5(10 PROTIIONUTAUV \VAKIJLER. 



HABITS. 



The Black und Whitu (JrecpuKs nuiku tlieif ii])[K'araiK'L' in Ni'w Eiiiilaiul anioipj; the 

 eadiest of the warblers, ui'teii liehiij.' luuiid as early as the last week in Apiil. They IVe- 

 qiieut low growths of Oak and Maple, when the pecxdiar sli:ir[i lisping c'lirp olalarni ni;iy 

 be heard, as the birds make tlieir way restlessly aljout tlie tnnd^s or liuibs of tlie trees, 

 creeping rather than hopping, often elinging la'ad doAvnwiird in orik'i' to re;u'[i some 

 minute object hi(klen in the cavities of the bai'k. If the weather should iie w;;rin, they 

 begin to sing almost as soon as they arri\e. Tiie song is made nj) of the syllables " wt'-si' " . 

 repeated live or six times in a lisping tone, beginning rather Imul and sharp, but ending 

 more faintly. Some indi\ i(hials sing longer than other.N but more es[ieeially is the termi- 

 nal note ]irolongeil. This somewhat feeble, bnt wit'.iall plea.sant contiibntion to our 

 Avoodkind melodies, is nttered wiiile its anthor is mo\iiig abont in seareb ofi'ood. 



The Black and White (Jreepe\'s bleed the lirst week in Jnnt'. nsnally placing tbo 

 nest on the groimd, or beside of a stone or log, or a.t the foot of :i tree, ab\a\s I tbinl'; 

 in the woods. Tlie young lea.vt' the n-osts eai'ly. and I b.a\'L' seen them liyiiig aliont t'lo 

 TnuU'rgrowtb (HI Jnue ITtb. Whs'ii tlie nests orMtuiig are appniacbed.. luilb paroiits 

 exhibit consideral.'le solieitnde, anil they show their displeasure by giving ntti'raiice (n lnw 

 sliai']) cries of alarm. 



The Black and ^\dlite Creepers are among tlie first of the warbh'rs to take their dc- 

 ])artnre for the South, lea\ing the first woek in Sejitember. A few remain in Florida all 

 Avinter ; I found them common, altliongh not abmidaiit, on the Bahamas at this st'asoii. 

 I found them common e\eryw!iere in tiie neighl)orhood of Kingston. Jamaica, in March, 

 ISSS, also on (Jiuinan Brae during the same month and year. When off the south shore 

 of Andros. Bahamas, April 27th I saw tliom migrating among a large number of otlier 

 warblers and alighting with them to I'vcd on the little keys. 



(iENUS PRUTONUTARIA. THE ORANGE WARBLERiS. 



Gen. Ch. Bill, lung, rather stunt. sliy;litly curved. Wing-s, lunn'cr than the tail. Under tail cuverts 

 rcaehiug within .;")() uf the end of the tail. Coi.oii of body nearly uuifbrni orange without patelies. No wing 

 bands. There is a single siiecies in this genus. 



PROTONOTARIA CITREA. 

 Prothonotary Warbler. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Size, large, tail, sliglitly rounded. Coi.OE. Head all around, and luwei- jiarts. c.Ncoiitnig 

 under tail coverts, wdiieh are white, deep cadmium yellow, tinged with urange anteriurly. Back, urange 

 green. Rump, and upper tail coverts, bluish ash. Wings, la-own. with the feathers edged internally with 

 whiter, and more narrowdy externally with bluish ash. Tail, dark brown, with all but narrow center of 



