274 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS, 



mens in Georgia, near Savannah, early in February, and infers that some pass 

 the entire winter in Georgia, which is not improbable, as this bird can endure 

 severe weather without any apparent inconvenience. 



There are several marked peculiarities in the habits of this Warbler which 

 distinguish it from every other of its genus. Alone of all the Dcndroicm, so 

 far as is known, it builds its nest on the ground, and is quite terrestrial in its 

 habits, and, notwithstanding the statements of earlier writers, these are quite 

 different from all others of this genus. It has very little of the habits of the 

 Creeper and still less of the Flycatcher, Avhile it has all the manners of the 

 true Ground Warbler, and even approximates, in this respect, to the Titlarks. 



My attention was first called to these peculiarities by Mr. Downes of 

 Halifax, in the summer of 1851 ; and I was surprised to find it nesting on the 

 ground, and yet more to note that in all its movements it appeared fully as 

 terrestrial as the Maryland Yellow-Throat, or the Towhee Finch. Since then 

 Mr. Boardman and other naturalists have found its nest, which is always on 

 the ground. 



Mr. MacCulloch, in the fourth volume of the Journal of the Boston 

 Natural History Society, has given an interesting paper upon the terrestrial 

 peculiarities of this species, showing them to be nearly identical with those 

 of the seiiiri, with whom he thinks it should be classed. In its terrestrial 

 movements this bird is shown to be quite at home, while other Warblers, 

 when driven by necessity to feed upon the ground, are awkward, and mani-' 

 fest a want of adaptation. 



Dr. Henry Bryant, another very close and accurate observer, in his notes 

 on the birds of the Bahamas, referring to this Warbler, speaks of it as ex- 

 tremely abundant, but confined to the sea-shore. " Its habits," he adds, 

 apparently with some surprise, " are decidedly terrestrial, and it approaches, 

 in this respect, to the Titlarks. They were constantly running along the 

 edges of the road, or else hopping amongst the low branches in the pastures. 

 I did not see a sinsrle individual seeking for food amidst the large trees. 

 These birds could be constantly seen running up and down in the market in 

 search of small flies. These they caught either on the ground or else by 

 hopping up a few inches, scarcely opening the wings, and alighting directly." 



Mr. J. A. Allen, in his Birds observed in Western Massachusetts, shows 

 that these peculiarities of habits in this Warbler had not escaped his notice. 

 He speaks of it as " frequenting, in company with J), pimis, the edges of 

 thickets, orchards, and open fields, and is much on the ground." 



Mr. George A. Boardman, writing me from St. Stephen, March, 1867, says : 

 " The Yellow Eed-PoU is one of our most common Warblers, and, unlike 

 most other Warblers, spends much of its time feeding upon the ground. It 

 is no uncommon thing to see a dozen or two on the ground in my garden at 

 a time, in early spring. Later in the season they have more of the habits of 

 other Warblers, and are in summer expert flycatchers. In the fall we again 

 see them mostly upon the ground, feeding with the Blue Snowbirds (Jitnco 



