YELLUW KED-1'ULLED VVARULER. GOT 



shadeil everywhere with chestnut. Tail, ab.mt as in the adult but with the white spot of the second feather 

 nearly eucl jscl by bro'.vn, ( See A, Fig. DU ). 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The young are very niuch like the immature D. tigrina but may be rlistinguished from them by the vel- 

 low under tail coverts and the browner upper parts ; absence of decided white wing bars, and peculiar form of 

 spot on outer tail feather, ( See b. Fig. 'M ). It may readily be known from all others in the adult stages by 

 the chestnut crown. Habitat, during tho breeding season, Eastern North America from Nortliern New 

 England north to Hudson's Bay. Winters in the Southern states, including the Keys of Florida, as far 

 north as Key West This form has been separated with propriety from the Western, but, through a possi- 

 ble necessai'y, but unfortunate adherence to tlie rules of priority, the newly discovered Red-polled Warbler 

 from the West retains th-e old name as the type species, and the more commonly known Eastern bird be- 

 comes the sub species. The Eastern form diflers from the W^estern as given iu the following description. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Taken from specimens obtained iu Massachusetts in spring. Length, from .5.20 to 5.6-"i ; stretch, from 

 8.00 to H.or, ■ wing, from 2.12 to 2. SO ; tail, 2.0.5 to 2,G0 ; bill. .45 to .47 ; tarsus, 7.5 to 80. 



DERCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, usually placed on the ground ; composed of weeds, grasses and moss rather carelessly arranged ; 

 litied with fine roiits and pine leaves. E«gs, f nir in number, rather oval in form, creamy white in color, 

 with blotches of pale brown around the larger end. Dimensions, .G8 by .55. 



HABITS. 



Oil the eastern side of Key West, i)etween the wooded portions of the island and the 

 sea, is a narrow strip of hmd which is destitute of trees. It is a g-rassy phiin, while a few 



bunches of low scrubs grow at irregular intervals 

 over it ; flowers bloom here in abundance throughout 

 the season, and myriads of liuttertiies and other in- 

 sects are floating over them attracted by their frag- 

 rance. Many birds are also found here, but the mo.«t 

 common species are the Yellow lled-polls. They are 

 (juite abundant and maybe seen tiitting among the 



, \ ,. !!,,,, T, ,'^ ,, '; i)ri!j;htly colored lepidoptera or sprinning into air to 



Head of nestling of \ellow Red-polled ' , -^ .„^ \ „ , ^, ., 



Warbler, a, second tail feather, B, «^tel» ''""^^ ^^V^^J '""^'"S Aj or beetle, then alight- 



outer tail feather. big on the low bushes or pieces of coral rock which 



are scattered al)Out They are seldom cpnet an instant ; 

 for when perching, they areever turning their little heads right and left while their bright 

 i^-ves are carefully scanning everything far or near ; their tails are also constantly mov- 

 ing up and down ; this latter pectdiarity at once distinguishes the Yellow Red-polls from 

 Jill other North American Warblers, for none besides have this habit. 



The constant watchfuhiej^s of these bird.s, which is exhibited by every movement, is 

 necessary for their exi.stence, for tiiey usually inhabit open places where they are in con- 

 stant danger fit)ni the attacks of enemies. At Key West this vigilance frequently saved 

 their lives, for a Sparrow, Pigeon, or Broad-winged Hawk would often come sweeping over 



