1910 J Sherman, Brewster's Warbler in Massachusetts. 443 



bottom with their nests for a great number of miles, the heaviest 

 branches of the trees broken and fallen to the ground, which was 

 strewed with the young birds dead and alive, that the Indians in 

 great numbers were picking up to carry away with their horses; 

 many of their dogs were said to be gone mad with feeding upon 

 their putrified remains. A forest thus loaded and half destroyed 

 with these birds, presents an extraordinary spectacle which can- 

 not be rivalled; but when such myriads of timid birds as the wild 

 pigeon are on the wing, often w^heeling and performing evolu- 

 tions almost as complicated as pyrotechnic movements, and creat- 

 ing whirlwinds as they move, they present an image of the most 

 fearful power. Our horse, Missouri, at such times, has been 

 cowed by them, that he would stand still and tremble in his harness, 

 w'hilst we ourselves were glad when their flight was directed from 

 us." 



THE BREWSTER'S WARBLER IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



BY JULIA WINGATE SHERMAN. 



Early Sunday morning. May 19, 1907, my daughter and I 

 went on a bird-walk near our home in Roslindale, which is one of 

 the many beautiful suburbs of Boston. When a short distance 

 from the house we heard a Golden-winged Warbler give his zee-zee- 

 zee, as I then supposed. My daughter not having seen one that 

 season, we stepped out of our path to take a look at the singer. 

 Imagine my surprise — not a Golden-winged but a fine male Brew- 

 ster's Warbler was perched before us. He sang over and over 

 again his high, lazily given song which so closely resembles that 

 of the Golden-wing that it could easily be mistaken for it. On 

 careful listening, at close range, it seemed higher and finer in 

 quality. This specimen was in fine typical plumage, but was 

 wholly white underneath. He kept for some time on a low, 

 isolated, gray birch where he showed himself in all lights. 



We continued our walk in the direction of Tom William's Pond. 



