SYLVICOLID^E — THE WARBLERS. 233 



Habits. The Black and Yellow Warbler, one of the most beautiful of this 

 attractive family, was supposed by our earlier writers to be exceedingly rare. 

 AVilson never met with more than two specimens, — one in Ohio, the oth^ 

 on the Mississippi, — and spoke of it as a very scarce species. In regard to 

 its song he was quite at fault, denying to it any notes deserving the name 

 of song. Nuttall, who had only seen it occasionally in Massachusetts, in 

 tlie middle of May, regarded it as rare, and was unacquainted with its 

 notes. Its history is now much better known, and neither its great rarity 

 nor its deficiency as to melody can any longer be admitted. 



At certain seasons and in particular places it is a very common species. 

 It may be found during the breeding-season throughout North America east 

 of the Great Plains, between latitude 44° and Fort Simpson in the fur 

 country. During its migrations it may be met with in most of the Eastern 

 States, in Eastern Mexico, and the northern portions of South America. It 

 has been found in the Bahamas, and also in Cuba, where it is not common. 

 Specimens have been received from Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama, and 

 from Fort Kesolution, Rupert House, and Fort Simpson, in Arctic America, 

 and as far to the west as the mouth of Vermilion Piver. Dr. Bryant 

 met with it in the Bahamas as early as the 15th of jNIarch, where it was 

 quite common. M. Boucard found it at Playa Vicente, in the hot portion 

 of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. 



In AVestern Massachusetts, Mr. Allen found it a common spring and 

 autumn visitor, occurring in its northern flights from the middle of jMay to 

 the first of June, and in the autumn as late as September 20. Professor 

 Verrill found it in Western Maine, Init not common, both in spring and fall, 

 but had no reason to believe that it bred there. ]Mr. Boardman does not 

 include it in his list of Calais birds, and I did not find it among the islands 

 in the Bay of Fundy. In the vicinity of Halifax, during the months of 

 June and July, it is one of the most common of the Warblers, occurring in 

 every direction. 



Mr. Audubon observed these Warblers in Louisiana, in their migrations, as 

 early as the middle of March ; but its appearance tliere, as well as in Kentucky 

 and Ohio, appeared to be occasional and accidental. In autumn he has met 

 with them in large numbers among the mountains of Northern Pennsylvania. 

 They were passing southward with their young. While on his way to Lab- 

 rador he noticed them in Maine, near Eastport, in May, very abundant along 

 the roads, the fields, and the low woods, as well as in the orchards and gar- 

 dens. The season was then not advanced, the weather cold ; and these birds 

 sheltered themselves by night among the evergreens, and were often so chilled 

 as to be readily taken by the hand. He also met them wherever he landed 

 in the neighboring islands in the Bay of Fundy and at Labrador. 



The song of this Warbler is clear and sweetly modulated, and surpasses 

 that of most of this family. It seems to prefer the interior of low woods, 

 where its notes may chiefly be heard during the early summer, as it sings 

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