WOOD WARBLER. 



301 



The whole length of some specimens, five inches and one 

 quarter ; but the average measurement of many specimens is 

 rather less. From the carpal joint to the end of the longest 

 quill-feather, three inches : the first feather very short ; the 

 second feather rather longer than the fifth ; the third the 

 longest of the Avhole ; the wings when closed reaching over 

 three-fourths of the length of the tail. 



Females do not differ much from males either in size or 

 colour. 



Most of our Warblers begin to moult as soon as their 

 breeding season is over, and complete their moult before they 

 migrate ; but Mr. Hoy informs me that the Wood War- 

 blers remain in their old plumage and migrate before they 

 change their feathers. 



