Species XXI. SYLVIA A UTUMNA LIS. 



AUTUMNAL WARBLER. 



[Plate XXIII. Fig. 4] 



This plain little species regularly visits Pennsylvania from the north 

 in the month of October, gleaning among the willow leaves ; but what 

 is singular, is rarely seen in spring. From the first to the fifteenth of 

 October, they may be seen in considerable numbers almost every day in 

 gardens, particularly among the branches of the weeping willow, and 

 seem exceedingly industrious. They have some resemblance in color to 

 the Pine-creeping Warbler ; but do not run along the trunk like that 

 bird ; neither do they give a preference to the pines. They are also 

 less. After the first of November they are no longer to be found, 

 unless the season be uncommonly mild. These birds doubtless pass 

 through Pennsylvania in spring, on their way to the north ; but 

 either make a very hasty journey, or frequent the tops of the tallest 

 trees ; for I have never yet met with one of them in that season ; 

 though in October I have seen more than a hundred in an afternoon's 

 excursion. 



Length four inches and three quarters, breadth eight inches ; whole 

 upper parts olive green, streaked on the back with dusky stripes ; tail 

 coverts ash, tipped with olive ; tail black, edged with dull white ; the 

 three exterior feathers marked near the tip with white ; wings deep 

 dusky, edged with olive, and crossed with two bars of white ; primaries 

 also tipped, and three secondaries next the body edged, with white ; 

 upper mandible dusky brown ; lower, as well as the chin and breast, 

 dull yellow ; belly and vent white ; legs dusky brown ; feet and claws 

 yellow ; a pale yellow ring surrounds the eye. The males of these 

 birds often warble out some low, but very sweet notes, while searching 

 among the leaves in autumn. 



Vol. II.— 13 (193) 



