Species XXIII. SYLVIA VERMIVORA. 



WORM-EATING WARBLER. 



[Plate XXIV. Fig. 4.] 



Arct. Zool. p. 406, No. 300. — Edwards, 305. — L,\tham, ir., 499. — Le Demi-fin 

 mangeur de. vers, Buffon, v., 325. 



This is one of the nimblest species of its whole family, inhabiting the 

 same country with the preceding ; but extending its migrations much 

 farther north. It arrives in Pennsylvania about the middle of May ; 

 and leaves us in September. I have never yet met with its nest ; but 

 have seen them feeding their young about the twenty-fifth of June. 

 This bird is remarkably fond of spiders, darting about wherever there 

 is a probability of finding these insects. If there be a branch broken 

 and the leaves withered, it shoots among them in preference to every 

 other part of the tree, making a great rustling in search of its prey. I 

 have often watched its manoeuvres while thus engaged and flying from 

 tree to tree in search of such places. On dissection I have uniformly 

 found their stomachs filled with spiders or caterpillars, or both. Its 

 note is a feeble chirp, rarely uttered. 



The Worm-eater is five inches and a quarter in length, and eight 

 inches in extent ; back, tail, and wings a fine clear olive ; tips and inner 

 vanes of the wing quills a dusky brown ; tail slightly forked, yet the 

 exterior feathers are somewhat shorter than the middle ones ; head and 

 whole lower parts a dirty buff; the former marked with four streaks of 

 black, one passing from each nostril, broadening as it descends the hind 

 head ; and one from the posterior angle of each eye ; the bill is stout, 

 straight, pretty thick at the base, roundish and tapering to a fine point ; 

 no bristles at the side of the mouth ; tongue thin, and lacerated at the 

 tip; the breast is most strongly tinged with the orange buff; vent 

 waved with dusky olive; bill blackish above, flesh colored below; legs 

 and feet a pale clay color ; eye dark hazel. The female differs very 

 little in color from the male. 



On this species Mr. Pennant makes the following remarks : — " Does 

 not appear in Pennsylvania till July in its passage northward. Does 

 not return the same way ; but is supposed to go beyond the mountains 

 which lie to the west. This seems to be the case with all the transient 

 vernal visitants of Pennsylvania."* That a small bird should permit 



* Arct. Zool. p. 406. 



(195) 



