SYLVICOLID^E — THE WARBLERS. 299 



same garden nine or ten successive summers. It is also more generally found 

 in low lands than in high, and is probably attracted to moist thickets of 

 briers and underbrush by the greater abundance of its favorite food. This, 

 Warbler is eminently terrestrial in its habits, never being found among higher j 

 limbs, but always either on the ground or among the lower branches of ' 

 bushes, vines, and weeds. It is a diligent rather than an active or nimble . 

 bird, is always on the move, and incessantly in search of its food. This con- 

 sists of insects in all their forms, but more particularly of larvae, small 

 beetles, and spiders. They are of great service in the destruction of several 

 forms of injurious grubs, and but that their mode of life exposes them to 

 destruction by prowling cats, I doubt not they would readily adapt themselves 

 to living in our gardens. Occasionally they are found in fields of grain, 

 where their presence is due to the abundance of destructive insects. 



The Yellow-Throat appears shy and retiring because it prefers to move back 

 and forth among low shrubs and brambles, where it most readily procures its 

 food, Init it is not a timid bird. They are unsuspecting, and will as readily 

 permit as fly from the near presence of man. I have frequently had them 

 approach within a few feet, especially when at rest ; and even when in mo- 

 tion they will continue their lively song, as they move about from twig to 

 twig. Though able to capture an insect on the wing, they are not expert fly- 

 catchers, and chiefly take their prey when it is at rest. 



Tlieir song is a very lively and agreeable refrain, easily recognized, though 

 exliiljiting at times marked difi'erences, and occasionally closely resembling 

 the song of the Summer Yellow-Bird. The same brief series of notes, usually 

 sounding like whi-fi- fee-tee, is constantly repeated at- short intervals, while 

 the singer continues his perpetual hunt for insects. 



The male is very affectionate and devoted to botli mate and offspring. The 

 pair are never far apart, and during incubation the male is assiduous in the 

 collection of food, feeding its mate, and afterwards assisting in collecting for 

 their young. They rely upon concealment for the protection of their nest, and 

 rarely show any open solicitude until it is discovered. Then they will make 

 the most vehement demonstrations of alarm and distress, flying about the 

 intruder and fearlessly approaching him to within a few feet. In Massachu- 

 setts they rarely, if ever, have more than one brood in a season. The young 

 are able to take care of themselves early in July. At that time the song of 

 the male ceases, or is abbreviated to a single whit, and parents and young 

 form a family group and together hunt in tlie more secluded thickets, the 

 edges of woods, and other retired places, for their food. Early in September 

 they take their departure. 



The Yellow-Throat is distributed, in suitable localities, over a large area, 

 and wherever found is apparently equally common. Dr. Gerhardt found it 

 quite abundant in Northern Georgia. Wilson and Audubon thought it more 

 common in the Middle States than farther north, but I have found it quite as 

 numerous about Halifax and Eastport as I have at Washington. Dr. Cooper 



