THE MIGRATION OF INLAND BIRDS. 105 



birds that visit New Jersey have undoubtedly steadily de- 

 creased. In such cases as have come under my own notice, 

 however, the love of locality is very strong, and, if the 

 nest is not disturbed, the pair will return year after year. 

 It is probable that, in this case, withdrawal from so north- 

 ern a locality is not voluntary, but is due to the almost 

 certain persecution to which they are subjected. The 

 remarkable vocal powers of the bird straightway publish 

 the locality to every prowler, and the nest is soon sought 

 for the valuable brood. In accordance with evolutionary 

 doctrines, these birds should have learned in time to keep 

 quiet, as their tongues are their worst enemies ; but this 

 probably is too great a sacrifice, and so they now remain 

 away, or are so seldom met with as scarcely to be con- 

 sidered as an actual member of our avi-fauna. Once, 

 however, in the past twenty years, there has occurred an 

 unusual northward flight of these birds. In May, 1862, 

 in several localities, they were noticed in considerable 

 numbers, and attention was drawn to the fact in the 

 local newspapers. It is not improbable that the war in 

 Virginia, then in progress, had much to do with this ; as 

 it is evident that the constant cannonading and ceaseless 

 blaze of camp-fires over much of the territory usually 

 occupied by these birds would have the effect of driving 

 them beyond the limits of these disturbances. 



As instances of " spring arrivals" that have become 

 resident species, I will first mention the well-known blue- 

 bird, which, whatever may be the state of the weather, is 

 as lively and full of song from November to April as at 

 any time during the summer ; yet it is still considered as 

 a migratory species, and formerly, I doubt not, was so, 

 even in New Jersey. More interesting is the instance 

 of the common yellow-rumped warbler, which, in scanty 



