- 
236 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
tops of the tallest trees, where it is descried skipping from branch 
to branch in pursuit of winged insects. Its note is a single screep, 
scarcely audible from below. It arrives in Pennsylvania about the 
20th of April, and is first seen on the tops of the highest maples, 
darting about among the blossoms. As the woods thicken with 
leaves, it may be found pretty generally, being none of the least 
numerous of our summer birds. It is, however, most partial to 
woods in the immediate neighborhood of creeks, swamps, or mo- 
rasses, probably from the greater number of its favorite insects 
frequenting such places. It is also pretty generally diffused over 
the United States, having myself met with it in most quarters 
of the Union, though its nest has hitherto defied all my researches.” 
He then says of the female Black-poll, — 
“From its habit of keeping on the highest branches of trees, it 
probably builds in such situations, and its nest may long remain 
unknown to us. 
“ Pennant, who describes this species, says that it inhabits, during 
summer, Newfoundland and New York, and is called in the last 
Sailor. 'This name, for which, however, no reason is given, must 
be very local; as the bird itself is one of those silent, shy, and soli- 
tary individuals that seek the deep retreat of the forest, and are 
known to few or none but the naturalist. 
“Length of the female Black-cap five inches and a quarter, 
extent eight and a quarter; bill brownish-black; crown yellow- 
olive, streaked with black; back the same, mixed with some pale- 
slate; wings dusky-brown, edged with olive; first and second wing 
coverts tipped with white; tertials edged with yellowish-white ; 
tail coverts pale-gray ; tail dusky, forked, the two exterior feathers 
marked on their inner vanes with a spot of white; round the eye 
is a whitish ring; cheeks and sides of the breast tinged with yellow, 
and slightly spotted with black; chin white, as are also the belly 
and vent; legs and feet dirty-orange. 
“The young bird of the first season, and the female, as is usually 
the case, are very much alike in plumage. On their arrival, early 
in April, the black feathers on the crown are frequently seen coming 
out, intermixed with the former ash-colored ones. 
“This species has all the agility and many of the habits of the 
Flycatcher.” ; 
