240 SINGING BIRDS. 



resides. Both the old and young remain with us till nearly the 

 close of October ; stragglers have even been seen in mid-win- 

 ter in the latitude of 43°. In winter they rove through the 

 pine forests and barrens of the Southern States in companies 

 of 20 to 50 or more, alighting at times on the trunks of the 

 trees, and attentively searching them for lurking larvae, but are 

 most frequently employed in capturing the small insects which 

 infest the opening buds of the pine, around which they may be 

 seen perpetually hovering, springing, or creeping, with restless 

 activity ; in this way they proceed, from time to time, foraging 

 through the forest; occasionally, also, they alight on the 

 ground in quest of worms and grubs of various kinds, or dart 

 irregularly after hovering flies, almost in the manner of the Fly- 

 catchers. In these states they are by far the most numerous of 

 all the Warblers. In the month of March they already began 

 to show indications for pairing, and jealous contests ensued 

 perpetually among the males. The principal body of the spe- 

 cies probably remain the year round in the Southern forests, 

 where I saw them throughout the winter ; great numbers are 

 also bred in the Northern States. In summer their food is the 

 eggs and larvae of various insects, as well as flies or cynips, 

 caterpillars, coleoptera, and ants. In autumn, the young fre- 

 quent the gardens, groves, and orchards, feeding likewise on 

 berries of various kinds, as on those of the cornel, wild grape, 

 and five-leaved ivy ; at this season they are very fat, and fly and 

 forage in families. They now only utter a shrill and plaintive 

 chip. I have had a male Pine Warbler, domesticated for a 

 short time ; he fed gratefully, from the instant he was caught, 

 upon flies, small earthworms, and minced flesh, and was so 

 tame and artless as to sit contented on every hand, and 

 scarcely shift himself securely from my feet. On offering him 

 drink he walked directly into the vessel, without using the 

 slightest precaution or exhibiting any trace of fear. His tship 

 and manner in all respects were those of the Autumnal 

 Warbler. 



The song of the Pine Warbler, though agreeable, amidst the 

 dreary solitude of the boundless forests which he frequents, has 



