FAMILY Mniotiltidz. 
wuriosity. On one occasion I had the pleasure of seeing 
nim hop to within three inches of my shoe in a persist- 
ent endeavor to find out whether I was myself a bird or 
held one captive. Of course, I was conversing with him 
in his own language, but I have not an idea what we 
talked about! 
Myrtle The Myrtle or Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Warbler is a frequent visitor of the grounds about 
ied vi the house in Apriland May. Heis plainly, 
L. 5.65 inches not conspicuously, marked, with excellent 
April 2oth, points which serve for his identification. 
orallthe year There is a yellow patch on crown and 
rump, and another on either side of the breast; upper 
parts blue-gray streaked with black; two white wing- 
bars; the outer tail feathers have white spots on their in- 
ner vanes near the tips; throat white, and upper breast 
heavily streaked with black which lessens as it reaches 
the lower parts; these are white. Female similarly 
marked, but with less black below, and with sepia brown 
above. Nest of moss, rootlets, and vegetable fibres, 
lined with fine grasses, generally situated in evergreen 
trees, five to nine feet above the ground. Egg gray or 
pearl white, spotted with various browns. The range of 
this bird extends throughout North America east of the 
Rockies. It breeds in the northern States and north- 
ward, and winters from southern New England to 
Panama. The species is a hardy one. The birds are 
particularly fond of the bayberry (Myrica cerifera), and 
will remain during the autumn season a long time 
where that favorite food is plentiful. Mr. Ned Dear- 
born writes: ‘‘ A fortunate versatility of appetite enables 
them to change their diet when the supply of insects 
wanes. Their chief food while in Durham consists of 
bayberries, Stomachs of late spring and early fall speci- 
mens contain little besides insects; but nearer the ex- 
tremities of winter, these berries are eaten to a great 
extent. After the arrival of the large flocks in the fall, 
they almost constantly remain in the vicinity of patches 
of bayberry bushes.” These remarks would apply with 
equal truth to the birds which visit Martha’s Vineyard 
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