MAY BIRDS. 6r 



favorite I have. I always loved it^ and I can 

 never look upon one after it is killed, no matter 

 how naturally it is preserved, without a sad feel- 

 ing, — as if it were one of my own most dear 

 friends dead before me." 



One of the most delightful arrivals of 

 the last few days, and a favorite bird of 

 mine, is the dainty little Maryland yellow- 

 throat (^geothlypis tiichas). To my mind, 

 he is the prettiest singer of all the war- 

 blers, and his lively pity me, pity me, pity 

 me, far from expresses the sentiment sug- 

 gested in the words by which his song 

 is usually translated into English. This 

 bird is olive-green above, with a black 

 head, and white beneath, with a beautiful 

 bright yellow throat, by which he may 

 be easily identified. The yellow-throat is 

 a ground warbler, and is usually found in 

 moist meadows and thickets. This bird 

 is remarkably abundant in Peat Mead- 

 ow, and from the rifle range this side of 

 the meadow a dozen songs may often 

 be heard at once issuing from as many 

 throats. 



