334 WOOD WARBLERS. 



Several species have remarkable vocal ability, but, generally speak- 

 ing, they have rather weak voices, and take low rank as songsters. 



Warblers are at once the delight and the despair of field students. 

 To the uninitiated their existence is unknown, and when search reveals 

 the before unsuspected fact that our woods are thronged with birds as 

 exquisitely colored as the daintiest tropical forms, we feel as though a 

 new world were opened to us. 



Absent to-day, present to-morrow, the Warblers come and go under 

 cover of the night, and we may give a lifetime to their study, and then 

 know we have not mastered the laws which govern their movements. 



Entering an apparently deserted bit of woods, we hear faint voices, 

 lisping iseeps, and soon discover that the tree tops are animated with 

 flitting forms. What limitless possibilities there are in a flock of 

 Warblers ! Who can say what rare species may be among them 1 — per- 

 haps the bird we have long vainly looked for ; perhaps a stranger from 

 another clime ! 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



First Group. — Throat yellow, yellowish, or orange. 

 I, Under parts without streaks or spots. 



II. With black or bi'own streaks on the breast or sides, or (in one species) a 

 blackish brown band across the throat, or (in one species) a black patcli 

 on the breast. 

 Second Group. — Throat black, gray, ashy, white, whitish, brown, or butty. 

 I. Throat and upper breast one color, black, gray, ashy, or brown, veri/ dif- 

 ferent from the white or yellow belly. 

 II. Throat white or whitish, with or without streaks or spots ; rest of under 



parts streaked or spotted with black, bluish, chestnut, or yellow. 

 III. Under parts white, whitish, or buify, without streaks, spots, or patches. 



First Group. 



I. Under parts ^rithout streaks or spots. 



1. Tail with conspicuous white spots or patches. 

 A. Wings with white wing-bars. 



a. Under parts entirely pure yellow. 



a^. Forehead yellow; a black line through the eye; rump same as 



back (541. Blue-winged Warbler. 



a^. Crown ashy ; rump yellow . 657. Magnolia Warbler (Im.). 



b. Throat bright yellow ; belly white or whitish. 



h^. Back olive-greenish 671. Pine Warbler. 



b^. Back bluish, with a yellowish patch in the middle. 



648. Parula Warbler (Im.). 



c. Under parts pale yellowish white or bufty ; throat not brighter than 

 belly. 



c^. Back olive-green, slightly streaked with black. 



c-2. Under parts pale cream-buff, stronger on the flanks. 



660. Bay-breasted Warbler (Im.). 



