SYLVICOLID^ — THE WARBLERS. 263 



it breeding. Nowhere abundant, there were large tracts of country where 

 lie never met with it, or where it was of rare occurrence. He found it most 

 abundant in the vicinity of Eastport, Me. He also met with it during 

 summer, in New England generally. Northern Pennsylvania, and New York, 

 but not in Labrador. He describes its habits as a mingling of those of the 

 AVarblers and of the Vireo, and its notes as resembling those of the latter. 

 In its search for food he found it quite regardless of the near presence of man. 

 Tn its spring migrations it passes through the woods usually in pairs, in the 

 I'all reappearing in flocks of six or seven. In breeding it occurs only in 

 single pairs, and each pair appropriates to itself a large tract of territory 

 within which no other is usually found. After October, all have passed be- 

 yond the limits of the United States. 



During the winter months it appears to be quite common in different parts 

 of Mexico and Central America. In the large collection of Guatemalan skins 

 collected by Dr. Van Patten, and purchased by the Boston Natural History 

 Society, this bird was one of the most abundant of the migratory species. 

 Specimens were taken by Mr. Boucard at Playa Vicente, in the hot country 

 of Oaxaca, Mexico. 



Dr. Woodhouse found this Warbler common in the Indian Territory and 

 in Texas, and Lieutenant Couch met with it in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in March, 

 1853. With these exceptions it has not been observed in any of the govern- 

 ment surveys, or found west of the valley of the Ptio Grande. Besides the 

 points named, it has been obtained in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and in the West 

 Indies, in Central and in the northern portions of South America. Eeinhardt 

 gives it as accidental in Greenland. A single stray specimen was obtained 

 in Heligoland, Europe, October 19, 1858. 



Mr. Paine, of Eandolph, Vt., notes the arrival of this bird about the 10th 

 of May. He speaks of it as a very sweet singer, and as usually seen in the 

 tops of tall trees, the hemlock being its favorite resort. There it chants its 

 sweet sad notes through even the heat of the day. It continues in song 

 nearly throughout the summer. Later in the season it frequents the open 

 fields, in which it is seldom seen in the breeding-season. Its food, which 

 it catches on the wing in the manner of Vireos, consists of the smaller 

 winged insects, caterpillars, and other Iarv£e. In the fall, according to Mr. 

 Audubon, it feeds upon various kinds of small berries. 



It reaches Massachusetts the first of May, and is most numerous about 

 the loth, when the larger proportion pass farther north. In Western 

 Maine, Professor Verrill states it to be a summer but not a common visitant ; 

 and near Calais, Mr. Boardman has found it breeding, but does not regard it 

 as at all common, though in the year 1867 he found it quite abundant 

 in the thick woods in tliat neighborhood during its breeding-season. Dr. 

 Bryant also speaks of it as one of the most common of the Warblers ob- 

 served by him near Yarmouth, N. S. A single specimen was taken at Julian- 

 haab, Greenland, in 1853, and sent to the Pioyal Museum of Copenliagen. 



