature of the firs they inhabit ; for when in 

 sight, tliey were always so near, that it was almost impossible to kill them 

 without mutilation. Those procured were all young birds, exhibiting the mark- 

 ings of the adults very indistinctly. They were remarkably tame and familiar, 

 hopping about unconcernedly within a few feet of my head, and hanging from 

 the twigs in every conceivable attitude. I could discover little or no difl'erence 

 in their notes from those of the common Cliiekadee, P. atricapillus, to which 

 they likewise exhibited a great similarity in their general manners, evincing 

 the restlessness and activity so characteristic of the latter bird, and for 

 which the whole family of Paridce are so noted. 



[Aug. 



