190 A DAINTY WARBLER. 



plumage, but also on account of the light, airy 

 grace with which they flitted about in the trees. 

 A luckless insect came buzzing by, when one of 

 the birds espied it and pounced upon it with a cer- 

 tain t}^ of aim that seldom misses the mark, caught 

 it deftly on the wing, and then whirled back to a 

 perch to make a meal of it. I noticed a number 

 of similar performances, and could hear the quick 

 snapping of the birds' mandibles as they darted 

 swiftly after their victims. 



And then these birds favored me with music — 

 a little concert all their own. To be frank, I have 

 listened to better bird minstrelsy, but as it was the 

 first time I had ever heard the vocal performances 

 of the myrtle warblers, I was in an appreciative 

 mood. Their lays were very fine, twittering war- 

 bles, or whisper-songs — one might almost say 

 gossamer songs — considerably prolonged and 

 quite varied, somewhat like the twittering mid- 

 summer ditty of the black-capped chickadee. This 

 was the only song I have ever heard from the 

 throats of these minstrels. However, Bradford 

 Torrey heard a myrtle warbler singing a most ex- 

 quisite song while descending Mount Willard one 

 day in June, proving that our bird has more than 

 one tune in his musical r^ipertory. It was my 



