SYLVICOLID.^ — THE WARBLERS. 229 



Tliis Warbler is an expert flycatcher, feeds chiefly on insects, and is a great 

 de^'ourer of small caterpillars ; hut in tlie winter its food is largely composed 

 of Ijerries, especially those of the Mijrica cerifera. It will also feed on grass- 

 seeds. In the warmer wintry days in Florida, when insects are abundant, 

 Mr. Audubon states that these birds are particularly active in their pursuit, 

 and the trees seem lull of them. At this time they emit, at each movement, 

 a single note, tweet, so very peculiar that they may be at once recognized by 

 the cry. 



Wilson states that these Warblers appear in Pennsylvania, from the North, 

 early in October, and stay there several weeks. Some of them remain in 

 the Southern States all winter. They feed with great avidity upon the ber- 

 ries of the red cedar. 



In Western Massachusetts it is a very abundant spring and autumn visit- 

 ant, making Ijut a brief stay in spring, l)ut passing northward in large num- 

 bers. In autumn it reuiains longer, and passes south more leisurely. Mr. 

 15. P. Mann found its nest and eggs in Concord, but this was probably an ex- 

 ceptional instance. In Eastern Maine it arrives May 25, and, as Mr. Board- 

 man thinks, remains to Ijreed. Both Dr. Suckley and Dr. Cooper met with 

 this species in Washington Territory, where it is very rare. 



No writers have observed or noted the song of this bird, except Mr. T. M. 

 Trippe (American Nat., II. p. 171), who states that during its spring migra- 

 tions it has a very sweet song or warble, uttered at short intervals. 



It readies the high northern latitudes late in May, and leaves that region 

 in September. The observations of Mr. McFarlane show that the nests of 

 this l)ird are moderately common at Anderson Eiver, and are generally built 

 in low spruce-trees four or five feet from the ground. In one or two 

 instances it was placed on tlie ground. 



The eggs of tliis Warbler vary from .72 to .80 of an inch in length, and 

 from .50 to .55 in breadth. Their ground-color is white, often tinged with a 

 bluish shade, and blotched and spotted with reddish-brown, purple, and darker 

 shades of brown. Tliey are of a rounded oval shape. 



Dendroica auduboni, Baird. 



AUDUBON'S WAKBLER; WESTERN YELLOW- RUMP. 



Sjlvia auduboni, Townsend, ,I. A. N. Se. VII, ii, 1837. — Ib. Narrative, 1839, 342. — 

 AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 52, pi. cccxcv. Sijlvicola auduboni, Bon. List. 1838.— AuD. 

 Birds Am. II, 1841, 26, pi. Ixxvii. Dendroica auduboni, B.\ird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 

 273 ; Rev. 188. — Scl.\tep., P. Z. S. 1858, 298 (Oaxaca; October) ; 1860, 250 (Orizaba). 

 — SCLATER& S.\LViN, Ibis, 1860, 273 (Sail Geroiiimo, Guat.). — CooPER & SucKLEY, 

 P. R. R. Rep. XII, IT,. 1859, 181. — Sclater, P. Z. S. 1864, 172 (City of Mexico).— 

 Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 88. 



Sp. Char. Above bluish-ash, streaked with black, most marked on tlie middle of the 

 back ; on the head and neck bluish-ash. Middle of crown, rump, chin, and throat, and a 



