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SYLVICOLID^ : AMERICAN WARBLERS. 



Family SYLVICOLID^ 

 Warblers. 



American 



BLACK-AND-WHITE CREEPING WARBLER. 

 Mniotilta varia {-L.) v. 



Chars. Entirely black and white ; above black, streaked through- 

 out with white ; below white, the breast and sides streaked with 

 black. Crown and sides of head black, with median and two 

 lateral white stripes. Wings and tail black ; the former with two 

 white cross-bars, and much edging of the feathers, the latter hav- 

 ing several outer feathers marked with white. In the female, the 

 black streaks of the under parts are obsolete. Bill mostly black ; 

 feet black. Length, 5.30 ; extent, 8.00 ; vving, 2.80 ; tail, 2.20 ; 

 bill, 0.45 ; tarsus, 0.60. 



This interesting bird is a summer visitor to New 

 England, of common occurrence in wooded regions, 

 and especially abundant during the migrations. It is 



rather more numerous in south- 

 ern than in northern New Eng- 

 land, as it stays to breed any- 

 where in suitable localities on 

 its way north, and only a cer- 

 tain proportion of the total num- 

 ber of individuals reach the ex- 

 treme limit of the distribution 

 of the species. The bird enters 

 New England late in April ; 

 becomes numerous in May ; breeds, as just intimated, 

 and departs usually by the middle of September, though 



Fig 28. — Black-and-White 

 Creei'ing Warbler. (Natural size.) 



