310 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



clinking sound, that can hardly be called a song. Audubon 

 was fortunate enough to find its nest at Labrador. It was built 

 on a fir tree, about three feet from the ground. There is 

 something curious in the manner in Avhich this and other warb- 

 lers, in their migration, skip over some parts of the country. 



The Pine Wakbler, Sylvia piniis, is a summer resident in 

 the State, but not much known, because it resides in deep, 

 evergreen forests, where it explores the bark and buds of trees 

 in search of the insects which infest them. Nuttall describes 

 a nest of this species, which he found at Mount Auburn, on a 

 tree, forty feet above the ground. The eggs were white, with 

 a very pale tinge of green, and thickly sprinkled with pale 

 brown. In summer, their food consists of insects, and their 

 eggs and larvae ; in autumn, when the young accompany their 

 parents, they come into gardens and groves. One which Nut- 

 tall domesticated, fed on flies and worms that were offered 

 him, without the least timidity ; and was so tame and familiar 

 as to be in danger of being trodden under feet. 



The Autumnal Warbler, Sylvia autumnalis, is not at pres- 

 ent known to rear its young in Massachusetts, but it cannot 

 go far for that purpose, since it it found in our forests, attended 

 with its family, as early as the month of July. Early in the 

 season, they are seen darting through the woods in search of 

 flies. One which Nuttall obtained, by its flying in at an open 

 window, soon pursued the house-flies, as if nothing had hap- 

 pened, and became so sociable that it would eat from his hand. 

 In the autumn, it may be seen turning over the fallen leaves, 

 or searching the chinks of fences and the rough bark of trees. 

 Its nest has been found in Pennsylvania, and also near Lake 

 Champlain. 



The Hemlock Warbler, Sylvia partis, differs so little from 

 the pine, that Nuttall is inclined to regard them as the same 

 species ; but Audubon, who procured many specimens, togeth- 

 er with a nest and young, pronounces them distinct, and it is 



