BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 309 



gant colors attract attention. In the list furnished me by Dr. 

 Brewer, it is marked as breeding in this State. Its nest, how- 

 ev^er, is not often seen. Audubon received one from Professor 

 MacCulloch, of Nova Scotia ; it was composed externally of 

 different textures, and lined with silky fibres and thin delicate 

 strips of fine bark, over which lay a thick bed of feathers and 

 horsehair. The eggs were white, with red spots toward the 

 larger end. It was found in a small fork of a tree near a brook, 

 five or six feet from the ground. It is seldom that this bird 

 appears here, except in May and September, on its annual mi- 

 gration and return. 



The Orange-throated Warbler, Sylvia auricollis, is an- 

 other rare and transient species, which makes us a passing call, 

 on its way to Canada. 



The Chestnut-sided Warbler. Sylvia icterocephala, passes 

 through this State on its way to the north. In 1837, they 

 were quite common near Connecticut river. Audubon pro- 

 fessed himself ignorant of their breeding places ; but Mr. James 

 Eliot Cabot, has succeeded in finding a nest in Brookline, in 

 our State. 



The Bay-breasted Warbler, Sylvia castanea, comes to us 

 about the middle of May, and remains a few days. In its ap- 

 pearance and manners it strongly resembles the preceding. 

 While here, it is busily engaged in searching for insects, along 

 the hedges and in the highest trees. Where it goes when it 

 leaves us, is not yet distinctly known. Audubon says that he 

 has often seen them in Louisiana, in the month of June, which 

 would indicate, that, unlike the warblers in general, they re- 

 main and breed in the southern states. But if it is so, their 

 nest has not yet been found. 



The Black-pole Warbler, Sylvia striata, is not uncommon 

 in the latter part of May, when it is seen in the orchards in 

 pursuit of cankerworms and other food. Its note is a low 



