SYLVICOLID.E — THE WARBLERS. 249 



ing the base of the feathers along the shaft. Wings and tail much as in the 

 autumnal plumage. 



Habits. The appearance of this beautiful and familiar Warbler in New 

 England is the sure harbinger of the summer. The last of the migrants that 

 do not tarry, it brings up the rear of the hosts of hyperborean visitors. This 

 species ranges over the whole extent of eastern North America, from Mexico 

 to the Arctic seas. It has not been found farther west than the Great Plains 

 and the Rio Grande. Wherever found it is abundant, and its lively and 

 attractive manners and appearance render it a pleasing feature. It is not 

 known to stop to breed in Massachusetts, but it lingers with us till the last 

 blossom of the apple falls, and until the Bluebird and the Robin have already 

 well-Hedged broods, sometimes as late as the 10th of June, and then sud- 

 denly disappears. 



Dr. Woodhouse found it abundant in Texas and the Indian Territory, and 

 individuals have been procured in Missouri and Nebraska. It has been found 

 abundant in the Arctic regions, around Fort Anderson, Fort Yukon, and Fort 

 Good Hope. A single specimen was taken near Godhaab, Greenland, in 

 1853, as recorded by Professor Reinhardt. Dr. Bryant met with it in the 

 Bahamas, in the spring of 1859, where it was abundant from the 1st to the 

 10th of May. He describes its habits as similar to those of the Mniotilta 

 varia, climbing around the trunks of trees in search of insects with the 

 same facility. Single specimens have been procured from Greenland on the 

 northeast, and from Bogota and Cuba. Dr. Coues found it abundant in 

 Labrador in all well-wooded situations, and describes it as a most expert fly- 

 catcher, taking insects on the wing in the manner of the Contopus vircns. 



Mr. Allen has never noted the arrival of this bird in Western Massachusetts 

 before the 20th of May, nor later than the 1st of June. They again become 

 abundant the last of September, and remain into October. In Eastern Maine 

 Mr. Boardman reports them abundant, and as remaining to breed. They are 

 there more numerous about open pastures than most Warblers. They nest 

 in low trees, about swampy places. 



In Central Vermont, Mr. Paine states, the Black-Poll is the last of all the 

 migrant birds that come from the South, and is seen only a few days in the 

 first of June. It seldom stays more than a day or two, and then passes 

 north. It appears singular that a bird coming so late should go yet farther 

 north to breed. He states that its song consists only of a few low, lisping 

 peeps. It may usually be seen wandering over fields in which there are a 

 few scattered trees, and seems to be a very active, restless bird. 



The writer also met with them in great abundance about Eastport, and in 

 the islands of the Grand Menan group. It was the most common Warbler 

 in that locality. The low swampy woods seemed filled with them, and were 

 vocal with their peculiar love-notes. 



Wilson states that he occasionally found this Warbler in Pennsylvania and 

 New Jersey, and was confident they would be found to breed in those States, 



